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Everest Challenge — Race Notes 2011 — Power Output
Related: Eastern Sierra, Everest Challenge, hard core, Inyo National Forest, peak bagging, Rides, Rock Creek, White Mountains
For each major climb: time (HH:MM:SS), watts, heart rate (bpm).
Bishop Creek: 1:42:44, 273W @ 144 bpm Pine Creek: 53:17, 252W @ 149 bpm (getting hot) Rock Creek (lower): 1:06:38, 224W @ 142 bpm Rock Creek (upper): 1:15:14, 216W @ 141 bpm (stomach and hamstring cramps) Glacier Lodge: 1:10:42, 262W @ 137 bpm Death Valley Rd: 47:31, 267W @ 138 bpm Schulman Grove: 2:13:47, 241W @ 140 bpm
Times good to about a minute, since I did not always remember to hit the timer exactly at the summit, so I adjusted slightly with the downloaded data.
Discussion
Stage 1
The 272W effort on Stage 1 Bishop Creek / South Lake was perhaps 10-15W too high. Better to have aimed for 260W for all climbs, as I did for Stage 2.
For Stage 1, note the accelerating drop in power beginning with lower Rock Creek; this is where stomach cramps began, presumably from electrolyte deficiency. I estimate that I lost at least 15-25 minutes due to stomach and leg cramping during Stage 1.
That mistake (not taking electrolytes) appears to have cost me as much as 3 places— impossible to say what might have happened if feeling good with no cramps. Live and learn! A race is a combination of fitness and fuel/hydration/electrolyte management, so kudos to those finishers who got it right on all counts.
Stage 2
I am pleased with Stage 2. Except for a few minor mistakes which cost me a few minutes (water bottle fill, going “dry” a bit too long), I nailed Stage 2.
For Stage 2, note the 25W higher power output on the tough Schulman Grove climb versus the Stage 1 Rock Creek climb— stronger and more consistent results on the 2nd day, showing excellent recovery from Stage 1, but also better management of fuel and hydration and electrolytes.