J+P: 206 miles, 3 states, 1 day = LOTOJA

Thursday, September 15, 2011

206 miles, 3 states, 1 day = LOTOJA

LOTOJA is short for LOgan TO JAckson. The Lotoja is a cycling race that begins in Logan, Utah and finishes in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (or Teton Village, if you're being specific). The race is 206 miles, covers 3 states (Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming) and is all completed in one day! The course also includes 3 mountain passes (a.k.a. really steep hills), making the total climb during the race nearly 10,000 feet! It is believed to be one of the longest single-day road cycling races in North America and possibly the world.
Doesn't is sound miserable?! 206 miles on a bike!

Well my Dad decided in February that he wanted to race in the Lotoja. He enlisted a guy in our ward named Gary to help him. Gary has rode in the Lotoja 18 times and he also happens to be an amazing cyclist, this made him the perfect coach. He told my Dad exactly what to do to train and my dad followed it to the T.

This past Saturday was the big race and I went with my Mom, Gary, and his wife Michelle, to support my dad in the race. Gary road with my Dad in the race, and my mom, Michelle and I were the "support crew." As the "support crew" we drove in the car and met the guys at the "feed stations" to give them food, water bottles, and moral support to keep going on!

As the "support crew" we did our job great, we were there at every "feed zone" on time and with all the specified food we were suppose to bring. The day went so smooth, until the very end. After we left the last "feed zone" we traveled a different route than the cyclists to the finish line. For most of the race, the "support crews" travel a different route than the cyclist. This way, we are not trailing or following the cyclist throughout the whole race; it's safer this way.

Well, as we were driving to the finish line we missed a turn and went the wrong way for 25 miles!! Once we realized we were headed to Idaho Falls and not Jackson, we turned around and sped back as fast as we could, so fast that we nearly got pulled over (a cop put on his flashing lights and everything but for some reason he didn't pull us over, it was a miracle). But unfortunately we didn't have time to make it to the finish line before they guys. It was terrible, I'm still sick about it!

We weren't able to see my dad cross the finish line, or hear his name as he crossed the line, or hold up my sign for him to see, or take pictures as he crossed the line. Uh, it was a horrible feeling as we drove into Teton Village knowing that he was crossing the finish line and we weren't there! Of course my dad understood, but it took my mom and me a long time to get over it! I'm still not over it!!

But the important thing is that he finished! And not only did he finish, he placed 6th in his category! Amazing, especially for his first time! It took him 11 hours and 20 minutes.

I am so proud of you dad. Thanks for inspiring me to reach for my goals and dreams. When you make up your mind to do something, you do it. You put all your effort into it and you make it happen. To me, that is so admirable. I enjoyed every minute of supporting you and I am so proud to have you as my father. Love you Dad!