Lotoja 2011

September 10, 2011 - that most anticipated end of summer bike race from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A total of 206 miles covered in one day (the longest 1 day race in the country sanctioned by USA Cycling) with nearly 10,000 feet of climbing. (I think the people who do it are a little crazy.) This year, though, they decided to do it as a relay instead of as individuals - and that makes all the difference. Here's the team: Jim, Shawn, Rob and Troy.

Showing how tough they are,

and how much less training is required when you are riding the relay instead of the whole thing as an individual. (Apparently not enough training to work off the winter bellies - except for Jim who is either too mature to participate in this photo or who must not have a belly to display. We can only guess.) **** Interjection by Shawn - Apparently his is a "service" belly - from all of the service he was doing around the house instead of training. Either way, not the most flattering pose. *** But really, usually it is hours and hours and hours and miles and miles of training. This year in August, I started asking Shawn if he planned to do any riding at all before the race. He pulled it off with just a handful of rides as training.
This year the fam did not tag along and I think, for the first time since Shawn has done this race (7 years), our car was not the support vehicle.
Can you tell that they are just giddy with excitement? (Or at least ready to just get the whole thing over with?)

Bikes loaded and ready to go at the start.

Troy ready to lead off the relay. (Although, in this photo his eyes are still closed. Maybe he's still sleeping?)

Riders lined up and ready to go.

And they're off....

Rob and Jim getting the next bike (and rider) ready to go.

Rob getting ready to head out on his portion of the course.

Troy in...

Rob out.

A cool view of the riders along the road. A peleton in Star Valley. (Beware the rumble strips.)

Jim and Rob riding Snake River Canyon. Apparently Jim can keep up without even holding on to his handle bars.

More Rob in Snake River Canyon.

And more Jim riding Snake River Canyon. Not so many pictures of Shawn riding since he was the one with the camera.

The main reason that Rob and Shawn signed up to do this race again this year, was to go and pick up this:
It's the Lotoja 1000 trophy. The award for completing 5 individual Lotoja races, which happened last year for both of them.
Each of the little gold disks has the Lotoja insignia with the year of each race completed. It's really pretty cool looking.

Woohoo!

Can I say how glad I am that neither of them feels the need (at least right now) to go for the Lotoja 2000? I'm really glad. That being said, I still think it has been a good experience for Shawn. I think that he feels like after completing what we affectionately call, "Snowtoja 2005" and last year's "Throwtoja 2010" (referring to what was being done with the contents of his stomach all along the last 60 miles or so) he can look back and say, if I finished both of those races, I can do just about anything. Talk about doing hard things.

And just for a little icing on the cake... Team Stringham finished in 5th place!

Not a bad way to end this little Lotoja run. (Don't worry, I'm keeping in mind that they may still ride the relay a few times, but if training goes like this year, it shouldn't be any sort of hardship on any of us.) And of course, when Shawn decides to ride it again as an individual, I will be fully supportive!