Meet
Marc
Home place
In the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, not far from Asheville, North Carolina.
Why I Ride
I ride to feel the sun, the sense of motion, and the fitness that results. Occasionally I’ll race, and love the challenge that comes with it, but I also enjoy challenging myself outside of races where the terrain or distance presents it’s own sense of accomplishment.
What I Ride
Wide variety of bikes, but two recently-acquired Colnago’s have become my favorites.
Favourite Race so far
Mid-Atlantic 12hr, 2022. It’s a draft-legal event and a small group formed that worked perfectly together, providing all three of us with a great experience and a huge step forward in miles completed.
An endurance highlight
In 2020, at the height of Covid, the 162,000-seat Bristol Motor Speedway was shut down from public events and eager to do whatever they could to stay relevant. I caught them at just the right moment to get a few days of private use in that Amazing facility and used it to break the over-60 100km track record. Not really ‘ultra-distance’, but a 2.5 hour blast at consistently high speed and intensity.
My most challenging moment
Bessie’s Creek 12-hr solo TT. With seven miles of a 20 mile loop pointed directly into a strong headwind, I was pushing ~12 mph at max HR! Very disheartening, but I kept reminding myself that everyone was facing the same challenge and the person who best kept focused would win the day. Only after finishing did I learn that all those who had been ahead of me had dropped out and I was stunned to snag the overall win!
What I tell myself to keep the bike moving forward
Make this day your best ever on the bike and you can switch back to the easier fun of motorcycling! I never do, but it’s amazing that in the fog of exhaustion, my mind accepts that lie and pushes on.
Racing or Riding Goals
At 65, every year that I don’t get slower is a win. I simply love the sport and whether racing, coaching or crewing, contributing to the advancement of myself or others is tremendously gratifying.
What endurance teaches me
Calm resolve toward a finish line that is well beyond the horizon. My nature is to gravitate to accomplishments that are within close reach. Calming that drive and resultant pace is something that pays benefits on and off the bike.
Favourite treat-food on the bike
I guess I’m an oddball on this front, as I don’t really like to eat on the bike. Jill is breaking me of that bad habit though and my endurance is definitely benefitting as a result. When I do eat, it is almost always oatmeal before and fig bars during.