Gearing Up For JayP's Backyard Fat Pursuit

I am super excited about JayP’s Fat Pursuit and really looking forward to seeing the race. The caliber of racers attending is incredible, with 15 states being represented! We have received so much support from so many sponsors and friends. The awards, prizes and raffle are really off the charts! The three checkpoints have all come together from amazing donations, and will be well stocked with food, drinks and happy-to-help volunteers! The trail conditions are also looking favorable. Of course they can change, but right now the temps are cold and there is a very good base on the racecourse.

I’m shifting gears this time around and will not be racing JayP’s Fat Pursuit this year. A couple weeks ago, Jay and I decided that it was more important for me to become the Race Director assistant. I will be at The Pond’s Lodge, race headquarters, to coordinate all our awesome volunteers, answer questions, and to the best of our ability ensure that all the participants have a great race.

Of course I am disappointed not to be racing this year, but hopefully next year we will have the race preparations dialed in and will be able to hire a new race director assistant, so I can take part again on two wheels.

For those of you coming to take part in the Fat Pursuit, let me share a couple tips that might come in handy and help you have a great race.

I always think about how I can improve my time and be more efficient. A big part of becoming more efficient is gear testing. Not knowing what gear and clothing works best for you can make or break your race or ride. I cannot express how important testing your own gear is. When the weather is at its worst, get out there and test your gear to see what works best for you.

Another detail I test is packing my bike. Each piece of gear has its own place on my Salsa Beargrease, which I’ve named Fave. I think about which piece of gear I will most likely grab first in the event of a temperature change, or if I have to stop to fix something, or if I have to stop and boil water (wink, wink). I don’t want to be standing around trying to figure this out when the temps are -20F and I am racing. So, I pack and unpack my bike bags at home, rearrange gear while I am training and try to make sure I have it figured out before race day.

To those coming out for the Fat Pursuit, we look forward to seeing you in a few days.

And I’ll continue gearing up for the Arrowhead 135 in International Falls, Minnesota; The Icebox Of The Nation. You can bet I will be more than prepared for this race!