Teva Mountain Games: The Grand Finale

Remember this name: Josiah Middaugh. The 28-year-old Vail-Eagle, Colorado resident just took top honors in the Teva Mountain Games men's Ultimate Mountain Challenge, a four-part event that included a downriver paddle, a 21-mile mountain bike race, a 10K trail run, and a 7-mile uphill road bike hill climb. Middaugh placed second overall in Sunday morning's trail run, and third overall in Sunday afternoon's hill climb—beating the weekend's celebrity, Floyd Landis, who came in eighth place. When I asked Middaugh, who's a pro X-Terra racer, how it feels to beat last year's Tour de France winner in a road bike race, he laughed. "It would have felt better if he was actually trying," he said modestly. In between events, Middaugh's recovery trick was soaking his legs in the icy cold Gore Creek that runs through town. His secret confession? He got in a kayak for the first time ever 10 days ago, in preparation for this event. Not bad for a guy who's walking away with $2,750 in prize money. Rounding out the top three in the men's category were Dave Mackey and Greg Krause. In the women's, the top three finishers included Keri Nelson, Lisa Isom, and Gretchen Reeves. Somewhere toward the back of the pack in the women's category you'll find my name. I'd like to say more about how the race went, but to be honest, I'm way too tired to write another word.

Comments

[nina]

you did NOT come in last