Third of a 4-part interview with Seattle resident Chris Ragsdale, winner of the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. In this segment, Chris talks through details of the race.
The Furnace Creek 508 is a 508-mile ultra endurance event that starts in Santa Clarita, CA and passes through Death Valley and the Mojave Desert. View the route.
The 508 is regarded as one of the toughest endurance events around, and this year’s edition is being called the most difficult in its history due to 60mph winds the racers encountered during the middle of the night. A majority of solo racers did not finish this year: 29 of 59 solo riders finished, and 98 of 120 teams finished.
Thanks to Mick and Martha Walsh for letting us use Studio A, aka their laundry room, as the interview space.
Update October 21:
In response to the comment posted about details of this finish, here is Chris’ account:
Here is the way I remember it, but consider the state I was in and remember that no ultra racer signs up for second race without a pretty selective memory:
We came into Baker expecting to be 30-40min down. They announced 23 min. was the gap. I figured they had to stop for gas there before proceeding. We had gotten extra gas in stove pipe wells, so we knew we could make it to the finish. I assumed they may have taken 5 minutes (guessing).
I was feeling great and feeling real good about the splits. We take off cross the highway and see his lights in the distance. I take off!! determined to make the catch before the top of the 20 mile climb. Ever so slowly I sure enough draw him in and just maybe a mile before the top I close down to the race legal distance (non-drafting)
I am feeling GOOD. I tell the crew to put the disc back on at the top and the 11tooth that comes with it 🙂 He put a gap in while I swapped wheels but I was determined. Sure enough I closed it up before the bottom. He put in a good hard pace on the following climb. But, I was feeling great now and growing more confident all the time.
I tried to come around to pass a time or two. Both to assess the situation and translate the face I was feeling good. He instantly countered both times and I dropped back and felt content to follow legal distance behind. We continued like this till the final time station and just past that we turned the corner and he sat up, pedaled along at 12mph(?)
Not knowing really what was going on I thought he wanted me to pass. (NOTE: I have a huge amount of respect for Emde, his ability, and experience racing) If that’s what he wanted I figured it couldn’t be what’s best for me. So I coasted behind him and we coasted along for 20(?) minutes. Long enough to think and get uncomfortable.
Instantly he stops, I roll up, He say’s how about a piss break. Sure I say. I don’t need to go but seems the right thing to do. I piss, Hop back on and start rolling slowly. After a few minutes he gets on and rides back. I ask my crew if he is back to legal distance they say yes. While this was all going on I thought: “My advantage here (if I have one at all) is probably endurance, not a sprint down Main St. in Twenty Nine Palms. So I decided: “Aw screw it, I’m going for it.” This just happened to be at the base of the climb up Sheep Hole–a 10 mile climb.
The Official was constantly giving splits and I guess it just started to grow. When I hit the top they said I was up 15. Not wanting to take anything for granted I put my head down and decided not to look back till they took my bike from me. When I hit Twenty Nine Palms I was fortunate to cross the line first. I think the eventual gap was 37 min.
Thanks for your interest. And thanks to Michael for an incredible race. His ability, sportsmanship, and class are unparalleled.
Chris “RAM” Ragsdale
