I admit bias, but the Seattle area may very well be the US’ epicenter for ultra endurance cyclists. We are home to the one of the largest (in not the largest) randonneuring organizations in the world (Seattle International Randonneurs, aka “SIR”), and we typically have a strong turnout at events like Race Across America (RAAM), and the Silver State 508. And as I write this, six of the sixteen riders in this year’s Pac Tour Elite Transcontinental ride from San Diego to Tybee Island, GA are from Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.
Add to the list of Seattle’s top endurance cyclists High Performance Cycling and Blue Rooster Cycling‘s Danny Warner.
On Tuesday, June 16 Danny will be at the starting line of the Race Across the West (RAW) from Oceanside to Durango. RAW is the first part of RAAM. In recent history, Seattle’s Mick Walsh, Chris Ragsdale, and John Bergen have competed in RAW or RAAM.
Danny’s ultra race resume includes the 2012 Bend High Cascade 24-hour (solo), 2013 Race Across Oregon (4-person relay), 2014 Cascade Ultra, and the 2013 and 2014 Spokane Round and Round 24-hour (solo). On vacation in Maui, merely cycling Haleakala wasn’t enough so he did the “Maui Figure 8 with a Cherry:” ~240 miles and 24,766′ climbing. Locally he also periodically rides with the faster SIR group.
While Danny’s ultra and category racing reputation is credible, the path that led him to endurance cycling involved conquering some inner demons:
What led you to attempt RAW this year?
In 2011, I was 220 lbs and drinking out of boredom. I was very bored. With the drinking came the immaturity of dealing with the issues preventing me from liberation of those very issues. After many failed relationships and the exhaustion of my self-hating drama, I decided it was time to try a different roller coaster: one where I was the tycoon and could control my own loops and corkscrews. A friend had told me about the High Cascade 24 hour race in Bend and in September 2011, I quit drinking and started seeing a therapist. I also made the decision to do the race.
The goal for my first 24 hour race was just to finish. In September 2012, I got second place and learned about that thing called Flow. I didn’t know what it was at the time but my mind shut everything out and I was able to really enjoy my own company. I also race while listening to music and have about 30 podcasts called ‘Push the Night,’ each an hour long session of house, techno, and trance music. It really helps with the endorphin rush after about 16 hours.
My biggest fear is to settle into regressive complacency. After the Bend race, I started looking for long rides. On the main profile page of Strava, there were two carrots for me to go after: Biggest Ride and Biggest Climb. I wanted to do both on the same ride. In April 2013, I had the opportunity to go to Maui with the intent of riding up the longest paved ascent three or four times. After I got there, the bike shop told me about the figure 8 and I changed the plan to riding Haleakala just once but adding in the figure 8. I bonked a few times but the scenery and the descent down Pulehu Road kept me going. I’d love to go back at some point to try again but with a double sunrise on Haleakala as bookends (or sandwiched, because: Sandwich Islands).
In May 2013, I participated in the Spokane Round and Round as a solo rider and got first in my age group (under 40) and third overall. First place was over 40 and second was over 50. If you’re one that resents getting older, I would recommend endurance races over Botox, Corvettes, and coeds to change your outlook on aging with grace. Wisdom and stamina can’t be bought and I’ve much respect for the 40+ and 50+ racers whose consistency I cannot compete with when it comes to digging deep in the final 4 hours. These are the guys I look up to and they make getting older something to look forward to. In May 2014 I returned to Spokane and earned the same result.
My first endurance road race was the Race Across Oregon in July 2013 as part of a 4-person team. Road racing, compared to mountain bike events, is a bit more difficult to stay consistent with eating and hydration for a couple of reasons: the first being that you’re on blacktop going fast so you tend to evaporate fluids quicker and the second is with mountain biking, you do laps and it’s easy to eat and drink after each lap.
In August 2014, I did the 452-mile Cascade Ultra with my fiancé Nicole. I wanted to try to ride the whole race but I wasn’t sure I’d be able to ride the whole thing. Nicole was a great teammate, keeping me tame in the beginning of the race and pulling me along at the end. I was able to ride all 452 miles in under 30 hours. I slept for 15 minutes. Nicole rode for just over 100 miles. She just started riding last year. She doesn’t know how strong she is because she really only rides with me. She’s faster than me sometimes but don’t tell her that.
The day after I finished the Cascade Ultra, in my state of delirium, I signed up for Race Across the West, the first 863 miles of the Race Across America route.
As a member of Blue Rooster, how does category racing fit into getting ready for RAW?
In all honesty, it doesn’t. Road racers are lazy “strategic.” They save their energy for the finish line, which is why I’m still a category 4 racer. I like to go as hard as I can for the duration of the race. Sometimes I’m able to break away, but the majority of the time I pull the guys to the final sprint. It is, however, a lot of fun and it gets me out on the bike.
How have you trained for RAW?
I’ve been doing a lot of time trial (TT) riding, which I really enjoy. The hard part is trying to stay in the aero position for longer than 6 or 8 hours. With one month to go, the plan is to start 90 minutes a day of heat training. I’ll be doing hot pilates as I don’t think people in the studio would like the noise of my trainer spinning while they’re focusing on breathing and stretching.
Crew are essential for a successful ultra event. What kind of crew and support do you have for RAW?
Nicole and I will be getting married the first week of June. The next week we’re off to Oceanside. My new parents-in-law will be driving the support van down from Seattle for hopefully a nice trip down the coast before they all support me in the race. The van has a great bed and I rigged the AC up with a dryer vent line so you can blow cold air wherever you want. Yes, wherever. I’m very thankful for my crew and they’ll be family by then so it will be mandatory for them to love me. But seriously, I’ve made the van very comfortable for them and I hope they’ll be able to enjoy themselves.
What is your race plan?
During my last road race I learned that I’ll only be able to eat dry food (bars, sandwiches, etc.) for about 12-16 hours. After that I won’t have enough saliva to swallow anything. Rice bars are good with a few swishes of water and 5-hour energies. Chocolate milk will be my lifeline. And cherry pie. I’m training my salivary glands with cherry pie.
For sleep, I know I’ll need it at some point. I remember at one point on the Cascade Ultra thinking about how dolphins are able to put one half of their brain to sleep while keeping the other half awake. So right after I realize that I’m not a dolphin is the point where I’ll pull over for a 15-minute reset. This race is just long enough where it’s beneficial to sleep, unless you’re Strasser, which I’m not.
I’ll need time off the bike to stretch and change clothes. This will probably happen going into the night, then the morning, then the night again, and then the morning. Wait, what am I doing???
What is your objective for RAW?
There’s a movie I watched called 24 Solo. It’s about Chris Eatough and his competition, Craig Gordon. Craig’s interview is from a hospital bed. He won the race, but he put himself in rhabdomyolysis doing it. I always have that movie on my mind when I do these races. For me it’s not about racing, it’s about the Flow. My goal is to finish with a smile. That being said, I’d love to be able to finish in under 60 hours. I’m really good at holding speed on the flats but since I’m a big fan of pie, the hills will slow me down.
You can follow Danny via the RAW web site.
