Records are official!, Author: Marko, Date: 05/20/07
Mr. Drew Clark, the UMCA Records Chair has reviewed the paperwork and the records are official:
Marko Baloh
Road Course in Slovenia
1May2007
Records set:
100 miles in 4 hr 1 min 12 seconds average speed 24.875 mph
200 miles in 8 hr 17 min 59 seconds average speed 24.097 mph
12-hour 285.07 miles average speed 23.755 mph
Officials: Chris Hopkinson
Mira Gasparic Petrovic
Sergej Kaucevic
12h Road Record ride on May 1st, 2007, Author: Marko, Date: 05/03/07
As an asthmatic I usually have a project on a World Asthma Day (1st Tuesday in May). Last year I achieved setting the Slovenia W-E record from Hodos to Debeli Rtic (340,4km or 211.5miles in 9h 34min 28sec hours). This year I wanted to do something special and decided to start my campaign with the attempt of breaking the 12h record of Tom Nieman (266,5 miles). The next step was finding the officials. The first person I thought of was my British friend Hoppo and with him two friends from Slovenia Sergej Kaucevic and Mira Gasparic Petrovic. The problem was finding a sponsor for Hoppo´s flight ticket. I told John Hughes about my problem and that I am going to apply four officials and then decide in the last minute (depending on finding a sponsor for Hoppo). At the last moment John was so kind to offer his personal sponsorship to the event to purchase the flight ticket for Hoppo to come and be the chief official of the event.
The officials (from left): Chris Hopkinson, Miroslava Gašparič, Sergej Kaučevič
Marko before the start at 6A.M.
As the event approached everything seemed to go wrong. I miscalculated the effort needed to make a 400km qualification brevet for PBP only 3 days before the record and was feeling (I thought) too tired. I got very little sleep on the night before the event and when I felt my bike underneath me it just felt great! I pushed the pedals effortlessly and the speed I achieved surprised everyone, including me.
Marko after completing the first lap:
After a few hours a wind picked up and seemed to slow me down or at least that is how I felt. Still, it doesn´t look like it had slowed me down much as I completed 100miles in 4 hours 1 minute 12 seconds, breaking the previous record by 9 minutes. Four hours later Iwas still on almost the same lap times, completing the 200 miles at 8 hours 17 minutes 59 seconds and breaking the previous 200 miles record by 45 minutes.
During the ride:
Knowing that I have already set two records (100 & 200 miles) and that borrowing accidents also the 12h record was in my pocket made my »head wind« problem a bit smaller. I tried to keep up a descent pace into the head wind part of the course and then accelerate with the wind at my back. It seemed to work as my lap times remained below 29 minutes all the time. The last two laps were even fun again with a big crowd gathering at the start-finish area and knowing that the end is near. My crew and Hoppo did their best motivating me to speed up in my last lap which I didn´t think was possible, but I did it anyway, setting my best lap time for over 4 hours. Hoppo even sat oputside the car shouting and motivating me to sprint got the last 10 minutes.
Marko finishing:.
The final result after 12 hours was 458.76 km or 285.07 miles. The papers have been sent to Mr. Drew Clark (UMCA Record Chair) and the record is pending certification from UMCA.
I think that was the ride of my life (so far) and I am looking forward to racing in Race around Slovenia (RAS EXTREME) next week.
Marko with his crew ...
... and the official Chris Hopkinson.
Photogallery RAAM 2006 is on!, Author: Marko, Date: 12/18/06
I am sorry for the delay, but I am sure you will agree that I have been pretty busy? Anyway, the photogallery of RAAM 2006 is finally ready, you can find it here:
I hope you will enjoy looking at the photos as much as I have enjoyed racing!
TEA!, Author: Marko, Date: 11/03/06
We´ve welcomed a fifth member of our family into the world. On November 4th, 2006 at 11.13 a.m. TEA BALOH was born. She is a little smaller than Erik was at birth, but a big girl anyway - 3,990g and 54cm. And, she is well behaved, like her daddy...
Closing the season with a victory!, Author: Marko, Date: 11/03/06
LESS IS MORE!
In June I’ve realised my dream and finished RAAM (Enduro) in second place. It was my third try and the one with least training (only 5.000 miles of riding before the start) and the smallest budget (around 16.000$, no RV and no luxury for me and my crew). Still, it was FUN and an unbelievable experience. In my three RAAMs I’ve had three awesome crews, I have met a few extraordinary people that will forever stay in my heart. Without them this adventure would not be possible and I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.
Anyway, this is a different story. It is about being a bit lasy over the winter, because I didn’t know if I would be able to (financially) make it to the startline. Plus, I also have two small children at home, who demand more of my time and devotion. So, it was my choice to be at home more and on the bike less. Of course, I hit it in the last months with a few mega miles rides and all the shorter rides I did were quite fast, as I wanted to return home quickly.
It seems like it was a right thing to do, as I was flying on my bike. I was able to ride with Jure Robic in a 24h race Kraftwerk Trophy three weeks before RAAM as we set the World Record for 24h race with 978,5km. Me, a man with a full-time job, dueling it out with professional bike rider? Yeah, life was beautiful… In RAAM I fought with Boyer for the lead three quarters of the way, until a few health problems reminded me of my two previous attempts and I decided to play it safe. Last day of RAAM was very emotional, with lots of tears and I was totaly empty at the boardwalk, not being able to enjoy the experience fully. I was numb and it took my a day or two to realise I have finally achieved my DREAM.
After RAAM I took three weeks off the bike, there was a lot of work to be done at the office and I also enjoyed the afternoons and weekends with my family. Then I started riding a few days a week, first slowly, then I decided to do a few hill climb races in which I (not suprisingly) didn’t do very well. Then came an invitation of the manager of Slovenian Masters team to join them in the UCI Masters World Championships for Time Trial. I couldn’t say no, so I started to do some interval training and improved really fast. My goal was to do a 20km TT with an average speed of 44+ km/h. I did it even better, with an average speed of 45+ km/h and took 15th spot in 30-39 years Category. Quite good for an old guy, don’t you think?
Then there came a call from Tomas Jaklitsch, a fellow ultra-cyclist who I know from 24h races and Race across the Alps. He was putting together a 24h race in Austria called Kainachtal Trophy and wanted me to join the party. I told him that I only did two (2!) training rides of 100 miles or more after RAAM and it would probably really only be a party for me. He didn’t care, he still wanted me in. How could I say no, when this is what I love to do? Riding my bike. 24h non-stop. Yeah, life was good again.
With around 800 miles in July and 1000 miles in August I found myself on the start line with 40 other racers, who were possibly putting much more into training than me. My plan was simple – stay on the bike and try to follow the fast teams as long as possible. I was positive that the 3000 miles that I covered in US in 10 days of June as my last mega »training« will somehow kick in when the going gets tough.
Racing the first 10 hours with the 12h teams and solo racers was a blast. I kept close to the fastest teams and Valenbtin Zeller, another RAAMster, who opted on doing the 12h instead of 24h. IT was quite hot for a mid september day, so my wife Irma and a friend Robi (also a member of my RAAM 2006 RAAM crew) were very busy keeping me hydrated and fed. Speed was not a problem at all, but as the night was getting closer I was more and more worried about a certain Cristoph Strasser, who was doing everything to keep up with me (and the fast teams) and was doing a very good job. I was worned before the race about him, as he did win two 24h races in the last two months. I’ve tried with the attacks a few times, but couldn’t shake him of my wheel.
As the tenth hour was getting near, the 12h teams started to fight it out and I kept myself in the thick of things. As the result of that after their sprint finish I found myself in the lead with a member of one of the 24h relay teams. He looked at me and asked me if I am going to participate in tempo making. I looked back and as Strasser was not in sight I said »Sure!«. We were flying for the first few laps, having even faster time splits that 12h teams had in their race. Then he was replaced with another member of his team and then another and another and then he returned himself… And there was still no Strasser in sight. I inquired about it my crew and they told me Strasser has three other teams as a company and they were doing their best to catch the team that was accompanying me!
»What did I get myself into?« I kept asking myself as the second hour of our attack passed by and we still had only a half of a 6,66 km lap of advantage. My plan was to get one lap of advantage over the second placed rider and then keep it cool over the night, with only one task – stay glued to his wheel. But now this plan seemed to have a big hole in it. I didn’t count on the other teams who, by trying to catch the first team, were also aiding Strasser in keeping me behind. It was well over my twelveth hour of on the bike and I was wondering how long can I keep pushing as hard as I did for the last hours. Fortunatelly, the gap over the followers was slowly increasing and just after my thirteenth hour in the saddle we caught Strasser.
Just after that Strasser has stopped for a few laps, seemingly destroyed from the fast pace of the last hours. After the race he admitted that he probably went to hard in the first half of the race, trying to keep up with me. Well, as far as I am concerned, the victory was set as I had a very big advantage over the second placed rider. All I had to do is stay pedalling through the night. But even that was easier said than done, beceuse there were only a few fast relay teams, so I had to participate in the tempo making almost throughout the night.
The night was very cold, around 6°C, so I dressed warmly from the waist up, that is whatever I could do while riding. I kept my promise not to stop for 24h hours, so I didn’t put on the leg warmers. The other riders and the spectators couldn’t believe their eyes as I was racing through the cold night with only my shorts on, but i can assure you I was not cold as I had to push hard every minute of the night.
It went all right for me, but I was spent in the morning, barely able to keep up with the teams for the last four hours of the race. They were quite tired by then, too, otherwise I would have to make it on my own. As I had a huge advantage by then I could stop my race a number of laps before the finish, but I kept my promise to myself (and Irma) and followed it through to the end. I won with 884,4km (134 laps) in front of Austrian riders Stiegler with 739,2km (22 laps behind) and Ebner with 719,4km (25 laps behind). Cristoph Strasser has stopped before the end of 24h and finished in 10th place. It was nowhere close to the 24h record we set with Jure in May, but with my lack of training and 2278 m of »climbing« I didn’t expect to get close to 978km anyway. Interesting is that I finished in the same time (and laps) as the fastest relay team in the race!
Thanks to my crew Robi & Irma (there was also a small child joining the crew, you cannot see her, but I could certainly feel her presence):
What does an ultra-cyclist need the most after a grueling 24h race? A power-nap, of course!
One more proof that there is more to training for ultra-cycling then lots of miles and miles and miles… You can make it with short and fast rides, as long as the base is there and everything else is in your head. As they say 90% of ultra-cycling is mental – If you believe you can do it, YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO IT!
As for next season, RAAM is way too expensive for me, but there are still lots of ultra races I would like to do. And lots of victories to fight for…
Tim's view on his RAAM experience, Author: Marko, Date: 08/05/06
RAAM 2006 with marko.
RAAM must be a different experience to everybody. It is a roller coaster,
sometimes in slow motion. To see for the first time the effort that people
put into their roles is eye opening. It requires a complete suspension of
your normal life and concentrated focus on the job at hand. To be able to do
support for a rider such as marko is an honour. Along the way, you feel, see
and do many things. Here is a sample:
exciting - to see the race start and the riders disappear down the road.
nerve wracking - to wait in the heat and wonder how marko has faired unsupported.
bewildering - to be in control of food disbursement and navigation of rider and car.
inspiring - to see him creeping up the hairpinbends towards Wolf Creek pass.
lonely - to wait for marko in the dark while thewind whips at a desolate truck stop.
numbing - to stand in the freezing water of a Colarado river.
desperate - to find a way to make a motel fit the budget.
beautiful - to be doing rider support at dawn past Mexican hat and through Monument valley.
startling - to be enveloped and pelted by stones by the strong wind of a nearby tornado.
wonder - at why marko doesn´t fall off in the winds.
transience - after running over a turtle.
funny - to see Fabio´s support crew blow the same fuse as we did (and we had a spare for them!).
frenetic - to dive back into the support car for one more thing during a pit stop.
surreal - to see relics from a past fight loom in the headlights through the Gettysburg national park.
disappointing - to see the effort the time station volunteers put into their time stations and not be able to talk longer with them.
quaint - to talk to amish folk about horses and bikes at the petrol station.
relief - to see the distance left reduced to a training ride.
fantasy - to see marko smiling as he sails down the boardwalk to the finish line!
Tim, thanks for being a part of my »dream team« and for writing this. Marko
ATLANTIC CITY, Author: Irma, Date: 06/22/06
Marko has crossed the finish line! Congratulation to all of his crew members!
He is second in his category and it took him 10 days 9 hours and 28 minutes.
Thank you everybody for cheering and suporting him! You will be posted, also from Marko, but now I´m off!
He will come home on Sunday, 25th of June at 21:35 on Brnik airport.
Times goes by so slowly, when you expect something good to happen. This last kilometers must be spirit killing – not for Marko of course, nothing bothers him now. But for us at home, clicking the refresh button and nothing happens and when it does you almost miss it, because you forget what was before.
Some of you will wait late in the night for the finish but for those who will fall asleep, you will wake up in the morning knowing that he crossed the finish line and probably he sleeps already. First good sleep after ten days and a half. I will keep you posted.
From TS54 is still 160 km till the end and by last calculation he will be at the finish around 20:00 PDT or at 2:00 CET.
