RPI BaseCamper Tracy Paul-Hardin Gravlin shared her experience at Rebecca's Private Idaho in Sun Valley.
We are home from my long-time bucket list gravel race. Since 2018 I have been intrigued by Rebecca's Private Idaho in Ketchum, Idaho. I never thought I really could do it until I joined BaseCamp. In 2020 the race was completely remote with online training support. I was hooked. Last year I had to do it remote again. At 66 years old, I really felt the urgency to get to Idaho and do it this year. Once again I had the RPI BaseCamp 8-week training program. I am sure that without that support I may not have been able to achieve this.
I was fortunate to have my own start and finish line photographer…my beautiful daughter Jeri Gravlin. John Gravlin was so very supportive through it all. Driving Miss Tracy out West and being confident in me.
I was so happy to meet many of my BaseCamp friends and to meet Rebecca Rusch.
It truly was a challenging day. Starting with a very long mountain climb. I like to climb, so that was fun. The scenery I rode through was breathtaking! The headwind was ungodly. The mountain descent a white knuckler. It was fun to be with all different levels of cyclists. I was hoping to be middle pack but ended better and quicker than expected, 39th woman out of 129.
I felt good despite the dust, wind, heat, and challenging terrain. I was thinking "one and done"… but the whole experience has me wanting to try again now that I know the course and where I could push harder. Thank you, Rebecca's Private Idaho, for an amazing weekend and John & Jeri for being my support!