Chasing Ultra Paths - Millie G at The Traka
You can’t enter the Traka 710. You won’t see it advertised anywhere, but this is exactly what ultra distance rider Millie Gibbons did. The Traka is Europe’s premier gravel race week. With options of 560, 360, 200, 100 and 50km, each race presents its own challenge balancing between speed and distance. But combining multiple distances, and racing them back-to-back, while adhering to all official start times… that’s a whole new ball game.
Gear? Checked. Spirits? Soaring. Yet as the week unfolded, fate had other plans in store…
All right. Let’s start at the beginning.
Where did this crazy idea come from?
Millie Gibbons (MG): It was actually one evening in Girona. Everyone talks about the Traka and what distance they’re doing. Naturally I was going to do the 560km. The standard response was “you’re crazy”, to which I would say it’s not that far for me, but then someone replied “why don’t you do all of them”. Some quick calculations to check that it was actually possible, and the decision was made.
I really feel that this was me chasing my path of doing the Traka the way I wanted to do the Traka… and that was spending the whole time riding.
Coming into the ride, what made you most nervous?
MG: In everything I’ve done, I have rarely been nervous about things… I just think I’m riding my bike and I know I can always ride my bike. But having the pressure of the race starts as time cuts I made for myself, added a bunch of pressure I was not used to. But there was less to think about than on a normal ultra as I was going to my home every night.
The weather played a big part at this year’s Traka with the 560km eventually canceled. What did you end up doing?
MG: I wanted to make the most of the Traka vibes, so I stuck to the original plan to make all the official start times. (riding the 50 route after the 100 as they had the same start time). I had imagined arriving at the 360 start pretty knackered but there I was feeling fresh. This meant I gave it the beans, ended up 19th, and was ready to go again for the 200 the day after, then the 100 and the 50 the day after that. Ending the three days on 710km.
How do you manage to stay motivated to go the distance? How do you manage being on the bike for that long?
Because I’m having fun, and if you ask yourself why you’re doing it, that’s always good to remember. Your idea of normal evolves over time, riding those sorts of distances is just normal for me now.
But I often reflect about the first time I rode 100k and how far it felt and riding the 100 alongside people who would have been feeling this, really put into perspective how crazy this plan was…
Is it fair to say you’re drawn to the challenge of cycling rather than the competition of cycling?
MG: Yep 100%! And I think that has been made really apparent over the week of the Traka. The more I reflect on my Traka week and the more I talk to people about the ‘buzz of racing’. I realise I get the buzz from simply riding my bike.
Back to the race, what logistical part was the hardest? How did you manage your sleep and fueling?
MG: Having to work out the timings to make the race start times. Usually, I would stop and sleep for a certain amount of time and then ride. Instead it was how long do I have before the next start, before the 200 I had 5 hours but then for the 100 I had a solid 8 hours. And having to deal with the pre-race chaos three days in a row.
Turning up to a start line with everyone looking fresh and with fresh legs. At least I had fresh kit, which was a complete luxury! And as clean a bike I could have, given the mud and cleaning it in the bath at 1am after the 360.
At the finish, other riders were celebrating their achievement and relaxing and I was having to get home, where all my fuel and kit was laid out, with recovery shake at the ready. To set the alarm and turn up at the start line again. And then to get to my finish line (after riding the 50 alone) where the event was over and the finish line taken down. A real contrast to the other three finishes, but more like the understated ultra one I’m used to.
What were you carrying with you on your bike? Did this change throughout the week?
MG: This was a funny thing… I had prepared everything for the 560km. I had loads of food, lights, gloves, spare clothes for 40 hours of riding. When that was cancelled I was not going to change my setup. So I kept it as it was.
Your 560km experience ended after 20 hours of riding. Tell us about this?
I still had the urge to ride the 560 in one ride even after 710km the week before. I got 7,000m elevation in and came to 3am and I was just like ‘I am TIRED’. Being confused about where I am is the borderline of leaving the ‘fun zone’ and pushing towards my limits. I made it to the sunrise and honestly I think that was one of my top three biking moments ever. So riding the 560 in one ride is still on the to do list.
What’s next for Millie Gibbons?
Ha! Riding my bike!
The unwavering spirit of Millie to construct her own path and find beauty and enjoyment when pushing towards the limit is infectious. The drive to move forward and keep going is always present for her and we look forward to the next challenge Millie sets herself on.
Follow @milliegibbons here.