Winter Endurance event brings cyclists and runners through long-distance gravel routes
More than 30 cyclists at the Gravel Worlds Winter Endurance event Feb. 17 cross the starting line as they begin the 100-kilometer course. The route takes participants through gravel roads beginning in Lincoln. (Jordan Moore/Nebraska News Service)
By Jordan Moore
Cyclists and runners attended Gravel Worlds’ second annual Winter Endurance event Feb. 17. More than 200 participants finished long-distance biking and running events on Lincoln’s gravel roads.
This year’s event included a 150-, 100- and 50-kilometer bicycle route as well as a 10-kilometer run.
The event is hosted by Gravel Worlds, a local organization founded in 2010 that sought to bring cyclists together who share a similar passion.
Jason Strohbehn, the director of operations and marketing for Gravel Worlds, said the reason behind riding on gravel instead of pavement is the added challenge.
“The gravel mantra means less than ideal riding conditions, but that’s the fun of it,” Strohbehn said. “We’re going to be riding no matter what.”
Three cyclists prepare at the starting line of the Winter Endurance 150-kilometer event as the sun begins to rise in Lincoln Feb. 17. (Jordan Moore/Nebraska News Service)
Trisha Luke of Manhattan, Kansas, placed first in the 100-kilometer bicycle event at last year’s Winter Endurance. This year, Luke biked from her hometown in Manhattan, Kansas to Lincoln in preparation for the event.
“You’re always preparing,” Luke said. “The winter weather definitely makes it harder.”
Many riders do not train during the colder months, Luke said. Events like Winter Endurance challenge cyclists like herself stay motivated to keep riding on gravel roads all year.
This year, Luke placed first among women who competed in the 150-kilometer event after riding on the gravel route for nearly nine hours.
“It’s about having fun for me,” Luke said. “Regardless of anything, I’ll have fun because I get to ride my bike.”
Bianca Quintana of Scottsbluff, runs on a gravel road during the Winter Endurance 10-kilometer event in Lincoln Feb. 17. This is Quintana’s first time participating in a Gravel Worlds running event. (Jordan Moore/Nebraska News Service)
Bianca Quintana, a teacher at Elliott Elementary School in Lincoln, and originally from Scottsbluff said her experience as a first-time runner in the 10-kilometer Winter Endurance running event was a personal accomplishment.
“I’m doing this for myself and no one else, and it’s a good feeling,” Quintana said.
Quintana said she brings her running clothes to school to prepare for a long-distance run. Once her students are dismissed and she has a curriculum planned for the next day, she trains by running around her school.
“My favorite part is that I can relate running to my life,” Quintana said. “I want to spread awareness about how running can help our mental health.”
Abi Burke shares a hug at the finish line after placing second in the Winter Endurance 50-kilometer bike event in Lincoln Feb. 17. (Jordan Moore/Nebraska News Service)
A sense of community is the focus for many of the competitors.
“The community is what stands out,” Strohbehn said. “The finish line is where everyone hangs out and cheers each other on.”
A welcoming environment and a place where life-long friends are developed is what Gravel Worlds has strived for, Strohbehn said.