John Schilling: Arizona Trail Race Director, Queen’s Ransom Mastermind, Triple Crown Finisher #32

✨ Support the Podcast ✨Today’s guest is a pioneering endurance cyclist, Arizona Endurance Series organizer, mastermind of The Queen’s Ransom Bikepacking route, Triple Crown finisher, and the Race Director for the Arizona Trail Mountain Bike Race. In today’s conversation, we dive into the evolution of the Arizona Trail Race, navigating rules, fairness, route changes and FKT’s (fastest known times) in bikepacking events, inclusivity and controversies in endurance sports, and his own personal experience and contributions from over a decade of endurance bikepacking.----------------https://www.instagram.com/azt300_800/https://www.instagram.com/schillingsworth/https://www.instagram.com/queens_ransom_bikepack/https://www.instagram.com/binarybicycles/https://radiolab.org/podcast/alone-enough----------------This episode is brought to you by:Squirrel's Nut Butter - https://squirrelsnutbutter.com/discount/ENDURANCE15 Use code "Endurance15" for 15% off!Embark Maple Energy - https://www.embarkmaple.com Use code “EMBARK20” for 20% off!----------------https://www.instagram.com/theendurancestudio/Interested in sponsoring or advertising on the podcast? Contact me at: [email protected](00:00:00) - Podcast Introduction and Sponsor Messages(00:03:05) - Guest Introduction and Arizona Endurance Series Origins(00:05:12) - Scouting, Route Challenges, and Race Conditions(00:07:14) - Radiolab Interview and Its Impact(00:14:43) - Rules, Fairness, and Sportsmanship in Endurance Racing(00:17:03) - Arizona Trail FKTs, Route Changes, and Grand Depart vs ITT(00:23:00) - Seasonal Changes to Arizona Trail Race and COVID-19 Impacts(00:28:01) - Inclusivity, FKTs, and Controversies in Endurance Sports(00:33:48) - Sleep Strategies, Trail Hazards, and Route Adjustments(00:40:40) - Race Rules, Land Management, and Rider Preparedness(00:48:17) - Navigation, Gear Evolution, and Lighting Management(00:52:35) - Grand Canyon Rules and Completing the Triple Crown(00:57:16) - Reflections on Endurance, Safety, and Mental Toughness(01:10:16) - Heat Management, Rest, and Medical Decisions(01:13:49) - Gear Innovations and Reliability Concerns(01:21:40) - Route Innovations and Future Trail Projects(01:27:53) - Trail Development and Completion Rates(01:32:09) - Riding Philosophy, Regulations, and Local Culture(01:39:40) - Podcast Closing and Listener Support----------------#endurance #bikepacking