Jenny Tough, 31, is an adventurer and endurance sportswoman who specialises in running and hiking expeditions in mountains around the world – currently she is completing a run through a mountain range in each continent. Oh, and she also takes part in the occasional extreme cycling race, in which she often places first. Here she describes her winning ride at the Atlas Mountain Race 2020 in Morocco.
The inaugural Atlas Mountain Race was an 1145 kilometre unsupported bike-packing event with 20,000m of elevation gain. It was held over a fixed route through the Atlas Mountains between Marrakesh and Agadir on the Atlantic coast, over gravel tracks and single and double-track mountain trails (and the occasional rock-strewn or relentlessly sandy stream-bed).
You can follow Jenny Tough’s adventures @JennyTough and jennytough.com. See more about the Atlas Mountain Race, which is sponsored by PEdALED.
First a bit of form
I'm a runner at heart, and I've pushed myself really hard in running expeditions that have honed my mountain survival skills and endurance abilities. I think that's why I manage well in events where the survival aspect is as important as the pedalling, like really remote bike-packing events such as the Silk Road Mountain Race and Atlas Mountain Race.
I only really started "proper” cycling three years ago. Before that I had been bike touring for a few years and would go off on two wheels to new countries each summer, but gradually I found that in addition to the element of exploration, I was really enjoying the sport itself, riding hard (even with panniers and a beast of a steel touring bike). So somewhere along those adventures I began to wonder how far I could push myself on a bike. I bought a road bike and – reluctantly - some lycra shorts and shoes I couldn't walk in, and got quickly hooked. As I gained confidence I started dabbling in off-road, too, and found so much joy bike-packing. I'm not a racer at heart - I'm simply not competitive enough - but I found an incredible tribe in the ultra bike-packing community and that's what keeps me coming back to these events.
Why the Atlas Mountain Race?
I ran across the Atlas mountains in a solo, unsupported expedition a couple of years ago, and it was a really mega challenge for me. I left a piece of my heart in those mountains - and I also left a few demons up there as well.
In 2018 I raced the inaugural Silk Road Mountain Race and it was so much fun experiencing the challenge with the other riders, and really I just wanted to be at the Atlas Mountain Race for more of that community vibe. Plus returning to the Atlas Mountains, this time not alone, but with friends.
What is AMR like?
The race course takes you to pretty remote and exposed areas, and so getting from one resupply to the next can feel like running the gauntlet, particularly when it comes to water. The riding changes a lot as you go, from sandy tracks to frustrating riverbeds in the oasis valleys to long switch-back climbs into the mountainous followed by thrilling single-track descents. Apart from the beauty of the mountains, the main thing for me was that it was fairly social. There were 185 riders on a fixed course so we were never alone for long.
Nights are long in Morocco in February, but the brilliant starry skies are amongst the best you can see in the world. I usually bivvied on a sandy patch off the trail, looking up at the milky way for a few seconds before passing out, totally exhausted, for 2-3 hours. Then I would ride for several more hours in the dark before the best sunrise you've ever seen would gradually show up. Days were scorching hot with zero shade, nights fairly cold, but always dry!
Nelson organises good events, and while you're very much left to your own devices to survive, you're also definitely 'part of something' together. It creates a great competition/challenge.
Were you ready for it?
I don't think I would ever say yes to that - I always wish I could do more. And with the event being in February, it’s hard to put in long rides in the months beforehand, so I wasn't feeling very confident. I had been riding a lot, and felt good on the bike, but I hadn’t managed to do anything more than a few hours since the New Year.
I do think it was an advantage that I knew the Atlas pretty well, so mentally I did feel prepared for what we would encounter and I didn’t have to spend time researching.
How did your race go?
My aim was to have a good first day and reach CP1 before dark, and that luckily went pretty well. After that my goal was to keep my shit together and keep moving! I was actually having a decent ride without any problems, but then I got a surprise period, which ended up being quite a disaster. The route is remote as it is, but in North Africa tampons are difficult/impossible to find anyway for cultural reasons. Then there are no toilets or privacy or running water, so that created a logistical issue and cost me a lot of time, on top of painful cramps, problems with heat regulation, and saddle sores. It set me back probably half a day in the end.
I was riding a Shand Stooshie with 650b wheels and Panaracer 1.90 Gravel King tyres. I loved it, though with all the climbs I could have done with bigger gearing.
What Strategies do you have?
A consistent schedule helps, so I tried to sleep around 1 a.m. each night, for just 2-3 hours, depending how I felt. Food wise, on such a remote course you just have to get as much in as you can when it becomes available, and the same for water.
Mentally, I've built up a lot of coping techniques over the years to keep me both positive and motivated. It was a little easier on AMR as there were so many riders around to keep me company and also set a fast pace.
I listened to music half the time, as well as a couple of podcasts and I even called my parents once when I had signal for nearly an hour. I seemed to have a smile on my face most of the time, despite the gruelling course!
What was your lowest moment?
Right at the very end. I finally believed it was almost over and that I could clinch the win, but then the last 10km was deep sand and impossible to ride. I got really frustrated trying to push the bike, always looking over my shoulder for Andrea to catch up to me! I just wanted to be done and be holding a cold beer… it felt like the longest segment of the ride. I guess I had already ‘let myself go’ when I saw I was so close to the end, and that’s why it was affected my mood so much. Certainly I didn’t complain during equally difficult segments earlier in the race.
What were the good moments?
I met some great people and caught up with friends from past races, and that was definitely the best part for me.
We also got amazing sunrises and sunsets each day, and stunning starry skies. It was easy to find gratitude in those moments.
What did you learn?
I realised I didn't have the confidence in myself that I should have had. I always assume I'm the weakest rider and unlikely to keep up. I learned I need to back myself more and believe in my abilities.
