Students participate in LOTOJA
On Saturday morning more than 500 people competed in the Lotoja, a 203-mile bicycle race that begins in Logan and ends in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Some of the challenges of the race include biking over 5,000 vertical feet and a 7,000-foot mountain pass.
The participants also bike through three different states: Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. “Lotoja is unique. It is an inspiring, colorful event that offers a spectacular conclusion to the cycling season,” said Brent Chambers, of Epek Sports and Promotion.
Two Utah State University students were among those attracted by the challenge.
Tommy Murphy, a 21 year old Junior at Utah State University majoring in exercise science and president of the USU cycling club, competed in the Lotoja for his fourth time this weekend.
“Once you get a taste for it you have to do it again,” Murphy said.
This year Murphy was trying to improve on his 13th place finish from last year. Last year he took one and one-half hours off his time, and this year he was hoping to do the same thing again.
The record for the race was set by Scott Moniger in 1996. His time was 7:26:00, but that was with a tailwind, Murphy said. How well the cyclists do depends on the weather.
This was proven when Marty Jameson, who had competed in the Tour de France, took 9 hours to finish because of snow. Even with all the training and work the weather can ruin a race.
Darcie Kauffman, a 21-year-old senior at USU majoring in health education, competed for the first time this weekend in the Lotoja.
To train for the event she has been cycling 100 miles, three times a month. She also competed in a 100-mile race last month placing second in her division. Even with all the training and preparation she said she was, “super-nervous.”
The Lotoja is a race designed for many different kinds of cyclists: Those who are competing to win and those who just want to finish.