When to Send It and When to Survive: Iceman Strategy for the Midpack Rider

The moment Labor day is behind us, I start stalking the Iceman website to see if the course has been released. We all know the airport start is flat and fast, and when we get to Land’s End Road and Timber Ridge, the goal is to have enough left in the tank for those final, brutal climbs.

But what about strategy in between?

Let’s say you’re at Mile 12, and you know Make It Stick is coming up. You hear the drums in the distance, your heart rate starts to creep up, and you feel that early burn in the legs. What’s your move? Do you burn a match? Draft off someone? Take the inside line?

Decisions like these might not seem significant in the moment, but they can absolutely affect your finish once you hit Land’s End Road.

When to Survive at Iceman: Ride Smart to Finish Strong

Surviving doesn’t mean coasting—it means being strategic: lowering your heart rate, spinning in an easier gear, choosing a smoother (though possibly slower) line, or tucking in behind a group to draft and recover. It’s a conscious decision to back off just enough to stay in control and ready for what’s ahead.

We all know Iceman has plenty of spots where this is possible. The trick is knowing when to choose survival mode based on how you feel—not based on what the rider in front of you is doing.

If you’re in the top 10 waves, you can afford to take more risks. Those riders have the fitness and handling skills to recover faster from mistakes. But if you’re like me, midpack and working hard just to stay steady, surviving at the right time can save your race.

Do you race with a heart rate monitor? Wearing one on race day is as critical as your tire choice, nutrition, or bike setup. It’s a key tool in knowing when to push and when to hold back.

Signs It’s Time to Survive:

  • You’re at or above your max heart rate and it’s not coming down.
  • You can’t control your breathing, and your vision is starting to blur.
  • You feel like you’re on the edge of blowing up.

I give myself this rule: “If I can’t recover in 30 seconds, ride smart until I can.”
That simple guideline has kept me from bonking many times over the years.

Places on Course Where Survival Might Be the Right Call:

Rooty Climbs in the Vasa (Miles 23–25)

Late in the race, the legs are toast. These climbs will test your traction and balance. Pick the wrong line or attack too hard, and you’ll be hiking your bike and losing time.

Sand Pits After the Airport Start (Miles 1–5)

The Iceman crew does a great job raking the sand, but it can still ruin a good rhythm. Light hands, steady cadence, and picking the packed line are key. You might slow down slightly, but it’s a good spot to let your heart rate settle.

Singletrack Bottlenecks

We’ve all been here. You’re stuck behind a few riders, and the urge to pass is strong. Unless you’re just a few riders back and can see a clean line, it’s smarter to sit in and recover. Save your energy for open sections where a pass will stick.

Send It (When It Counts): Key Moments to Gain Ground at Iceman

Sending it is about momentum, confidence, and timing. It’s not reckless—it’s calculated. These are the moments where a little extra push can lead to big gains, especially if you’re feeling good.

Wide Two-Track Before Dockery Road (Miles 2–8)

This is one of the earliest opportunities to settle in and make smart moves. The terrain is mostly wide, fast, and fairly smooth—ideal for gaining positions and building momentum before the course tightens up. It’s not technical, which makes it perfect for staying relaxed, keeping your cadence smooth, and finding a fast wheel to work with.

This is a great spot to draft and flow if you’re in a group. Watch out for hidden sand pockets, stay light on the bars, and trust your line. This is a safe place to “send it” without overcooking the engine.

Short, Punchy Climbs with Good Traction

Think: the climb before Make It Stick or Time Sucker. If the surface is firm and you’ve got power, this is the time to go. Beating the rider in front of you to the top can save a lot of energy later.

Descent Into Williamsburg Climb

Fast and wide, and if you keep your speed, you gain free momentum into the climb. Stay off the brakes, hold your line, and pedal through the downhill. Last year, I had to bail on my line because a rider in front stopped dead, so stay alert and ready to react!

Right After the Icebreaker (Final Climb)

You’re tired, you want a Bell’s beer, and the finish line is minutes away. If you’ve got anything left, this is the time to burn it. Send it, pass who you can, and empty the tank. You’ve worked too hard to coast now give it everything you’ve got and leave it all out there.

Final Thought: The Mind Is Stronger Than the Body

We all reach a point where the legs say “no.” But the mind? That’s where the magic happens. Whether you’re pushing hard or riding smart, remember: you’ve got more in the tank than you think.

Race hard. Race smart. No regrets.

See you in the woods.

Thank you to Chris Mutnansky @the_racing_ref for being our 2025 Iceman Trailblazer!

Welcome back Icepeople!

It’s safe to say that we’re officially settling into spring up here in Northern Michigan (is it though?), and that means there’s even less excuses to grab that two-wheeler and start putting in the miles! Yet again I thought maybe I would talk about fitness and training programs, maybe nutrition as well, but find myself here on a Monday night really thinking about both the motivations to get out there, along with the “excuses,” and the reason(s) we put off that long ride early in the morning or a quick one during our lunch break. I really don’t think there is a wrong answer in terms of the “excuses” part; just simply put: life happens. But where do we interject and assert to ourselves that we aren’t going to let “life happen” and we’re going to get out there? Spoiler-alert: this is also a family appreciation post.

My uncle, who I’m also lucky to call a very good friend and an extremely trusted mentor once told my brother Erik and me right before we went off to college three things to live by: 1) Never miss out on a good time, 2) Never leave fun to find fun, and 3) You always remember the chances you don’t take (edited from its original for censorship purposes). While I’m pretty sure two out of the three don’t necessarily apply to biking (or maybe they do?), the third one even as a “slightly” different take from the original is something that we can all think about. We all know the famous quote from Wayne Gretsky: “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” But, how many times can you look back at your life and say “man, I should’ve done that.” Hopefully not very many, but I don’t think there’s a single person who doesn’t have a few items on that list. The reality is, we all have to make a living for ourselves. You may have a family as well. Life is about keeping a bunch of plates spinning all at one time, while trying to fit in the things you love, the things that make you happy, and most importantly the things that make you feel like… you. So when you choose to get on the bike, hit the trail, or carve out 30 minutes for yourself, you’re not just training, you’re choosing joy. You’re saying “yes” to what matters to you.

In my first post I talked about the people around us who make it possible for us to do what we love. And coming off of Mother’s Day, I can’t help but give the biggest and most love-filled shoutout to my wife (and mother to our 3 year old) who lets me put in the time I need to feed not just the competitive nature that comprises a large chunk of who I am, but also just the general sense of happiness that riding gives me. I’m fortunate that she understands that part of me, but there are certainly times it’s not ideal with a young one in the house, and we navigate that together. But I think one of the fundamental aspects of being able to “get up and get out there” is knowing that the people in your circle believe in you. And not only do they believe in you, they love you and want to see you fulfilled. There are any moments where I’m in appreciation of the support, but man if there isn’t anything more powerful than wanting to work hard and do my best for them – I’ve had that thought almost regularly when cranking an out and back, or even just a loop around 25k so I can hit Anita… “embrace the suck, do it for you people.” Many don’t understand the obsession we (I’d guess 98% of you still reading this far) have with this sport, but I guarantee they recognize when something brings you absolutely joy and fulfillment. That kind of fulfillment is contagious, it lifts you up, and it lifts those around you too. The more you chase what lights you up, the more you radiate and attract positivity and happiness to those around you. 

I’ve always been a believer that motivation is an emotion; it’s something that comes and goes. When we settle deep into comfort zones and complacency, it makes that emotion even more difficult to access. Like many of you, I grapple with that shifting emotion. Some days I just “don’t feel like it.” I referenced the book Do Hard Things by Steve Magness in my last blog, and let this serve as a reminder that “toughness” is not innate; it’s a skill that is trained, and most certainly earned. As a kid growing up, I remember hearing “discipline, discipline, discipline” from my coaches if I wanted to play at the next level… To the point where it’s really not appealing or “motivating” when typing that just now. But there is truth to it. When the emotion of motivation is not there, discipline is what gets you out there anyway. And when you make it part of your day, it becomes routine. I think once you have the routine figured out and commit to not breaking it (discipline enters the chat), you’re already shaving minutes off your 2025 Iceman time! I am so very lucky in the sense that I have people in my life who understand what it means for me, and that’s what keeps me going out… to get better for my people, to make them proud, and to be an example to our little man. To show him that we work hard, but we also have fun while doing it. Even on the hard days, even on the “don’t feel like it” days, you’re building something. And each effort, no matter how small, is a brick in the foundation of who you’re becoming. 

So get out there. Get out there for the people in your “village,” and more importantly, get out there for you. You deserve it. You’re already crushing it just by having signed up. Now go turn that commitment into watts. Let’s ride bikes!

Thank you to Mark Daisy @markdaisymusic for being our 2025 Iceman Trailblazer.

Training for the Iceman Cometh Challenge: Building Strength and Skills for Race Day

The Iceman Cometh Challenge is one of the most thrilling and challenging races I’ve ever faced. From the tight singletrack to the big hills and sandy sections, it demands everything from endurance to technical skills and mental focus. What has made this race even more special for me is the community that comes with it. Having friends surrounding me, both on and off the course, has really helped boost my confidence and pushed me to keep going, no matter how tough things get. The encouragement from fellow riders and the shared goal of tackling the course together makes the experience even more rewarding.

Over the past few years, I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t when preparing for the race. In this post, I’ll share what has worked best for me when training for the Iceman, from building endurance to improving technical skills and strength, all leading up to race day.

Endurance Training

Endurance is the foundation for a successful Iceman ride. The 30-mile course requires you to keep pushing through tough terrain for two to three hours, depending on your pace. In the beginning, I would just do longer rides on the weekends with my stepbrother. We often rode the same route at 5 a.m. every Sunday, which felt somewhat boring, but we worked up to completing a 24-mile course at a 13.5 mph pace easily.

As I progressed, I added hill sprints and intervals into my rides, gradually increasing my speed. Since joining the MISCA team, I still go on long rides every weekend, but I’ve shifted from doing only long rides to steady, longer interval-based 45-minute base-building workouts. These have made a huge difference in improving my fitness. I appreciate that they’re shorter and easier to fit into my schedule.

My favorite base-building session looks like this:

  • 5-minute warm-up at around 60 watts
  • Three sets of:
  • 4 minutes of steady pedaling at 75 watts
  • 2 minutes of harder effort at 85 watts
  • 5-minute recovery
  • Then three sets of:
  • 5 minutes of tempo effort at 75 watts
  • 2.5 minutes of harder effort at 85 watts
  • 5-minute recovery
  • In the first set, I stay on the lower side of my power target, and in the second set, I push a little above my target

Since joining the MISCA Devo team, I’ve been working on interval training to improve both endurance and speed. One of the sessions that really improved my speed was:

  • 7-minute warm-up
  • 3 repetitions of:
  • 30-second sprint (85–90% of max effort)
  • 30 seconds of gentle pedaling or coasting
  • 5-minute recovery
  • 5 repetitions of:
  • 30-second sprint
  • 30 seconds rest
  • 10-minute recovery ride at moderate effort
  • 5 more repetitions of:
  • 30-second sprint
  • 30 seconds rest
  • 10-minute cooldown

Another one of my favorite training methods is hill repeats. I’ll go to Anita’s Hill and sprint up it, coast down, and repeat

Strength Training and Cross-Training

Strength training has become a key part of my routine, thanks to my MISCA coach. We focus on building functional strength and improving balance, stability, and mobility—all super important for handling the bike on rough terrain.

Some of the most helpful exercises I do include:

  • Lunges, squats, and deadlifts
  • Side-loaded lunges and squats
  • Overhead marches
  • Bridge variations and plank pillar holds
  • Hollow body holds and penguins
  • Banded reverse lunges and banded dead bugs
  • Rows, chest press, and tricep dips

For mobility, I’ve been doing:

  • Hip openers, frog squats, and figure 4 stretches
  • Leg swings, jumping jack variations, and skaters with a twist
  • Side bends, forward bends, scorpions, windshield wipers, and alternating one-leg hugs

These workouts have been both fun and really effective. They’ve helped improve my overall comfort on the bike, especially during long efforts and when handling rough terrain.

Recovery is just as important as the training itself. Eating right, foam rolling, and stretching are part of my routine and have helped me stay strong and injury-free.

I’ve also included cross-training to keep things interesting and challenge different muscle groups. Running and hiking have been great for building cardiovascular fitness, preparing me for the more demanding sections of the course. Even indoor rock climbing has helped improve my grip strength and balance, which definitely pays off on the bike.

Technical Skills for Tight Corners and Sand

The Iceman’s singletrack is tight, and mistakes can cost you precious time. Practicing cornering and bike handling was a big part of my training. I worked on leaning just my bike while keeping my knees wide and my weight centered, which helped me stay smooth through tricky turns. Riding the trails near Brighton, which are packed with roots and rocks, helped sharpen my skills. Even though the Iceman course doesn’t have rocks, those challenging trails forced me to improve my balance and control, making me faster and more confident overall.

To prepare for the sandy sections, I practiced riding loose gravel and sand pits at a local trail. The key was to keep my pedals turning and stay light on the handlebars to let the bike float through the deeper sections. This focus on smooth and controlled riding has made a big difference in my race prep.

Putting It All Together

In the final weeks before race day, I started combining everything: endurance, strength, and skills. I practiced race-pace rides that included hills, corners, and sand, simulating the Iceman conditions as closely as possible. These practice rides gave me the confidence to know I could handle whatever the course threw at me.

Training for the Iceman isn’t just about logging miles—it’s about building strength, mastering bike handling, and finding the mental focus to push through tough moments. The time and effort you put in will pay off when you cross that finish line, knowing you gave it your all.

Thank you to Kedzie Ruckle @noelkedzie for being our 2025 Junior Iceman Trailblazer!

Why We Ride: A Trailblazer’s Love Letter to Iceman

Hello to all my fellow racers. I’m incredibly honored to be chosen as a Trailblazer for Iceman 2025. November 8th will mark my fourth Iceman, and honestly, it can’t come soon enough.

When I sat down to write this first post, my mind bounced between so many topics: tires, hardtail or full suspension, nutrition, when to push, when to recover, when to burn a match. But as I kept thinking about all those details, it all came back to one simple word:

Love.

It’s love that gets us up at 4 a.m. on a freezing fall morning when most people are staying warm inside. It’s love that fuels the drive to get in the calories, pack the gear, and head to the airport. Love for the sport, for the challenge, for Iceman, and everything you earn the moment you cross that finish line.

From the adrenaline of the rollout and fighting for position before the singletrack, to picking lines that dodge the worst sand before Dockery. To the drums at Make It Stick, the cheers at Williamsburg Road, the grind up Woodchip, and the final push over Icebreaker Hill. We look forward to it all, not because it’s easy, but because we love this race. (And let’s be honest, having Bell’s Beer as a sponsor doesn’t hurt.)

As the year rolls on, we train. We learn. We get more in tune with our bikes, our bodies, and our minds. We notice what needs work and what’s improved. It’s a year-round process of tinkering, healing, growing all for one cold, glorious day in November, when we race as hard as we can to finish as fast as we can.

Family and friends often say we must be a little crazy to ride our bikes through the woods from Kalkaska to Traverse City…in November. My response? You might be right, but I love it.

Everything we put in the early mornings, the long rides, and the sore legs comes with support. Family and friends, spouses, pick up the slack so we can chase this passion. Without them, Iceman wouldn’t be what it is. So, thank you to everyone who helps us get out the door for a ride, a race, or the national holiday known as Iceman Day. Your support means everything, and it never goes unnoticed.

For most of us, Iceman is the end of the season A final chapter in a long book of training and racing. It’s a celebration of the effort, the struggle, the grit—and the reward is 5,000 friends, a finish line, and maybe a Bell’s or two.

May you get the wave you want. May the PRs come. Keep the rubber side down and I’ll see you in the woods.

Thank you to Chris Mutnansky @the_racing_ref for being our 2025 Iceman Trailblazer!

Motivation: Where are You?

I came up with a list of topics to write about for this blog but thought there was no better time to discuss motivation than right now. I don’t know about you, but the shoulder season can be tough for me in terms of staying motivated to ride. As soon as winter hits and the time changes leaving us in darkness at 5pm, I feel my body go into hibernation mode. Rest is not a bad thing. A lot of the time our body actually needs time to recover and rest or else we may get burned out or cause an injury. And we all know there is nothing much worse than being forced off the bike because of an injury. However, there is still a struggle to stay motivated especially during the winter. 

A few tips that have helped me stay motivated in the past include:

1) Have a workout buddy. It is extremely effective to have someone there to hold you accountable. It is much much harder to say no to a ride (or other activity) if you know a friend is there waiting on you. We don’t want to let our friends down, and let’s be honest, everything is more fun with friends! 

2) Sign up for a race or event. Having a race or event in the near future is helpful to keep the motivation alive! Who wants to show up to a race with no training? Ouch.

3) Follow a training plan. My “A” race this year is Marji Gesick – 100 bike. I have a training plan that I am currently following on Training Peaks that gives me specific workouts every week. I enjoy checklists, so this is nice because when I complete the workout for the day, it feels like I am checking it off the list! A training plan will provide general (or specialized, pending the plan) guidance making it easier on you so you do not have to constantly be thinking about what you should be doing next. 

4) Mix it up. Feeling burnt out with riding? Or more specifically sitting on the trainer in the winter? Do something different. Go to the gym and lift weights, run, swim laps at the local pool, take a weighted pack out on your favorite hiking trail, increase your step count for the day, join a fitness class, or do yoga. There are endless other ways to stay active when you are feeling unmotivated to hop on the bike. Cross training is very beneficial. 

5) Watch or listen to something inspiring. If you are stuck on the trainer, watch a cool video of someone doing something you love or are interested in. Listen to a podcast or an audiobook to help the time move faster. 

6) Set a goal for yourself. A goal that is achievable but only if you put some work in. Again, this takes me back to my love of lists and crossing things off. Once you set a goal, create smaller steps to meet it, then you can check it off the list once complete and move on to the next! 

When all of these tips fail, know that it is absolutely OK to rest and listen to your body. If you are anything like me, you probably have a million other things going on at the same time and there is never enough time in a day to do all of the things we need to or want to do. Something has to give before we break. We can’t stay motivated all of the time and we don’t want to cause any burn out. So make sure to listen to how your body and mind are feeling and if the answer is rest, cozy into your couch and relax. 

Thankfully, we are starting to see some nicer weather here in Northern Michigan and that always helps increase the motivation! Let’s get out and ride! 

Thank you to Haleigh Dunn @life.with.haleigh for being our 2025 Iceman Trailblazer!

Greetings all of you Iceman LEGENDS!

I’m excited to be a part of the Iceman ambassador program and to be a guest blogger in 2025. This year will mark my 6th Iceman appearance, and I stand firmly in saying it’s the best party in the woods with 5000+ people doing hard things on their bikes.

As I started typing this, I initially thought I’d talk about kicking off the season and getting your “race legs” under you early in the year—my undergraduate and grad school studies were focused on exercise physiology; so I thought that might be a great topic to share some insight on. However, my mind shifted quickly after I typed that line above: “doing hard things.” The beauty and the magic of Iceman lay within its wide range of individuals—national (and global) cycling professionals, the serious amateurs, the moderate and beginner amateurs, and of course the “joyriders” just out there to do something hard while crushing some snacks (and maybe a cold one or two) on course. Each of these cohorts make Iceman what it is: a place for everyone to thrive in whatever way that looks like to them.

One of our good friends (Pauly H.) turned my wife and me onto a book by Steve Magness called “Do Hard Things.” Without giving away the book (because I highly recommend everyone read it), the general concept is that toughness is a skill, not a personality trait. It can be trained like anything else. True resilience is about psychological flexibility, not stoicism. If you’ve attended Iceman in any form, then you’ve seen this on display at every skill level—including our local friends sending it over “Make It Stick” last year… EPIC. *Shoutout to TP*

In reflecting on this, it brings to mind the big question: Why do 5000 people (and another 5000+ of their friends) show up the first weekend in November to ride a mountain bike race that starts at 9am in temps as low as 29°F? The answer? It’s personal. That’s what makes Iceman so special. Every rider has a different reason for showing up—and every one of those reasons is valid. Whether you’re chasing a podium, hammering to beat your PR, high-fiving strangers while rocking jorts and a banana costume, or just soaking in the wild energy of a race that’s as much festival as formal, you’re doing it right. There’s no “correct” way to race Iceman, other than to enjoy the hell out of it. We all ride this thing a little differently—but what unites us is the energy we bring to the trail and the community that is built around it. I’ve been fortunate to race around our amazing state, and even more so fortunate to have done a few races around the country, and I can confidently say that not a single one compares in energy to Iceman. I can’t speak for what a UCI World Cup is like or anything of the sort (I’m very much somewhere between the moderate and serious amateur rider), but I get the chills every time I come cranking up Woodchip and Icebreaker and see all the people cheering, handing out dollar bills, and looking for high-fives along the gates. That is this community. No ego and no selfishness; just positivity, support, and literally the best vibes in the woods. 

Firecracker 50 MTB Race – Breckenridge, CO

So whether you’re already deep into your training plan or just beginning to ruminate on what costume to wear, just remember: Iceman is what you make it. It’s fast, it’s fun, it’s chaotic, and it’s unforgettable. Let’s keep it positive, keep it rowdy, and make 2025 the best year yet. I’m looking forward to sharing more with you all throughout the 2025 season!

See you all in the woods.

Thank you to Mark Daisy @markdaisymusic for being our 2025 Iceman Trailblazer!