The Lemurian Classic is one of those races that truly captures the soul of mountain biking. The Lemurian Classic in Redding, California, has been going strong since 1987, making it one of the oldest MTB races still on the calendar. It’s a pure throwback to the old-school, backcountry style of racing.
This year, the event was completely sold out, and even better, it serves as a major fundraiser for the Redding Trail Alliance to keep building and maintaining the amazing trails we get to race on.
I came into the weekend feeling ready and excited to push myself. The course was a beast: 34 miles with 3,999 feet of elevation gain. But the real wildcard was the weather. With the temperature sitting at 80 degrees on the start line and soaring to a high of 94 degrees by the peak of the day, I knew my nutrition and hydration strategy had to be flawless.
The Heat Strategy: Decoupling Hydration and Fuel
When the mercury rises that high, your body demands massive amounts of fluid, but your gut can only process so many calories at once. To avoid gastric distress while ensuring I didn't bonk, my strategy was to separate my heavy carbohydrate intake from my hydration. Flow Formulas makes it incredibly easy to dial this in.
My Fueling Protocol for the 2:38-Hour Race:
The Carbs: I relied almost entirely on the Flow Formulas Gel Mix (Rainbow Blast flavor) for my calories. Over the course of the 2-hour and 38-minute race, I consumed exactly 290 grams of carbs from the gel mix. Packing that carbohydrate density into an easily digestible format allowed me to keep my energy stores topped off without bogging my stomach down on the climbs.
The Hydration: I kept my bottles dedicated strictly to hydration and electrolytes to combat the 90+ degree heat.
Bottle 1 (36oz): 2 scoops of Flow Electrolyte Mix.
Bottle 2 (Small): 1 scoop of Flow Electrolyte Mix.
By keeping the hydration bottles lighter on calories but heavy on essential electrolytes, I could drink to thirst and replace the massive amount of sweat I was losing in the Redding heat. I was able to get all the necessary fluids in without overdoing the calories—an important balance when the sun is beating down on you.
Pushing to the finish, Flow kept me feeling strong from the gun all the way to the finish line. There were no energy dips, no cramping in the heat, just sustained power when I needed it.
Taking the win for the 2nd time at such a legendary, historic event was an incredible feeling. And catching up with everyone at the finish line and knowing we were all out there supporting the Redding Trail Alliance made it the perfect day.
A huge thank you to the organizers, the volunteers, and everyone who came out to race. And of course, a massive shoutout to Flow Formulas for keeping me #fueledbyflow.
