I recently attended the Endurance Roundtable Live Podcast hosted by Travis Macy at the Salida SteamPlant. The live event brought together four endurance legends: Kait Boyle, Nicolette Jones, Nolan Van Harte, and Jeff Kerkove, all past champions of the Vapor Trail 125 in Salida, Colorado.
As someone new to the bike world (I just got my first gravel bike this summer), this was a fun introduction to the local cycling community. Listening to these elite athletes share stories of grit, adventure, and mindset was nothing short of inspiring.
Mindset Matters
Mindset was a recurring theme for all four riders. Each had a slightly different reason for showing up to the start line, but they shared one truth: mental strength can carry you farther than any training plan.
Kait Boyle admitted her season had not gone as planned, so she shifted her focus back to what she loves most, riding her bike in the mountains. “That full moon over the mountain landscape, sharing that with others, made it unreal,” she said. Her approach reminded everyone that joy and gratitude can reset your purpose when things feel tough. Kait went on to win the 2025 Vapor Trail 125, setting a new women’s course record.
She also shared a major career highlight from the Marji Gesick race in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For the first time in the event’s 10-year history, three women earned the coveted buckle for finishing the grueling 106-mile course in under 12 hours. Kait crossed the line at 11 hours and 46 minutes to become the first woman ever to buckle, followed by Syd Schulz and Kristy McBride. Julie Momber was also part of the effort, helping make it an unforgettable moment of shared determination. Watch this incredibly inspiring recap!
Nicolette Jones described her mindset as a mix of resilience and self-trust. Coming off her Colorado Trail Race victory in 2024, she went on to win the women’s title at the Vapor Trail 125 in 17 hours, 53 minutes, and 9 seconds that same year. Nicolette completed the CTR course in just over five and a half days, the fastest time a woman has raced the southbound route from Denver to Durango. Her connection with the trail runs deep—she has hiked it, bike toured it, and even skied it—but says biking it was her favorite. In 2025, she became the first woman and fourth overall to finish the Colorado Trail Race, completing the 540-mile route in 4 days and 23 hours and setting a new women’s fastest known time. “We get to choose the challenges we take on the bike. It’s the real-life ones we don’t get to pick.”
Nolan Van Harte said his biggest breakthrough came from letting go of expectations. Last year, he chased a record and burned himself out. This year, he rode with a lighter heart and stronger head. His mindset paid off. Nolan won the 2024 Vapor Trail 125, then went on to take first place at the 2025 Colorado Trail Race, completing the challenging 540-mile route from Durango to Denver in just 4 days, 11 hours, and 24 minutes. “Step one, sign up. Step two, show up. Step three, finish.”
Jeff Kerkove, who has bikepacked across the world, sees endurance racing as a chance to put himself in beautiful surroundings and grow through the experience of being out there. A seasoned veteran of the event, Jeff won the Vapor Trail 125 in 2010 and has landed on the podium many times in his 11 years racing the course. Earlier this year, he set the MEGA EPIC Men’s FKT, completing the six-stage race self-supported in just 35 hours, the fastest time ever recorded within the three-day limit.
No matter their background or goals, all four agreed that the right mindset, equal parts gratitude, grit, and curiosity, is what keeps them pedaling long after the sun sets.
Preparation Is Personal
Preparation looks different for everyone, shaped by experience, lifestyle, and mindset.
Nicolette is a master of self-sufficiency, crafting her own gear and learning to trust what she builds.
Nolan takes a minimalist approach, swapping tech-heavy gear for reliability and focusing on recovery as much as training.
Jeff takes a thoughtful and disciplined approach. His best advice: commit to your decisions on gear and route, expect challenges, and always take away a lesson for next time.
Kait keeps her routine grounded in gratitude and focus, taking time before each start with a regimented pre-race routine.
Their collective advice: commit to your setup, accept that challenges will come, and trust your preparation when they do.
Getting Through the Lows
Even the strongest riders face low moments. When asked how they push through, each shared their go-to reset:
- Gratitude: Kait said gratitude helps her find perspective and keep moving forward.
- Sleep: Both Jeff and Nolan agreed that rest can work wonders for resetting the mind.
- Determination & Negotiation: Nicolette gave herself a rule to not allow herself to quit if it’s raining or if she is sad.
- Fuel: Travis Macy summed it up best: “Eat and drink.”
Every low has a way out. Sometimes it is sleep, sometimes it is food, and sometimes it is the reminder that you have made it through worse before.
Why They Do It
“It is a way to figure out what is possible,” Kait said. These athletes are not just chasing podiums. They are chasing perspective, personal growth, and that rare flow state that only comes from hours in the saddle surrounded by mountains and stars.
In a world that moves fast, endurance racing slows things down. It reminds us why we fell in love with being outside in the first place.
Final Thought
Whether you are a seasoned rider or just clipping in for the first time, there is something magnetic about the endurance community. Events like the Vapor Trail 125, Marji Gesick and Breck Epic that bring people together through shared effort, shared challenge, and shared joy.
Every race tells a story. Every rider adds a chapter. And every finish line, big or small, deserves a celebration.
To listen to the full live podcast, check out the Travis Macy Show.
Are you inspired?
Find your next event on BikeReg and join the ride.