Michael Secrest and Kitty Goursolle

Champions Then and Now

Furnace Creek 508 was created in 1983 by John Marino, the godfather of ultramarathon bicycle racing and founder of the Great American Bike Race, Race Across America, and the Ultra Marathon Cycling Association. Called the John Marino Open, the race route was originally a 102 mile loop in the Hemet, CA area that was ridden seven times sequentially. The winners of the inaugural race were Michael Secrest and Kitty Goursolle.

In the Fall of 1985, the race was moved to the roads between Tucson and Flagstaff in Arizona, where its first champion was Scott Fortner. It was also held twice a year for a number of years, which is why we are celebrating our 34th edition after twenty-five years in 2008. Since 1989, The 508 has been held on the world-famous Death Valley course that we use today. Its first champion was John Hughes and 1662 racers have now competed on this fabled route. Since October 1990, The 508 has been proudly produced by AdventureCORPS, producers of the world’s finest endurance sports events held on the open road and "out there."

Michael Secret and Kitty Goursolle, champions of the original Furnace Creek 508 (AKA John Marino Open), in 1983.

Michael Secrest during his 2007 24 hour world record

Because cycling was my strongest suit, I looked for another challenge. I had seen the Great American Bike Race on TV and I thought, "now that's something I can do." A friend encouraged me to enter a 24 -hour race, which I needed to do in order to find out if I had what it took to enter a 10-day race. I won the 24-race with 420 miles. Next I set my sites on the 1983 John Marino Open, a 750-mile race (and the predecessor to Furnace Creek 508). I won the race in about 54 hours and got my invitation to compete in the Race Across America that summer. And so began my pursuit of my goals of the 24-hour record and the Transcontinental record. "From little acorns, mighty oaks do grow."

Since 1983, Michael has become the only athlete in history to set similar World Records in three consecutive decades. Michael is the 500 Mile Triple Crown Champion: the only cyclist to have ridden more than 500 miles in 24 hours in all 3 venues: Indoor Track, Outdoor Track and Road (not to mention 1216 miles in 24 hours while drafting a truck around a motor speedway).

Here are Michael’s Major Races and World Records:

1982 Chrysler Proving Grounds 24-Hour Challenge, 1^st place, 420 miles

1983 John Marino Open, 750 miles, 1^st place

1983 Race Across America, Santa Monica to Atlantic City, 3170 miles, 3^rd place, 11: 06: 30

1984 Race Across America, Huntington Beach to Atlantic City, 3047 miles, 3^rd place, 10: 02: 03

1985 24-hour World Record, unpaced, indoor track, 516.2 miles (note: no aerobars)

1985 Race Across America, Huntington Beach to Atlantic City, 3120 miles, 2^nd place, 9: 06: 08

1986 Race Across America, DNF due to crash and broken collarbone

1987 Race Across America, San Francisco to Washington, DC, 3127 miles, 1^st place, 9: 11: 35

1989 Race Across America, Irvine to New York City, 2911 miles, 2^nd place, 8: 13: 30

1990 24-hour World Record, paced, outdoor motor speedway, drafting an 18-wheeler, 1216 miles

1990 Solo Transcontinental Cycling World Record, Huntington Beach to Atlantic City, 2,916 miles, 7: 23: 16

1996 World 24 Hour Cycling Championships, New UMCA Records: 12 Hour Road = 264 Miles and 24 Hour Road = 503.2 Miles

1996 12-hour World Record, unpaced, outdoor track, distance = 278.1 miles

1996 200 mile World Record, unpaced, outdoor track, 8:30:52

1996 24-hour World Record, unpaced, outdoor track, 532.75 miles (This also surpasses the record for indoor track miles.)

SIX YEAR HIATUS FROM RACING

2002 100 mile World Record, unpaced, outdoor track, 3:54:48

2006 24-hour World Record, unpaced, indoor track, 534.7 miles (Photos)

2007 200 mile World Record, unpaced, indoor track, 8:16:24

2007 12-hour World Record, unpaced, indoor track, 283.407 miles

2007 24-hour World Record, unpaced, indoor track, 535.868 miles (Photos / Videos)

Michael's Website

Kitty Goursolle during the 2008 Solvang Century

Before I competed in the 1983 John Marino Open, my first long ride was the Davis Double Century in 1982. Leading up to the JMO, I did lots of weekend centuries. One week in March 83 I did "Lon Haldeman Week" and rode 7 x 100 miles. I had heard that was what Lon did for training.

The 1983 JMO was my first ever overnight ride. I decided to get it done as fast as possible, and so I didn't sleep at all while riding for 64 hours and 764 miles. No following crew support was allowed. The JMO was done "double century style" on a 100 mile loop course going through Hemet, Anza, Temecula, and California City, CA, with rest stops every 30-40 miles or so. Very different from the 508 of today!

After the JMO and my one attempt at RAAM in 1983, which ended at mile 800 after my support vehicles were involved in a serious accident, I crewed for RAAM 84 rider Jim Elliott, who finished 3rd. Witnessing Jim's ordeal firsthand convinced me that I would not attempt solo RAAM again, but I kept active in riding double centuries and brevets. I also kept active in my other two sports, kayaking and running, and made it to the podium in various triathlons and biathlons held in northern California.

After 20 years, I still hold the course record for solo women in Sacramento's Eppie's Great Race, the world's oldest triathlon. I was very lucky to be the women's winner of the California Triple Crown Stage Race, comprised of California’s three hardest double centuries, in 2005 and 2007.

I decided to attempt a 1200k randonnée in the 2006 Cascade 1200, my first long ultra since 1983, and I finished successfully. That gave me courage to do Paris-Brest-Paris, also 1200km, in 2007, another good ride and I'm very proud to have finished the wettest PBP ever. For 2008, the Cascade 1200k and the Rocky Mountain 1200k kept me busy all summer, two more finished successfully.

My next goal is to finish 50 doubles in California by 2011(just 20 to go!) and finish both the London-Edinburgh-London 1400k, and Madrid-Gijon-Madrid 1200k rides in the Summer of 2009.

I have met many great people through long distance bicycling and know a lot of the participants at the 508. My helmet's off to all of the riders and their crews.

Bonne Route!