Race Report: Kings Ridge Long Course – Monte Rio, California

Race: Grasshopper Series race #3 – Kings Ridge long course – Women 60+

Date: March 28, 2026

AVRT long course racers: Kathleen Bortolussi W60+

Top Result: Kathleen Bortolussi 3/3
Weather: 45°F and foggy at the start, mid-70s at the finish. Minimal wind—nearly perfect.

Course: The long course follows an enduro-style format: 91 miles with 9,100 ft of climbing, but results are based on three timed segments totaling 22.7 miles and 4,781 ft:

• Segment 1: 10.8 mi / 1,747 ft – Joy Rd. & Coleman Valley Rd.

• Segment 2: 4.9 mi / 1,291 ft – Meyers Grade Rd.

• Segment 3: 7 mi / 1,743 ft – Kruse Ranch Rd. (3 mi dirt) to Kings Ridge summit

 This is a stunning course, with a mix of coastal highway and inland riding. Being in March helped—cooler and less windy than last year’s hot Memorial Day race.

Racing it a second time, I tried to apply lessons learned. I rode the first 15 miles more conservatively but still reached the first segment too early and waited ~20 minutes in the cold, which left me stiff. A long bathroom line didn’t help—I ended up starting alone, which made pacing harder – I tried to put my best Egan-ride-foot forward. I focused on warming up and managing my effort to avoid triggering asthma. I knew I was slower than last year but hoped it would pay off later.

After descending to the coast, I aimed to find a group for the long headwind section but ended up riding the first half solo. Segment 2 felt stronger, and I continued to feel good heading into the third segment.

Segment 3 starts with 3 miles of dirt—an advantage for me. I passed several riders and felt noticeably better on this climb than last year, even hitting it at mile 57. After the final aid station, though, I didn’t eat enough, and the last 25 untimed miles were a slog. Riding solo, I started to bonk around mile 80 and just pushed through to the finish.

The podium was identical to last year, but I closed the gap: I missed second by just 40 seconds (down from 5 minutes) and gained 2:30 on the winner. Overall, a solid step forward. Next time: arrive better timed and better fueled.

Nutrition: Not enough. 2 Maurten Gel 160s, 1 caffeinated + 1 decaf GU, ~2L water (1L with electrolytes), pickles, half a banana, fig newtons. I should have brought more substantial food.

Thank you for reading,

Kathleen