Biking to the Grateful Dead and beyond


Kathy trail running near Lyons, Colorado
Growing up in Colorado, Kathy Wickum thinks she was born into sports.

“I’d like to think I was always into sports, a bit of a tomboy. I ran track, basketball and soccer growing up. I grew up in Littleton, Colorado and was exposed to the Coors Classic (bicycle race) and from there became addicted.

Addicted might be an understatement…

“I followed the Tour religiously and it’s sad to say at one point I was so obsessed I could tell you most of the top racers names as well as their weight, what they rode, and home. Kind of scary,” she explained.


Kathy Wickum mountain biking in Colorado.
But it was scary in a good way. It motivated her and soon she was riding across the mountains of Colorado, to see a rock concert.

“My senior year in high school I road an old mountain bike that I borrowed from someone, and with three friends from school we rode from Littleton to Telluride – 360 miles – to see a Grateful Dead concert,” she recalled. “We just made the trip up as we went along. It took us four days. From then on I was hooked. Riding a bike across Colorado was an amazing way to see the state.”

Kathy is also hooked on trail running and Nordic skiing. It’s the perfect combination for someone about to compete in the 14th annual Red Fox Adventure Race, powered by Polartec. The strenuous race runs June 11 to 14, in the Karelian region of Russia, on the shores of Onega Lake 300 miles north of St. Petersburg.

The adventure race consists of three loops that require racers to run, bike, kayak, rock climb, swim, wade through mud, woods, brush, water, under and over stone. The U.S. team, sponsored by Polartec, is the first-ever women-only team consisting of captain Jimi Alida, Shawnie Mulligan, Amy Caldwell, and Kathy.

“Biking came first. I went to school in Durango which was the perfect place to mountain bike, this is when I started racing mountain bikes and doing some small triathlons, nothing big but I had so much fun. One of my favorite was the Ouray Triathlon. It had trail running, mountain biking and swimming. There was so much climbing I loved it!”

Kathy, who now lives in Lyons not far from North America’s first Red Fox store, has been pushing herself hard in training sessions, and feels ready.


There is a section of the RF Adventure Race remarkably similar to this.
“I feel like I have trained as hard as I can and have tried to involve as many of the required sports as possible,” she said. “I’m actually kind looking forward to sitting on my ass on the plane for some down time to let my muscles relax.”

Like her teammates, this is her first time to the former Soviet Union.

“I’ve never been to Russia; the only time I’ve traveled to Europe was to run the Paris marathon. This will be opposite of that, a real adventure.”

Kathy’s only concerns leading up to the Red Fox Adventure Race involve the elements, and what sort of a challenge they might present. But regardless of that, like the rest of her team she has a level of comfort and confidence.

“I believe we are in good hands with our amazing sponsors Red Fox and Polartec, and it will be the race of a lifetime”

It all begins June 11, in Russia.