Miron Golfman's Silk Road Mountain Race Podium Q&A

Over the course of eight days in August, Miron Golfman rode more miles than many people do in a month, and as if that wasn’t enough, he did it in one of the most remote and untamed regions on Earth. 

At the tail end of a jam-packed season of ultra-endurance racing, Miron took third place in the prestigious Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan, which has quickly become one of the crown jewels of bikepacking. The "SRMR" is a savage, unsupported race covering over 1,200 miles with an eye-watering +91K feet of elevation gain; the largely unpaved route takes in a mix of old Soviet roads, singletrack, and hike-a-bike sections, including a long, remote stretch near the Chinese border.

Founded by adventurer Nelson Trees in 2018, the race is rooted in Trees’ vision to push cyclists to the outer edges of their physical and emotional limits and test their self-reliance, and the inaugural race's high attrition rate immediately cemented its reputation as one of the world's toughest endurance events.

We sat down with Miron recently to talk through his jaw-dropping effort and get answers to the questions we all have: How does one even prepare for something like this? How do you defeat conventional wisdom, not to mention your mind, out there? And lastly, is everything okay, dude? 

Just as he was in his Q&A, Miron was full of unique insights and a fresh perspective on competition and fulfillment. Happy reading!

The Silk Road Mountain Race Experience

Q: How did the experience compare to events like the Iditarod or the Colorado Trail Race in terms of difficulty, landscape, and the physical and mental challenge?

A: Due to the number of ultra races I have done this calendar year, many events tend to blend together, but the SRMR truly stood out. Despite being part of the mountain series, it was definitely an event unto itself, one that I have been thinking about for years now, and one that will stand out in my history of racing and life experiences. In many ways, SRMR felt like the coming together of a lot of the different events that I've raced in and had successes with–the harshness of the terrain and cold temperatures reminded me a lot of what I experienced on the Iditarod, and the high alpine altitude was very reminiscent of the Colorado Trail. But when you factor in being in a developing country like Kyrgyzstan, coupled with the amazing cultural components we encounter during this race, the Silk Road Mountain Race really stands above the rest. It holds its own in both what it asks of you and what it has to offer.

Q: Describe the dynamics at the front of the race as you fought for a podium spot: I'm curious about the moments where you had to really dig deep, and what was the most challenging part of the race for you—mentally, physically, or perhaps even a mechanical or logistical issue?

A:  For the first 30-36 hours of the race, I was actually somewhere in the middle of the pack. I unfortunately had to stop and rest for a few hours relatively early on as a result of some altitude-related illness that I couldn’t shake, despite having arrived a week and a half prior to acclimate. As a result, I found myself in about 49th place and spent the first day slowly working through the field, despite still feeling quite ill. After waking up on the second morning at 2 AM, I spent the next five hours making a big push on the highway segment and ended up moving from 38th to 8th place. It wasn't until around CP3 that I made my move for a podium spot. Due to a failing headlamp and an unexpected hike-a-bike section, I ended up getting caught again. Looking back, that was the hardest section of the race for me, mentally.  I had to make a last attempt to break away again during the final day, and finding the mental capacity to dig even deeper after almost eight days of racing really drained me. I had a pretty tough moment on the side of the road, had a good cry, then put my head down and pushed on to secure third. 

Q: Many ultra-endurance athletes recount experiencing moments of profound clarity, enlightenment, or even hallucinatory visions during these events. Did you have any such experiences on the Silk Road, and do you think this is a common occurrence with these types of efforts and races?

A: Yeah, did I ever! I think that the level of fatigue the racers are dealing with in an event like SRMR makes for a pretty unpredictable mental state: you can get quite introspective and have some real soul-clarifying moments, but there are also plenty of moments where shit just gets super weird and you have to push through the mental fog that comes from physical exhaustion and sleep deprivation. For me, this got really pronounced around days four, five, and six. I remember all of those mornings being really rough. It can be painfully difficult to find the will to wake up at 2 A.M. and push on into the high alpine dark after only sleeping for a few hours. There's ice on the water, your eyes are watering from the cold, your hands are starting to feel numb and fatigued, and your feet are raisined and painful. Bike handling skills quickly diminish, and your sanity should probably be questioned. I definitely had a few moments during the race where I would realize I was muttering to myself at a shop to buy food, or that my hands weren’t working, or that I was simply not able to think straight. Luckily, I maintained a solid resupply plan and an alert feeling on the bike, but as soon as I got off the bike to take care of logistics, my ability to critically think was heavily diminished. 

In terms of inward reflection, I don't think that happens in every race for me, especially when you get tired enough to struggle with simple physical tasks. That being said, I definitely had some pretty special moments in this race. It's been a tough season for me, and I went into this event with pretty modest expectations. I ended up finding a different sort of success early on in just being really happy out on course and enjoying my experience. At some point in the latter half of the race, I called my fiancé, just kind of beaming with joy and being able to sit in this place of gratitude, which was a bit of an unfamiliar feeling this season. Getting to lean into that sort of ecstasy and joy made for some really special moments that made this course so memorable.

Q: The weather in the Tian Shan mountains is known to be highly unpredictable, to put it lightly. How did you prepare for the extreme temperature swings, and how did they affect your strategy and packing list?

A: Unpredictable and extreme conditions are definitely my love language when it comes to being an athlete. The events I am drawn to are the ones that ask a lot more of competitors. I really thrive in races that have notable hike-a-bike sections and extreme weather. Thriving in those areas is why I've been drawn to the Silk Road Mountain Race for so many years. In terms of packing, the key is to balance packing responsibility with maintaining efficiency. It’s a matter of managing the risk and responsibility: I might forgo comfort, but I'm never going to forgo my safety. Because the Silk Road Mountain Race will likely take you through snowstorms, freezing rain, high alpine, lightning or thunder storms, and high winds, I chose to pack a sleep kit that would allow me to weather those conditions. For me, that was a one-person tent with an outer liner that was fairly lightweight, and an amazing clothing kit from Albion Cycling. All the clothing that I brought was multifunctional, so I was also able to wear it riding, as well. There were multiple occasions throughout the race when I was wearing all of my layers at once, which included my puffy jacket, rain gear (pants and jacket), and wool socks either over or under my cycling shoes.

Q: I'm assuming you didn’t have room to carry your favorite “Costco-sized tub of Chipotle Bitchin' Sauce” with you out there, so what does a typical day's calorie intake look like on the Silk Road? Can you walk us through what a day of meals, snacks, and hydration looked like? 

A: Tragically, no I was not able to carry any with me! This is a tough question to answer because in a place like Kyrgyzstan, where we had up to 400km sections without any resupply, the unpredictability of stores and products in those shops made calorie intake per day quite inconsistent. Furthermore, I have always struggled with nutrition and fueling during competition, due to abnormally high sodium loss, which can quickly lead to dehydration and severe acid reflux. These issues heavily affect my ability to consume solids during racing. Therefore, I aim to take as much as I can of the calories that typically agree with me. This includes the First Endurance EFS drink mix and Liquid Shots; I’m a big fan of those. 

Beyond that, the shops in Kyrgyzstan offered up a lot of very dry biscuits and cookies, as well as soda and other hard-to-swallow sweet drinks. Whenever I could find something real, I would grab some of that to go; for instance, it was common to find these weird, pre-packaged baloney and mayo sandwiches, and while I’m not sure I can recommend those, choices were so limited that they became a bit of a staple of my diet, too. 

Finally, even though this is not a real fueling strategy, I ‘camel-up’ when I can. If I'm going through a town and have the ability to eat something real, I put down as many as two or three full meals and try to run off that energy for as long as possible. I would never recommend this, but I've definitely developed the capacity to run on very little caloric intake over the years of struggling with acid reflux and sodium loss while racing. My familiarity with competing at a calorie deficit, I think, really gave me an advantage in this particular race, allowing me to continue while others struggled. 

Q: Do you listen to tunes or podcasts while you’re out there, or is it more of a 'wind in your face and voices in your head' experience?

A: It typically ends up being a bit of both. I’m frequently amazed by how long I can go without listening to anything and how little time I spend really thinking about anything other than the immediate moment and the task ahead of me. Racing really clears my mind to think simply about basic needs: Where's my next resupply? How many miles is the next segment? What's the next climb going to look like? What's my strategy? 

In moments when my headphones are on, I will listen to music and podcasts. I've come to really enjoy a podcast called Science Versus. I also really enjoy narrative-based podcasts like Through Line, anything from Serial Productions, and definitely music. There are times when you just need to get amped up, so I have playlists that I've made myself, and others from really good friends, that are great for putting my head down for a long washboard gravel segment on the aerobars, needing to put in some big watts on a hard climb, or coming towards the end of the race and finding that final motivation.

Preparation and Strategy

Q:  Did you do anything differently in terms of your preparation for the SRMR than for other ultra-endurance events you’ve competed in over the years?

A: Yes and no. Knowing the difficulty of the Silk Road, my coach and I felt it was important to up the ante in terms of volume in preparation for the race. So that was the biggest aspect of my training over the months of June and July. I would do three consecutive days of 10-hour rides every two weeks. On average, I was doing 30 to 35 hours of riding per week as we led up to the race. 

Q: Talk us through your bike setup for the race. Were there any specific gear or equipment choices that you feel were critical to success? Any mistakes or missteps?

A: I was really happy with my bike set up for this race. I don't think I've got anything too substantial that I would have changed. I did make some last minute changes to the setup and was really happy with my bike during the race.  I feel incredibly lucky to have access to some of the best equipment for races like this. I've got a gear breakdown video that I'm going to be releasing soon if folks are interested in seeing more details on the rig.

Q: Whenever I try to wrap my head around the idea of an ultra-endurance event, the sleep deprivation part is where my mind starts to melt and I start to hear Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” in my head. Can you give us some insight into what that looks and feels like?

A: Wow, I've never thought of that song, but it's actually a brilliant analogy for ultra racing. Sleep deprivation is a funny thing: it’s obviously really intimidating, but in my experience, it's completely different when you’re racing vs. during regular life. In a race scenario, I am focusing on forward progress on the bike and find that I can run on notably less sleep than I do in my day to day life. Getting two hours, four hours, six hours of sleep actually does end up being enough for me to function properly. That being said, things do get a little weird. You definitely feel and recognize the effects of sleep deprivation. But somehow, I also gain the ability to become hyperfocused and perform with little sleep and fuel over prolonged periods of time compared to what may be possible in short-form racing or in day-to-day life.

Q: You've mentioned in past interviews that ultra-endurance racing is about more than just fitness. How do you prepare yourself mentally for an event of this magnitude?

A: In truth, I was struggling with some burnout ahead of this event, so I tried to give myself some grace in not overthinking or over preparing. There is definitely some truth to the benefits of familiarity, as I'm able to rely on my experience and can do a little bit less preparation ahead of events than I used to. I definitely leaned on the fact that a longer race plays to my strengths. I knew that if I could keep myself in a solidly strong position in the field, that come day five, six, seven, I would naturally flip a switch, dig deep, and get myself to a place of really turning on, despite all the hardship. Overcoming fatigue at this point in an event requires a lot of grit, and that really plays to my strengths. Ultimately, that’s what happened in the race. So I don't know if I have a direct answer to the question. There's a little bit of inherent strength, or whatever you want to call it, that I think lives inside of me, that thrives in those moments of suffering. So the real preparation came in coming to peace with knowing how deep I was going to have to go, and embracing that.

Q: You've already achieved some truly impressive success in ultra-endurance cycling, with podium finishes in some of the world's toughest races. How does this result rank for you on a personal level?

A: Getting third and standing on a podium next to Robin Gumple and Alex McCormack in the ultimate race in the ultra world feels like a more significant accomplishment than some of my wins. SRMR is something that I have been dreaming about for years, probably ever since I discovered ultra-endurance racing during the pandemic and conceptualized my dream of becoming a professional athlete in the sport. I've long been captured by the far away idea that one day I could travel to Kyrgyzstan and race this event that is known for not only being a bike race, but a true testament to human willpower and grit. So to be competing against such talented athletes and feel like I really earned my place in that field is an incredible honor. In some ways, I feel like I still am processing what this finish really means to me, but it’s for sure a really satisfying culmination of many years of training, hard work, and dreaming.

Q: What single nugget of advice would you give to a cyclist who is inspired by your journey and wants to get into ultra-endurance racing?

A: Oof, that feels like the hardest question yet! I think that ultra-endurance is a really personal journey. I know that for myself, when I have taken a step back and really looked at why I got into the sport, there was a lot of desire to prove something to myself. And in a lot of ways, I've done that over the last few years. But in terms of sharing advice, I think it's really important to have clear and realistic goals for yourself. I think in all bike racing, but especially in ultra- endurance racing, there are so many variables, including luck, that play into success. If material success is the only thing that drives you, for most there will be a lot of disappointment. That said, I think that there's an incredible amount to gain for most folks, like the profound realizations we spoke about earlier, so I think there's a lot of room for success if you're open to that journey and flexible with regard to your definition of success.

Q: This may be too soon, but what's next for Miron Golfman? Any other races or adventures on the horizon?

A: The truth is, I am in a moment of transition. My fiancée and I are trying to start a family, and are excited for the next stage of life where we put a little bit more energy into settling down after being nomadic partners for a really long time. So yeah, my career as an athlete is going to shift. I very much intend to stay an active member of the sport and have no intention of just walking away from it, but I am excited to find a new balance in life and I don't have any specific events that I am training for right at the moment. I'm definitely more drawn to expedition-based projects, and I want to use my platform for service and supporting others. I think putting more energy into lifting up other folks and seeing their success is more interesting to me than chasing podiums right now. 

Q: After every big race there’s always the celebratory post-event chow-down. Give us the rundown on what that meal was like: the food, drink, company, and surroundings.

A: It was definitely a privilege to be in a country like Kyrgyzstan, where the American dollar goes really far, because it allowed for post-race indulgence to thrive. There were a lot of big meals shared with friends and other competitors after the race. I was eager to eat all the food that I was nervous to eat before the event, in particular the local Kyrgis dumplings! That and copious amounts of ice cream were consumed. I also had a really good friend come and celebrate with me at the finish for a week, which was really special. We spent time with other competitors, sharing war stories over lots of good food and drink, and also got out for a type two mountain horse ride! 

Q: Alright.. last question, I swear! How would you encapsulate your experience in the remote expanses of Kyrgyzstan in a single sentence?

A: Woof, tough question! To summarize Kyrgyzstan in a single sentence feels like an impossible task. I think it would actually be easier to summarize my experience in a few words: Awe-inspiring, humbling, and thrilling. 

Photos

Special thanks to Chris Burkard, fellow SRMR racer and prolific adventure photographer, for capturing these images.