Getting bit by the biking bug - and liking it!

I've decided to christen Julie Urlaub as Houston's "IT girl" of the week. Not only is she beautiful and intelligent, but she's an adrenaline junkie who's incredibly inspiring.

And here's why. Julie just finished the 24 Hours of Adrenalin Bike Competition in Canmore, Canada this past weekend and she came in third for her age class (she's in the 40 to 45 age group). Whoo-hoo!!

The competition played host to 1,400 cyclists from all over the world and you have to qualify to get into it.

SO WHO IS JULIE?

So is Julie the female version of Lance Armstrong? Well, not exactly. She is actually a managing partner for Taiga Company in Houston and has only been cycling for about six years.

"Houston really has a great community for cycling, whether it's road racing or mountain biking. I just got bit by the biking bug," said Julie.

Julie completed her first race about four years ago, but this was the first year she had participated in the 24 Hours of Adrenalin Competition. She says even though she had been training for a while, the course was challenging.

Because it was in the mountains, there was a lot of climbing. In fact, Julie says the climb was about 1,800-2,000 feet per lap and each lap was 12.5 miles long. Julie was able to complete nine laps in the 24 hour period.

"The race was really awesome. Aside from the climbing, there were a lot of technical sections that required you to pay attention," said Julie. "It wasn't like riding the flat terrain in Houston. You had to be in and out of the saddle and be aggressive on the bike."

While she admits the race took a toll on her body, the backdrop was spectacular and made it all worthwhile.

"It was in Canmore, which is the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It was unbelievably beautiful. Incredibly gorgeous," said Julie.

But Julie wasn't the only one feeling the pain. Rebecca Rusch, who won the female division of the competition, also said that it was a hard course.

"I figure if Rebecca says it's hard, then it must be hard," said Julie. "I have a lot of respect for her so if she says it's so, then I'm going to believe her."

But the race would not have been so fantastic if it wasn't for the hard work of Stuart Dorland, the founder and creator of 24 Hours of Adrenalin. He leveraged social media with twitter and other platforms, which made the race engaging. Julie said it felt like a world class event.

"It was incredible. The participants at the competition really looked out for each other. They were so supportive. You would be so tired and feel like your legs were going to fall off, then you would drive by a group of people and they would yell, 'Way to go! You can make it up this hill'," said Julie. "It was so inspiring to hear this. I've never been in an environment where people were so amazingly supportive."

Julie trained hard for the race, but says she couldn't have done it without the support of her husband and her friend Tony DeOre, who were her pit crew during the competition.

"You think it's just one person out on the bike, but it's not. It's you and your pit crew. They can make and break the race. My husband and Tony helped me get through it," Julie said.

TRAINING FOR THE RACE

For those of you who haven't been to the Canadian Rocky Mountains, they are the complete opposite of Houston's landscape. In fact, the word "flat" doesn't even make the list when describing them.

"Houston is as flat as a pancake. I did a lot of training miles here before going to Canmore. I also did some other races where there was more climbing," said Julie. "But if you can't climb hills, you can push on your gears for sustained effort and work with a trainer to try to prepare your body for it."

Julie bikes five or six times a week, but she's not always going for distance. Some days she rides long, but other days she works more on intensity.

"It all depends. Mileage isn't always the goal. You try to work different systems within the body," said Julie. "There are a lot of micro/macro building within your training."

Julie says she learned her cycling training tricks by talking with other cyclists, getting a coach, surfing the Web and getting to know what her body could handle. But it's not just being on the bike that's important. She also watches her nutrition to ensure she's getting enough protein and carbs. Sleep is also important as recovery is almost as important as the training.

"The misconception is that you are only working when you are on your bike, but really it has to do with keeping a positive mindset and balancing your life and work," said Julie.

GETTING STARTED AS A CYCLIST

One of the great things about biking is that all you need is a bike and a helmet. And you don't need to buy a fancy bike unless you really get into it.

If you are looking for equipment, Julie recommends paying a visit to her favorite bike store, BikeSport. They can give you information on cycling gear, local trails or joining groups in the area. They also have a team that you can join

In case you were wondering what Julie rides, her bike is a Pivot.

"I love my bike," said Julie. "I really encourage women to get out there and try cycling. There is a great organization here in Houston called GHORBA.org. There are a lot of great women in the group and they are at all different levels."

Julie says joining a group will help you improve your cycling skills, as well as make new friends.
"The best thing about the sport is that everyone cheers each other on," said Julie. "The people become dear to your heart."

THE BEST CYCLING TRAILS IN HOUSTON

You don't have to go all the way to Canada to cycle great trails. Julie says she has two favorite places around Houston that she likes to bike.

1) Double Lake off of 59 in Coldspring, Texas - Double Lake is about an hour outside of Houston. It's a fun course because regardless of your skill level, you can find some way to challenge yourself. The course is twisty so you can practice cornering, but it's also a great place to bike if you just want to go for a leisurely ride with friends. Julie says she's seen deer and rabbits on the trail. There is also a pretty lake in the area.

2) Rocky Hill Ranch in Smithville - Rocky Hill Ranch has 25 miles of trails. There are also some areas where you can practice your cycling climbing skills. Rocky Hill offers more technical challenges than the Double Lake trail.

Julie also says there are some great trails in the San Antonio area.