In honour of Women's History Month, and to highlight the achievements of women in a sporting landscape often dominated by men, throughout the month of March the series StrongHer will highlight four female athletes from the Okanagan who lead by example. The first article in the StrongHer series featured West 麻豆精选 baseball star Emma Lecompte.
麻豆精选's Meaghan Hackinen appreciates the grind to mountain summits for sunrise as much as she does the lessons learned in the dark, cold and uncomfortable moments of ultra-endurance off-road bike racing.
Hackinen recently returned home from Morocco, where she placed second in the esteemed Atlas Mountain 1,300 km bike race.
"The route really is a masterpiece, stitched together over many scouting trips by the race director, Nelson Trees. At times, it鈥檚 is brutally hard, but for every hurdle 鈥� like hiking out of a rocky gorge, or pushing your bike for hours through the sand 鈥� there will be a reward waiting for you," said Hackinen.
A particular stretch of the course, which is no longer passable by vehicle, called Old Colonial Road, was a particular highlight for Hackinen.
"The road is rough and bumpy鈥攁nd really wears you down by the top but the expansive views on the top of the Atlas Mountains made the challenging climb under mid-day sun totally worth it."
As a writer, Hackinen sees challenges and uncomfortable experiences 鈥� like sleeping alone, in a remote area, under the stars in a foreign country 鈥� through a unique lens. She is able to weave unexpected events and setbacks into stories that teach, inspire and encourage others to push their own limits.
Hackinen's published books Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race and South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels details the gritty adventures, trying experiences and friendly as well as frightening people she has met on her epic journeys.
Since 2023, Hackinen has surged into off-road endurance cycling stardom, with huge wins at iconic races including the Ozark gravel race and the world's longest off-road event, the infamous 2024 Tour Divide.
While her most recent effort 鈥� the Atlas mountain race 鈥� may have seemed like a grand success culminating in a podium finish, the event was not all sunshine and soda pop in the desert.
"I felt like I was in over my head in some of the more technical terrain, and that scared me a bit. There were times I had to walk, and when I tried to ride I kept falling, so I decided it was safer just to walk even though it was slower. This was a hit to my self-confidence that lingered even after the terrain mellowed out. It took me some time to feel good again," said Hackinen.
She also fell ill with a stomach bug on the third day of the race, making travel in the relentless sun and sandy roads, slow and riddled with emergency stops.
"In ultra-racing, riders need to balance getting enough sleep for recovery with time on the bike to stay moving. I think I did a good job of this, though there were times I was deeply fatigued, and I didn鈥檛 have much power left the last two days."
Hackinen slept for less than 12 hours over the five days, one hour and 30 minutes it took her to traverse the 1,300km off-road race.
"Sunset and sunrise were always my favourite times of the day. The nights are long and chilly this time of year, but the contrast felt nice after the heat of the day."
Although locals offered their homes or shops to the riders to sleep in, Hackinen chose to snuggle into her bivy sack and sleeping bag in secluded hide-aways when she stopped to rest for a few on all but one night, when she slept in a shared hotel room at a checkpoint.
"I'm someone who likes their personal space and quiet time. I enjoy sleeping under the stars and came prepared for the cool nights in Morocco."
Hackinen's sleep setup consists of a down sleeping bag rated to 0 C, a SOL brand bivy sack, a minimalist homemade mat, and her shoes and puffy jacket serve as a pillow.
As refreshing as the dusk fell, Hackinen said the emotional impact of daybreak after biking alone with just her headlamp through the long desert night was huge.
In the Atlas mountain race, athletes are only able to accept aid that would be available to all racers, meaning Hackinen could only access food from checkpoints or from shops along the way.
"Food is fuel so it鈥檚 vital to keep feeding the machine, but it鈥檚 also challenging since resupply is limited, and my stomach got pretty sick of all the sweet stuff."
The satisfaction of doing something challenging and entirely self-sufficient coupled with the welcoming and supportive ultra-race community is what makes the sport such an important part of her life.
"I am just amazed and blown away by the incredible scenery, warmth of the Moroccan people, and delicious food. It鈥檚 great to meet other riders from around the world, as well as get to experience a place that鈥檚 very different from my own home."
The community aspect of ultra-races both abroad and at home is important to Hackinen. She strives to foster a community that supports one another to push the limits of their potential on the bike and in life. On casual group rides in 麻豆精选 between epic endeavours, Hackinen is always the first to give high-fives and encouragement. Additionally, as she is brimming with stories of adventure, she is able to distract riders from their tired legs to achieve new personal bests.
Her goal for 2025 is to become the first woman ever to conquer all three of the Mountain Race Series. After checking off Atlas Mountain, the next race in the series is the Hellenic Mountain Race through the mountains of Greece in May, followed by the Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan in August.
For more information, visit meaghanhackinen.com, and @meaghanhackinen on Instagram.
