John and Nancy on their record attempt across VA (N-S)

by Drew Clark, WUCA Awards Chairman

Nancy Guth

Nancy Guth earned her UCD award for the years 2009-20013, with Cup competition, record setting, RAAM Qualifying and RAAM itself. Nancy’s Cup exploits from 2009-2013 include 165 points in 2012 and 210 points in 2013, gained by racing as a team with her husband John. In both 2012 and 2013, Nancy and John won the Cup championship for Mixed Team category (both Ultra Cup and World Cup). In 2011, Nancy set a RAAM record as part of the two-woman team RAAM Boomers (age 60+), in which she paired with Mary Florian to complete the 2990 mile race in 9 Days 13 Hours 25 Minutes (9:13:25) for an average speed of 13.02 mph. Then in 2012, Nancy and John teamed up for another RAAM 60+ record of 8:03:43 with an average speed of 15.29 mph. And also in 2012, Nancy and John set a Tejas 500 record, going 503.5 miles in 29:12 (17.24 mph). Not done yet, Nancy and John set a RAW (Race Across the West) record in 2013, covering the 858.7 miles from Oceanside , California to Durango, Colorado in 2:07:48 with a speed of 15.37 mph. In 2013, Nancy and John also raced their home state of Virginia 331.5 Miles North-South for a record of 19:21 with a speed of 17.13 mph. And to cap the 2013 season, Nancy and John set the Mixed Team record in November at the Soul Events 24 Hour Championships with 445.2 miles at a speed of 18.55 mph. No slowing down with age here!

Nancy’s accomplishments extend well beyond her designated four-year qualifying period for UCD. Nancy earned over 150 points in Cup competition in each of 2004, 2005, and 2006. For four consecutive years (2006-2009), Nancy was the High Mileage Female at the Michigan National 24 Hour Challenge. Even better, Nancy was the top Female Ultracyclist in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008. Even though her RAAM were team efforts, Nancy earned solo RAAM Qualification in her own right at least three times (2004 Last Chance 1200 KM, 2006 Van Isle 1200 KM, and 2008 Adirondack 540). And on top of all that, two PBP finishes. Nancy also amply meets the volunteer service requirements for the UCD. Nancy has been a real promoter and ambassador of WUCA, and events, for a number of years and has recruited many riders into the WUCA. She has been the encourager of multiple current riders and racers to start participating in WUCA events and leadership. When the McSweeney Scholarship for promising young female riders was established, Nancy served on the committee from its inception and also served as Chair for the McSweeney Scholarship from 2007-2010.

Nancy has been a regular contributor to the WUCA Magazine since 2006– most notable the column of “Nancy’s Notes” which recapped events but also gave in-sight into the various considerations that a particular event needed more so than others. Nancy was a WUCA Board Member from 2003 to 2010 (two consecutive terms). Nancy was the Secretary for the WUCA Board for consecutive years. Starting in 2013, Nancy and John’s racing has been dedicated to the Semper Fi fund: “to honor our Marines, our daughter and son-in-law, and have brought attention and dollars to the Semper Fi fund, and look forward to continuing to thank all our US Marines for their service.” Congratulations, Nancy, for this well-earned award!

John Guth

John Guth earned his UCD award for the years 2009-2013, with Cup competition, record setting, RAAM Qualifying and RAAM itself. John’s Cup exploits from 2009-2013 include 165 points in 2012 and 210 points in 2013, gained by racing as a team with his wife Nancy. In both 2012 and 2013, John and Nancy won the Cup championship for Mixed Team category (both Ultra Cup and World Cup).

Then in 2012, Nancy and John teamed up for a RAAM 60+ record of 8:03:43 with an average speed of 15.29 mph in the Mixed Team category. And also in 2012, John and Nancy set a Tejas 500 record, going 503.5 miles in 29:12 (17.24 mph). Not done yet, John and Nancy set a RAW (Race Across the West) record in 2013, covering the 858.7 miles from Oceanside , California to Durango, Colorado in 2:07:48 with a speed of 15.37 mph. In 2013, John and Nancy also raced their home state of Virginia 331.5 Miles North-South for a record of 19:21 with a speed of 17.13 mph. And to cap the 2013 season, John and Nancy set the Mixed Team record in November at the Soul Events 24 Hour Championships with 445.2 miles at a speed oh 18.55 mph. Many younger riders could not hold those speeds!

John has also provided crucial volunteer service to ultra racers. John was Crew Chief in 2010 for Team Operation Progress, a RAAM four-person team with a paralyzed hand cyclist, guiding them to an eight-day finish for the coast-to-coast race. John was also Crew Chief in 2011 for the RAAM Boomers (on which his wife Nancy was racing to a record). When Nancy wrote for Ultracycling, John was the fact-checker, editor, and silent contributor. Starting in 2013, John and Nancy’s racing has been dedicated to the Semper Fi fund: “to honor our Marines, our daughter and son-in-law, and have brought attention and dollars to the Semper Fi fund, and look forward to continuing to thank all our US Marines for their service.”

Other accomplishments for John include RAAM Qualification at Tejas 500 in 2005.    The Ultracyclist of Distinction is a fitting reward for an many years of high performance. Well done, John!