Benjamin Steeples

ABOUT
I’m mixed discipline with running and mountain biking.
I became serious about running, ultra-running and obstacle course running at age 30. That year I competed in the Camp Pendleton World Famous Mud run and loved it. Back then, that race was about the only game in town. Now of course there are tons of options and I’ve competed at some level in almost all of them. I find a challenge both physically and mentally that I truly enjoy and it motivates me to push forward past my limits.
Three years ago, I decided to hop back on a bike for the first time since I was a teenager and instantly found a new passion. The satisfaction I find in Mountain Biking both recreationally and competitively is hard to match with other sports I participate in. It’s almost an obsession at this point, and the training compliments my other sports well. I find new and unique limits to push through with this sport and that’s help propel my interest.

FAVORITE PRODUCT
SKIN SLICK is my go to product for so many of the sports I enjoy and compete in. It’s there for my feet when running and hiking, for my chamois area on extended bike rides, and of course for the wetsuit during 24 hour high endurance mud runs like World’s Toughest Mudder.

How many races have you participated in?
30+

How many bikes do you own?
5

How many years have you been racing?
7

What is the highest elevation you have been at (this does not include a plane or rocket)?
14,505’

Proudest moment:
My proudest moment still to this day is completing U.S. Marine Corps boot camp in 1998 and serving honorably in the Marines. While I’ve since accomplished a great number of other life challenges, career goals, fitness goals, and even races that can arguably be consider much tougher than most of the training I received at boot camp, it is that foundation, that extreme leap from my comfort zone, my home, my life up to then, to take on the unknown, to grasp at the impossible that has made me what I am today. I can’t even imagine my life now, having not taken that monumental journey all those years ago.

Favorite Race:
The 24 hour long World’s Toughest Mudder. This is an unending circuit course of madness. I mean seriously, why the hell do we do the things we do sometimes? Running circles around a 5-mile 22+ obstacle mud and water course in fall time, destroying both upper and lower body on the same obstacles, lap after lap, and being so wet and so cold that you must wear a wetsuit most of the race or face almost certain hospitalization. It’s a race where your only limits are your mind and your body, and your mind will want to quit long before your body knows it needs too. So, you battle the terrain, the obstacles, the water, the mud, and most of all, you battle with yourself emotionally and physically. Everyone’s goals are different, some want the glory of winning, some want to survive 24 hours, others it’s mileage/obstacle goals, 50 miles, 75 miles, 100 miles, etc. What a great race!

Favorite Trail:
Favorite bike ride: Brown Mountain/ El Prieto loop above JPL in Alta Dena, CA. There are a lot longer trails, and certainly much tougher, but it offers the most complete mix of everything you need to feel good about your day. It’s a great before work ride, a great sun setting ride, just a great way to feel the muscles work and the bike react to various types of terrain. It’s my go to ride too start the day right. When I don’t have time for something longer, I can still always make time for this mountain bike ride.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 things would you want with you?
A beach towel, a lounge chair and cold beer. I know I wouldn’t survive very long, but it sure would be relaxing, if only for a short time.