Cobleskill Native Conquers Highest Peak In Northeastern US on Her Bicycle

COBLESKILL - Ashleigh after finishing first in her age division of the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Climb

COBLESKILL — A Cobleskill native with strong Schoharie County roots has notched a memorable achievement on her bicycle.

Ashleigh Soule, a 2003 Cobleskill-Richmondville High School graduate now living in South Portland, Maine, recently finished first in the women's age 40-49 division of the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Climb, a grueling event that involves cycling up a 22 percent incline grade to the summit of 6,288-foot high Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the highest peak in the Northeastern United States.

Peddling her Masi Road Bike, Soule finished the very steep 7.6-mile course in two hours, 23 minutes without once getting off to walk her bicycle, though she did fall once. She described the experience as one of the hardest things she has ever done.

"I had trained for several sprint triathlons this summer and biked plenty of miles but nothing compares to the incline and endurance needed for the Mount Washington Auto Road," wrote Soule in an email from her home in South Portland, where she lives with her husband Adam and children Benjamin, 10, and Lily, 8.

"A fellow rider told me that the first two miles were the toughest; that was true but so was the rest. It was relentless and a test of endurance and focus. About halfway up, I fell off my bike, a humbling experience. I was OK (a few cuts to the hand) and after collecting myself, I got back up and on the bike. I came to complete the climb and wasn't going to let a fall stop me."

Soule turned 40 in January and vowed to do four things during her 40th year that she had never done before. The bicycle climb was one. Another was competing in a new triathlon in May that involved swimming in a pool. A third was going to the Bahamas with her husband and kids and taking the children snorkeling for the first time.

"I'm still figuring out what the fourth thing will be," Soule wrote.

She had plenty of support at the bicycle climb. Soule's father, Jeff Diefendorf, husband and kids were there to greet her at the finish. Her mother, Nancy Diefendorf, and an aunt, Debbe Squairs, were there at the start of the climb.

Looking back on the event, Soule recalled how sometimes total strangers can step out of the blue and be an inspiration.

"Near the very top, riders encounter 'the wall', a sassy 22 percent grade incline that goes left and then a quick right," she wrote. "The wall road is covered with encouraging words written in chalk and spectators line the road. My biggest fear was stopping or falling on the wall, and I was tired.

"As I approached, a woman came out of the crowd and walked alongside my bike, yelling 'Do not stop, you will not stop. You've got this. Do not stop!' And stop I did not. She continued to say this to me and walk alongside me until I rounded the last turn and was on my way to the finish line. Have no idea who she was but it felt like she was a guardian angel on that wall. I so appreciated her.

"The summit was full of amazing energy. Riders felt exhausted but enthralled with the accomplishment of completing one of the toughest hill climbs in the world. Not many women competed and I felt very proud to be there."

In addition to her parents _ who live in Cobleskill _ Soule has lots of family in Schoharie County. Her maternal grandparents are Herb and Arlene Needleman of Richmondville. Herb was the Richmondville Town Justice for 39 years before recently retiring and Arlene was his clerk for all but one of those years.

Their four children, son Neal and daughters Debbe, Nancy (Ashleigh's mom) and Cathy (a Middleburgh resident) are all graduates of the former Richmondville Central School, now Radez Elementary. The oldest child, Neal, passed away in 2013 at age 54 after a long battle with cancer.

A high achiever both from a physical and intellectual standpoint, Soule has Master's Degrees in Social Work and Public Health from Boston University and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (minor in Biology) from Hartwick College in Oneonta. She works as Director of an Accountable Care organization within Maine Health that is working to change the way health care is paid for.

Born with a clubbed right foot, Soule has tried to regard it not as a hindrance but as motivation. The bicycle climb _ she's been an avid bicycler for many years _ was the latest in a long list of athletic accomplishments. At Cobleskill-Richmondville, she played varsity girl's volleyball and softball for several years and was captain of the volleyball team.

Soule has taken part in more than eight sprint triathlons over the years and been joined in competing at two of them by her athletic aunt Cathy Needleman. Sprint triathlons _ which involve shorter distances than Ironman triathlons _ generally consist of a 5K run, one-quarter or one-third mile swim and 14-mile bicycle ride.

Soule said she strives to stay in top physical condition for many reasons, including setting an example for her children.

"My son also has a clubbed foot and I've tried to show him to never let it hold him back," she said.

"I have always been an athlete and loved to stay active," Soule continued in the email. "It is hard for me to sit and relax. For me, working out is a way to decompress, de-stress and stay grounded physically and mentally.

"After chronic foot/ankle issues from having clubbed feet caught up with me, I switched my workouts to more biking and swimming, less running.  Triathlons are a great way to mix things up.

“I feel grateful to be able to move and do things. So many friends and family have or are battling cancer and other illnesses and can’t move or do the things they want to do. Life is too short not to experience all you can and be a lifelong learner. And you find you can do hard things!”