On Saturday, I pretended to be a hardcore cyclist. Heather, Gretchen, Sarah, and I all lined up for the Oregon State Team Time Trial State Championships in the Women's Cat 4 division. My team, Pacific Power/Blue Sky, hosted the event just East of Corvallis on the country roads that are laid squarely out across the Willamette Valley. And it was a beautiful day, not to windy, not to sunny (after all it is Oregon), and not rainy (are we sure it was Oregon?).
The start went smoothly with Sarah lined up on the inside, Gretchen, then Heather, then me. At least it was better than our practice on Friday in which I snookered my lady lips when I missed clipping in to my pedal on the Orbea. Rookie move. Sarah took the first pull and we were keeping to 30-45 second pulls on the front as we got into the groove of following each others wheels ...in aerobars ...through turns. The course was laid out as a 7-mile square, but along the route the road took several dangerous Z-curves and had a few small hills tossed in for good measure. About five miles in to the first lap we made a few adjustments in the order and Gretchen got behind Heather and started pulling off with her in the pace line. This happens occasionally when a rider isn't strong enough to take a pull, but we still wanted her there because she is our teammate and it is always better to draft behind three than two.
Heather and I started taking 2-3 minute pulls on the next few laps. Sarah was in front of me and when she pulled off I waited about 10-15 seconds for her to jump back on before picking up the pace. We passed two women's teams in the second lap, one was the other Pacific Power Team and one was a very competitive Senior Women's team. Actually, we passed the Senior Women just after the first lap and then they passed us back going into a little head wind and uphill during my pull! Oops, they were some seriously strong women. It happened when we were trying to figure out our new order, but once we got back on, we were able to pass them back.
On the third lap, we were gaining on another Cat 4 team, the Poplollies, when all of sudden their fourth rider went tail over top, bike flying through the air (they really aren't meant for that) and she went down in a heap. You never want to see stuff like that. We found out later that she just crossed wheels with the rider in front of her. It happens.
On the fourth and final lap, we were all breathing hard (even me) but somehow managed to find another gear. I pulled through a slight section that had the biggest hill on the course and then moved to the back to rest up for the final straight away. It layed out perfectly for me to be pulling through the last sort-of-long-straight-away before the final turn in to the sprint finish. As soon as I got on the front, Heather yelled out "get ready to haul!" and we picked it up to 26 mph. I felt like Lieutenant George Hincapie pulling Lance along (even have the height thing going). I pulled off just before the curve and Heather picked the perfect line to maintain our speed. On the straightaway it is the third rider to cross that stops the clock, so our pace line fell apart as I used Heather's lead out to pull Sarah and I around in the final meters. I nearly gave myself asthma pushing to the finish, but it was such a rush!
After the excitement of the race, I sat back and volunteered at registration and then was asked to go out and marshall the course near the finish line. It's great day when I get to race and volunteer (makes it a lot easier to meet my volunteering quota).
The men were racing and the finish line happened along the course so that teams that had just finished were slowing in front of teams that had more laps to go. I got to yell a lot for riders to get out of the way. Most of them looked at me with barely comprehensive oxygen-debt blank stares but still followed my direction (I must look authoritative). Sadly, complicating the issue was a finish line bike crash that took out a whole team of four riders. They all should be fine, but I think two were taken to the hospital.
Be safe out there!
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Boring....
What is it about May? Now you are wondering, too. The sun still hasn't come out in Oregon. Day begins as if some unknown hand is slowly raising the dimmer on the light switch. But it is not even enough light to see a shadow. I miss my shadow.
It took me 14 hours, two take-offs, two-landings, a metro ride, a bus ride, a car ride, a $10 turkey sandwich, and four conversations with seatmates (I was in the middle seat both times) to get back to Corvallis. I had the middle seat because, frankly, I hate sitting on airplanes and therefore dawdle until just before they close the jetway. The funny thing about Southwest is that they assign you a position in line based on when you get to the airport (obviously, I had one of the last numbers anyway). Watching the people cue up and find out where A18 and A20 are so they can stand between them is pretty entertaining. Good people watching. It reminds me of the playground when we were all in elementary school. Robert Fulghum had it right... "everything we need to know we learned in Kindergarten". Good book, too, if you are looking for something to read.
So, when I finally drag myself on to the airplane I notice that all the people in front of me have precisely positioned themselves in aisle and window seats the entire length of the plane. Even the people who are clearly traveling together have chosen to sit one seat apart. Huh. If I were that girl, I would simply pick out a lucky couple who had chosen not to sit next to each other, ask them if I could sit between them, and watch the hem-and-haw while one or the other moved over because they don't want to be separated. Well, if they didn't want to be separated, then why didn't they sit next to each other in the first place! Lucky for them, I am not that girl (yet, give me a few years to get more crusty). Instead, I look for the person in a middle seat least likely to lean their chair back and then sit behind them. I chose poorly twice.
Now I'm home and working and I did my first track workout since before Wildflower last night (it's usually only three weeks wait, but I did the tempo-Hobit run in Peavy with Bill last week...which BTW more then made up for a lack of track). And while it took me a couple intervals to get the old legs going, I split an 800 at the end of the workout that would make a high school JV girl proud!
And while we are talking shop, add a race to my calendar. Because the Oregon TTT is not enough this week-end, on Sunday I'm racing a trail 8K called Run for the Hills to benefit the Greenbelt Land Trust. It's being put on by one of my Wednesday night speed guys and I think I get to race one of the women who competed in the Olympic Marathon Trials! Sweet....competition.
It took me 14 hours, two take-offs, two-landings, a metro ride, a bus ride, a car ride, a $10 turkey sandwich, and four conversations with seatmates (I was in the middle seat both times) to get back to Corvallis. I had the middle seat because, frankly, I hate sitting on airplanes and therefore dawdle until just before they close the jetway. The funny thing about Southwest is that they assign you a position in line based on when you get to the airport (obviously, I had one of the last numbers anyway). Watching the people cue up and find out where A18 and A20 are so they can stand between them is pretty entertaining. Good people watching. It reminds me of the playground when we were all in elementary school. Robert Fulghum had it right... "everything we need to know we learned in Kindergarten". Good book, too, if you are looking for something to read.
So, when I finally drag myself on to the airplane I notice that all the people in front of me have precisely positioned themselves in aisle and window seats the entire length of the plane. Even the people who are clearly traveling together have chosen to sit one seat apart. Huh. If I were that girl, I would simply pick out a lucky couple who had chosen not to sit next to each other, ask them if I could sit between them, and watch the hem-and-haw while one or the other moved over because they don't want to be separated. Well, if they didn't want to be separated, then why didn't they sit next to each other in the first place! Lucky for them, I am not that girl (yet, give me a few years to get more crusty). Instead, I look for the person in a middle seat least likely to lean their chair back and then sit behind them. I chose poorly twice.
Now I'm home and working and I did my first track workout since before Wildflower last night (it's usually only three weeks wait, but I did the tempo-Hobit run in Peavy with Bill last week...which BTW more then made up for a lack of track). And while it took me a couple intervals to get the old legs going, I split an 800 at the end of the workout that would make a high school JV girl proud!
And while we are talking shop, add a race to my calendar. Because the Oregon TTT is not enough this week-end, on Sunday I'm racing a trail 8K called Run for the Hills to benefit the Greenbelt Land Trust. It's being put on by one of my Wednesday night speed guys and I think I get to race one of the women who competed in the Olympic Marathon Trials! Sweet....competition.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sunday in the Thundershine...
I know I said that I would write soon about my cyclocross ride on Tuesday night, but if you knew the week I had, you’ld understand. Wait...I’ll tell you.
I rarely talk about work stuff not because I don’t love science and have several soap boxes on the subject, but because any story about work would invariably include the people I work with and the research that I am doing. Science being the competitive field that it is, even in academia, especially in academia, I wouldn’t want to compromise my or anybody else’s work that I am associated with. But, this week I was awarded the Damon Runyan Cancer Research Fellowship to fund my work in small RNA biogenesis in plants. Maybe awarded is the wrong word for it. How about this? I was entrusted with this fellowship in exchange for the promise that I would do really important and vital research regarding how genes are regulated, a question at the heart of biology and one with a seemingly endless number of answers.
So, that was Tuesday, before my ride. You can see why I was a bit busy to visit. And then I took Taxi for her first real maiden voyage with my friend Heather (who is a much better biker than I). We took our bikes up the fire roads of Mac Forest and entered a trail unimaginatively called Horse Trail. Then the real run began. Twisties and turnies, trees and troughs, roots and stumps, this trail is something I would hesitate to take a mountain bike ride on much less my brand new road-like cyclocross bike. The ride wasn’t epic, but getting used to a new bike shouldn’t be. We have to take some time to get to know each other. But the promise is definitely there.
The end of the week was no less hectic. I ran with Bill in the Peavy Arboretum. And if you ever come visit Corvallis, visit this place first. It is a sprawling research garden criss-crossed by woodland trails that undulate in and among the trees and ponds. I was lost within 500 yds among the immense greenery that in some places blocked out the light. So cool!
Now I am in St. Louis. It has been thunder-shining all morning. Mom and Dad are off to church (late...see where I get it from). And I am drinking my French press coffee (that’s right, I brought the press pot to MO) and killing time before going over to my friend’s house for her post-wedding breakfast. I absolutely love this part of the wedding.... everybody in normal cloths, chatting and eating breakfast together (best meal of the day). If I ever get married (shudder), I might just have the wedding in the morning and serve breakfast. Now, wouldn’t that be fun?
I rarely talk about work stuff not because I don’t love science and have several soap boxes on the subject, but because any story about work would invariably include the people I work with and the research that I am doing. Science being the competitive field that it is, even in academia, especially in academia, I wouldn’t want to compromise my or anybody else’s work that I am associated with. But, this week I was awarded the Damon Runyan Cancer Research Fellowship to fund my work in small RNA biogenesis in plants. Maybe awarded is the wrong word for it. How about this? I was entrusted with this fellowship in exchange for the promise that I would do really important and vital research regarding how genes are regulated, a question at the heart of biology and one with a seemingly endless number of answers.
So, that was Tuesday, before my ride. You can see why I was a bit busy to visit. And then I took Taxi for her first real maiden voyage with my friend Heather (who is a much better biker than I). We took our bikes up the fire roads of Mac Forest and entered a trail unimaginatively called Horse Trail. Then the real run began. Twisties and turnies, trees and troughs, roots and stumps, this trail is something I would hesitate to take a mountain bike ride on much less my brand new road-like cyclocross bike. The ride wasn’t epic, but getting used to a new bike shouldn’t be. We have to take some time to get to know each other. But the promise is definitely there.
The end of the week was no less hectic. I ran with Bill in the Peavy Arboretum. And if you ever come visit Corvallis, visit this place first. It is a sprawling research garden criss-crossed by woodland trails that undulate in and among the trees and ponds. I was lost within 500 yds among the immense greenery that in some places blocked out the light. So cool!
Now I am in St. Louis. It has been thunder-shining all morning. Mom and Dad are off to church (late...see where I get it from). And I am drinking my French press coffee (that’s right, I brought the press pot to MO) and killing time before going over to my friend’s house for her post-wedding breakfast. I absolutely love this part of the wedding.... everybody in normal cloths, chatting and eating breakfast together (best meal of the day). If I ever get married (shudder), I might just have the wedding in the morning and serve breakfast. Now, wouldn’t that be fun?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
And then there were five.
I'ld like to introduce you to the newest addition in my family. She was born on Monday 5/19/o8 at 7:45 am weighing 20.8 lbs. I've named her Taxi (after Vern's new puppy... no worries, she said it was okay).With Tigger still struggling from the five flats last week (finally figured out I had a spoke poking through the rim tape), I put the commuter pedals on Taxi and took her for her maiden voyage. Now, I realize that commuting to work is kind of a lame for a first ride on a cross bike, so I added in some curbs and the grassy knoll of the quad on campus.
And after today Taxi will no longer be clean and pure. Why? Oh, Oregon, thy weather is so fickle... after five days of 80+ temps and dry trails, I woke up this morning to a pouring rain. So what better time to see what my new bike is made of in the Mac Forest. I'll let you know how she does.
Beach pics
The site of fried food ingestion and oh-so-much-happy consumption of alcoholic beverages. I love the chocolate stouts that are brewed around here.
Looking beachy on a gorgeous day at the coast (no, it's not Monday, rather just lazy and didn't upload my pics from Saturday).
Sunday, May 18, 2008
My new bike
It's here and it is fixed up and it is so pretty looking and it is so sad that I had to leave it in the garage all week-end. Yup, I forgot one oh-so-critical piece of bike riding. Cleats for the shoes. You would have thought that after years of being a cyclist, I would have remembered this small requirement. But alas.
No matter, I had a lot of training to do this week-end. 15 mile hilly trail run on Saturday with Gerhart, Dave, and the Scotts. Actually, I was really lucky to have a trail running partner at all this week-end. I volunteered to woman a corner at the Reach the Beach Charity bike ride in the morning and was pretty certain that I wasn't going to be able to get my run in until later in the sweltering heat. But, having seen Gerhart the night before, I told him that whenever I was done volunteering, I was going to start running from the Oak Creek Trail Head, approximately a third of the way along their trail route. Well, as fortune would have it, they all decided to run out to the trail head to see if I had made it yet, just as I was pulling up. Fantastically fortuitous timing.
For my ride this morning, I started out with the Orbea on a 90-miler with a group of ironmanees. However, it was super hot and I had only brought two bottles. So, at mile 45, I took a short cut from their route with this kid Blair and rolled into Corvallis with an even 75. One huge difference between riding in the valley and riding in Colorado that I realized today: there is really no where to stop and water-up. Must remember that for next time. The dehydration and heat required that I cool off and nutrish immediately after getting home. So:
ice cream
vanilla yoghurt
frozen peachs
strawberries
banana
honey
walnuts
and for good measure, some Mango-Orange Clif Recovery Powder
and I was feeling fi-i-i-ine.
Aside from the working out... On Saturday, I went to the beach! We (Erika and I) didn't go swimming of course (frickin' freezing), but we did walk n' talk pretty much the length of the beach in the afternoon. Then we got some dinner and fish 'n chips and beers at the Rogue Brewery right on the waterfront. However, two beers, and we had to go for another walk and get ice cream before driving back to Corvallis. We had so much fun that I did not even realize that we had pretty much talked non-stop for eight hours (I know that no one in Boulder is surprised, by that...but it hadn't happened yet in Corvallis). Looking forward to lots more hanging out with Erika and Bill in the future.
P.S. Summer is here! Yeah!
No matter, I had a lot of training to do this week-end. 15 mile hilly trail run on Saturday with Gerhart, Dave, and the Scotts. Actually, I was really lucky to have a trail running partner at all this week-end. I volunteered to woman a corner at the Reach the Beach Charity bike ride in the morning and was pretty certain that I wasn't going to be able to get my run in until later in the sweltering heat. But, having seen Gerhart the night before, I told him that whenever I was done volunteering, I was going to start running from the Oak Creek Trail Head, approximately a third of the way along their trail route. Well, as fortune would have it, they all decided to run out to the trail head to see if I had made it yet, just as I was pulling up. Fantastically fortuitous timing.
For my ride this morning, I started out with the Orbea on a 90-miler with a group of ironmanees. However, it was super hot and I had only brought two bottles. So, at mile 45, I took a short cut from their route with this kid Blair and rolled into Corvallis with an even 75. One huge difference between riding in the valley and riding in Colorado that I realized today: there is really no where to stop and water-up. Must remember that for next time. The dehydration and heat required that I cool off and nutrish immediately after getting home. So:
ice cream
vanilla yoghurt
frozen peachs
strawberries
banana
honey
walnuts
and for good measure, some Mango-Orange Clif Recovery Powder
and I was feeling fi-i-i-ine.
Aside from the working out... On Saturday, I went to the beach! We (Erika and I) didn't go swimming of course (frickin' freezing), but we did walk n' talk pretty much the length of the beach in the afternoon. Then we got some dinner and fish 'n chips and beers at the Rogue Brewery right on the waterfront. However, two beers, and we had to go for another walk and get ice cream before driving back to Corvallis. We had so much fun that I did not even realize that we had pretty much talked non-stop for eight hours (I know that no one in Boulder is surprised, by that...but it hadn't happened yet in Corvallis). Looking forward to lots more hanging out with Erika and Bill in the future.
P.S. Summer is here! Yeah!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Another historic week
I felt awesome after my race. But, this was the week I needed the rest. So aside from a couple of key workouts, I've mostly been laying low. If you can call demolishing the women's field at the Coburg TT on Tuesday laying low. :-)
Time trials hurt a lot. Now I understand why the faces of Le Tour riders look like they do. Going as hard as you can for (in my case only 40 minutes). And it isn't like triathlon where I just tell myself that I have to save it for the run (convenient excuse). Nope, in this case, the quads start burning and I have to keep pushing harder.
And, the piece de resistance (said in a snooty French accent with nose turned up), my cyclocross bike is in! I pick it up on Saturday, but I just couldn't wait to check it out. Gordie at Northwest Multisport emailed me around lunch yesterday to tell me that Brown Santa had arrived with a present. I love Brown Santa. And he waited to open the box until I got there so that it really was like Christmas.
But, the week wouldn't be complete without Tigger drama. Three flat tires and the last one occurred mid-commute home on Wednesday after my hill running interval workout. I had no tubes, no vulcanizing agent for my patches, and no desire to stop and figure out what had caused the flat. So, I rode the rim for two miles. And because I did not have any tubes at home (I live with mountain bikers), I was forced to ride my roommate's authentic cruiser to work on Thursday, complete with short saddle and two gears. It took me 10 minutes longer to get there and I looked like a slightly more hard core version of the Wicked Witch of the East....duh,duh,duh,da,da,duh,duh,duh,da.
Time trials hurt a lot. Now I understand why the faces of Le Tour riders look like they do. Going as hard as you can for (in my case only 40 minutes). And it isn't like triathlon where I just tell myself that I have to save it for the run (convenient excuse). Nope, in this case, the quads start burning and I have to keep pushing harder.
And, the piece de resistance (said in a snooty French accent with nose turned up), my cyclocross bike is in! I pick it up on Saturday, but I just couldn't wait to check it out. Gordie at Northwest Multisport emailed me around lunch yesterday to tell me that Brown Santa had arrived with a present. I love Brown Santa. And he waited to open the box until I got there so that it really was like Christmas.
But, the week wouldn't be complete without Tigger drama. Three flat tires and the last one occurred mid-commute home on Wednesday after my hill running interval workout. I had no tubes, no vulcanizing agent for my patches, and no desire to stop and figure out what had caused the flat. So, I rode the rim for two miles. And because I did not have any tubes at home (I live with mountain bikers), I was forced to ride my roommate's authentic cruiser to work on Thursday, complete with short saddle and two gears. It took me 10 minutes longer to get there and I looked like a slightly more hard core version of the Wicked Witch of the East....duh,duh,duh,da,da,duh,duh,duh,da.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday Rave Ride
You know those bike rides that seem doomed from the beginning? The weather doesn't look good, you woke up late, your pedal broke and you didn't have time to change both cleats so you are riding with two different pedals, you can only find your left knee warmer and your right glove, and you don't have time to finish any of your coffee....especially as it is key for this morning. Here's why: add to that a night of drunken revelry spent celebrating your best race ever in which you finally dropped into bed at 2:30... that's a.m., as in barely enough time to fall asleep, let alone sleep it off.
And so I found myself on Sunday morning, pouring my coffee into a water bottle, filling the other with extra-strong Cran-Razz Clif drink, and pedaling away to the Corvallis bridge to meet up with Jim and Heather for a short easy ride on the flats of the Willamette Valley (earlier in the week this ride had been whittled down from four ladies and 70-miles because of racing/recovery/Mother's Day excuses). I did find my other knee warmer and glove but not before putting the right spd cleat on my left shoe and forcing me to bust out the screwdriver a second time. Almost as soon as we crossed the bridge, the wind picked up, and as we tooled around for 1:30 on the TTT course (we'll be racing Team Time Trial style out there on May 31) it blew darkening clouds our way. Jim left us early to head back into town because he is racing the Mt. Hood Stage Race this week. Heather and I were left to fend for ourselves amidst the sheep farms and grass-lands. Before long, it was time to pull Heather back into town (she is coming off an awful bacterial lung infection that was almost pneumonia), the clouds passed without incidence, and the sun reappeared. By this time, I was half-way through my coffee bottle (it had become an iced coffee...but still good) and after riding with Heather back in the direction of her house I decided that I wanted to get in a few more miles.
At this point you should be wondering two things, one, aren't I still recovering from a race and two, do I have enough nutrition for this endeavor. Answers: no and yes.
Interjection: I should tell you a little about my training philosophy. I always make out a plan for my training and almost always have to end up changing it. I don't like to think of my training in terms of weeks, more like periods, that would look like a bell curve if you plotted it. And the intensity and focus of the periods depends on the race(s) coming up. Looking ahead, I have a very hilly half-marathon trail run in Bend, and a very hilly (on the bike) 70.3 in Sun River. Both at some altitude higher than me and both physically demanding. Also, I never build rest weeks into my training. If I think I need a rest day or two, I take them, enough said. While I've been doing sports most of my life, I've been paying attention. And do you realize that a week has absolutely nothing to do with the calendar year. It is a completely arbitrary...you can't say that there are 4.578 weeks in a month or even 52 weeks in a year (because there are actually 52.124 in a non-leap year). So, I don't go by weeks, and I only push big training on the week-end, because that is when I don't "have" to work. But there are even some Saturdays when I need a rest day, too. That said. I was fully recovered from my race by Wednesday.
Back to my story: Anticipating a major case of the munchies (not really, but maybe subconciously), I had stuffed a Maple Almond Butter and Marionberry Jelly whole wheat bagel into my pocket for breakfast. And fueling the ride were a Blueberry Crisp Clif Bar (my favorite) and some strawberry Clif Bloks. So, at least I was nutritioused for what I was about to do. Feeling frisky, I headed away from Heather's house towards Alsea Falls thinking to add on the Coffee loop. But, I rode past my turn. Then I rode past the Decker turn. And then I started climbing up to Mary's pass. And it was awesome....super curvy road, not too many cars (and yet, I still got accosted by the honker; but most of the vehicles were friendly). Onto my iPod came Eddie Veter's "Big Hard Sun" and when the chorus came on I would sing "and it's a big hard hill-ll-ll". At the top I ran into a cyclocross rider with a trolley carrying tons of camping gear... Tom, had attempted to climb Mary's Peak, a very nice hill climb and race in late August that I will be doing. However, this time of year, the gate is closed and snow still covers most of it. We chatted, and parted ways. Skinny tires to the left, knobbies to the right.
The descent was sickeningly cool. It has road signs on it cautioning drivers of curves ahead, that I kid you not, have four curves on them. And I like to go fast. Riding to work every day has given me some mad handling skills on my road bike and I took the curves like my friend Tom Zirbel in a break-away.
If the climbing to the pass wasn't enough, I added on Decker just to hammer the nails into the coffin of my hangover. It is a nice little climb on the back roads where you're unlucky if you see two cars the whole up and down. It also sends me in a more gradual direction to the home territory by way of some empty farm roads with names like Llewellyn and Brewster and Fern. I pass by grasslands, sheep farms, and Alpacas (they are everywhere here). And just before I get dropped out on 99W just a couple miles South of my street, there is fence that pays homage to my sport... I call this strange work of art "ET. almost home". Don't you just love camera phones?
And so I found myself on Sunday morning, pouring my coffee into a water bottle, filling the other with extra-strong Cran-Razz Clif drink, and pedaling away to the Corvallis bridge to meet up with Jim and Heather for a short easy ride on the flats of the Willamette Valley (earlier in the week this ride had been whittled down from four ladies and 70-miles because of racing/recovery/Mother's Day excuses). I did find my other knee warmer and glove but not before putting the right spd cleat on my left shoe and forcing me to bust out the screwdriver a second time. Almost as soon as we crossed the bridge, the wind picked up, and as we tooled around for 1:30 on the TTT course (we'll be racing Team Time Trial style out there on May 31) it blew darkening clouds our way. Jim left us early to head back into town because he is racing the Mt. Hood Stage Race this week. Heather and I were left to fend for ourselves amidst the sheep farms and grass-lands. Before long, it was time to pull Heather back into town (she is coming off an awful bacterial lung infection that was almost pneumonia), the clouds passed without incidence, and the sun reappeared. By this time, I was half-way through my coffee bottle (it had become an iced coffee...but still good) and after riding with Heather back in the direction of her house I decided that I wanted to get in a few more miles.
At this point you should be wondering two things, one, aren't I still recovering from a race and two, do I have enough nutrition for this endeavor. Answers: no and yes.
Interjection: I should tell you a little about my training philosophy. I always make out a plan for my training and almost always have to end up changing it. I don't like to think of my training in terms of weeks, more like periods, that would look like a bell curve if you plotted it. And the intensity and focus of the periods depends on the race(s) coming up. Looking ahead, I have a very hilly half-marathon trail run in Bend, and a very hilly (on the bike) 70.3 in Sun River. Both at some altitude higher than me and both physically demanding. Also, I never build rest weeks into my training. If I think I need a rest day or two, I take them, enough said. While I've been doing sports most of my life, I've been paying attention. And do you realize that a week has absolutely nothing to do with the calendar year. It is a completely arbitrary...you can't say that there are 4.578 weeks in a month or even 52 weeks in a year (because there are actually 52.124 in a non-leap year). So, I don't go by weeks, and I only push big training on the week-end, because that is when I don't "have" to work. But there are even some Saturdays when I need a rest day, too. That said. I was fully recovered from my race by Wednesday.
Back to my story: Anticipating a major case of the munchies (not really, but maybe subconciously), I had stuffed a Maple Almond Butter and Marionberry Jelly whole wheat bagel into my pocket for breakfast. And fueling the ride were a Blueberry Crisp Clif Bar (my favorite) and some strawberry Clif Bloks. So, at least I was nutritioused for what I was about to do. Feeling frisky, I headed away from Heather's house towards Alsea Falls thinking to add on the Coffee loop. But, I rode past my turn. Then I rode past the Decker turn. And then I started climbing up to Mary's pass. And it was awesome....super curvy road, not too many cars (and yet, I still got accosted by the honker; but most of the vehicles were friendly). Onto my iPod came Eddie Veter's "Big Hard Sun" and when the chorus came on I would sing "and it's a big hard hill-ll-ll". At the top I ran into a cyclocross rider with a trolley carrying tons of camping gear... Tom, had attempted to climb Mary's Peak, a very nice hill climb and race in late August that I will be doing. However, this time of year, the gate is closed and snow still covers most of it. We chatted, and parted ways. Skinny tires to the left, knobbies to the right.
The descent was sickeningly cool. It has road signs on it cautioning drivers of curves ahead, that I kid you not, have four curves on them. And I like to go fast. Riding to work every day has given me some mad handling skills on my road bike and I took the curves like my friend Tom Zirbel in a break-away.
If the climbing to the pass wasn't enough, I added on Decker just to hammer the nails into the coffin of my hangover. It is a nice little climb on the back roads where you're unlucky if you see two cars the whole up and down. It also sends me in a more gradual direction to the home territory by way of some empty farm roads with names like Llewellyn and Brewster and Fern. I pass by grasslands, sheep farms, and Alpacas (they are everywhere here). And just before I get dropped out on 99W just a couple miles South of my street, there is fence that pays homage to my sport... I call this strange work of art "ET. almost home". Don't you just love camera phones?
Mom's Day
Occasionally I like to give props to people I know (or would like to know) for doing something extraordinary, out-of-the-ordinary, or ordinary but with flair. And in the spirit of Mother's Day, I'm giving some major ones to my Mumsters (and my Dad, but his day is later).
Come June 12, Mumsters and Pappa-choos will be riding the Katy Trail in Missouri from end-to-end. That's 110 miles over three days across gravel/dirt paths in some of the most beautiful river bluff country in Missouri. They are doing this to raise money for Habitat for Humanity in an effort with the MO-Hab riders (get it? Missouri, MO, Moab???). And to get ready for the ride, they rode 44 miles last week-end. That is almost farther than I would have biked on a given week-end (we'll get to that later). Freakin' awesome. It wasn't to terribly long ago that Mumsters (aka Maggie) had to get back surgery and had trouble walking because of her knees. And I continually worried about both of my parents lack of exercise because of the draw on their time from their electric business.
So, I just wanted to hand out some props and say that I thought I couldn't be prouder of my Mom. She continues to amaze me. You go girl!
Come June 12, Mumsters and Pappa-choos will be riding the Katy Trail in Missouri from end-to-end. That's 110 miles over three days across gravel/dirt paths in some of the most beautiful river bluff country in Missouri. They are doing this to raise money for Habitat for Humanity in an effort with the MO-Hab riders (get it? Missouri, MO, Moab???). And to get ready for the ride, they rode 44 miles last week-end. That is almost farther than I would have biked on a given week-end (we'll get to that later). Freakin' awesome. It wasn't to terribly long ago that Mumsters (aka Maggie) had to get back surgery and had trouble walking because of her knees. And I continually worried about both of my parents lack of exercise because of the draw on their time from their electric business.
So, I just wanted to hand out some props and say that I thought I couldn't be prouder of my Mom. She continues to amaze me. You go girl!
More Wildflower Pics
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Wildflower Race Pictures
Here is the only pic I have been able to get so far. There might be more floating around on a camera from one of the OSU triclub members. I'll know Friday as we are having a Wildflower BBQ now that the sun has come out in Oregon. :-)
Athletic Supporter
I was browsing the WF festival pics and here is a sweet one of me cheering the Olympic distance competitors up Lynch Hill. Coffee in one hand and cow bell in the other, all of you competing at Ironman Canada have this to look forward to! I need more cow bell!!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Wildflower Triathlon Recap
The Sign-up
There are so many places to begin my account of this race. But maybe it is important to explain the motivation first. Back in 2003, I cheered alongside Sarah Wall (now Chimi) as she flashed every member of the Fleet Feet Triathlon Team as they crested the last uphill on the run course at mile 12. And I wanted to be out there competing too, and not just because I would get to see Sarah’s chest, though, that in itself would be worth it. The Wildflower long course (essentially a half-iron distance) is the stuff of legends.
So I found myself four weeks ago, talked into racing the long course event for the first time. I signed up as an amateur because I did not think that I had qualified for a renewal of my elite license. I had maintained a pretty convincing level of fitness and all that was needed in my training were a few minor adjustments to include some climbing in my aero bars and speed/hill workouts on the run. Then last Sunday, I went for a 70 mile bike ride with a group of local triathletes who are all beginning to ramp up their training for Ironman Canada. After the ride, I got to thinking....I should really be racing as an elite. I went to the USA Triathlon website and spent an hour reading the fine print on elite qualification. I don’t how I missed it the first time, but there in plain site was my ticket, a one year extension of my elite license if I had a qualifying race in my first year (out of two). I was in!
Arriving in Lake San Antonio, California
After a 13-hour drive that my travel buddy, Ed, and I split into two with a lovely night stay in Redding, CA, we pulled into the campgrounds with just enough time to set up camp and book it down to the pre-race meeting. Two members of the race staff, Dixie and Becky, were fabulous about setting me up with my credentials, race entry, numbers, bib, and chip. They made it so easy! I had a little bit of dinner with the OSU Tri Club, set up my bike and transition bag, and played a rousing game of Uno with Draw 2 Rulz (imagine combining the drinking game Kings and Uno and the penalty instead of drinking is to draw two). Before long though, I was headed to bed and in less than 10-hours, a half-ironman.
Race Day...
Started out cold. Temps in the 50s. I got up to make French Press coffee (caffeine! I had given up caffeine for two weeks leading up to the race) and steel cut oatmeal. I was enjoying my coffee and oatmeal watching the sunrise so much that I lost track of time and arrived late at the transition... which is not actually unusual, as most can attest to.
But, setting up transition was easy. Shoes on the pedals, chain in a low gear, helmet and sunglasses on the handle bars, tongues sticking out of my running shoes, and Cran Razz and Cola Clif Shots at the ready on my top tube (three thie time instead of two like always). I had time to jog out the first mile of the course, an up-and-down paved section that would do well as a roller coaster in an amusement park. It took me a bit to squeeze back into transition which made me a little hurried applying sunscreen (should have a been a little better about this as you can see where I couldn't reach in the middle of my back). Getting into my blueseventy Helix wetsuit was rather quick. And even though, I had been wearing a stocking cap and gloves during my warm-up, the day was rapidly heating up.
The Start
I love it when they start races with the Star-spangled Banner. I sang affectionately off-key, trying to mimic the vocal oscillations of the woman singing. Then, after the Elite men went off, it was my turn. I started off to the right side because ever since a bike accident damaged my left shoulder, I always end up swimming left off the course and though it would be cool to use the swimmers to my left to keep me in check. But unfortunately, it didn't matter, because before the first buoy I was dropped by the lead pack and swimming in no mans' land (or lake). I kept a good tempo, but didn't really feel warmed-up during the whole swim. I realized about two-thirds of the way through that there was someone drafting off me (mostly because I kept getting my toes tickled). I tried to trade the lead with her to get a little rest, but for whatever reason, she didn't pick up on that. So, it was with about 200 yds to go that she swung around me and sprinted for the boat ramp. Okay, I figured I'ld catch her on the bike.
Onto the Bike
I transitioned like a rockstar! After eight months off I figured I was a little rusty, but everything came back to me as I went through the motions of de-wetsuiting and helmeting. At Wildflower, you actually exit transition and ride over the blue carpet and through the finish shoot. After that, the course proceeds over the same roller-coaster mile that I warmed up on and then heads up a mile-long steep incline called Beach Hill, before proceeding onto the bike course that has an elevation profile resembling a heartbeat on an ECG. But, I made it up, and to my surprise caught two women on the climb. The problem was that I rode the next 10 miles trying to get warmed-up and comfortable on the bike... it just didn't really feel right. And then, it clicked. I shifted back a little on my saddle which I think allowed my to stretch out my legs more in the pedal stroke and generate more power and efficiency and I started to fly. Even with a head wind on the fastest part of the course (a ten-mile stretch with a net downhill and lined by beautiful vineyards), I was moving. Before long I could tell in the distance that I had two more women in site. Then just before Nasty Grade (a heinously long uphill at mile 40 that is also covered by some of the worst pavement I've seen on a bike course), 21-yr old Kat Baker from Australia passed me and I vowed to hang with her as both she and I passed the two women I had spotted earlier.
Nasty Hill is followed by a series of uphills and downhills, one of which has pavement that is so gloriously smooth. And with the wind at my back I held my position in the aero bars as my speed climbed to 46 mph! Around mile 51, I was climbing a short steep incline back into the park when a spectator started sprinting alongside me. He said "you are doing great. There are two woman just ahead of you and both look as if they are hurting. And, you are looking awesome." And you know how good that makes you feel after the end of the bike leg :-)
On the Run
I hit transition in 9th place, just behind Kat Baker and Angie Naeth (ironically, a fellow MU tiger track athlete whom I had run, biked, and cross-trained with when we were both injured in college). My legs carried me past both of them within the first two miles (on the roller coaster, again). Then the course winds along a dirt trail that is marked by knee-crunching downhills, ankle-twisting turns, and uphills that forced me to walk a couple of times. It was in the midst of this that I caught and convincingly passed Alexis Smith, something I hated to do because she is one of the nicest women on the pro circuit. Eventually, I came to miles 6-8, possibly my favorite part of the whole course, as it winds through the camping areas and people line the course to cheer. It was at this point that I really started to put some distance on the field behind me. I also passed the OSU team at this point...my new tri training partners. I think they were more than a little surprised to see me so far up, as they later told me, many times, with words like "we had no idea" and "wow". I guess I just don't brag enough :-)
After the campgrounds, i hit a mile long downhill that I didn't really enjoy because I was watching all the pros ahead of me ascend back up this same hill. And sure enough, about 50 yds past the very bottom, was the turn-around, and I had to head back up this mile+ long uphill. Even though at this point I was ready to be done, Chuckie V saw me (he is coaching Angie) and told me I had 6th in the bag and that I was making it look too easy. I also tried to imagine Sarah was at the top of the climb ready to flash me her boobies and that made me smile through the tired. After that climb, the last mile is a screaming downhill, done alongside later competitors whizzing down the road yelling out "You go girl!" What a way to finish! I hit the blue carpet, for the second time that day, in a full sprint. When I saw my time as I crossed the line I gave a fist-pump that would put Tiger Woods to shame.
Afterwards
Lots of smiles. Chatting with old friends including Kirk Nelson, Number Two (Nick Salazar), Tool (Andrew Maxwell), Kelly Couch (who finished 4th!), Angie Naeth (figuring out she had been the one grabbing my toes in the swim). Oh, and getting drug tested by the USADA...that was fun. And major props to the organizers of the VIP tent for the chocolate fondue fountain. Props also to Kelly's husband who bought me some Fat Tire and Team Clif Bar for bringing their Margarita-cycle (essentially a spin bike with the drive train hooked up to a blender attachment....ingenious). Major props to Splish for my beautiful monarch butterfly suit that everyone loved on the course. Oh, and I won enough money to buy a wicked cool cyclocross bike!!! It was my highest finish ever in an elite race and now I am seriously going to have to consider competing in a 70.3 race (maybe Vineman) to qualify for Clearwater again (and not sprain an ankle this time).
As soon as I can get my hands on some pics, I'll put them up. I promise.
There are so many places to begin my account of this race. But maybe it is important to explain the motivation first. Back in 2003, I cheered alongside Sarah Wall (now Chimi) as she flashed every member of the Fleet Feet Triathlon Team as they crested the last uphill on the run course at mile 12. And I wanted to be out there competing too, and not just because I would get to see Sarah’s chest, though, that in itself would be worth it. The Wildflower long course (essentially a half-iron distance) is the stuff of legends.
So I found myself four weeks ago, talked into racing the long course event for the first time. I signed up as an amateur because I did not think that I had qualified for a renewal of my elite license. I had maintained a pretty convincing level of fitness and all that was needed in my training were a few minor adjustments to include some climbing in my aero bars and speed/hill workouts on the run. Then last Sunday, I went for a 70 mile bike ride with a group of local triathletes who are all beginning to ramp up their training for Ironman Canada. After the ride, I got to thinking....I should really be racing as an elite. I went to the USA Triathlon website and spent an hour reading the fine print on elite qualification. I don’t how I missed it the first time, but there in plain site was my ticket, a one year extension of my elite license if I had a qualifying race in my first year (out of two). I was in!
Arriving in Lake San Antonio, California
After a 13-hour drive that my travel buddy, Ed, and I split into two with a lovely night stay in Redding, CA, we pulled into the campgrounds with just enough time to set up camp and book it down to the pre-race meeting. Two members of the race staff, Dixie and Becky, were fabulous about setting me up with my credentials, race entry, numbers, bib, and chip. They made it so easy! I had a little bit of dinner with the OSU Tri Club, set up my bike and transition bag, and played a rousing game of Uno with Draw 2 Rulz (imagine combining the drinking game Kings and Uno and the penalty instead of drinking is to draw two). Before long though, I was headed to bed and in less than 10-hours, a half-ironman.
Race Day...
Started out cold. Temps in the 50s. I got up to make French Press coffee (caffeine! I had given up caffeine for two weeks leading up to the race) and steel cut oatmeal. I was enjoying my coffee and oatmeal watching the sunrise so much that I lost track of time and arrived late at the transition... which is not actually unusual, as most can attest to.
But, setting up transition was easy. Shoes on the pedals, chain in a low gear, helmet and sunglasses on the handle bars, tongues sticking out of my running shoes, and Cran Razz and Cola Clif Shots at the ready on my top tube (three thie time instead of two like always). I had time to jog out the first mile of the course, an up-and-down paved section that would do well as a roller coaster in an amusement park. It took me a bit to squeeze back into transition which made me a little hurried applying sunscreen (should have a been a little better about this as you can see where I couldn't reach in the middle of my back). Getting into my blueseventy Helix wetsuit was rather quick. And even though, I had been wearing a stocking cap and gloves during my warm-up, the day was rapidly heating up.
The Start
I love it when they start races with the Star-spangled Banner. I sang affectionately off-key, trying to mimic the vocal oscillations of the woman singing. Then, after the Elite men went off, it was my turn. I started off to the right side because ever since a bike accident damaged my left shoulder, I always end up swimming left off the course and though it would be cool to use the swimmers to my left to keep me in check. But unfortunately, it didn't matter, because before the first buoy I was dropped by the lead pack and swimming in no mans' land (or lake). I kept a good tempo, but didn't really feel warmed-up during the whole swim. I realized about two-thirds of the way through that there was someone drafting off me (mostly because I kept getting my toes tickled). I tried to trade the lead with her to get a little rest, but for whatever reason, she didn't pick up on that. So, it was with about 200 yds to go that she swung around me and sprinted for the boat ramp. Okay, I figured I'ld catch her on the bike.
Onto the Bike
I transitioned like a rockstar! After eight months off I figured I was a little rusty, but everything came back to me as I went through the motions of de-wetsuiting and helmeting. At Wildflower, you actually exit transition and ride over the blue carpet and through the finish shoot. After that, the course proceeds over the same roller-coaster mile that I warmed up on and then heads up a mile-long steep incline called Beach Hill, before proceeding onto the bike course that has an elevation profile resembling a heartbeat on an ECG. But, I made it up, and to my surprise caught two women on the climb. The problem was that I rode the next 10 miles trying to get warmed-up and comfortable on the bike... it just didn't really feel right. And then, it clicked. I shifted back a little on my saddle which I think allowed my to stretch out my legs more in the pedal stroke and generate more power and efficiency and I started to fly. Even with a head wind on the fastest part of the course (a ten-mile stretch with a net downhill and lined by beautiful vineyards), I was moving. Before long I could tell in the distance that I had two more women in site. Then just before Nasty Grade (a heinously long uphill at mile 40 that is also covered by some of the worst pavement I've seen on a bike course), 21-yr old Kat Baker from Australia passed me and I vowed to hang with her as both she and I passed the two women I had spotted earlier.
Nasty Hill is followed by a series of uphills and downhills, one of which has pavement that is so gloriously smooth. And with the wind at my back I held my position in the aero bars as my speed climbed to 46 mph! Around mile 51, I was climbing a short steep incline back into the park when a spectator started sprinting alongside me. He said "you are doing great. There are two woman just ahead of you and both look as if they are hurting. And, you are looking awesome." And you know how good that makes you feel after the end of the bike leg :-)
On the Run
I hit transition in 9th place, just behind Kat Baker and Angie Naeth (ironically, a fellow MU tiger track athlete whom I had run, biked, and cross-trained with when we were both injured in college). My legs carried me past both of them within the first two miles (on the roller coaster, again). Then the course winds along a dirt trail that is marked by knee-crunching downhills, ankle-twisting turns, and uphills that forced me to walk a couple of times. It was in the midst of this that I caught and convincingly passed Alexis Smith, something I hated to do because she is one of the nicest women on the pro circuit. Eventually, I came to miles 6-8, possibly my favorite part of the whole course, as it winds through the camping areas and people line the course to cheer. It was at this point that I really started to put some distance on the field behind me. I also passed the OSU team at this point...my new tri training partners. I think they were more than a little surprised to see me so far up, as they later told me, many times, with words like "we had no idea" and "wow". I guess I just don't brag enough :-)
After the campgrounds, i hit a mile long downhill that I didn't really enjoy because I was watching all the pros ahead of me ascend back up this same hill. And sure enough, about 50 yds past the very bottom, was the turn-around, and I had to head back up this mile+ long uphill. Even though at this point I was ready to be done, Chuckie V saw me (he is coaching Angie) and told me I had 6th in the bag and that I was making it look too easy. I also tried to imagine Sarah was at the top of the climb ready to flash me her boobies and that made me smile through the tired. After that climb, the last mile is a screaming downhill, done alongside later competitors whizzing down the road yelling out "You go girl!" What a way to finish! I hit the blue carpet, for the second time that day, in a full sprint. When I saw my time as I crossed the line I gave a fist-pump that would put Tiger Woods to shame.
Afterwards
Lots of smiles. Chatting with old friends including Kirk Nelson, Number Two (Nick Salazar), Tool (Andrew Maxwell), Kelly Couch (who finished 4th!), Angie Naeth (figuring out she had been the one grabbing my toes in the swim). Oh, and getting drug tested by the USADA...that was fun. And major props to the organizers of the VIP tent for the chocolate fondue fountain. Props also to Kelly's husband who bought me some Fat Tire and Team Clif Bar for bringing their Margarita-cycle (essentially a spin bike with the drive train hooked up to a blender attachment....ingenious). Major props to Splish for my beautiful monarch butterfly suit that everyone loved on the course. Oh, and I won enough money to buy a wicked cool cyclocross bike!!! It was my highest finish ever in an elite race and now I am seriously going to have to consider competing in a 70.3 race (maybe Vineman) to qualify for Clearwater again (and not sprain an ankle this time).
As soon as I can get my hands on some pics, I'll put them up. I promise.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Off to the races...
I am driving down I-5 to Somewhere-in-the-middle-of-nowhere, CA for the Wildflower Half-Iron. And I am racing elite (I didn't want to hear Kerrie calling me a sand-bagger)! I have a sweet new suit from Splish with a beautiful monarch butterfly pattern on it, and I am set. Stay-tuned....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)