BC Bike Race Pics

Ok Ok I have to admit it...

I played hookie on Monday for a couple of hours with my girlfriend Cathy T:)) The BC Bike Race came through Cumberland yesterday!! It is not very often that you can catch a glimpse of world class athletes in action in your own backyard so we just HAD to get out there!

On the way to Cumberland we stopped by Ashberry farm on Royston road and did a power-pick session in the strawberry patch! Loaded up with juicy snacks we trucked into the final trail for the Cumberland stage of the epic 7 day BC BR. We found a perch atop a little technical corner in the whoopdeedoos on Space Nugget and settled in for some serious cheering.

We saw all the top racers in action! It was super fun and I could have sat there taking photos and screaming my lungs out all day...but I did have to go to work at some point! My throat was sore for the rest of the day:) Here are some of my favs...

World Champ- Geoff Kabush with his team mate Catharine Pendrell (below) rip through the whoopdeedoos!

Catherine was smiling on the way down!

Look ma no hands...and only one wheel! YES...look closely and you will see Chris Holm one of the worlds best unicyclers...on a flipping UNICYCLE and kicking arse in our trails!

No HANDS!

One of the top female riders...Melanie McQuaid by the looks of things! Correct me if I am wrong! Kicking but on the whoopdeedoos!

Team of 2 ripping it up...

Splash through the creek then on to the finish line for day 2! Only 5 more days to go!

FYI I am currently seeking sponsorship for the BCBR 2011!!! Call my agent if you want to talk!

LOL,

SS

TEST of Metal Race Report

These mountain bike racers are animals.

Two Weeks in Pics...

HAPPY JUNE!
It has been an awesome couple of weeks on the Island and I have been too busy playing to take and post many photos! Finally the sunshine came out this weekend and I am just soaking it up...finally! It feels sooooo good:)

Here is what I have been up to...


How cute is this baby donkey??? This past weekend I was down in Vic celebrating my birthday with my sister (same b-day) and my familia. We had a wonderful weekend of celebrating, laughing, eating and walking and walking and walking...

I re-strained my right ankle (sprained it in early spring) in a bizarre move on Friday while riding with Nikki above the Dam. Went to get off the side of my bike and happened to step onto a tiny stump then roll my ankle off the side of it, buckling my leg and coming to a soft landing on some lovely green moss in a patch of sunlight. I took the entire weekend and actually 3 whole days off (gasp!) to just let everything recover. Hence the hours of walking in Vic...

Saturday morning Brad and I walked to the Beacon Hill petting zoo and met this new addition... baby donkey girl! Just born a few hours before we arrived! We went back to visit her a few times and I must have taken about a hundred pics. Never thought a donkey would have me so head over heels but there ya go:)

2 weekends ago I got to take my Peru 2010 crew on their first group training hike...4 hours of UP and DOWN made for a great day of trekking above the Dam. They did great and will be more than ready for their 7 day trek come September.

Recognize this Arbutus tree anyone?

How about this trail?

BOOTCAMP has been a blast and my sunrise recruits have been working (and playing) very hard over the past couple of weeks as they approach the end of spring training camp. I will post a short video of them in action soon... Jumping...

Crunching...

Pushing...

ADVENTURE RUNNING has gone to new heights this season and our participants have turned into real mountain goats as a result! Here is part of the crew last Thursday a couple hundred metres above Comox Lake...well worth the climb!

I got some good miles in on the bike during my last week of training...2 70km rides Sunday then again last Friday with Nikki. We rode pretty much everything in the Valley...twice. Cumby first...then out to the Dam for all of our favorites then all the way back to Cumby...Good times!

On my big ride Sunday before last I met a VERY big black bear. I have seen many bears in my work and play in the bush over the years...but this guy was HUGE and he was STANDING up about 20 feet away from me. Crazy. The old 'YO BEAR' doesn't quite seem appropriate in that situation...

On my big ride last Friday I ran into a baby bear in Cumby on my own and then Nikki and I came across a family of BABY grouse chicks at the dam! Crazy cute...fluffy little critters:) Watch out for them on Slither trail if you are riding!

My trusty steed. She has had a great month of long rides. I think she is ready for the TEST this Saturday. Question is...Am I? I think so. I have no real expectations for this race which is really nice. Never done the race course, no PR to try and beat, no idea who to chase. So, my goal is to PACE myself, not get injured, not break my bike, and not CRAMP! Put that voodoo doll down...I am done with freaky injuries for the season please and thanks!

Thanks to the guys at Mountain City Cycle for giving my little filly a once over this week- she is ready to go!

Have a great week!

Cheers,

Sarah.

No time to Blog!

Beautiful spring wildflowers alongside the trail at our PERU training hike this past Saturday...

Too much to blog and too little time! I will post some pics HOPEFULLY before I leave for Victoria on Friday for the old B-day weekend with my family. But there has just been soooo much happening that I have had no time to blog! Don't even talk to me about my inbox and late phone replies...

Since my last trip to Vic it has been...

Physio, Acpuncture Massage...HEAL HEAL HEAL traumeel and omegas and chlorella and all the best whole foods...Calf is on the mend and I can RUN AGAIN!

BIKE BIKE BIKE...5hour ride on Sunday was my longest one so far prepping for the TEST next weekend...biking as much as possible while watching how the calf responds...so far so good...one more ride tomorrow then it is time to cut the training cord and taper down.

HIKE HIKE HIKE... Last Saturday was the first of 3 BIG training hikes that I got to do with the PERU 2010 crew...got some great pics from our 4 hour mountain climbing session out at the Dam...

ELM SUMMER CALENDAR...has been set and is now posted on the ELM site! Time to register for your summer fitness adventures now! Yes...summer WILL come eventually...

In between I have been laughing, living and loving life!

Gotta fly...busy birthday girl today:))

Have a good one!

SS

Adventure Racing 101: What NOT To Do

Adventure Racing 101: What NOT To Do in AR

I just posted this article on my website under 'resource articles'. You have to go there to check it out so you can see all of the funny photos that go along with my TOP 10 LIST OF WHAT NOT TO DO IN AN AR!


Adventure Racing is a multi-sport race where teams of 4, 3, 2 or even 1 compete to find a series of 'check points' as quickly as possible. Every race is unique and the distances can range from 30K sprints to 500KM plus expedition races similar to the original 'Eco-Challenge'. Disciplines usually include mountain biking, trail running, trekking, paddling, ropes and a mystery event or two. All done with a map and compass.

The best part about Adventure Racing has to be the 'adventure'. This challenging sport takes you to amazing locations with 'breath-taking' scenery, pushes your body & mind to the outer limit and introduces you to excellent people along the way. Until you get your map before the race start you have no idea where you are going or what sort of adventures you will get up to.

Adventure Racing has a steep learning curve. Since my first race in 2002 I am sure I have made every mistake in the book. Now I teach new racers how to train and complete an AR - sharing my training tips and racing techniques. Learning what to do to prepare and race well is important. But learning what NOT to do seems to be more popular!

Here is my TOP 10 LIST of What NOT To Do in AR. And yes, I have done them all...more than once.

#10 Never Try Something New on Race Day
Practice the skills you need before the race to avoid going ass over tea-kettle! And, of course, never try new equipment or new food on race day! Your guts will thank you:)

#9 Don't Be Afraid of the Sleep Monster's
What are your sleep monsters? Ever gone without sleep for 24 hours or more? Ever done shift work? Sleep deprivation is part of expedition racing and something that can have dramatic effects on your race. Chickens or cats on the side of the road, lights in the distance, hallucinations...they aren't real so don't be afraid!

#8Never Go Without Good Support
Longer races require a 'support crew' and these guys are just as much a part of the team as the racers are. Not only do they get your gear to you and serve up a steaming hot brew just when you need it...but they are there to give you a smile, a hug and the words of encouragement you need to keep on truckin. A good support crew is priceless in AR.

#7Never Stop Moving
Adventure Racers learn to do things on the move. You eat on the move. You drink on the move. You navigate on the move. If one person on the team stops- you all stop. Group pee breaks are the norm. By continuing to put one foot in front of the other you will get closer and closer to the finish line (hopefully:)

#6Don't Keep a Loose Kit
Not only do you have to make sure you get all of your mandatory gear to the racestart (which could be 2 pages long). But you also have to ensure that you hold onto all your gear during the race itself. Lost passports, maps, water bottles, or any mandatory gear for that matter can cost you a race (and your pride:).

#5Never Follow Other Racers
Seriously! You need to have navigation and orienteering skills to complete an AR. Following other racers is not a good strategy. If you are lost - chances are they are WAY more lost than you! Do your homework, plan your route and stick to your course.

#4Don't Invite Your Friends 'Bonk & Wall'
Fueling for endurance sports is a science. Getting the right mix worked out in training and sticking to your plan during the race are key. Check out my 'fueling articles' for more info.

Bonk - not a good guy to have on the team. Low blood sugar leads to dizzyness, unco-ordination and poor decision making.

Wall- you don't want him around. Lead legs means you are OUT of muscle glycogen and you must stop. Do not pass 'go'. You are out of the game. Don't skimp out on your fuel plan!

#3Don't Forget the First Word in 'Teamwork'
The best teams work together seamlessly to reach their common goal. They are good communicators, supportive of each other and they share the same goals. This is KEY to a happy team and a great experience regarless of outcome!

#2Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously
AR is supposed to be FUN! Take in the scenery, including the unreal costumes that turn up in a race...Wonderwoman? Here I am trying to survive in my hi-tech streamline wicking gear...and Wonderwoman is hauling through the bush beside me. These are the real athletes!

#1Never, Ever, Ever, Give Up!
Anything can happen in an AR...and usually does. Chances are if you have had some bad luck (flat tire, mechanical, wrong turn, lost map, injury, cramping...you name it!) other teams have as well. Just keep on moving towards the finish line and you may be suprised at how things turn out in the end!

MEC Bikefest!

GOOD TIMES IN VICTORIA!

I had a great trip down island with plenty of family time, shopping time and park strolling time:) I am slowly recovering from my torn calf in the MOMAR and I was pleased to be able to walk with my family on our usual Beacon Hill Park adventures:) It was nice to not have to think about fitting in my training for once and just enjoy my family and a relaxing weekend in Vic.

I can walk pain free now! And I can ride a bike at a moderate resistance too! I even ran for about 8 minutes this morning with my Bootcamp class:) That part is going to take a bit longer by the feel of things...

Sunday morning we set up on the stage at MEC Bikefest! The weather was touch and go but the rain held off thankfully until later in the afternoon. The crowd and equipment stayed dry for my little presentation anyways!

I shared some of my Adventure Racing tales and training tips - titled: Top 10 Things NOT to do in an Adventure Race:) I will be posting that along with photos and a little video later this week so stay tuned and check back!

Bikefest is a great community event - free bike tune ups, information on local clubs, events, trails etc. There were some cool speakers there including an amazing family of 5 (3 kids including 1 that was maybe 3 years old) who are riding 1 giant tandem bike from Kentucky all the way to Alaska! They are crazy...about biking!

There were a tonne of things going on this past weekend in Vic and all over the Island... Congrats to the following ELMers on their island races this weekend!

Audrey Erlandson & Rob Dumonceau - Shawnigan Lake Half Ironman!!
Lo Lanning, Arran Sherbourne...who else?? Comox Valley Tri K Triathlon!!

Way to go you superstars!

Next up...KUSAM KLIMB training is running out! For those of you in town and in need of some KLIMB training be sure to join us at Adventure Running the next 2 Thursdays as we will be climbing up a storm!

Saturday- First BIG group training hike for our Womens Peru Trip! Time to put those boots and poles to work as we go for our first BIG climb... 3 months until Peru!!

Now...BIKE to work!

Cheers,
SS