The Beaver Freezer 2012

PMS induced insomnia two days leading up to the race.  I know this state oh to well.  My body is overcome by a rush of hormones that forces my mind to obsess on the otherwise smallest of worries.  I was experiencing some tightness in my right upper calf, and was "convinced", that it may be a ___. I won't even mention what I thought was possible because its just that ridiculous.

All day Friday I obsessed.  I regularly applied my favorite injury cream Topricin, self-massage and on and off icings throughout the day.  I also wore compression socks all day.  Still, the nagging sensation and the ball of tense muscle I felt on my calf was not anything I have ever felt before.  Worry set in, as I feared that I'd do more harm then good if I went ahead and participated in the Beaver Freezer.  This sprint triathlon was supposed to be a fun race simulation/ practice for my Xterra triathlon in Vegas the following week.  This is NOT supposed to be reason for me to be anxious and stressed.  UGH!!!  I WAS!!

SO, I wake up at 6am Saturday morning after a sleepless night and my calf feels great.  I apply the Topricin and feel the muscle as soft and pliable.  No golf ball sized knot that I felt the day before.  Phew. 

Trevor left at 6:45 to volunteer at the transition zone. ( what a guy, eh?)  The kids were quietly reading in their beds, and I finally drug them out at about 7:15.  Luckily for me, my start time was not until 9:30, and the race begins about a mile from my house! If I was there by 8:30, I should be fine.


It was fun knowing so many of the volunteers.  I joined the OSU triathlon club this past summer and regularly swim with the team.  One of my swimming pals marked my arms and legs and wished me well.  I went to my spot in transition and quickly arranged my things.  It was cold, and I was really chilled.  As I shivered, my hands didn't work as quickly as I would have liked them to.  I hung my wind jacket on the bar and set my gloves on top of my helmet just in case I needed them for the run.  I had planned to have a Hammer gel on the bike but could not find it.  Oh well, I was cold and wanted to get inside.  I overheard someone say that it was 9:00.  Time to head to the pool.

I made my way to Langton Hall where the women would be swimming.  The energy was high in the locker room and I had fun seeing some friends who would be swimming at the same time. I was still chilled, and found  it difficult to warm up.  I jumped into the warm up pool along with the 20 other women that were starting at 9:30 and swam a few laps.  It probably was only about 10 meters across, with swimmers everywhere, but as I dodged,  I was able to get a few strokes in. It felt good.  My body felt long and at ease in the water.  I was excited!

I made my way to lane 4 and assumed my 3rd position.  My teeth were chattering as it was really chilly.  I focused on my breath, and tried to calm.  It was my turn to go.  I pushed off and felt pretty good until I flipped at the wall and missed.  I missed the second flip and shit, I was out of breath.  A bit freaked out, my rhythm fell apart for the next 50 meters or so and then I feel the tap on my foot.  The women behind me needed to pass.  A bit deflated, I stopped at the next wall and let her pass.  I should have jumped on her draft, but I stalled for a moment to regain my composure. A deep breath, head down and I self-talked my way until the end.  I tried to find a rhythm, focus on high elbows and a long reach.

 After missing the first two flips, I decided not to try any more since it really taxed my energy.  I also had no idea how many laps I had swum.  All of my mental energy was going to staying calm and thinking about my stroke.  As I came to the wall,  I heard a "last lap" called but didn't  know if that was directed at me. It was my understanding that there would be a kick board dropped in the water as a visual.  Believe me, I wanted that to be my last lap!  I came back around and turned again since I still had not seen the kick board.  I notice the women behind me gets out though and no one else is in front of me.  I turn around a few strokes out and the counter says I am done.  A bit frustrated, I pull myself out.  Not the swim I had hoped for, but it was DONE!

It felt good to run barefoot on the cold cement sidewalks back to transition.  I passed quite a few people here and was excited to get on my bike.  As I approached the transition zone I reminded myself to look for the pink bandanna I had tied next to my bike.  I headed in the right direction, then passed it!  I realized I had gone too far pretty quickly and turned around to see my stuff right where I left it.  I was warm now and did not want to mess with a jacket, so I put on my helmet, glasses, shoes and gloves and grabbed my bike.  It was fun having Trevor at the transition zone and he yelled words of encouragement as I left.  The boys were there with him and I gave them a holler and a thumbs up.

I felt good.  This was a course I know well and I was on a sick fast bike. Ok, lets back up a bit and tell you about the bike.

Alleck demonstrates just how light this bike is!

Keller tries to convince me that I should trade my mtn bike in for this one!

 My friend Karl Haunold with Felt Bicycles happened to be in town with the demo fleet and said he had the perfect bike for me to use for the freezer.  The  specs: FETL B-16 Triathlon  women's specific carbon 52 inch.  This is an early generation FELT tri- bike, but it looked as current as I could have imagined.

I had planned to ride my Specialized carbon  Crux cyclocross bike, as I don't own a rode bike or a triathlon bike.  I did the freezer last year on the Crux with a good result and I figured I would just to it again. Riding a tri-specific bike sounded like fun, so I met Karl down at Peak about 5:00 the night before the race. I sat on the bike while he made a few adjustments, and then peddled around a bit to check the fit.  I have only ridden a road bike once, and never a triathlon bike or with aero bars.  As I rode off, I felt as comfortable as I do wearing high heals, which is not at all!  I didn't have a helmet on at the time and was wearing flip-flops.  I was thinking that there was no way in Hell I would ride this bike in the race tomorrow, I felt out of control and quite honestly like it would be dangerous.  The front end felt  twitchy and that tiny little tire staring back at me made me nervous.  I'm used to riding a mountain bike with huge burly tires!!  The shifting at the end of the aero bar was nothing I had ever seen before, let alone used and the brakes were left down on the drops.  It seemed like a lot to manage, but I smiled back at Karl's generosity and brought the bike home.

The boys and I ran through a couple "mock" transitions and I was able to get the feel for the bike.  A few minutes with the shifters and in the areo position and it all felt familiar.  It was a bike, and I know how to ride a bike!  So back to the race I go...........

I felt awesome, and having the sun on my back was incredible.  The road was pretty congested with other racers but I tried to give ample friendly warnings when I was ready to pass.  It felt good to ride at my comfortable pace and continue to catch people.  I came upon Trey Jackson, a friend and Local Team Dirt team-mate.  I passed him, but he stuck with me and we were able to chat a bit.  At the Walnut turn around I reached for my water bottle, fumbled and dropped it.  I don't think I have ever heard the thud of a full water bottle hit the cement before, but that sound stuck with me for a while.  Luckily, Trey dodged my blue bullet and kept with me.  I was thirsty, but told myself that it was a short race and I did not really NEED the drink.  Trey and I rode together until the Oak Creek turn where he was hung up by a car.  I was fortunate not to have any traffic stalls on the bike course. I loved that bike!  I felt so comfortable AND speedy fast!  I kept it in the big ring and stood on the climbs, relaxing into the aero position on the flats.  I felt great and was excited to turn onto campus way, the home stretch!  The energy was good and I loved hearing friends cheering me on.

I hopped off the bike right in front of Trevor and the kids and awkwardly ran to my place in transition.  Running in bike shoes on the pavement while pushing a bike feels pretty strange, and I was thirsty.  I hammered on the bike and was feeling the adrenaline as I changed out of my bike shoes and into my run.  Aha!  The hammer gel that I could not find before the race was now found as I stuffed my left foot into my shoe and felt something odd.  I ripped my shoe off, turned it upside down and there was the gel.  Left shoe back on, then fumbled with the right one.  I was feeling very clumsy and did I mention thirsty?  I failed to have a water bottle in transition, but I took the hammer gel with me on the run.

Lovin the Hammer support!

My legs felt great right away, and I found a good pace.  Spectators were everywhere offering great words of encouragement. I was a bit frantic as I needed a drink and had no idea where the aid station would be. Finally I was told that it was on the other side of the Memorial Union, 1 mile.  I decided I would take half of the Hammer gel before I reached the aid station.  I was happy to see my friend Lizzy, with a wide smile and 2 cups of liquid!  I grabbed one, stopped my run and drank the whole thing.  Ah, this felt better.  Now I was off, feeling strong.  It was then that I realized that my calf felt great!  All that worry for nothing!  3 laps around the MU went pretty quickly, then I turned onto the home stretch.  I made it!

Its always fun to finish an event, and the energy between the volunteers and the fellow competitors is always great.  I indulged in a calf massage by a local chiropractor William O'Donnell with Vertibrata Chiropractic, and relaxed with my family and friends while re-capping the day.

Although I was not happy with my swim, I still managed to improve my 500meter swim time by 7 seconds to post a 8:40.  I posted the fastest  12 mile bike split thanks to Karl and Felt bicycles with a 34:52, one minute 15 seconds faster than last year!  And the 3.1 mile run was 21:18, twelve seconds faster than last year!    I placed 3rd overall with a time of 1:09:18.

What a great day, in the company of good friends and the SUN!!!  Vegas, here I come!!

Battle wounds on both knees from the aero bar ends! A small price to pay for such a fun ride :) They looked way worse than they felt!

It was a mudslinger no doubt!

We woke at 6am,  slipped into our Team Dirt sweatshirts and excitedly gathered around the breakfast table. The boys were thrilled that their 1st kiddy race of the season was finally here! Trevor and I indulged ourselves in their excitement, although the heavy rainfall throughout the night was not exactly the motivation we were looking for.  The night before each of them carefully gathered every item of their race "kit" and placed them in the duffel.  We ate our breakfast as we discussed our days plan of attack. 

Snuggle time with Alleck

Of course, we also had to laugh at the weather, as it had been raining now for about 2 weeks straight with no signs of letting up.  Mike Ripley, the race director had sent out an email to all the participants earlier in the week stating that there was more water on the course this year than ever in the history of the race.  Since this was the 25th year of the race and there are stacks of muddy testimonials to describe its past, it looks like we are in for a Mudslinger to remember.

We worked our volunteer shift at the registration table, and listened to the rain pound the gymnasium roof. I stalled getting changed into my race clothes until the last minute and squeezed in a 7 minute warm up AT THE MOST.  I decided to wear my Icebreaker wool jersey, and my  Showers Pass rain shell over the top to ensure that I stayed warm.  Although I heated up quick on the climbs, I was happy to have the layers for the descents.  What I could have done without though was my lobster claw winter gloves.  Although I enjoyed the toasty hands and fingers, they made my fueling attempts pretty difficult.  I fumbled with my jacket zippers, and even crashed when the outside layer caught on my brake lever as I reached for my water bottle. 

Just getting started.  Mud where?

The race was everything that I expected it to be, with plenty of gravel roads to climb and muddy trails to challenge my stability while descending.  This is where I was so happy with my bike, the Kona King Kahuna.  That bike climbs like a champ and the 29inch wheels add superb traction in the mud.  I really felt solid and in control on most of the trails as long as I kept my momentum up.  It was when I would slow down and hesitate that I felt the most squirrelly.  Collar Bone Alley gave me grief as I have yet to muster the courage to bunny hop the water bars, but Panama Canal was a blast.  As muddy as it was, I was surprised at how fast I was able to go.  I would bet to say that I was one of the loudest riders down that trail as I hooted and hollered with a wide smile and mud in my teeth, TWICE!

Trevor rips down Super Tree

I came across the finish line and went straight to the van, where Trevor was already cleaned up.  The boys were dressed in their race kits and ready to start their race.  I made sure to drink some recoverite immediately, and began to wash away the layers of dirt.  We brought a huge garbage bag for all the muddy clothes.  Smart move Trevor!  We were a mess.  Seriously, we probably took 3 pounds of mud off the course EACH!

Happy to have finished!

Now it was the boys turn. The race was on.  Seriously, this is the best part of the day.  I just love seeing my boys riding their bikes and having a blast doing it.  All of us parents, tired and cold from our day on the course, get a surge of energy as we cheer the kids on and sometimes even run along side.  Keller rides his blissful race with a wide smile, where Alleck is the serious one who huffs and puffs his way through. 

Alleck tries to make his move early!

Keller is all smiles!

It was a good day for us all.  Trevor placed 2nd, I 3rd and the boys both managed to stay upright throughout their race!

A great day spend with our Team Dirt friends :)

I was utterly impressed by the efficiency of our clean-up.  As we arrived home, the rain continued to fall.  The boys jumped in the bath, and Trevor and I began our attack. 4 mud covered bikes and a huge bag of muddy clothes to deal with, and we have our system down.  Not an hour had passed, and we were all snuggled on the couch awaiting the delivery of our pizza dinner.

2012 Season Kicks Off in Echo, Oregon

My new bike arrived on Wednesday, just in time to get it put together for the weekends event.  Unfortunately, the snow that came about the same time squashed my hopes riding much before the race.  Well, I guess there is no better time to get acquainted with your new bike than to race it, so here it goes!
My bike for the last 2 years has been a 26in wheeled full suspension race bike, and we have had a great time together.  Unfortunately, it weighs quite a lot (26lbs), to be exact. My new steed, a Kona King Kahuna has 29 inch wheels and is a hard tail.  It weighs in at 24lbs.  I hope to replace my wheels with some Stan's No Tubes, which will drop the weight a bit more.  

Is this not a good looking bike?

On the start line with my new bike less two pounds and some big wheels.  Lets do it!

The Pro/ Cat 1/ Single speeds all took off together with a neutral roll out of a mile or so on pavement.  This was the scariest part of the race for me, as there were a couple hundred bikes packed tightly together with anxious energy in the air.  Lots of braking, and near collisions I finally made my way to the outside left, to get away from the chaos.   For a "neutral" roll out, the pace was quite fast.  I tried to stay calm and upright, aware of where the other riders were.  As we approached the gravel road,  the speed surged forward and I seriously felt like I was swallowed whole.  As I turned left on the gravel I was over come with a strong side wind pounding my right side and what seemed to be the whole field whizzing right past me.  This would have been a perfect place to grab onto someones wheel, and enjoy a draft until the trail, but no such luck.  I found myself pretty much riding alone, wrestling with that wind and trying to maintain my line the entire mile.... or 2 to the trail. I was in bad shape.  Not a good start at all, but I knew that this was a long race, and I still had 30 miles to get it together.  Stay calm, breathe and just ride your bike.

Seriously.  March 3rd, and blue sky!

I was happy to finally reach the trail.  The course is beautiful, and really unique, unlike anything that we ride  in the Valley.  You can see forever, and there are no trees or mountains blocking your view.  Dry, desert sagebrush as the narrow trail winds through a local vineyard. If there was an aerial photo of the racers on the course, I think it would look like a continuous army of ants traversing back and forth, up and down and around and around.  It was fun to be able to see the other riders coming and going and not being exactly sure if you were ahead of them or behind.  I could see quite a ways up the trail though and could count about 6 women ahead.  We were all within a few seconds of each other, and it seemed like riding at a good pace.  I decided to just settle in and hang there.  I did not want to make a pass yet, as I felt like if I could just stay with them, this would be a good time to relax and get to know my bike and how it performs.

One of these days I'll figure out how to take a good race pic

Unfortunately the wind really interrupted this introduction I was trying to have with my bike.  It took all the energy I had just to stay upright and on the trail.  It really seemed like I had sails instead of wheels, because a big gust of wind would come and literally pick me up and move me aside.  It was intense, and the loud screaming howls added to the intensity.  I tried once to calmly insist that the wind quiet down, please just let me hear my own breath.  But no luck, I think instead it responded with vengeance.  I was pretty tense.  On a bike I was unfamiliar with, and dealing with conditions that I had never before experienced.  I would later hear from the locals in town that the winds that day were between 30 and 35 mph.  I had reason to be uncomfortable.

I kept the women ahead of me in sight and tried to find a groove, even though inside I was tense and scared.  It was then, that an angel came up from behind with a calming supportive holler, and passed me. Ordinarily, I would not be so excited to have another woman pass me, but I needed her, and her energy brought me relief.  She wore red, and sat on a pink fluffy seat and was happy to let everyone around her know that she was having a good time.  Usually this is me, talking and laughing during a race.  Today though, I was concentrating and until then did not break a smile.  I tried to respond with some yelps and laughs just to let this women know that I appreciated her energy and I too, would try to have fun.  We cat and moused with each other for a while and even were able to pass a couple of the women that we had been following.

I was excited to get down to the river, out of the wind and into the mud, something I am used to.  I was excited to see Mike Ripley, who I came up on heading into the river.  I followed his group of about 4, and was able to catch them up the climb out of the river.  My legs felt good, and I thought I would be able to ride that section.  I think Mike stepped off, and everyone behind followed suit. I felt strong so ran my bike past a few riders and hopped on behind Mike.  I was happy to see that I finally caught up with the front two women of that initial pack of 6.  I had no idea how many were in front of them, but I knew that I was catching up. 

I drained my Veleau Hydration system with 42 ounces of Hammer Heed electrolyte drink.  I knew the ride was nearly done so I did not panic.  I felt fine.  In addition to the Heed, I took about 4 Hammer Gels from my flask.  This was in addition to the 1 Hammer Gel Packet that I ate on the start line.  I think I fueled well throughout this race, keeping my legs strong.

I stayed right on Mikes Wheel, and at one point while climbing a switchback I say to him " O.K. Mike, here I come!, with a little bit of taunting in my voice"  Mike took this and found another gear.  His pace picked up and I was happy to stay right there behind him.  We passed quite a few people on that climb back to the road, mostly single speeders and talked about working together on the road back to the finish.  At the very top of the wheat field climb this guy from the Green Submarine team came up behind me.  I begged him to help me get back.  The wind was intense, and I knew that it would be a fight to get home.  My legs just could not keep up with Mike and this Green Submarine guy though, and again I found myself alone on that road fighting the wind from knocking me over.  Again, I just tried to maintain my line, stay low and out of the gravel and peddle like mad.  I saw Mike look for me a few times, afraid I might catch him.  I was not as interested in catching Mike as I was in not being caught by the women following me.  Relief, as I crossed the line alone and with Mike's wide smile to greet me.  I ended up 3rd out of 22 in the Cat 1 with a time of 2:57.01.

I was anxious to find Trevor and see how his race went.  Fighting a chest cold for the last few weeks, he was unsure how he would fare today.  In all honesty, I had expected him to DNF.  My stud of a husband had a great race and finished 3rd out of 26 in the Cat 1 45+ with a time of 2:26.15.

It was so fun to have a great group of Corvallis Women!

I inhaled the baked potato and chili that was provided by the local Lions Club with a smile.  I'm pretty sure the town of Echo doubles in size for a day, and these locals know how to put on a good party.  We enjoyed hanging around and swapping stories with all the Corvallis friends that came out.  Everyone had a great time, and I think the Corvallis riders made a strong showing on the podium. 

Trevor and I decided to stay in Echo another night and participate in the low key Poker ride the next day.  The kids still with Grandma and Grandpa, we had the freedom to just hang out.  This was awesome.  We went back to the campground, fixed a huge dinner and enjoyed food, drink and conversation with our friend Michelle Hannaford. 

Trevor, Michelle and I getting ready for the poker ride

We woke the next day to sunshine, warmth and NO WIND!!!  It was a blissful day on the trails, as we meandered our way around collecting our poker hand.

Unfortunately, we did not win the poker game, but we had a great time, in a great place with some great people.

The last card stop and a great downhill to get there!

Shane and his wife know how to put on a good event.  We'll definitely be back for more next year!

On being a Parent First

Its been a very long time since my last post.  Not that I haven't wanted to lock myself in the office and plunk out my thoughts onto the keyboard, because I have.  BUT, I have something else going on and it  takes priority.  Parenting is both difficult and rewarding.  I find I struggle most when I have too much going on, hold on to expectations that don't happen and am not present when I should be.  I have gotten much better at slowing down, and setting the "less important" things aside.

Making sure that I get my work-outs into my day is a feat in and of itself.  I never know when one of the boys will be sick, feel clingy, or just really want mom to play a game with them.  Rather than stress out (which I admit happens from time to time,) I really try to just go with the flow.  I have begun waking at 5:30 to get some of my work-outs in before everyone else wakes up. This allows flexibility in my day, if something unforeseen should come up..... floods, snow, sick, tired you name it.   It also allows me the time to volunteer at the school each week.  Even though I am a bit tired through the days, I have found that I have more patience and focus when I am with the kids rather than going through the day trying to fit it in.

Lately, I have really been paying attention to those moments that I would have otherwise missed had I been distracted or disengaged.  Having these sweet moments motivate me to continue to manage my time in this way, so that when I am with my kids, I am really WITH them.

The other day Alleck and I were walking hand and hand down to the bus stop to pick Keller up.  We were talking about when I was pregnant with him.  I spoke of how long we waited for him, so excited to finally meet him, and of how healthy and strong he became while he grew inside of me.  As sweet as can be, he says " I loved it in there!  I had a really good time in there", and continues to say "One time I remember a big drop of wine came down and I opened my mouth and drank it.  It was good!".  I mean, so totally sweet.  And not a conversation that I could have with him had I been elsewhere.

This past weekend the neighbor boy came to visit, and this is what I found them doing together.  Anyone else need their hot tub emptied?  I've got a human machine to rent out.

I will try to be regular about my posts this season.  But when you don't hear from me for a while, please understand that I am probably building Lego's, playing a heated game of Nerf basketball or sitting on the couch reading books. And this is exactly where I need to be.

Cross Training our way through the off-season

I've been reading about the benefits of cross-training, allowing time to rest overused muscles while strengthening those you may not even know existed.   I'm feeling good about the off season regimen that we have followed; spontaneous games, of any kind.



Christmas Eve ride from Lewisburg Saddle, down Horse Trail and back

 We are often found in our front or back yard, or at any one of the neighborhood parks throwing a football or kicking a soccer ball. However, as of late you can find us in the living room engaged in a heated game of foos ball. This past summer while staying in a rental home in Sunriver, Oregon we played many a foos ball games with our extended family.  Tournaments galore, and the kids really got into it.  Thanks to the Norland grandparents who gifted us a table for Christmas, we are able to refine those skills to ensure that the Norland team will cause some serious damage to whomever chooses to confront us.



The Norland boys working on strategy



On Christmas night we ventured up to Portland to participate in the annual "Schierman vs. Beeler" bowling tournament.  This is an event between 2 very large, very competitive families that has been going on now for about 10 years.   I'm pretty sure that the Beelers have taken the title more times than we have, but now we have a secret weapon.  My uncle Don is a seasoned pro at bowling and he is our powerhouse.  I'm pretty sure that my cousin Candy was involved in the victory this year as well, posting points well above 100.  We had a blast, but realized if we were going to help our team any, we should probably brush up on our skills.  I don't think that any of the Norlands points actually added to our teams victory, but we were there for the spirit of the game.  We supported our team, and even managed to get a spare and a few strikes. 



What a good looking group eh?  Where's our trophy?



While spending a week at the Coast, we encountered some varied weather.  We enjoyed inside games of cards, rumicube, and table tennis on the stormy days and flag football on the rare occasion that it cleared up and was beautiful. Yes, the Oregon Coast on January 1st was so amazing that we played on the beach ALL day.  The water was calm, almost inviting and the sky clear.  I must say, I'm pretty sure this was the most beautiful day on an Oregon beach that I have ever experienced.

 

The boys card game of choice  UNO




The duck vs beaver flag football game was a burner.  These kids ran circles around us,  and removing the flags off a speedy little child 2 feet shorter than yourself is quite a task.   The sun was brilliant and the wind almost non- existent.  The kids had to cool off a bit, dropped their pants and played in the water for the next couple of hours.



I was able to get one last sunset beach run and soak in as much of the salted air and sun as I could.  My hamstrings and glutes were sore all week from these beach runs.  An hour trudging through the sand and quickly I was aware of the other muscles in my legs.  5 days of this and my body was finally used to it.  During this last run, it felt easy and relaxed.  I was able to pick it up the last 20 minutes and do a series of 1 minute on one minute off sprints.  They felt awesome, totally invigorating.  I was having so much fun that I actually ran past our condo about a mile and after eventually realizing it, turned around.  Luckily, it was such an amazing night that really, I did not mind a bit.

I returned to a house full of family, playing board games and preparing our last nights feast of fish tacos.  I rallied the troops for one last hurrah to catch a glimpse of the amazing sunset.    We finished off our night with a heated game of boys vs girls "catch-phrase".  It was fun to see how impressed my brother Aaron was with all the kids who could read their own word and come up with the perfect descriptions for their team.  Alleck, feeling the pressure of the clock running out stuck with the description of his back yard as "big", hmm............. elephant?  truck?, all afternoon he was thinking about all he could have said to describe "back yard", but at the time, "big" it was.  So super cute.

Family is fun.  We get to know each other through time spent together and create lasting memories by playing together.

This morning it was back to the pool for me, and was reminded just how difficult swimming is.  Kinda like bowling I guess!



Its not often one can get a sunset as beautiful as this in January

Taking advantage of having Grandma around.  Family Photo Time!

Family trail time

We were finally able to peel the football from out of their hands.  The bikes ready, helmets hanging on the bars and water bottles filled, we headed out for our "family ride". 

Our friend Frank has been telling us about the great trails at MLK park about 2 miles from our house, and we've been anxious to check them out.  Kid friendly trails in Corvallis can be hard to come by as most require a pretty steep climb.  We are hoping to find some flatter trails with smaller climbs and mellower descents so that we can take other kids mountain biking without completely freaking them or their parents out. We were off, about 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

2 solid hours of slipping and sliding, grunting and grinding our way through the trails of the park and we realized we had better get home before we lose our daylight.  We were definitely ill prepared in the light department,  so made sure to stay close while using the lights we did have in the front and back of our four person train. The 2 mile ride home was really cold, and getting fairly dark.  As I noticed my hands going numb, I looked at my kids expecting to hear grumbles and complaints.  Both looked as content as could be, and not one mention of being uncomfortable.  The pleasure outweighs the pain here I guess.  Sweet!!

My happy boys!  Trevor, Keller and Alleck

We arrived home to a garage full of chatter as the boys exchanged recounts of their time on the trails.  As they removed their clothes for washing they excitedly showed each other their muddy legs and faces.  I must admit, I was smiling inside and out as I observed this joyful exchange as they readied for their bath.  They felt good.  They each had moments on that ride tonight that made them feel strong, challenged them physically and were encouraged to push through a difficult part of the trail.  We explored some unknown territory together, each allowing the other to "lead the way".   It was awesome, really in every way.


                                                                     This is why we do this.  This is our connection.

Alleck rides away

Keller loves practicing his jumps

The best support crew......... EVER!!

This morning we woke to the sound of rain, and upon looking at my watch realize We're  LATE!!  The boys were both snuggled in their beds reading when I jump out of bed and holler, "we've got to go!!."  This morning, I'd be joining friends at the MacDonald Forest 15k, and I'd offered to give Karen a ride.  Since of course neither of us had pre-registered, we planned to get there early for fear it just might fill up.  The boys in unison beg me to let them stay home and try to convince me that they'll be just fine!  "It's raining mom, and I want to finish this chapter!"  After a little gentle prodding and a little bribing, we all jump in the car with rain gear and snacks in hand....and yes, quite a bit later than I had planned.



Alleck (5) and Keller (8)



I love to see my boys out on the course during a race and today I got to see them 3 times!  Hearing them cheer and offer words of encouragement gives me a surge of energy each time.  Today,  I saw each of their little heads as I came up that last climb, and  my tired legs relaxed.  I let them know how much fun I was having even though my grimaced face probably said otherwise and  I even mustered a couple high fives before heading down into the finish. 

They were quick to join me at the bottom, all smiles and hugs. 

I am so grateful for my kids, their willingness and flexibility in joining me at these events.  Its just not the same without them,  and I know that even though it was hard to get them out of the house today, they were glad they did.

The rest of our afternoon was spent doing what the boys wanted; Playing soccer  at the OSU turf fields.  My legs tired from my morning run, and Trevor's from his ride.  We play willingly and with  smiles on our faces, just as the boys do for us.



Rachel, Mel, Allina and Karen all finished within minutes of each other!  Kept my boys pretty busy cheering us all on!



Xterra World Championship Race Report

I arrived in Maui on Tuesday, allowing plenty of time to get acquainted to the ocean, the course and the heat and humidity before Sunday's race.  Within an hour of picking up my friend Mathieu Signoretty at the airport we were in our bathing suits and in the ocean.  It was incredible to dive into the aqua blue water and be refreshed rather than shocked by its cold.  I could get used to this.  October 18th, and I was in a bikini, and about to get a really good tan!

Kanaha Beach Park. An hour after landing in Maui

We stayed in Kihei, which was about an hour  south of Kapalua, where the race would be held.  We had intended to only go to the race site a couple of times that week to check out the course, but we ended up spending time there every day.  Locals kept reminding us about the big swell due to come in over the weekend, so we thought it a good idea to practice our swim there.  Plus, the beach was beautiful, offered a bit of shade when I needed it, and the energy was good.  Day by day, the excitement grew as more and more racers from around the world arrived.  Kapalua was also where we were able to check in with our friends Hannah Rae Finchamp, Taylor Seavey and John Klish.  These three, plus Mat and I got to know each other really well at Nationals the month before, bonded and now feel quite a bit like family. Unfortunately we were all staying in different towns in Maui, but we made a point to meet so we could practice our swim starts and beach runs and discuss race strategies.  As the week progressed, so did our excitement.

I did not really sleep so well all week.  I'm not sure if it had to do with the heat, the time change or my racing mind, but I don't think I was able to get more than 5 or six hours of sleep any night that week.

We pre-rode the entire course on Wednesday and was pretty surprised at how intense the heat and humidity was.  Right away, the air felt thick and sticky and I dripped sweat.  We stopped quite a bit to take in the amazing views which was a good thing because I hit my wall at about mile 12 and had to eat a gel to get me back to the beach.  And this was only my pre-ride.............  A swim in the ocean snapped me back into shape though, and I was feeling really positive about the race day swim.  The water was so pleasant, how could anything go wrong??

The bike course went right through a pineapple plantation

Thursday Mat and I started with a good swim in the ocean, then ran the course at about noon.  We kept hearing horrible things from other racers about the run, like how it was so difficult with a lot of really steep climbs.  An Italian racer parked next to us told us that mile three was straight up, and as he was telling us this his face was all a grimace.  Although he was correct about mile three being straight up, the rest of the run course was enjoyable with lots of twisting and turning through beautiful trees and grasses.  Although we were pretty wiped when we finished, both Mat and I decided that we were going to have fun with that run on race day.  It ends with a great downhill then a 500 meter beach run. 

I swam everyday, both for my race prep and also just for fun.  The water was amazing, and although the ocean did seem to be getting rougher as the week went on, the fact that it was clear and warm kept it so pleasant.  I was really feeling good about the swim............ until I practiced getting in and out of the surf.   Timing of the currents and the waves would be critical in being able to get in and out without wasting too much energy and my timing was as off as it could be.  A bit frustrated, I repeated the race day sequence over and over. Race day  I would be doing two 750 meter laps with a 50 meter beach run in between, and this was a brand new scenario for me.  Luckily, we had many laughs as we all performed clumsy attempts at getting in and out of the water...........either falling flat on our faces or getting sucked back out to sea.

Race morning I woke up after having the best nights sleep all week.  This was going to be a good day. I brought with me from home Bob's Red Mill Muesli for my race day breakfast of champions.  I had no problem eating, but once I did my stomach turned at tightened.  The nerves were really coming on and I felt my jaw tighten.  We left the condo at about 6am and headed North to Kapalua.  The morning bright and breezy as the sun was just about to rise.  The ocean looked calm and we wondered about that big swell that we all had been waiting for.  It  did not look like we were getting the crazy ocean conditions that everyone had been predicting, phew!

We arrived at the Beach at 7, just in time to set up transition.  I was happy with my spot, as I was at the end of a row making it easy to find my things. I stood in line to be marked and time seemed like it was flying by.  It was almost 8:00, an hour till race time!  The heat was intense, and at 8 in the morning I already felt my skin sizzle. I hopped on my bike and went for a 10 minute warm up with a couple high intensity minutes.  My legs feel good!  I went for a quick warm up run and stretched my legs for about 10 minutes. I made sure I had everything set up in transition, all of my gels and plenty of water and electrolytes.  It was time to head down to the beach.  The water was calm, and felt great, and the energy was through the roof.  Loud rhythmic music was being played and the spectators were chanting with excitement. 

 I was happy I had brought 2 pairs of goggles to the beach with me because the ones I had planned to wear were leaking!    On the way back to the shore from my warm-up out and back,  I swam smack into someone heading out. I was hit pretty hard, and had to kind of check my head/ neck to make sure I was o.k.  I knew then, that this was only the beginning of my being thrashed around in the swim.

I was able to find my friends John Klish, Taylor Seavey and Mat before the start for a quick photo.  They all looked great, ready to rock it!  We exchanged our good lucks and I found my spot on the far left side of the rest of the field.  The five minutes before the cannon blew seemed like forever.  I grooved to the good music being played over the speakers , and the dancing helped bring down my nerves.

Boom!  We were off!  I jumped in, probably 4 rows back and started swimming right away.  I found it difficult to get into a rhythm, and my breathing was erratic.  I didn't get knocked around too much, and it seemed like we all had a decent amount of space between us. That was until I got to the first buoy.  I entered the buoy on the nearest left side and was pushed into the buoy by what seemed to be hundreds of swimmers coming from the right.  I could not swim though, it was a standstill. I brought my head up to the surface and tried to tread water and get myself out of there.  The lifeguard stationed at the buoy was saying things like "everyone stay calm", "everything is o.k.", "keep moving", "stay calm people"  Hearing her words, I looked around at the other swimmers.  People were really freaking out, and I was being pushed under as people were trying to push off of me to get past.  We were packed around this one buoy and it seemed like forever until I could get myself out of there.  I tried to draft off of people, but had a really difficult time finding someone and sticking with them.  I rounded the next buoy without issue and headed for the beach.  This 350 meters felt really hard to me, and coming out of the water it took a lot of energy to convince my legs to run in the sand.  Back in for lap two, and I just kept telling myself that I was half-way there.  Just one more lap to go, get into my rhythm and swim.  Well I got into my rhythm all right, a little too much so.  About half way to what I thought was buoy one, I see a shadow coming towards me.  I bring my head up only to see a jet ski alerting me that I was off course.  What I thought was buoy one, was actually buoy two.  Head down, all I could do was start swimming in the right direction.  I was really bummed, but have found myself in this position many times before.  I did not have any more time to waste worrying about my mistake, just get the swim over with.

I finally got out of the water and made my way to transition.  My mom was cheering me on from the side and I remember feeling bummed that my swim took so long.  I could not even make eye contact or communicate with her in any way.   I had to get on that bike and catch up.   As I left transition, I heard the announcer say "great job everyone, your at minute 38".  Geez, that's bad.  I jumped on my bike and never again looked back at that swim.

The first mile was on pavement where I ate a gel, one S-cap and took a big drink.  My mouth and lips were so salty, and felt dry.  I was riding at a good comfortable pace until I hit the single track when groups of  riders were stalled  around the tight corners and short steep climbs.  I tried to stay calm knowing that things would open up a bit as soon as we got through these tight sections.  Unfortunately, some of the other racers were not as calm, coming into the corners where a line of 10 deep were walking, yelling crazy things and wanting to pass.  We were all in the same position, and I'm sure everyone else was wishing they too were riding rather than pushing their bike.  The biggest disadvantage of getting out of the water so late is having so many people on the bike in front of me.  I must figure this one out! 

As soon as we hit the first climb things spread out a bit.  I felt good, made sure to drink a lot of water and ate a gel every half an hour.  I was surprised that at mile 10, I had completely drained my Veleau hydration system.  42 ounces in 10 miles, it was hot!  My initial panic left me when I remembered that a bottle exchange point was near, and I think it was at mile 12 that I picked up a fresh bottle. The course felt familiar, and I tried to stay comfortable but also push it where I could.  At times the dust was so thick I could not see 5 ft in front of me.    All I could do was hold on, and hope that I get through it before I either crash into someone in front of me or have someone else crash into me from behind.  There was injury and bike mechanicals everywhere and I could see evidence of crashes on the other racers suits.  I found myself rounding the final corner onto the pavement free of any problems at all on the bike and I felt elated!  I knew there were 2 women in my category within seconds of me, and I felt energized that I could catch them on the run. I rode the pavement hard back to transition making a lot of noise with my signature yelp through the tunnel.  Phase 2 was about done! I emptied the water bottle before entering transition. 58oz of water, and 4 gels on the bike.

Back in transition, I hear my mom cheering me on with her encouraging words.   I give her the thumbs up telling her I had a blast on the ride.  I remember fumbling around a bit with my things, and had a difficult time getting my gloves off.  Finally, I got my shoes on, grabbed my bottle of Heed, a gel, 1 S-cap, and ran off with my visor in hand.  I had way to many things going on there for a while, and my visor was fitting really loose on my head.  I tried unsuccessfully to tighten it up,but decided not to worry too much about it until after I fueled up and freed my hands.  I was able to hand my bottle to an official at the trail-head and fixed my visor which by this point was covering my eyes.  o.k,now I am ready to run.

It was hot.  Really hot, and my legs and body felt pretty fatigued.  I talked nicely to myself and asked my legs to just keep moving forward. I knew I was not running as fast as I had wanted to, but I tried to stay calm and patient knowing that it was going to be a long, hot run.  I let my body get used to running, and eventually found myself in a good rhythm.  I played cat and mouse with a man who I think is from Spain, but in my attempt at speaking Spanish with him realize that he is not.  We continue on and resort to using our hands to communicate about our need for water and while negotiating which one of us should be in front.  Communicating with the other racers from so many countries added a fun challenge to this race.  It was such an incredible experience. I stopped at every 5 aid stations during the run, poured one cup of ice cold water over my head and tried to drink at least 1/2 a cup.  I ate one gel maybe at mile 4.   I finally was able to pick up the pace on the final decent.  Until then, I felt like there was a fine line between pushing the pace and blowing up.  I was seeing signs of heat exhaustion all around me, and I wanted to make sure that I finished this race.  I hit the sand ready to pick up the pace, but my feet had a  difficult time gripping the sand. About half-way down the beach I stopped and pulled my shoes off.  Much better, I was flying!  I came out of the beach and  went right into the long grass climb heading into the finish chute. I was almost there.  As I pushed myself up that last grass climb I hear a voice saying "way to go Mel, your almost there!"  It was my friend Joel Armstrong, and his encouragement fueled me.  I looked at the clock, 3:27.............. making my goal of finishing in under 3:30.  I was so relieved and happy to cross that finish line without injury or bike trouble.

carrying my sand covered shoes across the finish

Talking with my competitors after the race was a blast.  The energy was explosive as we exchanged recounts of the race and  offered our congratulations.

I look forward to another year racing Xterra, and hope to race in Maui again.  Although happy with my result, I look forward to the work needed to improve my race performance next year.

I appreciate so much the incredible support offered by my family and friends this year, especially my amazing husband Trevor and my two boys Keller and Alleck.  I am one lucky woman!

Mat and I cooling off after the finish

Post-race beach time with Aunt Arlene and Mom

A Reflection

John, Klish, Taylor Seavey, Me and Matt Signoretty at Nationals

As I prepare to head to Maui next week, I can't help but reflect upon my year, as this is the final step in this incredible journey. It was two years ago, while running with my friend Karen DeWolf, that I decided to set the Xterra World Championship race as a goal. It didn't quite work out for me that year, as I broke my clavicle in the middle of the mtn bike season, and was not able to race the Xterra series. This year however, has gone so well.

I raced 9 of the Oregon Mountain Bike series races this year, injury free, and have improved my bike handling skills tremendously. I think this has been probably the most critical piece of my Xterra race success this year. Getting injured last year really helped me to focus on the mental aspects of racing, like staying focused and positive. I feel much more confident in my "racing" skills and feel like through experience I have learned where I can push my limits, and where to be conservative.

This year I began attending track workouts with the HOTV runners here in Corvallis to work on my speed. I have always been a comfortable runner, but not a very fast one. "Endurance" is my comfort zone, but the distances in the Xterra races are not that long. In order for me to be a competitive Xterra athlete, I've had to improve my 10k speed. My times have been improving at each race, and I feel like there is more improvement to be made. The speed workouts are invigorating, and have become an enjoyable part of my training week.

The swim at Lake Sawyer, Xterra Black Diamond

I did make an attempt at improving my swimming this year, but have a LONG way to go. I am consistently coming out of the water at the back of the field, and am having to bite and claw my way towards the front the entire rest of the race. I have begun swimming with the OSU triathlon club, where an on-deck coach actively watches the swimmers and offers feedback and suggestions. This, is helping tremendously and it gets me out of bed at 5:30am!! Although the rate at which I am improving my swim is at a snails pace, I will take any improvement as success. My swim plan for the Maui race is to keep my head down, and NOT resort to side stroke!! I want to see if I can swim consistently the entire time, no, I WILL swim consistently the entire time.

I have competed in 4 Northwest Xterra Series races this year which then qualified me for the Xterra Nationals race in Ogden, Utah. I had been feeling pretty confident in the Northwest races, finishing strong, but I really had no idea how I would stand up next to the women from other regions. I had heard a lot about the Colorado girls being hard core, but other than that, I was going into it blind. I was happy to finish 3rd out of 14 in my age group.

Xterra USA Championship race Ogden, Ut

I think about that day that Karen and I were running; we were making plans, setting goals. Although Karen was not able to join me in this adventure, as she has since had her 3rd baby, I stuck with it. Here I am now, heading to Maui. I have thought about my life these last few months and all the times I stopped just short of reaching my goals. Its the support of my family and friends, and the utter joy that comes from racing my bike and Xterra that has kept me going.

I can quite honestly say that this has been the best year of my 37. I feel more connected to my husband, my children and myself and have found my passion. I think I'll stick with it.