One Year Ago

Last year during the Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike ride my friend Chris was on Powerline inbound watching the riders. She kept sending me pictures of all the riders and spectators out on the course. It made me feel homesick, for a place I had never lived but had left my heart. We decided that day we were going to attempt to become Leadwomen. For a year now we have been on the journey together. This weekend we undertake the final event. No matter what happens at the end of this journey you can't take away the amazing experiences we have had along the way. 

After the 100 mile bike ride last weekend, we got to run a 10k. It seemed only fitting that we finish it up together and spend some time reflecting on the journey. We have now done 4 of the 5 events and it has been incredible each step and pedal stroke of the way. Thank you Chris for embarking on this insane voyage with me. I wouldn't have wanted any other travel partner:)

Yes, we always are having fun:)

One more buckle for us to nab!

Shouldering the Responsibility

Last week within three days I received two different shoulder surgery photos. One from my mountain bike bud The Todd. He was out training and crashed, ended up shattering the head of his right humerus. Got lucky, didn't need shoulder replacement, they could fix it. BUT, now he is out of the Leadville Trail 100. I have been looking forward all year to spending time riding with him in the mountains. Now that isn't going to happen. 

Speedy recovery The Todd.

Addendum, The Todd now is slowly becoming the 6 million dollar man:)

Three days later it was my running buddy Waynes Worlds turn. We had known he was going to need surgery on his shoulder. All winter and spring though we held hope that he would recover quickly and be back at it fast. He is registered to run the Leadville Trail 100. Now it seems he won't be recovered quickly enough. Not to do the training, but he will be running again by then- just not 100 miles. I was so looking forward to running the start of the race with him. He needs me to hold him back a bit a the start. Keeping fingers crossed that he will be up for some training before the race.

Speedy recovery Wayne's World

So, now that the two boys are on the injured reserve list it leaves me to shoulder the responsibility of getting to the finish line of both 100's. I'll do my best boys but I'll be missing you every pedal and step of the way! Hope my shoulders are broad enough to handle the load:)

Simple Physics

The most difficult part of any workout is often starting it. The energy required to go from being at rest to moving is a big output. Once I am out on the road and momentum has taken over it is much easier to keep rolling. I have also noticed at the end of long runs that stopping is harder than to just keep going. I get to the end and I am at a standstill but my body equilibrium is off after having moving forward for so long. Maybe that is why my legs often want to keep moving throughout the night.

I have noted the same concepts on the mountain bike. It is much easier to continue up and over an obstacle when moving at some speed than when approaching it slowly. If I come up on a curb at too slow of a speed, I come to a stop. When I hit something at speed even if my bike comes to a stand still, I continue to move through the air.

Physics was never a subject that I quite grasped, but it is all beginning to make sense now. An object at rest tends to stay at rest, an object in motion tends to stay in motion. There are all kinds of formulas for the energy required to go from rest to movement and vice versa. For me all it takes to get me off the couch and out the door is the reminder that I am signed up for a few rather intimidating events. That fear creates enough energy to move this large mass, simple physics.

Disclaimer, to me the term simple physics will always be an oxymoron!

When energy is low, these views are able to recharge me. I'm sure there is a name for the formula that explains the transfer of energy but to me it will always be known as the ocean formula:)

Play Dates

I read a quote somewhere that went something like this 'you learn more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation'.

Two of us are taking on the Leadwoman challenge and the other is 'only' doing the Leadville Trail 100 run. I am looking forward to many more play dates this year!

Starting Line

As athletes we focus much time and energy on getting to the finish line. There is a popular saying that  it is about the journey not the destination. In order for there to be a journey though, there has to be a start. Starting anything is the most difficult part. Once you have started it is much easier to keep the momentum than it is to initiate it. I get told all the time by people, I'd love to do (fill in the blank) but I don't ( _have the time, _know how, _have the energy, _ have the talent, _think I can.). Getting over this is the biggest hurdle in beginning anything. Think about pushing a huge boulder down a path, the most strength and energy is required to make that initial budge, once it is rolling you can pretty much keep the forward progress. Of course there are times when the boulder comes up against a rut or an uphill and then you have to dig down into your pit of strength again and push it through, but it won't take as much as that first shove because now you know you can move it.

Two years ago I was about to watch and crew at the Leadville Trail 100. The day of the race I was in awe of all those incredible athletes. I thought that there was no way I had the ability to even contemplate doing such an event. Two days later, I decided that I should put everything I had into doing such a scary event, one that terrified me and I didn't think was possible. That was the day I began to push the boulder, and I was mostly pushing it uphill! I didn't get selected to start the race through the general entry. I had to do some fast dialing and get in through a camp. I wasn't that solid on my mountain biking skills and had never been on the mountain bike for more than 3.5 hours at a time. I had lots of work to do in order to even toe the line. One year ago, I was on the eve of the event and I felt really well prepared. The fears and self doubt had been replaced by excitement and quiet confidence. I was going to be at the start line and I deserved to be there, I had been pushing that rock for almost 12 months and I had momentum. I finished that day but that isn't what I celebrate, I celebrate that I had the courage to start. Every race or adventure that you go on, remember it is the starting that matters most. Good luck to everyone racing Leadville tomorrow. Hope your journey has been enjoyable and that you all have a no chain day out there!

Scotiabank Half Marathon Start, Tana ready to race

(she didn't understand why she got to do my warm up but not the race- I could have used her momentum on that day!)

The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. -John Bingham

Dirty Hundy 2010 Awards

After much consideration Dirty Hundy has compiled an extremely biased list of awards from this years races. Since no bribes were offered prior to publishing please note that it is not too late, this list can be revised. It is a rather prestigious honor to just be mentioned on this list so I will understand the cut throat behaviour amongst race directors in the future in an attempt to get recognized. (please note, that a new time trial bike would go a long way in getting you esteemed status!) Otherwise, take your chances.

Coldest Race with the Worst Weather conditions- When I enter a race in La Quinta California (which is the desert) I expect to be comfortable, warm and dry. This was not even close to reality at the Desert International Triathlon in 2010. It was so cold that I didn't think had feet until the last mile of the run and I had to grunt at a volunteer to open my GU packet cause my fingers were frost bitten and immobilized. You think I am exaggerating but the blue lips on my fellow competitors post race confirms this! Of course, I have no photographic evidence, my camera is not made for sub Arctic use!

Best After party- This category was hotly contested between two events. One race, MOMAR Cumberland included an after party that went until 2am for all its athletes and family to attend. This was awesome, and the fact that we had all bonded in life harrowing near death experiences out on the race course made it seem like we were partying with all of our closest friends. Another race, Sedona Marathon had a beer garden at the awards but that was nothing compared to the after party that my friends and I threw for ourselves. Thus Sedona takes this category. I warn you though, in order for you to experience this awesome after party, you need to have this group with you. Drop me a line, I am sure we can be bought for the right price! (although, I warn you, we don't come cheap, buying us a round of shots will not get you an invite to our party!)

Yes, we ran a marathon today!

Best Starting Time-Hands down this goes to the Tuesday night mountain bike series in Irvine, Over the Hump. I ask you, how can you beat a 6pm start time. Perfect summer evening event! Crushed it's competition, especially those that had 6 am start times! The only other races even close to having a shot were the cyclocross races with their mid morning, early afternoon times but those times were just too close to lunch so they lost out.

Most Life Threatening- Do you really need me to tell you who won this award? Did you not read my account of the Thirsty Beaver? Of course, you need to take into account that I was severely under prepared to take on this event and was on the most mismatched team in the whole race. I was dead weight around my team mates neck! This race left me visibly scared but like any good harrowing adventure I came out stronger, even though I now have a rather inconvenient Beaver phobia.

Best Scenery- Throughout the year I raced in some spectacular places. Running a marathon amongst the red rocks of Sedona, adventure racing in the pristine forests of British Columbia, mountain biking amidst the Colorado mountains and cyclocross racing throughout parks in Seattle. However, all scenery paled in comparison to what the island of St. Croix offered up when I race the Half Ironman there in May. From the moment I entered the water until I crossed the finish line I was astounded by the beauty of nature surrounding me.

We started on that beach!

Most Painful-Nope, this doesn't go to that 100 mile mountain bike race at over 10,000ft. If I could award it to more than one race I would give it to each and every cyclocross race that I did. However, rules state that the awards must not be shared so I have given the honor to the first cyclocross race I undertook. Simply, because I had no idea how much it would hurt to go that hard for 45 minutes. After the first one, I knew I would feel like I was going to bleed out of my lungs while simultaneously, puking. Starcrossed was a great initiation into the sport of cyclocross and I am now hooked. Reading this back, it sounds like I have a problem and should seek some help:)

Best Schwag- No contest, Leadville 100,  how much cooler than a belt buckle does it get? Plus, a duffel bag, t-shirt, water bottle, sweatshirt with my name and finishing time printed on it and a necklace. Come on other races, pick it up, that t-shirt with all the sponsors logo plastered all over it is a good bike rag and that's about it. Note, MOMAR did have the coolest t-shirt design but lost out by not offering bling!

Not to mention the hug from the race director!

My Summer Vacation

This week the 2010 version of the Race Across the Sky hits theatres. It will be a movie premier event like no other. I am super excited that I get to share with everyone the amazing scenery of Leadville Colorado and surrounding areas. I remember watching the movie last November and being awestruck by the stunning beauty, especially at the top of Columbine Mine. The movie really doesn't do it justice. It is more spectacular in person, which could be attributed to the lack of oxygen in the air and the amazing technicolor that your brain then experiences. I am looking forward to reliving the day, even though it will be a 2 hour movie not an 11 hour movie. From experience, I suggest all movie goers come stocked with some super salty snacks because by the time you get back to the Powerline climb you are going to need them. Luckily for you, the movie theatre popcorn will do the trick. Here's hoping I don't get transported back in time and think I am racing again. If you see a girl pulling down her pants yelling lube me, you know you're in the same theatre as I am!

Here are some teaser images from around Leadville this summer.

View from Town

Top of Columbine

Bridge at bottom of Powerline

View from Sugarloaf climb

Twin Lakes aid station

 Luxury lodging, very friendly owners!

Half way turn around point!

Victorian house, love the paint colors!

Creek on way back to St Kevins

Finishing, yes I am crying!

For all of you who are attending the movie, know that we can all do more than we think we can. A year ago when I was watching the 2009 version of the race, I was petrified about the race course and how I would ever get myself through it. With grit, determination, lots of luck and the amazing support of friends and family I became a member of the Leadville Trail 100 family.

'You are better than you think you are and can do more than you think you can - but you gotta DIG DEEP!'.

I'm a Believer

The song lyrics 'I'm  not afraid of anything, I just need to know that I can breathe' (Avril Lavigne) have been on my mind during my entire preparation for Leadville. Those of you who have been following along might recall that I got short of breath DRIVING to Leadville last year. This has been weighing heavily on my mind and I have been doing everything I can to prevent that from happening again. Recently, I was in Leadville for 5 days of training and course reconnaissance. Instead of slowly moving up to elevation I went from sea level to Leadville in one day. Well, that is not quite true because I have been sleeping at altitude and training at altitude in the comfort of my own home. Imagine my delight when I discovered that my princess canopy bed  actually provided benefits other than isolating me from outside noise allowing me to sleep soundly. Yup, I found out that it also prepared me well for my time at altitude.

Up over 11,000ft and feeling fine!

I was still breathing heavily on the climbs, but I do that at sea level. I was able to keep up during camp and slept well at night. No shortness of breath at rest, no headache, it was a miracle. The guys at Hypoxico had prepared me wonderfully to ride and race at altitude. I may have been a little, okay more than a little, skeptical that sleeping in this contraption was working. I kept trying to get Me Hearty in there to see if he felt the effects of altitude, neither he nor the dog would oblige, so camp was the first evidence I had that I actually had been up over 10,000ft every night. 'Now I'm a believer, Not a trace of doubt in my mind'. 

View looking down from Sugarloaf climb

Once I discovered that I would be able to breathe, all my other fears vanished and I could take in the magnificent views from the course. Just looking at the photos makes me want to fill my lungs with clear mountain air.

RSVP

Dear Columbine Mine,

I really enjoyed making your acquaintance the other day and I accept with pleasure the invitation to return on August 14th. Please know, that although I was able to spend extra time in your company on Thursday, our next visit will have to be much shorter. On the day in question I have several other timely appointments that I must keep. Thank you again for a lovely time and I look forward to enriching our relationship in 3 weeks.

Top of Columbine climb 12,500ft

Dressed for the Descent

Sincerely,

Racer #861

PS, Please let my friend Jen (#1170) get home from your party safely this year! Thanks!

Racing Mule

I have often heard that to be a great athlete, you have to be born a great athlete. This means that you need the genetic makings of greatness. Of course you also need to have the desire to be great and the work ethic to do the required hard work. Not everyone with the required genetic makings achieves the height of their ability but if you have the right combination you are golden. A thoroughbred who has the desire to win is unstoppable, but without the desire and drive, they are not a race horse. Unfortunately, I was not born a thoroughbred, I more resemble a mule. The common saying is that you can't turn a mule into a race horse but you can turn it into a racing mule.

Now, we all know that it is a long shot to put a mule up against a race horse, but what if the mule didn't know it was a mule? What if, the mule hung around with the race horses all the time and did morning workouts with the thoroughbreds? What if the mule didn't know that being a racing mule meant it wasn't equal to the race horse? What if- gasp- the mule believed that the label racing mule was to be held in high esteem? In certain situations a racing mule has a distinct advantage. One of those situations conveniently happens to be the Leadville 100 Trail.

Leadville Mule Pack Train

Above, I give you exhibit A. See any thoroughbred racing stallions in this picture? Didn't think so! It appears that mules have a long history in the region surrounding Leadville. Mules have characteristics that make them far superior in the mountain ranges. Sure, you have never seen a racing mule win the Kentucky derby (yet), but Mine That Bird wouldn't have earned his keep with the prospectors! A mule has harder skin than a horse and as a consequence does much better in extreme conditions. Those race horses are pretty sensitive creatures, might even consider them divas. I know this because I have witnessed it first hand on many a flight to Ironman races. The race horse can't stand to have the air blowing at them from overhead and finds the captains announcements WAY too loud. They seem very susceptible to illness and stress, while the mule is much more resistant. Mules are known to have more endurance and be more sure footed than a horse, which they get from their donkey sire. They also have the vigour, strength and courage of a horse. Most importantly, we all know how stubborn a mule is. Combine all of these characteristics with a strong desire to race and betting against the mule doesn't seem like a very intelligent thing to do.

I am aware that no amount of training and effort will morph me into a racing thoroughbred. I do know that I have been doing the required work and I have enough desire to make up for a lack of natural talent. When the call to post comes on August 14th, you can bet this racing mule with have the bit firmly between her teeth and will be off. A friendly reminder for all you racing thoroughbred neigh-sayers out there, a mules kick can come at any time, from any direction and is a very forceful.

I visit this guy often when I am riding, he's a kindred spirit!

Buzzing Noise

A theme has emerged for my rides in the last few weeks. At least once per week I encounter a swarm of some sort. The first meeting was with the locusts. This was kinda gross as they were splattered all over the road and they stung when they hit my bare legs and arms. Also, I had to keep my mouth closed while going through them to maintain my vegan status. The next week it was gnats. These suckers were extremely annoying and this swarm wasn't one you could just go through. The gnats followed me so that I was the center of the movement. Let's just say I wasn't feeling honored to be held in such high regard that they would follow me to the ends of the earth! For those of you keeping score, I managed to get through without ingesting any gnats. They were making me annoyed enough that I considered chomping down on a few!! Last week I got intimate with another type of swarm. The ride started out great. By great I mean climbing right away and having an elevation gain of 4000ft in 9 miles. That kind of great!

Flowers Blooming in June

Surprisingly, the hillsides were still quite green (for Southern California) and flowers were blooming everywhere. The air was fragrant with the smell of blossoms and this made me a happy rider. Guess what? I was not the only creature happy that there were flowers and pollen in abundance! From a distance there was a steady drone, that I could even hear above my breathing. After turning a corner the source of the buzzing was revealed and it was not a power line! As Winnie the Pooh so wisely said 'that buzzing noise means something. If there's a buzzing noise, somebody's making a buzzing noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing noise that I know of is because you're a bee'.

Bee Swarm on Trail

The picture of the swarm is a little blurry. Trust me, there are bees everywhere in that picture. I was not going to tempt fate and plow on through. There wasn't time for me to explain to the bees that I mean them no harm and that I don't even partake in eating the sweet nectar that they work so hard to produce. I think bees sting now, think later! The buzzing noise was quite ominous and the bees were not on the move. They were working very hard at whatever they were doing , but staying in the same location. I surrendered to my formidable opponents and retreated back down the trail. I may have squished a few if I had rode through but they would have won the battle with one sting, I am allergic.

Climbing

I'll be back to ride this trail because I still need to see the top. The bees have done me a favor by increasing the suspense. A nine mile climb is a great place to work on being relaxed and smooth on the bike. I do hope that this week the swarm that I will inevitably encounter will be quieter and softer. Perhaps, I will be lucky enough to see some butterflies migrating! Then, like Muhammad Ali when I am doing Leadville 'I'll be floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee'.

Road Kill

Riding a bicycle along the side of a road often brings you up close and personal with the animals who thought they could out run the vehicular traffic. Yesterday, it seemed that the animal kingdom had been watching too many WWII movies and decided that they all wanted to be kamikazes. There were carcasses scattered everywhere! Going uphills on a nice hot day meant we weren't blazing by and we got to get up close and personal with the casualties. Often, too up close and personal! The visual and olfactory assaults were not pleasant. I didn't stop to take pictures of any of the bloated bodies, thought I would save the image for my readers imagination. Plus, I was trying to get by as quickly as possible, pedalling as fast as I could while holding my breath!
The genocide reached greater heights  when we came upon the locust swarms. Now, rather than witnessing the aftermath of the killings we were part of it. One on one a grasshopper is a cute little insect that as a child I loved to watch and play with.

Pretty cute grasshopper

They lose their cuteness factor pretty quickly when the are flying at you from every direction. All we could do was put our heads down, pedal and keep our mouths closed. If we were going to kill any of them, we were not going to eat them! It went on for about a mile of being pelted and bombarded. There was no way we could avoid hitting or running over them. It was a giant cloud of insects. I tried to get some pictures, while riding. The blurs you see are the locusts and the brown line on the road, well I'm sure you can deduce what that is!

        ' You have failed noone grasshopper, only your own ambition  '

In retrospect a road kill scattered ride was great training for Leadville. It forced me to ride hard with my mouth closed and often holding my breath. Hypoxic intervals. Now to just be able to ride the whole 100 miles in that state! The saying goes that a sensei is just a grasshopper grown up. In 10 weeks I hope this grasshopper has learned patience and grown into the sensei she needs to be.         

Into Thin Air

As I may have mentioned in a previous post or two, the Leadville trail 100 occurs at altitude. The town of Leadville where the race starts is at 10,152ft and the highest point of the race Columbine mine is at 12,500ft ABOVE sea level. I live at sea level, which means I also train at sea level. There is a big difference in the percentage of oxygen in the air up there compared to the 21% I breath down here. My holding the breath method of acclimating has shown only mediocre results thus far so it is time for plan B. Plan B arrived two days ago in the mystery package. My rented altitude simulation tent is now set up and in use. Every night while I sleep I will now be training, this is the most awesome kind of training ever! Now, if I want to sleep late or go to bed early I have the excuse that I am training. Ingenious. Of course, what girl wouldn't want one of these over her bed?

 My Princess Canopy Bed

http://www.hypoxico.com/

Last night I slept at 5000 feet. I prefer to think that I slept in Lima Peru. It was quite comfortable and I strangely liked being the girl in the bubble. Lets hope that by the time I work up to 10,000 feet I am still finding it comfortable and enjoying it. Normally, I wouldn't go to such extreme measures for a race, but this race is extreme and not normal. I plan to do this race once and I need to do everything I can to ensure success in the preparation. I am relying on the tent to take me into thin air each night while I dream.

'can you take me higher, up high I feel like I'm alive for the very first time, Set up high I'm strong enough to take these dreams and make them mine, can you take me higher'.