By: Miriam Bretzlaff Hello, my name is Miriam Bretzlaff. I’m a 13 year old racer from Highland, Michigan attending Charyl Stockwell Academy Middle School in the 8th grade. I’ve been riding my bike ever since I ditched the training wheels but my first race was the MiSCA series 7 years ago and I’ve been at it since. I have hopped between a couple different teams throughout my riding career but my current MiSCA team is Orange Krush and this will be my third year racing with them. I’ve worked my way up categories over the years and in the 2022 season I won advanced middle school as overall champion. This year I am hoping to race varsity but JV is also
TRI 101: Presented by Team OAM NOW & Athletic Mentors This is a great clinic to come hear what Triathlon is all about. If you have been considering doing a TRI or have done a few and are looking for tips to improve, this will be time well spent! Where: Downtown YMCA When: TBD Swim Technique & Training: Presented by Team OAM NOW & Athletic Mentors Open to all levels, but geared toward athletes looking to step beyond beginner. Swim stroke technique discussions and training recommendations. Where: Downtown YMCA When: TBD
By Jared Dunham The Iceman Cometh is a hallmark of Michigan mountain bike and bike racing. In 2021 I didn’t compete; however, I was fortunate enough to be a part of this year’s event. By the numbers, this course was 29 miles in length with 1,453 ft of elevation. The race begins at the Kalkaska Airport and ends at the Timber Ridge campground in Traverse City. This route uses mostly forest roads and the official VASA trails with portions of singlet rack added intermittently. It’s known for the final 3k of the course being setup like a cyclocross event. In terms of weather, leading up to Saturday, it was looking like we were going to get another “mud man”. This was
Sort the Good Fat From the Bad… High-fat diets are often linked with major health problems including obesity and heart disease. However, we all need fat in our diet to stay healthy. Fat is a good energy source and vital for the body to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K. The confusing part is that not all fats were created equally – some are better for us than others. What’s more, although high in calories, there is evidence that you could become a better fat burner by changing the type you eat. So how can we get the balance right? Choose… Monounsaturated oils – olive oil or avocado oil rather than sunflower oil for instance. The right balance of
By: Christina Vipond Is it a race without Rob, Mortimer and dog snouts? Racers can catch a glimpse of Rob Meendering, Rob Meendering Photography, behind trees or right in the middle of the road, not moving as the bikes whistle by. I had the opportunity to talk with Rob and get his story. As a teen and in his early 20s Rob wanted to be anywhere other than Michigan. He had always had an interest in photography and took photos during the time he traveled. He had cheap cameras during this time and even used throw away cameras. Eventually, his very nice in-laws who spoil him, bought him a nice lens. Rob told the story of being a regular smoker and
By: Kathy Braginton As I limped my way to my car for the 2nd time in 2022, having just completed a 5k, I knew I needed to seek the advice of a professional. A 5k should not hurt as much as this and require a 4-day recovery period. With my goal race being in August and the race season still early, I turned to Armor Physical Therapy where Scott Miller, PT and his team of sports performance rehabilitation specialists went to work on my injury. One of the initial benefits of Armor is the ability to book an appointment without needing a referral from your primary care physician. I was allowed 10 visits over a 21-day period which allowed time for
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