Team OAM Now’s Tristan Visits Colorado to Prep for Cyclocross Season
October 1st, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsSummer Skiing Secret to Winter Success
September 29th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsBy Alex Vanias, Team OAM Now Multi-Sport Athlete
Cross country skiing is often considered one of the toughest sports. It is aerobically demanding and requires continual explosive movements. As you can imagine, doing repetitive single-leg squats while doing pseudo ab crunches to push the ski poles can be very fatiguing over time. In addition to the physical demands, technique is crucial to skiing. The most fit athlete does not necessarily win ski races unless they have efficient technique. It becomes increasingly difficult to maintain proper form when fatigue sets in. This is why it is important to train for skiing in the summer.
I don’t do structured workouts for skiing in the summer, but I try to ski 2-3 times per week. This is primarily to maintain my technique and sport-specific efficiency for skiing while I am building fitness by riding and running. As a multi-sport athlete, I do not spend a lot of time on off-season training since I am training and competing in summer sports. However, because maintaining technique in skiing is so important, I do prioritize fitting in summer rollerski sessions.
You may be wondering how somebody can ski in the summer. Well, there are these sketchy contraptions called roller skis. These are essentially long roller blades with a wheel on each end and a ski binding mounted to them. Regular winter boots fit into the bindings, although lighter and cooler ski boot models are available. I use regular ski poles but replace the baskets with special roller ski tips. The tips are carbide and need to be sharpened with a diamond file roughly every 50mi so they bite into the pavement.
One of the biggest challenges of rollerskiing is stopping. Rollerskis generally have no brakes, so stopping safely takes careful practice. The wheels and bearings are not made for speed since they are intended to mimic the speed of skiing on snow. I generally average about 10-13mph on a normal ski, but can reach speeds of over 30mph on downhills. Because of the speed and difficulty stopping, I always wear a helmet; all it takes is a pebble or crack in the road to send me through the air. I make sure to scout out the roads I plan on skiing to make sure there are no stop signs at the bottom of hills and there is an appropriate shoulder and low traffic. There are many suitable areas for rollerskiing in northern Michigan, but it becomes more challenging in more populated areas. The US Ski Team (sarcastically) explains some various rollerski stopping techniques here.
Rollerskiing is a quirky activity, but it is a valuable component to my training. Juggling the demands of multi-sport training can be tricky, but varying my sports and training make me a better athlete and help me improve in each individual sport. In addition, challenging different muscle groups helps keep me injury free. I understand the importance of sport-specific training, but I think that many people underestimate the value of variation in training and racing.
Overall, I’m excited to start to ramp up my running and ski-specific training this fall for hopefully my best ski season yet!
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Drafting: Is Wind Your Friend or Foe?
September 28th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsBy Nathan Frazier, Team OAM Now Cyclist
As cyclists, we have the opportunity to control a lot of factors in a race. We can control the bike, what the kit, the gear, and the pace. However, one thing we cannot change is wind, and wind is a huge factor in a race. A headwind can slow down an attacker, a side wind can cause a wreck, and a backwind can make the group pace skyrocket. So is wind an enemy, or an ally?
Before talking about how wind affects a race, one must know what drafting is. Drafting is a process in which you position yourself out of direct wind gusts by means of other racers. Being out of the wind makes a huge difference, and it’s the reason why no one likes to lead or be in the rear of a pack. Positioning matters on wind direction as well. For example, one would stay behind another racer during a head wind, or on the opposite side of a racer with a side wind. Cycling gear is also designed to assist against wind, with light, specifically shaped frames to strange aero helmets for time trials.
Drafting isn’t just important in cycling, however. Even race car drivers depend on drafting to overtake other drivers, sometimes by a slipstream created from the high speeds of the cars producing a ‘stream’ of broken wind behind them. Speed skaters use this too, even though they are in an inclosed space. Drafting behind a skater can mean the difference of a second or first place finish in a sprint, and the same goes with a cycling finish. Those last hundred meters are often the most chaotic!
Wind is a powerful factor in racing, and I learned this the hard way. Racing earlier this year, I found it difficult to stay with even the most moderate of paces. I was confused and discouraged, as I couldn’t find any reason to fall behind so much. I was training well, going to races for experience, and I didn’t lead at all during a race. So why was I getting dropped? My coach and father helped me reach the conclusion that, on an especially windy day when a huge gust took the life out of me, the wind was my foe. I had to learn to make it my ally. I practiced positioning with other cyclists during large group rides, making sure I was out of the wind’s direct influence. I found that I could hang on to groups more easily, and that I wasn’t as tired when a sprint ended.
Wind is now my ally in this situation. On your next group ride, pay attention to the wind, and your position in the pack to make wind your ally as well.
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Patterson Places 2nd Against at Chequamegon in a Test Against the Best
September 25th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsAfter Success Comes Setback, After Setback Comes Resilience and Strength
August 29th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsBy Elaine Sheikh, Team OAM Now Triathlete
Triathlon is a sport dominated by “Type A” individuals. As a whole, we are very precise people. We can spout off our 500 time for yards and meters; we can give you not only our 5K and 10K PRs, but those of our friends and competitors, VO2 max on the bike, and max heartrates for our individual sports without stopping to think. We are extremely particular about our item placement in transition. We have our ritualistic pre-race dinners and breakfasts. We like to have plans and be prepared, but ultimately, external factors greatly affect the outcome of a race. It can be 40 degrees and raining at a triathlon in June, then 95 degrees and humid at one in July. There are circumstances you just can’t prepare for. In every race, something will not go according to plan. Triathlon is a sport that requires adaptation to succeed.
I was toeing the start line at the Detroit Tri U25 EDR one week after a successful weekend at USAT Nationals. It was to be my first draft legal race, and I was excited to compete in such a strong field of women. The top three finishers would receive pro cards that day. I fully anticipated finishing towards the back of the pack, but all I really wanted was to race hard and well enough to avoid being lapped out. In draft legal races, the bike leg takes place on a multi-loop course and if you are passed by the race leaders, you are to dismount your bike and make your way back to transition. You are not allowed to finish the race.
The swim was non-wetsuit, but I was not the last person out of the water, despite being pretty far off the back of the pack. On the bike, I quickly caught one woman, but she was unable to hold my wheel, so I lost hope of being able to work with her. I worked as hard as I could on the bike, and knew that I was not in danger of being lapped. When I went to dismount my bike, however, I realized I was incredibly dizzy. I nearly tripped as I dismounted, but caught myself with my bike. I headed out on the run course, but disaster struck immediately. My breathing was completely out of control and my vision was foggy. My chest was tight and I knew I was hyperventilating. I have hyperventilated in races before and knew that if I could slow down and get some deep breaths, I would probably be okay. This time though, my dizziness and the darkness rushing in from the edges of my field of vision caused me to stop completely.
I remember sitting down on the side of the course (and, like a true data addict, somehow I stopped my watch as well). Then a volunteer was screaming and the next thing I knew I was on my back with a bunch of people standing over me shoving ice in my tri suit. I started gagging and they rolled me on my side. I couldn’t open my eyes and my breathing was still out of control. As soon as I could talk, I started begging to finish my race. The medics would have none of it, though. I hadn’t been lapped out. My body just gave out.
I had never had a DNF in a triathlon before that day. A DNF was not part of my plan. Although I frequently doubt the quality of my performance, I never doubt that I will finish a race. Sometimes, though, it isn’t up to you. So, what do you do in a situation like that? Well, I for one will try again. Sure, my confidence is shaken. No one likes their race to be out of their control, but I plan to race again this weekend. And the thought of a DNF will not cross my mind.
I will not doubt my ability to finish. I cannot allow myself to do so. Triathletes are not just Type A people. They are strong. They are resilient. They can endure. And they never give up.
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From Off-road to Olympic Triathlon- Kippen Places 2nd in Age Group at Traverse City Tri
August 27th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsKathy Braginton Redefines Personal Best While Taking 1st Overall at Girl’s Best Friend Olympic Tri
August 26th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsSheikh and Reynolds Post PRs and Earn Place on Team USA at USAT Age Group Nationals
August 25th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsAnthes Takes First at Caseville Tri- Thanks to Positive Attitude
August 20th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic MentorsIn the bike leg of the Caseville Half Iron Distance race on July 12, 2015, I could tell that I was in fifth or sixth place. I had an unremarkable swim and was counting places at the Olympic and half turn-arounds (it was an out-and-back course). It appeared that there was one male athlete so far out in front (e.g. 25+ minutes), that catching him would be impossible. I thought maybe this was an Olympic athlete off-course, or possibly a relay team with a *really* strong swimmer.Regardless, I decided that catching him was not achievable, and instead, I focused on those who were.
I moved up a number of places on the bike and transitioned well. The out-and-back run course was completely exposed to the sun and, for the most part, made up of straight-aways on country roads, a majority of them dirt. Because I train a lot on dirt roads, it felt like home. Even that small comfort helped keep me feeling good.
From almost the get-go of the run, I could see four runners in front of me, spanning a little less than an mile. I knew with how I felt, second place overall was clearly within my abilities. I started to pick off runners slowly, and by the turn-around I was in third place. About the time I passed the second place athlete, shortly after the turn-around, I noted a hard charging athlete. He probably couldn’t catch me, but one never knows.
Now in second place, I began to settle into the idea that was my limitation that day . . . then, all of a sudden, an athlete flew by me. It shocked me, and given his pace, I couldn’t even give chase. And this is where races get tough. It’s easy to start feeling sorry for yourself, and begin to wonder things like, will that hard charging athlete catch me and knock me off the podium and other negative things. However, I did note that when the athlete passed me, he did not have race markings, a race number, or a chip.
I powered through my little funk and maintained my target pace. The last couple miles of the run were going to be really hard as my calves were starting to cramp. The run course was not well supported with water and I could tell I was becoming dehydrated.
With about a mile to go, I came upon an athlete very quickly, and not the one that just passed me a few miles back, but the one who was way out in front of the field on the bike. He was not looking well and I think he cooked the bike to such a degree that he was having a difficult run. With that little boost and a short distance to go, I was resigned to taking second place and finishing this race.
As I started to enter more populated areas near the finish, I began to take in signs that maybe I was the race leader. Sure enough, when approached the finishing line the announcer welcomed me as the winner. I had an inkling that it might be the case, but had let significant doubts enter my mind.
While relaxing in the great ice bath and huge inflatable tent provided by the race organizer, Tri to Finish, I watched the top of the field cross the finish line. The guy I passed right after the turn-around held on for second. The hard charging runner I noted climbed onto the last stop on the podium. The uber biker who was 25+ minutes out in front on the bike took fourth. And then I saw the athlete that passed me on the run. He was chatting up one of the top five or ten athletes. In fact, he was his friend. I’m hoping that his little display on the course was not dirty pool, but regardless, it is a reminder that a lot of things happen on the race course and it is how you deal with them that often determines your day.
You have days when racing where things happen that are completely outside of your control (e.g., weather, better performing athletes, dropping nutrition/water, digestive issues, etc.), but how you choose to address those issues are clearly within your control. It’s quite easy to fall into a poor mental state and count your problems until they become an anchor. But, if you continue to trust yourself, your training, or whatever else lifts you up, good things will happen. Have faith in the process and in the race and know that the triathlon often requires more than physical training. The post Anthes Takes First at Caseville Tri- Thanks to Positive Attitude appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.