Team Athletic Mentors News

Sheikh and Reynolds Post PRs and Earn Place on Team USA at USAT Age Group Nationals

August 25th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Elaine Sheikh, Team OAM Now Triathlete,

One week prior to USAT Age Group Nationals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I found myself facing some complications. First of all, I was headed to the emergency room in the middle of the night with acute abdominal pain indicative of either a) the onset of gastroparesis, a condition that nearly killed me in 2011, or b) appendicitis, which would require surgery. In either case, I was well aware that my ability to race the next weekend was in jeopardy. However, the doctors were unable to find anything wrong, and as my symptoms resolved to random bouts of dizziness, nausea, and gastric cramping throughout the week, I decided to race. Secondly, my plans for carpooling and sharing a hotel had fallen through. I contacted teammate Brian Reynolds to see if I could possibly carpool with him, and he graciously agreed. Friday morning, then, we met bright and early, picked up Brian’s dad, and headed to Milwaukee. I had no idea how well I would be able to race, but I was certainly ready to give it my best shot! We arrived in Milwaukee with plenty of time to pick up our packets, check our bikes into transition, and go for a quick 2.5 mile run to loosen up after a long day in the car. Then we met up with a friend of mine from Michigan State Triathlon and her family to get our pre-race pasta dinner. The next morning, we needed to get to transition at 6:30 am, despite the fact that Brian’s wave was at 9:02 and mine was 10:12. We walked to the race venue, then I quickly lost contact with Brian. I found a couple of friends from the MSU triathlon team, and we laid around under a tree to relax until around 9:30.

As usual in Milwaukee, the swim starts with a countdown, followed by the statement: “You are now in the hands of the starter” and a heartbeat sound effect blared over the speaker system. The heartbeat made my heart sink and a rock settle in my stomach every time it played, so when I was in the water with my hand on the pontoon, I was prepared for the sensation. The heartbeat seemed to play much longer for my wave than it had for previous waves, but eventually the starting horn blew and I let go of the pontoon and shoved my way into the melee of over 100 women, attempting to sprint towards the first buoy. The problem with having so many women line up in one row was that when I started to swim, I was actually crawling over other women. With each “stroke,” instead of slicing through the water, I was actually pushing off the shoulders and backs of the women around me. Soon though, I was actually swimming and tried to settle into a good pattern of breathing and sighting. After swimming under the famous bridge that forced everyone to funnel in together to pass, the swim wasn’t bad and soon I was sighting the beach. I came out of the water hot on the heels of a friend from MSU, and breathlessly gave some encouragement as I ran past her… and promptly slipped and fell on the wet grass turning into transition. I bit back a frustrated yelp and continued trying to get my arms free of the wetsuit. Still, my transition wasn’t overly clumsy and once I hit the bike course, I was ready to rock and roll. I felt strong and remembered to keep my cadence high to spin easily up the first big hill. I was passing other women in my wave with ease, and conserving my legs going up hills allowed me to hammer down them and maintain my speed across the flats. I didn’t know what my average was, but later found out that I posted the fastest bike split in my age group! Before I knew it I was barreling down the final hill into transition. T2 was a bit more clumsy for me. The run, which used to be my strength, was not as pleasant as my bike had been. It was hot and humid and I immediately began to experience pain in my diaphragm and stomach. My first mile was on pace, but then I started to gain 10 seconds every mile. I ended up finishing with an average 15-20 seconds per mile slower than I had projected. Once I crossed the finish line, my tunnel vision became blurry and I staggered into a golf cart. I hunched over, gasping and heaving. A medic pulled me into the med tent where she had me rest until I could sit up without being overwhelmingly dizzy.

Finally, I looked at my watch, which I had stopped when I crossed the finish line. Although I had no idea where I placed, I did know that I had a big PR. I left the med tent to find Brian, who was on his phone checking times. He too had gotten a PR and was tenth in his age group. I was fifth. After penalties were assessed, he was bumped up to ninth and I was bumped up to fourth. We both made Team USA for Cozumel, Mexico 2016! We didn’t stay up too late to celebrate as I was racing the sprint the next day. I placed fourth in my age group in the sprint, again making Team USA Cozumel. Age group nationals is an incredible experience. The entire host city is swarming with incredibly fit people passionate about triathlon, and no one teases you for wearing shorts and compression socks! It was fantastic to have to opportunity to share the experience with a Team OAM Now teammate, and although it’s only been a week since the race, I’m already excited for nationals next year in Omaha! The post Sheikh and Reynolds Post PRs and Earn Place on Team USA at USAT Age Group Nationals appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Gaslight Criterium and Cherry Roubaix Fondo – the summer’s hottest races

August 20th, 2015 by Marie Dershem

This year’s Gaslight Criterium racers tackled fast paced races in the heat of the summer. Even with temps in the 90’s, every category of racer was met with high speeds, fast corners, and that killer slight uphill to the finish. It was a perfect day of racing and Team OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors hit the streets in full force. The first race of the morning was the Juniors 9-14 race. TEAM OAM NOW Junior racer, Christian Dershem, was eager right from the start.

Hitting it hard from start to finish, he sprinted to a 3rd place finish as one of the youngest riders in his race. His podium smile… priceless.

In the Junior 16-18 year old race, Nate Fraizer placed 2nd and Carson Lowell finished 10th in the Cat. 4 race. What great representation from our junior riders! The Pro CAT 1/2 men raced right in the middle of the day when the sun was high and the humidity even higher. With 90 minutes on this 1 mile circuit, the biggest challenge in the race was the heat and humidity. Remaining well hydrated during the 90 minute event was key.

The race started out quite fast with numerous attacks and groups trying to get away. Based on the conditions, the team’s strategy was to stay patient and wait a bit, hoping that the conditions would deter early breakaways. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t pay off. The winning break did get away quite early with no representation from Team OAMNOW and no sustained organized chase from the peloton. Midway through the race, several other groups also managed to detach themselves as the field split apart. TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors finally were able to get

Dan Yankus away in one of the later breaks, while the remaining three teammates were planning on setting up Cory for the group sprint in the field. While the race did not go quite as we had hoped, everyone on the team was riding very strong. Unfortunately, sometimes that just doesn’t show up on the results. Some races, the team just has to look back on the race, talk and learn from each other, and look forward to the next race. Although everyone was a bit disappointed in the end, this group of guys all coming out with good spirits, which speaks to the quality of men we have racing for TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors. As teammate Peter Ehmann said, “It’s great being with such a great group. That positive attitude fuels a hunger for the next race.” The Pro CAT 1/2/3 women had a 50 minute race, also facing a hot and fast race. Marie and Jenny

With a field of 20+ women, the team knew it was going to be a good race. Jenny, our newly minted CAT 3 racer, is an incredibly strong rider and even better sprinter. Knowing she was the team’s best chance at a podium spot, the plan was for a good lead-out for her. Marie spent much of the race covering attacks, with Jenny’s assistance as well. Even with many good attacks and a strong field, no breakaway stuck and after 50 minutes on the course, it came down to a sprint. Laura led the field out on the last lap. Unfortunately, she was swarmed by eager riders on the long back-stretch. Laura and Marie both got caught in the field, but Jenny managed to work her way toward the front of the pack as the peloton rounded the last corner. Without a lead out, Jenny still managed a very strong sprint, crossing the line with two other women. jenny sprint finish

With only a hair separating them, she landed a 4th place finish. Like the men, the women were able to walk away knowing that they rode strong, learned more about racing together, and can look forward to future races. In the Men’s 45+ Masters race, TEAM OAM NOW had Rich Landgraff, Jon Morgan, Chris Abstain, Mike Wyzaleck and Mark Olson all working together for this 30 minute race. Given the short amount of time, the team took an aggressive stance, attacking hard and often. Finally, Chris was able to make it into the winning break, placing 4th overall, Mark followed with a 7th place finish. Great race all! Some of these same men decided to race in the Men’s Masters 35+ race as well. Rich Landgraff and Terry Ritter took on this challenge and found themselves once again in a fast field with many attacks. With both Rich covering attacks, Terry was able to bridge up to a potential winning break. But, with only a few laps to go, the break was brought back into the peloton and the race came down to a sprint. Exhausted from the fast pace and attacks, Rich landed 8th and Terry 19th overall. The masters 55+ squad was represented by Glenn Dik and Loren Simons, a race that was combined with the 45+ masters field. Glenn rode strong, attempting to control the peloton as Chris Abston and Jon Morgan took turns going off the front. At the end, Glenn was right on the wheels of Fred Anderson and Mark Warner but, lacking sprint legs, he was not able to come around them. Both he and Loren finished in the midst of the combined field at 5th and 9th respectively. Far from the Gaslight Criterium, Mike Krywanski represented OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors at the inaugural Cherry Roubaix Gran Fondo held in Traverse City and featuring all the most challenging climbs in Leelanau County. In what proved to be an absolutely epic adventure, Mike finished 6th overall in the 80 mile event despite the 92 degree temperature and an untimely crash on the gravel section of Miller Hill Road which separated him from the lead pack Along the way, the course traversed the legendary climbs of Inspiration Point, Hlavka Road, Shomberg, Dufek and Herman Roads in addition to the aforementioned Miller Hill Road, a brutal 15% climb on loose sand and gravel. The race (and it was definitely a race) started on Front Street in downtown Traverse City with a neutral rollout to the top of Grandview Road at the 5 mile point. From there it was full gas with Einstein Racing Club at the front followed by the entire Haggerty squad and OAM NOW’S Mike Krywanski happily sitting in. The climb of Inspiration Point split the field roughly in half with a few riders catching back on the descent. The real damage was done on Miller Hill where those riders who knew the climb were able to pick the solid line up the gravel ascent. After that the field spread out with those riders who had punctured or crashed losing contact. It was a fantastic race and a fantastic finish party afterward. After the ride, awards were given and food and drinks were shared along with stories from this epic ride. Another fantastic weekend of racing as the summer nears it’s end. The post Gaslight Criterium and Cherry Roubaix Fondo – the summer’s hottest races appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Anthes Takes First at Caseville Tri- Thanks to Positive Attitude

August 20th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Todd Anthes, Team OAM Now Triathlete

Some say the fourth discipline in triathlon is nutrition. While I can’t totally disagree, I’d argue that the fourth discipline can be a positive attitude. Racing includes a lot of variables, including some that can derail a good, even great, performance. How you deal with those possibilities makes the difference.

In 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.

Stretching Advice from an OAM Master

August 19th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Jonathan Morgan, Team OAM Now Cyclist

After 38 years of competition where I remained relatively unscathed, I unfortunately had a serious injury during the Noquemenon Ski Marathon last winter.The injury was so serious that I could have gotten lawyers for personal injury claims' help. I would have bet strongly that a serious injury requiring surgery would come as a result of a bike racing crash, but not Nordic skiing…a beautiful, enthralling sport where there is nothing to fall on but soft snow. Right? Unfortunately, I found a way to crash at a high speed, on some odd bumps, pitch both forward and back, and eventually do a sort of split that resulted in severed hamstring tendons…and a left leg that didn’t work in one direction. Fortunately, we have some great resources as athletes representing a group of Orthopedic surgeons, so after surgery I’ve recovered almost to 100% and I can rightfully claim to be a “master” in this area of sport. Now the rest of the story, and the first key point: As we age, our muscles stay very strong even as Masters athletes…similar to a 20 year old’s muscles. However, our tendons age and stiffen. This combination of power and stiffness leads to an increased risk of injuries like torn ACLs and ruptured Achilles tendons, or crazy ones like a hamstring avulsion (separation from the bone) that can end our ability to do what we love. Fortunately, there are relatively easy solutions with a little extra attention that can prolong our careers and avoid these serious injuries. Second key point: Stretching is critical. Warm muscles and tendons are part of the stretching process. Following surgery and recovery, I started spinning on a bike with little resistance, then moved on to PT in a sport specific clinic. Each session began with 15 minutes of sitting on a towel wrapped around a sack of special clay that had been heated – the heat was so intense after 5 minutes that I often needed to shift position or add a layer of towel to reduce the heat, but the result was a very warm thigh and glut muscle that were ready for warm-up and stretching. Stretching consisted of only about 10 minutes of specific actions, but the result of warm muscles, properly stretched, was an incredible feeling of looseness and power once effort or resistance was introduced. Third key point: How do we replicate 15 minutes of heat on a muscle and 10 minutes of stretching followed by a warm-up period before starting training or a race? I wanted that “loose, relaxed” feeling from the heat and stretch and discovered a way that is likely available to many of us – heated car seats. The PT told me that one of the biggest instances of hamstring, Achilles, and ACL injuries results from those older athletes who sit all day in an office setting, jump in a car (more sitting), followed by arrival at a training ride or race where we jump immediately on the bike, skis, or run without any proper warm-up or stretching. Year round, if your vehicle is equipped with heated seats, I strongly recommend that you turn them on and sit on the heat for 10-15 minutes, especially if you are an older or “tighter” athlete. It sounds terrible, but even on a hot summer day, the heat on your hamstrings and leg muscles really doesn’t feel bad with a little wind or AC in the car. Upon arrival, a short stretching session followed by a brief spin on the bike or a walk before a run or ski, will significantly reduce the risk of an injury. This is a way to use a somewhat common feature on many cars to reduce injury. For those without seat heat, at least be aware that stretching and a slow warm-up before max effort can save you a lot of grief and a potentially career ending injury. I have been blessed to be naturally flexible and stretched the morning before the injury AND was well warmed-up, but I did not apply any heat. Heat is an added layer of protection from injury, so use those seat heaters if you have them, not just after the race for the endomorphin laced drive home, but to assure you get that chance to drive home instead of to the emergency room. Please note that you can also purchase heat seaters that plug right into the car (cigarette lighter/adapter) and it just might be a great $30 to spend. Stay warm, stretch, and stay injury free. Happy riding, skiing, running…. The post Stretching Advice from an OAM Master appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Patterson Takes First Women, Vanias Takes 11th Overall at Ore to Shore

August 18th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Alex Vanias, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

Ore to Shore is one of the classic mountain bike races featuring a 48-mile course covering the rocky terrain from Negaunee to Marquette, Michigan. The race always draws a stacked field and both Kaitlyn Patterson and I selected it as a priority race to test ourselves against some of the best riders in the Midwest.

Our training the week leading up to the race was disrupted by the significant storm damage to the Traverse City area that blocked the VASA trail with hundreds of downed trees. Some usual training time was instead spent clearing trails and finishing building Kaitlyn’s new race wheels.

A steady light rain on Friday settled the usual dust on the racecourse, but it also created some significant muddy areas scattered along the course. The rain cleared by the morning and Kaitlyn and I were joined by Terry Ritter and Chris Abston on the start line in Negaunee.

I had a strong start and was riding comfortably with the leaders until a slow tire leak forced me to stop just before the infamous “Misery Hill.” Fortunately, I was prepared by carrying a Fast Air tire sealant can, but the 90 second interruption was enough to lose the leaders. The remainder of the race was a mad chase in the attempt to catch that lead group. I was able to make up several places and finished 11^thoverall in a strong field. I was disappointed I didn’t get a chance to see what I was capable of because of my mechanical, especially because my past several Ore to Shore races have been plagued with technical issues as well.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn was battling for the win against Mindy McCutcheon of Salt Lake City. The two of them were clear of the other female racers after Misery Hill and raced together the second half of the race. Kaitlyn realized Mindy was too strong to drop on the climbs and Kaitlyn had little experience with tactical finishes. Both attacked multiple times, but were ultimately unable to shake the competition. Mindy was driving the pace in the final miles into Marquette, but Kaitlyn was right on her wheel. After the final bend, Kaitlyn sprinted for the line in a photo finish for the win. Nobody knew who had taken the win until the video was reviewed and Kaitlyn was determined the winner! Both of us thought she might have the horsepower to manage a podium finish at Ore to Shore, but a sprint finish victory was an unexpected and exciting culmination to the weekend.

Chris Abston rolled in 53rd overall after riding with the same group with Kaitlyn for much of the race. Terry cracked the top 100 with 99th overall. OAM newcomer Kathy Braginton was the first female fatbike across in the shorter Soft Rock race in her first mountain bike race ever. Overall, another impressive day for OAM at a great event!

The post Patterson Takes First Women, Vanias Takes 11th Overall at Ore to Shore appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Exciting Final Minutes at Lansing’s Capital City Crit Gets Vanias a Spot on the Podium

August 13th, 2015 by Erin Lumbard

By OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors Elite Cyclist, Collin Snyder Michigan crit racing was in for a treat as bike racers stormed the state’s capitol. This years Capitol City Criterium’s main attraction, the men’s Pro 1/2 was a rare but highly entertaining night time event, with the field lining up at 8:30 and racing wheel to wheel for an hour and a half. Team OAM NOW was well represented by Cory Stange, Dan Yankus, Alex Vanias, Collin Snyder and Terry Ritter who pulled doubled duty by racing the Masters race earlier in the evening.

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The race started out fast and never let up until the end, averaging a solid 27 MPH. With the State Championship Jersey on the line, everyone was hungry to get something going. I started the evening with a hard attack early on, hoping that someone would jump with me to no prevail. At the very least, I wanted to set the score for the evening, stringing the field out to which I was very successful. After the opening few laps, teams took turns throwing guys out front, hoping something would stick. Within the first 10 minutes, there were a total of 4 different breakaway attempts all of which failed to get more than a handful of seconds. With 50 minutes to go, I threw in a hard attack and managed to get some breathing room between the field and me. The likelihood of me staying away from the field solo is a solid zero percent, but sometimes moves like that can setup the next and potentially winning break. A Jack’s Cyclery rider bridged up to me and we worked desperately together for a few laps. When the inevitable catch was made, a counter attack instantly went with a handful of riders including OAM NOW’s Alex Vanias. The field stayed strung out, frantic to bring back the break. The team raced great, staying towards the front and never let a strong chase effort form. The gap never reached more than 20 seconds but at the same time it was steady for the longest time. As the laps ticked by, it looked like the break might just stick. In the unfortunate event we did catch them, we were well position near the front to make a counter move. As the race wound down, teams who didn’t make the break became desperate, and the firepower came out. The time gap started to move down and down, eventually getting to just six seconds. The determined break wouldn’t let up, and with OAM NOW and EPS racing at the front covering moves, it actually ticked back up to over 10 in a matter of just one lap, but the smell of a catch was too strong for the field. The chase effort intensified and with just 9 minutes to go, the deed was done. However, that wasn’t the end of the night for all the break participants. Right before the catch was made, Alex Vanias threw in cheeky attack and put a big gap between him and the break. Bryce Nuiver of EPS Cycling and I saw this among the chaos. Bryce put in a hard bridge effort and I locked onto his wheel. Looking behind me, we never actually made a significant gap with the front of the group, so I made the decision to ease up and let Bryce go. All night I was ready to make the counter incase the break had failed, but with Alex having another go at it, it was my time to step back and let him do his thing. The two of them never got a huge gap on the field, but it was late enough in the race, it actually worked. Bryce would go on to win the sprint against Alex, clinching the state champion title.

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With Alex second place and another top 10 for Cory, the team had a very successful night. The team raced as one, putting the team’s results before our own. With only two more crits left in 2015, there is a closing window to watch TEAM OAM NOW’s Elite squad do what they do best in person. If you can make it, come out and cheer us on to victory. The post Exciting Final Minutes at Lansing’s Capital City Crit Gets Vanias a Spot on the Podium appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Kippen Sets Course Record at Dirty Burg 10K

July 31st, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM Now Triathlete

The Dirty Burg Trail Run took place on what started out as a cool sunny morning at the Cannonsburg Ski Area. It is the summer event put out by Switchback Endurance, the race directors of the very popular spring and winter trail races at Yankee Springs State Recreation Area. The Dirty Burg offers 5K, 10K, 20K and 50K trail races and punishes runners with a finish up and back down the ski hill on every lap. Sounds fun, right? Being an off-road triathlete, I do most of my running on trails, so a trail race is a nice motivator to get me out for a hard run. I have participated in several of the Switchback Endurance races in the past so I was confident that a well-managed event was in store at The Dirty Burg. Race directors Kim Owens and Phil Stapert did not disappoint and provided a well marked, challenging course for a mid-July tune up. Fortunately, I only had to race one 10K loop and had to tackle the steep run walk up the face of the ski hill and clambering decent down once. It blew my mind that some racers were doing that up to 5 times for the longer races. It was even more mind blowing when I was half way through my measly one lap race, and the leader of the 50K race, on his 5^th and final lap, blew by me on the trail like I was standing still. The only part of the race where I was actually almost standing still was half way up the ski hill, when I could no longer muster what looked like a run. The start times for each distance were staggered which allowed for a very rare race day with no alarm clock necessary for me. This beats a 4am wakeup call for a triathlon any day! The 10K trail race started at 9am and temps were in the low 60s with relatively low humidity. It doesn’t get much better than that for the middle of the summer. The field was pretty small, so I decided I needed to go out hard and see if I had any challengers in the women’s field. I’d either pull someone along with me or put a discouraging enough gap on the others that they wouldn’t bother trying to work their way back to me in the latter part of the race. The trail begins ascending immediately upon entry to the single track and goes straight up for about a ½ mile before reaching the top. That part of the trail is appropriately named “Up the Gut.” I charged up the climb harder than I ever had before and, once I reached the top, I did not see anyone near me.

I kept reminding myself to keep up the quick turnover and tried to get a glimpse of any followers as I weaved around the single track switchbacks. Even though I put a big effort in to get up that first climb with a big lead, there could always be someone who races more conservatively at the beginning, who then surges part way into the race. I was really hoping that was not the case because my legs did not feel the best and I haven’t really been doing that long of runs in my training. I was putting my new Salomon Speedcross trail shoes to the test and they took every bit of the beating on the uneven terrain. They felt stable and secure, which was a relief since I had just picked them up for 50% off at that week’s Summer sale at Striders Running Shop and only ran in them one time before the race. I would not typically test equipment like that in a race, but the first run felt so great in them, I had no doubts they’d get me to the finish. As I neared the end of the single track, I dreaded what lie ahead. I looked up at the ski hill and saw racers spread out on the steep grassy climb. I trudged up the hill, taking baby steps, until I just couldn’t bear it any longer. I looked up and I looked down and no one else was running, and I caved to walking. It honestly did not feel much better than running and I think I was moving just as fast. I let myself be a wimp for about a minute, then I resorted back to my baby step run until I reached the top. Then I let it all loose and bombed down the hill to the finish. It was such a steep descent I had to keep the speed in check to avoid a header, like the one I’d taken on that same hill many winters ago on my snowboard.

I rolled through the finish and checked my watch, just over 55 minutes. While this may seem slow for a 10K, the number of climbs and constant turns on the trail lend itself to slower paces for everyone. To my amazement, I waited another 5-6 minutes for the next female finisher to descend on the finish line. Later that night, after results were posted online, I found out that I had run the fastest time for The Dirty Burg 10K course in 4 years and had set the course record. My legs took several days to recover and my first run back after the race was really, really rough, but I’m hoping for another great performance at a local 5K at the end of the month. Thanks Switchback Endurance for the great prizes and post-race food and refreshments. You continue to support the trail running community well by putting on great events like The Dirty Burg. The post Kippen Sets Course Record at Dirty Burg 10K appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

Braginton Finds Happiness at Clark Lake Tri

July 31st, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kathy Braginton, Team OAM Now Triathlete After my last race in the cold and the rain, I was asked whether I was happy and if I had fun. At that moment, it was hard to answer. However, I thought about that question often over the next 2 weeks leading up to the Clark Lake Triathlon. I have only raced at Clark Lake one other time and that was 7 years ago. So, my goals going into the race were to improve on my previous time, have fun, and most of all be happy. The next time someone asked, I’d be prepared. Upon arrival, I quickly discovered the size of the field had decreased since 2008 as there would only be 1 wave start for the women. I prefer a single wave start because I can see what place I am in during the race. I was happy! In addition to my preferred start, the roads were finally dry on race day and I was able to top off my tire pressure. I was happy! Then, the transition had pre-designated spots by race number. I was assigned a great spot near the Swim In/Run Out. I was happy!

Because Clark Lake is shallow and warms quickly, it has a good chance of not being wet suit legal, but with the cool summer we have had so far, the swim was wet suit legal. Again, I was happy! The women were the last wave in a 3 wave start. As a result of two swim waves starting before us, the water was stirred up and I found I had a hard time settling in on the swim. I had to alternate between freestyle and backstroke. I found myself quickly losing my “have fun/be happy” mantra and had to dig deep. As I came out of the water, I found myself way back in the field of women. I knew I had my work cut out for me on the bike. The bike course is known for some rough sections of road and those roads have not improved over the years. Therefore, they turned the bike course into a 2-loop course. The 2-loop course consisted of mostly smooth roads with a few gentle rolling hills. On my first lap, I found myself behind the lead men who were completing their second loop. I was able to maintain a similar pace to the lead men for 3-4 miles. I recorded the fastest female split on the bike and came into T2 just behind the lead female. Now, I was happy! Because I have done several races with the lead female, I knew she was a fast runner and I would not be able to catch her during the run leg, but hoped I could maintain my position near the front.

I exited T2 with the 3rd place female and quickly discovered she was a fast runner as well; I was dropped to 3^rd place. The run course features flat, paved roads that run alongside quaint lakeside cottages. The people of the neighborhood were out cheering on the runners with signs and hoses creating a fun atmosphere. The women’s field consisted of many fast runners. Despite running just under my goal pace, I was caught by 4 more women. I was able to finish as the 7^th overall female and 1^st in my age group taking more than 9 minutes off my time 7 years ago. I was happy! The post Braginton Finds Happiness at Clark Lake Tri appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

State Championship Time Trial: The Truth Serum Race

July 22nd, 2015 by Marie Dershem

A time trial is like a truth serum for cycling. It is the true test of an individual’s ability to go fast, hard, and long. There is no drafting, no letting up, no time to catch your breath. From the word, “go”, it is all out. The Hines Park Time Trial is a perfect course for hosting this year’s State Championship. christian tt champion

It is flat, smooth, and beautiful. With no traffic to deal with, riders are able to just put their heads down and hammer out the race. For juniors, the course was 20K; for adults, 40K. And, TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors had great representation in almost every category with top 3 finishes in all but one category. Starting with our youngest through our oldest, here are the results: Christian Dershem (Junior age 9-12): 1^st place and State Champion

Nathan Frazier (Junior age 17-18): 1^st Place and State Champion Kaitlyn Patterson (CAT 3 women): 1^st place, State Champion and fastest woman’s time by over 2 minutes!

Marie Dershem (CAT 2 women): 2^nd place

Alex Vanias (CAT PRO 1/2 men): 2^nd place Cory Stange (CAT PRO 1/2 men): 3^rd place Loren Simons (Masters 55+) 10^th place

Looks like the truth has been revealed… TEAM OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors has some serious speed. The post State Championship Time Trial: The Truth Serum Race appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.

24 Hour National Challenge- The Aftermath

July 21st, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Lindsey Stebbins, Team OAM Now Elite Club

I have sat down 4 different times to write this blog. Each time I have written a few paragraphs and deleted them. I had a very difficult time figuring out how to sum up my experience and provide some insight into the race. It was a rather long race for me and there were 2973392462955 thoughts going through my head before/during/after. There’s so much I want to say and share, but in the name of brevity, here are some of the funny moments and a brief race recap. First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for the support. It was a surprise to see Mike ride up and then to hear there was a huge group of Team OAM riders a few miles up the road! It was nice to see all of you! Cheryl, Cricket, Mike, Polly Krywanski and Amy… Thank you for coming out to base camp. It is so nice to see familiar faces when we come in and head back out for yet another loop. It truly helps a ton. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

The 33^rd National 24 Hour Challenge started sharply at 8am on Saturday Jun 20^th. As tradition included, the bag pipe players sent Glenn, Dave, and me off for our journeys to rack up as many miles as possible in 24 hours. From 8am on the 20th until Sunday Jun 21^st, we all rode our bikes. For Glenn this concluded his 24^th N24HC; Dave wrapped up his 12^th N24HC, but his first as being a professional pace wheel; I finished my first N24HC. I placed 2^nd in my age group with 385.1 miles. Dave placed 2^nd in his age group with 415.5 miles; Glenn placed 3^rdin his age group with 409.1 miles. Glenn is also 3^rd overall for all time high mileage with 7,854.2! Dave and I broke the father/daughter record by 119 miles. We totaled 800.6 between the two of us. Our Pit Crew: Not crewing myself this year was bittersweet. The days leading up to the race I was bummed about not being able to pit. I still miss it. However, we did assemble an incredible crew. Denise (Mom)-Thanks for being mom and making sure the crew got food/drinks/etc. Thanks for supporting us and putting up with our grouchiness from training. Ashley (sister)- Thanks for keeping awesome mileage sheets, keeping us organized, and getting us in and out quick. Corey (fiancée)- Thank you for everything: supporting my training and the moods/tiredness that came along with it, our sky rocketed grocery budget, my overhaul of the office, etc.. Thank you for keeping us going through the night and the awesome launches! Darren (friend)- Thanks for all your support and providing comic relief to everyone. The Start: I should probably start riding with people or race more. Starting off in a big mob of cyclists and trying to clip in (without falling over) was an experience. I was a little nervous with people all around me. There’s a lot happening at a start - I was swaying to clip in, yet trying to keep my eyes forward so I didn’t hit anyone, all while sizing up groups to figure out where I should settle in. This was my first mass start, so at least I know what to expect when I decide to race again. Jim Bob? Eminem?: There was a nice gentleman who rode with us for the first 50 miles and was very kind. I got a chance to introduce myself to him and we talked a bit. Jim Bob is a very nice gentleman and, by the context of our conversation, I’m assuming a fairly PG person (this is important to know for later). As the hours ticked by, I put the speaker on my bike and set my playlist. The playlist was eclectic (oldies for my dad, pump up songs, and yes, some rap). Somewhere in the middle of the night someone rides up behind me…. “Lindsey?” I replied “Yes, who’s back there?” “Jim Bob. I’ve never been so glad to hear Eminem in my life!” I immediately started to laugh. The Snickers Bar: Weird things happen when I’ve been on a bike for a long time. My IQ and decision making skills drop significantly and I just go into survival mode. For example, on the 24 mile loop, there is a checkpoint (checkpoint #5) about 25 minutes away from the school. They have food, water, and port-a-johns. I had to go potty (yet again) and headed into the port-a-john. Someone before me had emptied their pockets and there was a bunch of trash on the bench part. Then… THERE IT WAS……a wrapped, bite size snickers bar! Being in my survival mode, I just grabbed the snickers bar, put it in my pocket and pedaled away. I ate that snickers bar down the road and it was the best piece of candy I have ever had. Nausea Training: My dad’s infamous nausea training: How to combat nausea during the race? You train for it. The night before the race, be sure to enjoy a few too many adult beverages and, no matter how icky you feel the next day, get on your bike and ride. Seems logical? At least you’re prepared to not feel great. Now my only question is why didn’t he tell me about this training method BEFORE the race?! Things I learned: 1) I need to practice my cornering 2) Chafing is inevitable. Buy stock in bag balm. 3) Spend way more time on the bike if I’m going to do this again. 4) Music is a must. 5) Candy out of a port-a-john is still candy and is still good. Since the challenge, many people have asked me “What’s next?” It’s a natural question after such a physical test, but to be honest, I’m not sure. I am back in the weight room, biking and running, and just enjoying training. Happy racing everyone! The post 24 Hour National Challenge- The Aftermath appeared first on Team Athletic Mentors.