Special Endurance Tips for the ?Serious Athlete and Mid-Season Highlights
Sprint to the Pole Position: Nothing worse for a biker than to go out for a jog, let alone a jog uphill. So, the Leadville 50 SilverRush mountain bike this past weekend started with an un-ridable ascent of Dutch Henry Hill. #59 Tim Waggoner-Luchinske pushed his bike to the front of the start line “Sorry man, but the run is my strength….I’m going to fly up this hill.”….Hmmm, this is an interesting one. We chatter nervously waiting for the start gun to finally go off and I learn that Tim raced for 15 years as a professional triathlete, finishing 12th at the Hawaiian World IronMan championships, with a 4th in the bike split. Tim: “Then again, go anaerobic at the start and your race could be done.” Leadville series founder Ken Chlouber stared down from the top of Dutch Henry; the gun went off; and I tried to loop a hand around Tim’s repair kit as he disappeared ahead into the stampede’s dust cloud.
Don’t try to ride like they do in the movies: You’ve got 7 miles to go in the SilverRush and are having the race/ride of your life when the front tire goes flat. The Leadville 2009 mtn bike movie feeds your subconscious. You see Lance flatting at the end of the race. He looks desperately for his support vehicle, fiddles ineptly with the flat, and then rides it nonetheless back to the finish for victory. Your road-rashable body and Leadville Cycles of Life friends cringe as you make that bad decision. Besides, Lance didn’t really do that—it was just a movie.
Eat Right: Todd Stevenson may have found the magic formula with his wafer-thin pressed croissants filled with Nutella chocolate, cream cheese, and jam. But, #59 Tim pointed out the advantages of the steady absorption of the complex carbo’s in the endurance athlete….maybe that Snickers and Payday in the back pocket aren’t such a good idea. But, you have to tip your hat to those crazy fast Bailey Hundo single speeders Jeff Carter and Brian Stevenson. They revealed their tightly kept secret: bacon-peanut butter sandwiches. This either fueled them to the finish line, or just made them pedal faster to get to that delicious cheese burger and micro-brew finish-line spread.
Improve your power to weight ratio: In Leadville 100 2009 Stig Somme (a pediatric surgeon who also rides a bike) road down the Columbine descent when a chain ring fell off his bike. He picked it up, coasted to the 60 mile aid station, bargained with a bystander to exchange bike parts, and was slowed to a 12th place in 7h 45m (2010: 7h 7m and 10th place with ‘minor’ mechanicals!). Stig’s secret? Bike with Stig and you’ll find that when he hits an uphill he goes really, really fast. Your strategy? Stig is super friendly and talkative. If you try to keep up with him for a bit of the climb, be ready to gasp out very pointed questions. Clearly Stig has an extraordinary power to weight ratio, as well as a cool head for bike races. Increase the power? Maybe a bit. Decrease the weight? Hmmm…..Do not do any push-ups , sit-ups, or curls. Ari Melmed is finally coming around to the Biceps Reduction Surgery which will shave 90 seconds from his Leadville 100 (see below for “before” photo).
Ride to the Beat: Wear the i-pod? Maybe allowed, maybe not. Seems Ok for the Bailey Hundo-ish, so Ari put together a 9h30m track, ensuring his 9 hour finish…..
Be the Honey Badger: I have been referred to this video on several occasions (go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg ) Some have declared that it is completely disgusting and should never be viewed. Others point out that this is one of the most inspirational creatures who is un-phased by the most ghastly of insults. Either way, you have to admit that if you adapt the mindset of the honey badger, it will not matter that your chain is skipping, your running shoe is sloshy, your chain ring fell off, the aid station over-diluted the electrolyte drink , because….”Honey Badger don’t care”.
Special Mention: Kristin Riley-Lazo biked through mud and snow, checked up on a rider who careened off into a stream, and won the Firecracker 50 in her division! Mary Blomquist finished 4th, separated by 9 seconds from 2nd. Rachel Farrett overcame adversity (she was delivered a Willa’s Wheels ‘kit’ consisting of 2 bike shorts) to finish 2nd by less than 1 minute in the Women’s SilverRush division for the second year in a row. Micki Harris and Jeff Carter took on the Breck 100 mtn bike and Peter Riley the Breck 68. Peter took the podium with a 3rd place finish. Jeff finished 3rd in this prestigious event in a stacked field of single speeders. In a post race interview with Cycling News Jeff described the Willa’s Wheels’ mission (check it out at: http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/national-ultra-endurance-nue-series-breckenridge-100-ne/results). Max ‘Happy Buddha’ anti-doped by car camping the night before the SilverRush amidst clouds of mosquitos that would have even rattled the honey badger.
Coming Soon: Bob Cook Memorial (Seth Gallaher decided to take this beast on for his first bike race), the Copper Triangle, Step up for Cancer (http://www.stepupforcancer.org/ –join the Raymond Wentz foundation Team on August 6th) , the Leadville 100 bike/run, the Lookout Mountain Triathlon (Tom Mackenzie is taking it on) the Southern Hemisphere series….
Why do we bike/run/triathlete? To get a bit more fit? To Breathe some fresh air? Because buying a really nice bike and training way too many hours is a ‘healthy’ mid-life crisis? Whatever the reason, why not turn the sweat towards supporting a great cause? Consider supporting a participant (superhuman Stig, Ari contemplating his biceps reduction surgery….) by going to “Donate” and then “Find a Rider (or runner)”. Or, create a fundraising page (take 5 minutes) and send an email to friends, family, and colleagues. Some have raised over $1000 in a week. All money goes to the Raymond Wentz Foundation and helps people like Frank:
“Last year, The Raymond Wentz Foundation was pleased to become a partner in Frank’s Fight against Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and kidney failure. A Vietnam Veteran, who had suffered the loss of his wife and his home before being diagnosed, Frank said, “You have no idea how much this gift means to me.” The Raymond Wentz Foundation grant helped Frank pay his mortgage.” Learn more at www.raymondwentz.org.
Kristin Riley-Lazo(1st place) and Mary Blomquist (4th) at Firecracker50
Micki Harris finishing strong in Firecracker50
Jeff Carter takes 3rd at the Breck 100 Single Speed
Rachel Farrett takes 2nd in SilverRush 50 by less than 1 minute
Mary Blomquist and the 'Happy Buddha' after SilverRush
Before Biceps Reduction Surgery: Ari Melmed Firecracker50 July 2011