first day...

So - yesterday was the first Sunday in to long a time that a kahuna bike wasn't the main course. This is what I did instead...So I'm not whining - for the record. It was a relaxing and charge the batteries day. Ilana has been on her sticks seven ( 7 ) days to my first. She LOVES the skiing - and it is bloody awesome watching her with the K1 group. Seventeen uber-keen  racers with a dose of adolescent goofiness for fun.
As parents - this is a huge dose of new fun. We volunteer HEAVY for the club - her training now has no part of us. In the Nancy Greene E level - I was always helping the Head Coach set-up and take-down gates. The K1 kids do that.
So she's out there ripping it up - and I got into the trees for a bit.
Big White is at ~ 100 cm base - so we're in awesome shape for this time of year.
But I couldn't stop thinking about the training. Ultraman Hawaii was in it's 3rd day - the peach - double marathon. IM Cozumel. And what was I doing about my training. Well for starters - Trevor & I will be running 2 hours Tuesday 5 am - and Jaegan & I will be tackling Vapour that night for a XC bike ride. Cannot wait to get the HD helmet camera. So nothing has changed. I'm also going to get some " misery sticks " and go skate skiing this Winter. Never done it - heard nothing but the words " brutal " and " self-inflicting " .....
Most importantly though - No. 1 triathlon rule is whilst on these sticks the theme is " Mellow ". I never charge it hard on the skis. Why ? Well my buddy Rick is a hard-mouthed fast-tracking skier and boarder. When he actually shows up for a Steamy hot Summer bike - he bitches non-stop about wanting to ski. So he's the perpetual flow of snow and working the sticks. So this Saturday - he's boarding hard - and hits a tree about 8 feet up. Sounds like preliminary reports are a tweeked or small tear LCL. He is f*cked for December anyways.
This blog is not - I told ya so. I guess with age advancement - I'd rather take this youngins ribbing about my casual pace than grenade my knees. The dance card is FULL for 2010 - and it still has some possible entries. Why risk it ?
Youth - I was there and stumbled through it like a drunk bear at an all-you-can eat buffet. Some moments not-so-pretty. I think I've tried to learn from the awkward moments and not keep repeating them. So - Rick - grab some grey matter and THINK about your December. I don't call you " Klik Klik " for nothing. Your right knee does that for you.

There is a huge unquenching emotion that stirs when I see untracked powder. But it's not as strong a desire as the bike course at the Oliver Desert Half or a smooth flow climb & descent at Vapour.
Heal up fast Rick - and hopefully we can get you out on a night ride up Smith Creek or Vapour soon.

Here's also BIG kudos to C. Foulk & Rich Roll at the Ultraman World Championship in Hawaii this weekend. Both had hard falls - but soldiered on ( Cory was an eventual DNF ). All the UM competitors are big in my books - that's why I'm volunteering again next August long weekend at UMC.

Pictures and blog to follow re night rides. Have a good day everybody. Cheers B

another good ride....

Smith Creek/Soul Train/Feel the Love. 55km XC ride. Tarmac out to West Kelowna. Hooked up to old culvert trails near Shannon Lake GC.

Not sure of the exact age of these old water supply / irrigation culverts - 50's ? The trail to the left makes for less tarmac and automobile interaction.
They are a hunk of history that is slowly disappearing.

So we hit this trail to Smith Creek trailhead. Up Smith to Feel The Love junction. Snow at this point - with four tracks ahead of us. Up to Summit - then down Soul Train to it's top. The a greasy snow sliding descent to FTL junction.

Hooked up with the four dudes at this junction - they asked if we were the dudes that rode in from town. YUP.
So we followed them to the bottom - and enjoyed every minute of it ! A great day ride. Thanks Jaegan for keeping the pace solid. NIGHT RIDE SMITH TUESDAY - pics to follow.......

Ilana has now done two straight days of K1 training. Big White is still sub 100 cm base. But we're deeper in base than any previous year in the past five. I'll be up there next weekend - and every weekend after that. So I'm not giving up on skiing - just wanting to ride as much and as long as possible.
The smile on Ilana's ( on right ) & Ella's face says it all. Wow - they are pumped to be using the sticks !!

Here's to more snow - and some XC riding in before the base is too deep.

Kudos to all IMAZ competitors too. Jaegan & I would periodically call out today - yup swim over - yup well into bike - what's the temp down there ? - how many competitors you think ? - flat course no doubt.....We're Xc riding to keep the IM 2010 results solid.

Cheers,

B

pre Snowflake

So - it's a milestone day. Ilana is first year K1 ski racer - and this is her first ride in the iron lung ski van to Big White. May seem trivial to some. For us - it's another stepping stone. Soon she'll be a veteran with the van and it's seemingly endless journeys - always chasing snow and races...

Jaegan and I did a pre-work ride up Knox and over to Paul's Tomb. Good pace - and incredible morning vista views. Hell - when you're riding before the sun rises - who can complain ? So we finish the ride running into Brad Pattison of " At the end of your Leash " TV fame. He was in the middle of filming an espisode at the Beachwalk by the Dolphins. I told him Ilana loves his show - and I also complimented him on the episode with Christine of Medicine Hat. That show for the non-viewers was Brad coming in and cooling a situation where this poor girl was housebound because of the dog. Labrador sized beast that would even drag poor Christine in the park. Brad established boundaries & training for Christine with this pooch. You see - Christine has MS or MD ( sorry - I cannot remember which ) - and even with the help of a roommate - the dog was ruining her life. I gotta be honest - I was teary at the end of this episode. He turned her life around - and the mutt was with the program. 

I am really happy that I could look him in the eyes and thank him for that. Brad even said to the camera dudes that was one of the most memorable episodes they had ever done. It's a karma thing - and letting him know my 25 cents worth hopefully fuels him further. It is cool to know he has moved to our Shangri-La - he even told us he isn't here long enought to enjoy it.

Snowflake Gala tonight. Looking real forward to that. Even better is tomorrow's planned ride. XC bikes on the tarmac for ~ 15 kms TO Smith Creek trailhead - UP said and Soul Train - then down Fell the Love and BACK the tarmac to home. Should punch in ~ 50kms if the groove is right.

Will upload pics if they are worthy........

cheers
B

Post Dryland

This Snowflake Gala is going to be HUGE ! The kids were filmed today at Dryland - with individual messages about their love of skiing and family support. These will be played at the Gala. Guess the Nota Bene wont be the only motivator for the purchases !!

This is Ilana racing at Sun Peaks March 2008. She LOVES skiing......

I cannot believe the incredible leaps our Club has made since last year. The synergy is incredible. People are contributing their strengths to the Club and it's functions. This is the inaugural Silent Auction - and it's so exciting to see the event take shape. To plagarize my last post - I'm gonna sit back and chill whilst the cake drops for the Club !!

Going to gun for a hard XC ride Saturday morning - and a possible alternate route Sunday morning.
Cannot wait for that flipping HD helmet camera to come in !!

Cheers B

quick run...

Another solid paced run with Trevor & Shaun. Shite can these guys pour it on when they need to. We ran to Paul's Tomb and back ( me from Lower Mission ) - and there are some definitive hills to climb. You know the pace is good when everyone stops talking and all of a sudden we're all in recon mode listening to each other's breathing !!

Good mates - I'm quite fortunate to have these guys to run with. Keeps the legs honest - and there's still time to put in a full day's work.

Will let you all know how the Snowflake Gala goes. Gonna be some big rollers there. I'm just gonna sit back and chill and enjoy watching the cake drop for our Club.

Cheers,

B

Priorities...

Just had a chat with one of the mates I trained with hard in Fall 08 and Spring 09. As he did post IMC 05 - he has flat-out stopped his training ?! I wont divulge his age - but the numerous factors he's using as excuses REALLY should be used as incentive & motivation. While the priority post the big one is to rest & heal - stopping altogether is limiting and counter-productive. Yet D has been running for 30 years ?! You'd think he'd get it. Sounds as though he is going to give up the tri-sport and concentrate on his trail running. I'll try to get him going again on the bike - but it sounds as though his mind is made up. I keep reminding him that one small run a week right now leads to Herculean start from scratch training in '10.

I'm really trying to take this from both sides of perspective - but I'm not altering/reducing my schedule to try and revive his. He knows our Tues & Thurs run schedule - I remind him - the ball is in his court.

Saturday & Sunday were two fantastic XC rides - ALWAYS incorporating big climbs. These both had their share of snow too - so the descents were calculated and safe. Jaegan is about the only other crazyhorse I know that will ride this weather into December. We've committed the deposit and are registered in 2010 BCBR. I'm excited.
Once the XC is beyond safe - we'll be skate skiing with the HID lights to IMPROVE the cardio. This is a first for me - and I welcome the challenge. The form will need huge work - but the cardio benefits I am so pumped about. I have Alpine skied for 3/4's of my days. This means almost nothing for the Nordic.

This Saturday is the Big White Racers' Snowflake Gala Fundraiser. It's going to be huge. The semi-formal Silent Auction has a prize coming up from Lance Armstrong ( Axel Merckx is in our Club ), 2 - 1 week packages at Vail, a Vancouver Canucks jerseys, games package - some BIG ticket items. Will keep you posted.

Ilana our daughter is on snow Saturday - first ride up in the BWR van. The beginning of many many trips in the Iron Lung.....This is her first year in K1 racing - points, training, training, dryland, fun.

Planning a Thursday run ~ 2 hrs again, and a Friday night XC ride. Let's hope I'm a good boy Saturday night and can ski hard Sunday. There are forces at bay ( at least 5 dudes I know ) that will be looking to attempt mayhem ( in their minds anyways ) at Snowflake. We'll see - but my " I'm in training " has always worked with them....

Cheers,

B

'10 Calendar....

So...Jaegan & I are officially registered for the 2010 BC Bike Race ! June 27th - July 3rd.
Man am I pumped for this one !! I've wanted to ride this since it's inception as the SEVEN race.
7 days of climbing fury and sweet delicious singletrack. It's going to be an awesome race, experience builder, and stepping stone for IMC.
A few persons have told me I'm nuts - but the XC riding will always be in my blood. So - as it stands - listed below is my tentative schedule for '10. Additions to come no doubt....
Highlights in BLUE are subject to the lottery/mad rush entrance acceptance.

January 25, 10 -> Olympic Torchbearer -> the hardest most patriotic 300 meters anyone could run !

January 30, 10 -> 3rd Annual Birthday Night XC Bike ride UP Sturgeon. Three ( 3 ) of us celebrate b-days on 1/27 - nuff said.

February - March -> Base and more base miles ! Have some hefty plans...

March 28, 10 -> Campus to Campus Half Marathon

April 28, 10 -> ROAD bike component Ski2Sea Race

May 2, 10 -> Vancouver Marathon

June 6, 10 -> Oliver Half Iron, Oliver, BC

June 19, 10 -> Test of Metal XC Race Squamish
OR
June 19, 10 -> Glen Mervyn Ride2Survive 400km Road Ride 

June 27th - July 3rd -> BC Bike Race -> 400+ kms of XC CAKE !!

July 11, 10 -> Desert Half Iron, Osoyoos, BC

August 30, 10 -> IRONMAN CANADA

September 11, 10 -> LOTOJA Classic -> Logan Utah to Jackson Hole Wyoming

September 18, 10 -> Cheakamus Challenge XC Bike Race Squamish to Whistler

There is a gaggle more of racing I want to do - but I also need to work and sleep and most important TRAIN. Will update this as the New Year approaches...

Cheers,

B

Can it be done ?

Quick post this am. Just finished a casual tempo run with Trevor Haaheim and Shaun Bergen. Both of these dudes are incredible machines. Interval training with these two mates is a real kick in the head - either could dust me in half a second. As long as I do not slow the pace on the runs - the conversation is constant and interesting. Besides being accomplished runners - both are amazing cyclists. Riding road w Trev or either road//mtn w Shaun keeps me sharp and arrogant-free. I always want to be known as the over-enthusiastic cycling person. I value their friendship and fitness synergy.

So - my title. I have some odometer milestones on the 3 bikes. The mtn bike I want to roll over 2000 kms by year's end. It is going to take a Herculean effort to crack this. I haven't really been stressing about the milestone - or the amount required to crack said. I'm going to give this one a concerted effort - keeping in mind that work, family, and running will ultimately get in the way.

Instead of doing the Pub Run this Sunday - I'm going to get the Stumper out and see what kind of kliks I can muster. Tuesday Night group is talking 3 Blind Mice Penticton......we'll see.

Will keep you posted on mileage updates.

Road bike goes in today for new drivetrain - pretty candy for the 14lb rocket.

Cheers,

B