Wendy's Scotland World Cup Report

Scotland
Well this was our first trip to Scotland and we were pumped! We stayed with Scots Gordon and Elliot Jardine (friends of the family) on Shieldhill for a couple of days before and after the race. They were AAA hosts and have the perfect mascot for our team - a German Shepherd named BELLA. They were a wealth of information on Scotland. They knew everything from where Harry Potter and the Devinci code was filmed to wave action as a potential alternative energy source for Scotland. The country has some amazing terrain with big green rollers filled with sheep in the southern part of the country to bigger harsher open mountains in the Highlands. Its all very rocky and looooooong rock walls scatter the country. We will have to come back to check out more. But....when I come, I will bring every possible layer of Helly Hansen gear I can stuff into my bag because the weather changes FAST. The key here was layering and waterproofing.

Mountain biking Scotland
Just before I left Canada I read an article in a mountain bike magazine that rated the best trail building places in the world. Scotland had apparently bumped BC out of the number two spot. I didn't think that it was possible (I DO love our BC trails) but after riding at Glentress on Wednesday and Fort William this weekend I have to admit that I was pretty impressed. The trails were built to shed rain (and we saw LOTS of it) so the race course was in amazing shape considering..... There were great trails for all levels, the different routes were all colour coded and marked clearly, showers and washrooms were available at the base and the HUB cafe had wicked snacks for after your ride! After we rode Glentress Norm said it all too well "do you think if we dumped some friends off at our local trails they would be able to have a wicked ride like we just did?" probably not. But I guess in Scotland its all run by the Forestry Commission so its done with a master plan. And as the Scots say they have done a crackin' job.

Norm asked me what I thought of the Fort William course after I pre-rode on Thursday afternoon in the last bit of sun we would see for 2 days. LOVED IT. Even though it had poured on and off for the past week the course was mostly rideable (except one section through a clear cut) and it was a lot of fun. It had something for everyone. A big 3km fire road climb on the first lap for the mountain goats. Really technical descents for the heavy weights - with lots of passing places connecting them, and an open flat area at the end for those who play tactically. It would be tough and challenging course to race on but it would be a blast.

The race
I was feeling really good about this race. I seem to race well in challenging conditions and as we all huddled together at the start and the skies opened up I almost started laughing. It was kind of comical. A bunch of scrawny cyclists from around the world soaking wet in spandex about to rip it up in the mud. As I looked around I saw disgust, fear, shivering, focus but no one else was smiling. Well I shouldn't have been so smug.

The start "gun" went off, which was a weird beep so half the group started and the other half (myself included) hesitated for a second because we weren't sure if that was the start signal. There would be no "game off - REDO", so we got our shit together. Within seconds, probably about 100m off the start line, I heard some chick screaming bloody murder and looked over to see two girls dominoing right towards me. I tried to move out of the way but I was boxed in by a rider up front and a ditch to my left. They took me out. I jumped up right away and wrenched my poor Kula Lisa from under the tangled mess, watching two girls from behind add to the pile up. I took off to catch the tail end of the pack. Thank god. I couldn't imagine trying to chase up that 3km hill on my own. I assessed the situation. My original plan had been to climb steady and go into the technical section in the top 15 so as not get caught behind the frass. That plan had gone to shit. I was stuck behind at least 60 girls that may or may not be technically skilled. I didn't want to blow up on the long climb so I just got into a groove and steadily picked off riders. I didn't go kamikazi on the climb but I made up at least 20 spots just riding from wheel to wheel. When we hit the first technical section it was an on-off track stand the whole way down. Not exactly going as planned. Don't panic its a long race. When we hit the clear cut I realized that two seasons of tree planting in Northern BC had given me the ability to bound through red rot faster than any of these girls that had been training all summer. I picked off at least two riders every lap in that section! I chased and chased and chased, picking off girls throughout the course. I have to admit its better for the ego than falling backwards from a good start like last week in Belgium....I was feeling good and had moved into the top 15 on the last lap. I had passed all the US girls and even two fellow Canucks. I thought I had dropped Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain Business Objects) for good but I should never count her out of the mix - she is a wiley one. Kiara Bisaro (team R.A.C.E.) was on my tail for the last open stretch and I stupidly towed her around thinking I was strong and it was just the two of us. Sydor was nowhere in sight. Just as we were coming up to the last singletrack before the finish, Bisaro pulled ahead so I think " I will just take a quick rest and sprint for the trails", when Sydor comes out of nowhere sprinting with a Kiwi on her tail and suddenly I have lost three spots and am the last into the trail. How the hell did that happen? I stay on my wheel in my big gear hoping I can pull a good sprint out of my ass but coming off the trails last puts me in a horrible spot and I can't do much with it. Another bittersweet 16th finish. Happy with a strong comeback performance but mad at myself for being so tactically retarded. Mud in every orifice, I admit to myself that I have had a solid Euro World Cup effort and I can go home satisfied with my results but still wanting more.

Thanks so much to all of my team sponsors Velo Bella, Kona, SRAM, Easton, Schwalbe, Zeal Optics, Fox, San Marco, SIDI, Hincapie, team Estrogen, P@zzo, vanderkitten. Thanks to my sponsors Helly Hansen and Frontrunners. Thanks to the Jardines for being such great hosts. And thanks to Norm who has been hanging out in the pouring rain with me as my mechanic, feeder, manager, training partner and super fan!

ROC Trail Bits 2006 #21

Trail Bits # 21
Not much in the way of news to pass along this week.

A heads up that June 3rd is the date of the Englishman River (Parksville) run. It will be a 7:30 start. I will email driving and parking directions in next weeks email. This conflicts with the Victoria GutBuster, sorry.

Great news from Westwood Lake – the parks department has decided to leave ALL the gates around the lake unlocked and open 7 days a week. No more having to weave your way through the metal obstacles. This will be done on a trial basis. Hopefully all the motorbikes and ATV’s stay off the trail.

The Nanaimo and Area and Trust (NALT) is starting to offer two guided hikes. One is of the Westwood Ridges and the other is to the summit of Mt. Benson. The first Mt. Benson hike of 2006 is scheduled for this coming Sunday, May 28th. If you are interested in partaking in these hikes or want details of other dates, please call the NALT office at 714-1990. The hikers are being offered in order to bring public awareness to the new park. There is no charge for these hikes, but donations to NALT are encouraged.


Ø Island Relay is this weekend. The first runners will be arriving at Pioneer Park (behind Canadian Tire) at around 3:30 pm this Saturday if you want to come down and cheer them in. Over 250 runners have entered in to this year’s event.

Ø Ladysmith Holland Creek Crunch 8km Trail Race is this Saturday


This week is a run of the trails in the Morell Nature Sanctuary. We will start out from Westwood Lake at 7:00 am and head into Morell for what should be a 1:15 run. Up the lake hill, cut left at the top over to Lower Maple, Tranquility to the Beaver pond, left at the pond, down rocky Knoll, fire road back to the beaver pond connector trail, around the lake and back to Westwood. Or something close to that…..Simple!

I will again not be there to take out the run walk group. Can some one else please coordinate the groups on Saturday, thanks.

Upcoming Stuff

* indicates trail race

· Island Relay – May 27th

· Knee Knacker 25km Trail Race, North Vancouver – May 28th

· Oak Bay Half Marathon – May 28th

· Ladysmith’s Holland Creek Trail Race – May 28th

· GutBuster # 3 Mt. Douglas, Victoria – June 3rd

· Panoramic Classic Triathlon, Saanich – June 4th

· Edge to Edge Half & Full Marathon, Tofino – June 11th

· New Balance Half Iron, Victoria – June 18th

· Kusim Klimb, Sayward – June 17th

· Scotia Bank Half Marathon, Vancouver – June 25th

· Comfortably Numb 25km Trail Race – June 25th

· GutBuster # 4 – Westwood Lake Half Marathon & 8km – July 16th

· Full (50Km) & Half (25km) Monty Trail Races, Victoria – August 19th

· Log Train Trail Half & Full Marathons, Port Alberni – August 20th

Mt Benson Burger Night on May 28th.

GREETINGS NALT & MOUNT BENSON LEGACY GROUP SUPPORTERS
(Please note our name change from Coaltiion to Save Mount Benson to Mount Benson Legacy Group)

Here is our reminder to you of yet another fun & exciting event in support of Mount Benson not to be missed.

What: Beer 'n Burger Night with yummy chicken, beef or veggie burgers with a choice of fries or a salad and a glass of draft beer, pop, tea or coffee OR, for the first time, a glass of red or white wine.

Where: Windward Neighbourhood Pub (Beaufort Centre, 14-1588 Boundary Crescent

When: Sunday May 28, 2006 @ 6PM

Why: To help support the Mount Benson Fundraising Campaign and to raise more awareness.

Tix are $12 at the door. There are still tickets available so phone now to reserve your space or FMI, NALT 714-1990

Awesome silent & live auction items include an Autographed Clippers Jersey, a Keg basket valued at over $125, Fitness Edge gym membership, pottery by Morningside Pottery & Fire Art Studios, Newcastle Island Lunch Tours from Alberni Outpost, Romper Room Indoor Climbing certificate, Restaurant & Pub GCs from Longwood Brew Pub, Cactus Club, Amazing Thai, Earl's, Moxies, Hong Kong House, Fran's Reflexology GCs, artwork and much more!


We have attached a poster for you . Please feel free to print it off, post it or simply email it to others. We'd appreciate it!

~ We hope to see you there and as always, thank you for your continued support ~

Rumon Carter's MOMAR #1 Report

Originally posted at rumoncarter.blogspot.com

The Ucluelet MOMAR (Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race) May 13th on the west coast of Vancouver Island represented for me the closing of a full circle. In May 2004, in the middle of dealing with an electrical cardiac condition, I traded prudence for optimism and signed up for my first MOMAR, in Duncan. I made it through the paddle and mountain bike segments, but the run up Mt. Tzouhalem proved too much for my troubled ticker. I sat at the edge of a precipice, waiting for the medics to arrive while pondering whether my multisport days were done. For three years my cardiologist had been unable to diagnose exactly what was wrong with my heart and my frustration levels were rising while my positivity fell.

Fast forwarding two years finds me at the start line in Ucluelet with a fixed heart (I had a catheter ablation in January this year) though possessed of a body with much less fitness than it once enjoyed. I hoped excitement and anticipation (and bed head) would make up for the speed I lacked.

Almost, but not quite.

The first leg paddle was hella tough. Having heard the paddle last year was a little obnoxious with waves and chop, I chose to bring out an OC-1 (single outrigger canoe) borrowed from my paddling club. Hopefully I scored some points for style, because I wasn't earning any for speed in the glassy conditions Saturday. I made an early error missing the wake of a good group and spent most of the rest of the paddle in no-man's land (with the exception of a couple of pulls at the middle and end of the leg compliments of a couple of guys sporting the skull & crossbones standard - thanks guys!). Take-home #1: Work on my set-up in a surf ski before the next race. Boat speed good.

One benefit of the paddle was the lack of opportunities to go off-course. I made up for that as soon as I was on the bike, missing one of the very first turns. Take-home #2: Put a cyclecomputer on my mountain bike and pay better attention when my roommate - and eventual solo winner Normon Thibault - was describing his error on that exact same corner last year.

Once back on course, things went smoothly the rest of the ride and I did my best to ignore my complaining legs and pick my way through the field. Everyone along the route was super-positive. On the other hand, perhaps they felt obliged to be nice to the village idiot who had missed the easiest intersection along the entire race course.

The trek. Sure, it was steep enough that my sweat looked more like milk due to lactic acid content, but more to the point, if you were racing did you stop to fathom that that entire unending embankment is a DH mountain bike run?!? Walking and running up was hard enough; riding down would be insane. To ease the pain going up, I went with my lightweight adidas adistar Comps on my feet. (I'll opt for light weight shoes in most situations, especially when they're going to get soaked. However - touch wood - I don't have a history of lower leg issues or going over on my ankle.) Besides their functional utility, can you see them in the photo? They're orange!

Given the mercifully straightforward second bike leg, I was able to stay on course. In fact, while half the racers in front of me were trying to take the "Walk in the Forest" CP (Check Point) by surprise, coming at it up a labyrinthine creek, I simply rode right up to it and made up a bunch of time. Often - not always - the most obvious route is the fastest.

No longer in that no-man's land I'd been residing in since midway through the paddle, I hooked up with Normon for a 2-man Team Frontrunners time trial back to the transition in Ucluelet. There, two things happened: (1) we picked up our new maps for the final running stage; and (2) Normon dropped me like a sack of hammers. Take-home #3: Track down some of those crazy duathlon platforms NT was rocking on his bike. One thing that did not happen in transition: I didn't put my new map in a drybag. This would come back to haunt me.

On the way into transition we had seen the frontrunning teams and individual heading towards the Wild Pacific Trail; they had a few minutes on us. Perhaps owing to a metal detector I didn't know was implanted in my body, I was able to make up a bunch of time bee-lining to the first CP of the run where our "challenge" was to find a fake gold coin buried in the sand (the race had a pirate theme). My bee to honey imitation leap-frogged me (too many insect/animal metaphors?) from somewhere around 10th up to 3rd, behind two teams of two. The rest of the teams were caught out zigging where they should have zagged.

Around that time the competitive juices started to flow. Up until that point I had been wholly satisfied to simply make my way around the course, happy to just finish my first post-surgery AR. I should have known this state of mind couldn't last. Trouble was, right about the time the competitive juices got to flowing, the energetic juices got to running dry. Although I had been intelligent with my nutrition, by 4 hours into the race I was well beyond my aerobic comfort zone. I won't bother making a take-home out of "train more" - that much is obvious.

My goals became simple: keep hydrating and don't make any mistakes. What I didn't count on was the fact I had already made my critical error when I neglected to bag my map back in transition. By the time I was halfway through the frigid ocean swim between CPs 18 and 19 and realized my error the damage was done. While I tried to pull apart the pages of my now-glued-together map and instructions, I hedged my bets and headed towards the finish at the Tauca Lea Resort. With enough time to make the necessary turns, I was able to pull apart a 2" square section of map that pointed to CP #20, the penultimate CP. The rest of the map was by now a lump of papier mache balled in my right hand. But I figured I was set. With only 21 CPs on my card, I contentedly trudged for home, blithely counting on CP 21 being the finish line.



It was only after I had crossed the finish line (second overall, first solo), after stuffing enough cookies in my mouth to feed a high school gym class after a 30-Hour Famine, after giving a couple of interviews, after (gingerly) heading back to my cabin, after pulling off my gear and heading to the shower, only after Bryan Tasaka, Race Director, intercepted me at the door that I clued in that something had gone awry. The CP wasn't the final CP; no, I had run right past the final CP, a half mile from the finish line. So I did what any self-respecting man in a towel would do: I headed back out onto the course to correct my error. In my towel.

Take-home #4: Don't fulfill your Scottish heritage when running through a rural town dressed only in a towel. You'll either get beaten or married, both of which I had proposed...in a manner of speaking.

I did, however, make it home to tell this little tale. The downside was that in the 45 minutes that passed between originally crossing the finish line and re-crossing with a full compliment of CPs checked off a number of teams and one solo racer had themselves crossed the finish line. Oh well, that's adventure racing. And in adventure racing, as Normon was quick to point out, putting together the perfect race is a pipe dream.

But it's in imperfection that we find the basis for our more memorable stories. So consider this the story of my imperfect adventure racing circle closed. It's good to be back off the beaten track.

Thanks to everyone who helped me get here, including Norm & Stef and the crew at Frontrunners Nanaimo.

- R

New Frontrunners Clinic

Hi gang,

I hope you are all having a fantastic evening and enjoying this beautiful weather!

I've had a number of requests to offer a summer time clinic to support those of you wishing to continue on in your pursuit of goals...so this is what I've come up with. I think it will be a fun way to bring together a bunch of different people with different goals with the same ideas in mind: have fun, get some great workouts and acheive personal best! I hope you can make it! If you're interested please stop by the shop and fill in a clinic registration form. This clinic is fresh off the press, so there isn't a 'box to tick' on the registration form- so just write in Custom Coaching Clinic (C3). Here is some more information...


Frontrunners C3 (Custom Coaching Clinic)

This clinic is designed for those runners looking to take their running to the ‘next step.’ Whether that is 10k races, trail runs, triathlons, half marathons or marathons, this clinic will give you the techniques, drills, coaching, support and camaraderie to get you there. Included in the program are 15 weekly run sessions, which will cover speed training, hill work, tempo, and drills to make you stronger, faster, and more comfortable running. Also included in the program is an individualized program tailored to you and your personal goals. At the start of the program, Kinesiologist and Personal Trainer Gillian Goerzen will speak with each participant individually to set goals and talk about your personal training plans. From there she will personalize your training program and email you a detailed program with all of your workouts outlined in an easy to understand format. Don’t miss this opportunity to have a great summer of training and fun achieving the goals you want! Participants will be encouraged to meet up with other participants outside clinic to complete training runs and workouts.

Leader: Gillian Goerzen
Time/ Date: Thursdays 6:30pm, June 1st –Sept 7th (15 weeks)
Cost: $95

Trail Bits #20 2006

Trail Bits # 20

Well we almost started the run on time; embarrassingly I was one of the late arrivals, BUT thankfully, NOT THE LAST ARRIVAL!!! A great turn out of people, for a great hill run on a great morning. Three groups headed out to conquer the Hills of Lantzville, why some people were shocked that it was a bit of a hilly run beats me. I thought the wording “Lantzville Foothills” would have been self explanatory. The great thing was that once everyone had made the climbs and gained the summit with its great view points there were smiles all around and comments of how great the run was. It is amazing how quickly one forgets the long climbs once you are at the top and taking in the views. When the groups are heading out from the staging areas, please make sure you are with the right leader. It would be helpful if the leader for each group could tell people which group it is they are in when thy are doing the head count.

Saturday was the first race of this year Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race series. The stop in Ucluelet had the racers starting out with a 10km kayaking leg, this was followed by a mountain bike leg, a trekking leg (trail run), more mountain biking, more trekking, a short swim and then off to the finish. Great results were turned in by the large contingent of Nanaimo racers (lots of ROC members). The next race in the series is June 24th in Duncan. If you are planning on racing in any of the MOMAR Races don’t delay in registering and booking your kayaks. It sounds like there are going to be at least 20 +/- ROC members racing in the Cumberland Race on September 30th. http://www.mindovermountain.com/momar/past_races/past_races.htm check out this site for results and pictures.

Apparently the Social Committee is quietly starting to put together the details for the 3rd Annual ROC Golf Tournament. I don’t have any details to pass along to you as of yet, but I can tell you that it will be fun. Once Kathleen and her group have it all put together and are ready to take names we will email you the details. So, read the upcoming Trail Bits.



Ø Island Relay is coming up fast. The Island Relay is on May 27th. You can email Steve at saam@shaw.ca .

Ø Ladysmith Holland Creek Crunch 8km Trail Race – Looking for a really nice and short trail race close to home, then check out the Holland Creek Crunch. It is May 28th.


This week the run location is Westwood Lake for a run of the Saddle.
7:00 AM SHARP! I will not be there to take out the run walk group as I will be away this weekend. Can some one else please coordinate the groups on Saturday, thanks.

The driving directions:
If you don’t know where Westwood Lake is drop me a note.
Upcoming Stuff
* indicates trail race
· Island Relay – May 27th
· Knee Knacker 25km Trail Race, North Vancouver – May 28th
· Oak Bay Half Marathon – May 28th
· Ladysmith’s Holland Creek Trail Race – May 28th
· GutBuster # 3 Mt. Douglas, Victoria – June 3rd
· Panoramic Classic Triathlon, Saanich – June 4th
· Edge to Edge Half & Full Marathon, Tofino – June 11th
· New Balance Half Iron, Victoria – June 18th
· Kusim Klimb, Sayward – June 17th
· Scotia Bank Half Marathon, Vancouver – June 25th
· Comfortably Numb 25km Trail Race – June 25th
· GutBuster # 4 – Westwood Lake Half Marathon & 8km – July 16th
· Full (50Km) & Half (25km) Monty Trail Races, Victoria – August 19th
· Log Train Trail Half & Full Marathons, Port Alberni – August 20th

NORBA #1

Fontana NORBA

The Fontucky freak showI heard a few jokes about the Fontana area before I left for the first NORBA of the year, but I didn’t think it could be all THAT bad. I come from Nanaimo, which gets a bad rap by everyone who drives through the strip malls to get to where they are going. They never stop to check out any of the great trails, parks and beaches in Nanaimo. So I was ready to keep an open mind about Fontana. Sure there was heavy smog, gridlock traffic at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, graffiti on the race course, and a condom wrapper marking where the Velo Bella-Kona tent should stand, but I was trying to look past all of that. But when I got SHOT AT by two freaks with a paintball gun during my race I lost all sympathy and figured they probably deserved the jokes.The homestay: Lucky for us, the Velo Bella-Kona team avoided the freak show and stayed with the Baty family in Redlands. Actually, we were so many we spilled over into the neighbors across the street and down the road. They were great hosts!
The racing:The Velo Bella’s were well represented as we had girls racing the marathon, super D, cross country, kids race and short track.MARATHON – I didn’t race this event but I can tell you that the girls got up super early to make their 7:30am start Friday. If that is a regular occurrence, you will likely never see me racing a marathon event. Shannon Holden and Erin Duggan were out there rrrrepresentin’ the Velo Bella-Kona team in the early morning dawn while the rest of us were having a hard time getting our butts out of bed. We caught the end of the race as Shannon pulled in 6th and Erin 8th, I will let them tell you their war stories from the 49mile course.

CROSS COUNTRY – The coolest thing about the XC race was that there were over 60 pro women! Unfortunately for me, the NORBA organizer’s roll out list went off last years series results (I only did one event) so I didn’t hear my name until mid way through this 60 person call-up. Not an ideal spot since there was a super steep, loose climb about 300m out. I had to pin it off the start and weave through three rows to get up into the top group for the climb. It was a good thing I didn’t stick around row 4 because there was a crash off the start that held up some of the other Velo Bella girls. I should have been happy with my effort but I was greedy and torched my legs trying to pass a few more girls when I should have just saved energy for the 99% of the course that was left. I got dropped and suffered up the rest of the climbs lap 1. I did have some great descents. The course was super dry and rutted with some serious man-eating braking bumps but it was really twisty and fun singletrack for the most part. I recovered some dignity and energy for lap 2 and hooked up with Sue Haywood (Trek-VW) and Kathy Sherwin (Ford). I made my move at the start of the last lap and thought I had dropped them both but Sue had more in the reserve tank than I had guessed and left me for 9th place.
After the XC race, MTB action was doing a weigh-off of the race bikes and my Kula Lisa came in second at 22.6lbs! Not too shabby considering I am a sasquatch on the start line of most races.Alex Fabbro and Kathleen Bortolussi stepped up for the pink and blue as they came home with the 1-2 trophies in the expert XC race Sunday



Super D - We also had two podium finishes for the women’s super D. Erin Duggan had a 5th place in the Pro category and Alex Fabbro brought home the BIG trophy for her category.KIDS RACE – Jen Tilley was asked to help out with the kid’s race along with a few other pros, I can’t remember their names… She was decked out in her full pink and blue kit to race the under 7 race that included our own Katya Baty in her Velo Bella-Kona jersey (Brent gave it to her when the road team stayed at her house for the Redlands race). She got the hole shot and absolutely annihilated the other girls on her BMX bike (including JT).

Barry Wicks was hoping he could take the under 12 race by making them do 12 laps but the officials bumped it down to 2 laps. Barry led the group into the hail bails and tried to get away but one guy caught him in the finish chute.

SHORT TRACK – If the time trail is the “race of truth” than I think the short track should be “the race of death”. There is something seriously wrong with the amount of suffering you inflict upon yourself for this twenty minute race. It never sounds like a long time but you know you are in trouble when you desperately check the clock to find you have been racing for 12mins. The only thing that saved me was that the course was amazing! It was a really fun loop that went UP the mountain cross course to link up with a steep loose downhill and twisty singletrack through the trees. I didn’t torch my legs off the start like Sat but I made a few moves to get up to the front pack. Unfortunately, I always seemed to be dangling off the back of that group. The worst spot to be in, yet I couldn’t seem to move up. Every time I got a good spot I would lose it on a bad corner or yo-yo off a bobble. I held on for a long time but came apart on the last lap and lost a few spots to end up 11th.
So that wrapped up the Fontucky NORBA, sure it was a little ghetto but I guess we can’t always race the ski hills of Whistler and Big Bear..

Thanks to our team manager/mechanics Alex Burgess, Jed Peters and Tim Burgess. Thanks to our wicked homestay families. And thanks to our team sponsors Velo Bella, Kona, SRAM, Easton, Schwalbe, Zeal, Hincapie, Sidi, Giro, Crank Brothers, Fox, P@zzo and my sponsors Helly Hansen and Frontrunners

Wendy's Spain World Cup Report

Report from Spain

by Wendy

The airplane gorillas.
My flight to Europe was pretty uneventful. Or so I thought.
Apparently while I was munching nasty plane food and trying to
find a comfortable spot to sleep two inches from some complete
stranger, the airplane gorillas (as Alex likes to call them) were
stomping up and down on my sweet Kula Lisa. I remained oblivious
to this fact until the day after I arrived because not only did the
gorillas stomp the crap out of my bike, they were obviously taking
a coffee break when I transferred flights because my bike didn't
arrive when I did. When I finally got the bike on Friday and put it
together I started taking note of all the problems. The derailleur
hanger had snapped off. The chain rings were horribly bent. My
rotor was bent. One of my wheels was warped. Oh yeah and I later
learned that the drop out on my frame was so bent the wheel
couldn't sit in it properly. I tried not to stress out. Cody Peterson
(3D racing), Sarah Tescher (3D racing) and my teammate Kristin
Danielson took pity and pushed me to the venue so I could get
some help. This was waaaaay beyond my mechanical expertise.
Patrick from the Swiss Kona team and the SRAM boys (Jeremiah,
Torbin and Marty) were super helpful, spending a long time on my
bike to get it working again.


Casa de Campo
While they were working on my bike I was hanging out at the SRAM
tent trying to stay out of the sun. As people returned from pre-
riding, the common question was "have you seen the whores???".
Hmmmm. Not really what I would have expected. But I finally got
out there and saw it for myself. The race course snaked through
Casa de Campo, a park that was apparently a hot spot for the
Madrid ladies soliciting love. And they were pretty obvious. I only
saw a few on the course but that was enough for me, because they
were showing off what they seemed to consider their best assets.
And apparently this was how the venue looked after it had been
"cleaned up". I guess in previous years the hookers would be
waiting super aggressive at the entrance to the race site and jump
on the hoods of the team cars, or just open the doors and try to
get in. This venue made Fontucky look like a church camp. After
the prostitutes, there really wasn't much to talk about when it came
to the course. It was hard pack, fast, smooth, twisty, with no roots,
a few short steep climbs and one steep sketchy descent.  It was fun
to ride but it was going to be pretty tough to race. No start loop,
not a lot of passing spots and crazy fast.

Start list
Oh yeah. And 114 girls were going to be starting!! The biggest
women's world cup in a looooong time. I would like to think that
huge start list is indicative of the growth of mountain biking but I
am guessing it has more to do with the quest for Olympic spots in
2008. Either way it was pretty cool to be racing against 100+ of
the top women in the world. I just would have rather had a better
start position among those 100+. My 71st ranking was going to be
tough but I had to keep my trap shut because Kristin was 99, Sarah
was 109 and poor old Cody was 182.

The race
Race day was perfect at 10am. HOT at 1pm for the men. The call
up started 20mins early because there were so many of us. After
the top 20 they gave up on names and just called numbers. I
waited in the shade for my 71 to be called. The start was a bit
delayed back on row 9 but once we got started it was all out war.
114 girls trying to make up spots in the 25m start stretch and
beyond. And those euro girls are aggressive!! You had to fight for
every single spot and hold onto it with all of your energy. The
course got really skinny at the top of the first climb and everyone
was off their bikes trying to force their way through.  It stayed like
that for the first lap before things spread out a bit. But for the rest
of the race, if you slacked off or slipped up, there was always
someone there to blow by you. But I had a solid race, picking
people off whenever I could and holding onto most of my gains. I
finished 35th but it felt like I had worked hard enough for top 10
so I was pretty happy with my race. And the best part was that I got
some valuable UCI points to help my start position for Belgium.

Girona
We hightailed it out of Madrid pretty quickly after the race. It was
dirty, noisy and full of traffic and construction. We drove to Girona
to stay at Kristin's place - much nicer! Great food, wicked rides,
funky character and beaches. We are here exploring for a few days
before Kristin and Sarah head home and I go to Belgium to meet
Norm. While I am sporting a few more freckles from a day at the
beach, I hear its raining in Spa.....

Thanks to all of our team sponsors Velo Bella, Kona, SRAM, Easton,
Schwalbe (the Fast Fred's rocked!), Zeal Optics, Fox, San Marco,
SIDI, Hincapie, Team estrogen, P@zzo, Vanderkitten. Thanks to my
sponsors Helly Hansen and Frontrunners. Thanks so much to the
SRAM boys and the Swiss Kona wrench Patrick for saving my
trashed bike and Valdic from Luna Chix for feeding us  in the heat.

Trail Bits #18 2006

Trail Bits # 18

I think by now most of Nanaimo has seen either the television clip about ROC or they have read the article about us in the Harbour City Star. It is amazing how many people watch or read the local TV channel and the local papers. Both the article and the TV spot did a great job of getting the ROC message out to the community. Special thanks go to Bill Robinson and Mellissa from Shaw Cable for the great job they did.

Speaking of getting the message out; Steve Osaduik clearly delivered the message of who is the top dog in the Times Colonist 10k. For the third year in a row Steve won. Some pretty amazing times were handed in by the large number of Central Island runners that ventured down to Victoria for the Sunday race. Check out the results at http://pih.bc.ca/results/tc/tc.php

Later in the month we will be asking for a few volunteers to help out with marshalling the final runs of the local High Schools Learn to Run Program. Runners of Compassion has been involved with financially supporting the Learn to Run Program, which is a six week Learn to Run Program offered in a number of local high schools and elementary schools in Nanaimo. The growth and success of these programs over the past three years has been amazing. The high school program culminates with a run around – where else – but Westwood Lake (you didn’t think it would be a road run did you?). The funding from ROC goes to help pay for transportation, water and other incidental costs that are not covered in the regular school budgets. Another small example of ROC having a positive effect in our community.

Feed Back required – Can you drop me an email with a short answer to these questions?
Should the Saturday run time stay at 7:00am or should it move to 7:30 am?
Is there interest in running the Parksville – Englishman River route one Saturday? This route starts close to the Log Cabin store near Rathtrevor, loops down through the park, through the estuary, and then follows the river bank up stream to the Top Bridge area. I think it is about 10 or 11km.

Ø Frontrunners Customer Appreciation Night/ Clubs Night- Thursday May 4th - Come out to this annual event. Talk to the reps, enter great draws, and get fabulous deals on merchandise in the store! Not to mention the opportunity to mingle and have munchies with all of your running buddies! 6:30 – 9:00….always lots of fun.

Ø Royal Victoria Marathon Clinic – Kim Gagliano is putting on a Marathon & Half Marathon Clinic geared towards the RVM. This clinic is intended for those of you that can comfortably run sub 4 hour marathons and sub 2 hour half marathons. The day & time for the clinic is 6:00am on Thursdays. No that is not a typo; it is 6:00am. If you are interested in this clinic drop Kim an email at gaglianos@shaw.ca for full details. Space is limited so don’t delay.

Ø Oceanside 10k – May 7th is the last race of this years Island Race Series. It goes this Sunday in Parksville

Ø Vancouver Marathon – good luck to all of you that have been training long and hard for this event. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate. We hope you all have great runs.

Ø Run for Life – May 14th in Nanaimo. This 5K Fun Run is partially sponsored by ROC – Nanaimo, so lets try and get a good turn out of members for this event. The run starts at 10:00 am at the Bowen Seniors Centre. The registration form is attached. Take Mom out for a Fun Run on Mothers Day

Ø Island Relay is coming up fast. The Island Relay which is an eight person relay from Courtenay to North Nanaimo is on May 27th. The Relay, which is a fund raising event for the BC Transplant Society would like to know if Runners of Compassion will be entering a team or two. If you are planning on entering a team, please let Steve Middleton know as soon as possible as it will help them with their planning. You can email Steve at saam@shaw.ca .

Ø Ladysmith Holland Creek Crunch 8km Trail Race – Looking for a really nice and short trail race close to home, then check out the Holland Creek Crunch. It is May 28th.


This week the run location is Humility/Abyss 7:00 AM
I will be taking out a run/walk group again.3 minutes running 2 minutes walking

The driving directions are fairly simple.
If you live in north Nanaimo, following the Parkway to the 5th Street/Malaspina College exit – turn Left. Go down the hill to Wakesiah – Turn Right. Follow Wakesiah to Nanaimo Lakes Road – Turn Right. Follow Nanaimo Lakes Road to Harewood Mines Road – Turn Left….follow this for 2 minutes we will be under the power lines. It is really very simple.

If you live in central or South Nanaimo get on to Wakesiah, this is the road in front of Nanaimo District Secondary School, Follow Wakesiah to Nanaimo Lakes Road – Turn Right. Follow Nanaimo Lakes Road to Harewood Mines Road – Turn Left….follow this for 2 minutes we will be under the power lines. It is really very simple.

Upcoming Stuff
* indicates trail race
· Vancouver Marathon – May 7th
· Oceanside 10k – May 7th
· Island Relay – May 27th
· Knee Knacker 25km Trail Race, North Vancouver – May 28th
· Oak Bay Half Marathon – May 28th
· Ladysmith’s Holland Creek Trail Race – May 28th
· GutBuster # 3 Mt. Douglas, Victoria – June 3rd
· Panoramic Classic Triathlon, Saanich – June 4th
· Edge to Edge Half & Full Marathon, Tofino – June 11th
· New Balance Half Iron, Victoria – June 18th
· Kusim Klimb, Sayward – June 17th
· Scotia Bank Half Marathon, Vancouver – June 25th
· Comfortably Numb 25km Trail Race – June 25th
· GutBuster # 4 – Westwood Lake Half Marathon & 8km – July 16th
· Full (50Km) & Half (25km) Monty Trail Races, Victoria – August 19th
· Log Train Trail Half & Full Marathons, Port Alberni – August 20th