In 2010

I will:
Laugh, Celebrate, Live , Love
Wear frivolous clothes.

remember to blog more than 5 times a year.

Here is a photo album from our friends Pam and Juan of our trip to Maui and Xterra Worlds 2009/

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=525966557211%3A436866493

Here is a link to my next adventure in 2010. www.transandeschallenge.com Thanks to Rebecca Rusch for inviting me to partner her. Thanks to Trek bikes for supporting my going.

Prior to our adventure to the Andes, I am racing the Colorado snowshoe championships, Jan 16 (never say never) I am lucky enough to be on the red feather snowshoe racing team, www.redfeather.com, and have been using their fantastic snowshoes ( The Vapor and the Race 100) this winter. The Vapor are light and fast to run in, the Race 100's have more float for powder and deep snow.

Happy New Year everyone. Here's to 2010.

News

Brian came home from Brazil, vibrating. Its so great to see him happy and high on life. I guess he had a fantastic time there, thoroughly enjoyed Mike and Ann's company and somewhat of some vacation time, along with XTERRA Brazil. The race itself had huge potential, but his stomach became really ill after the swim. And he slogged in to the finish.

I've been getting into the groove of home and training post our Europe trip. Its taken a few days to adjust and finally I learned to let it go and chill. I've always had a hard time coming home from a big trip with the adjustment and the feeling crappy that comes with travelling. This past weekend, I basically took all expectations off, created a mess, tidied the mess up, walked the dog, sure enough Monday came after a good nights sleep and great, feel normal. On with life.

Its going to be nice to be based somewhat from home leading to Xterra nationals and Worlds.

Next weekend Brian and I are having a rare weekend together mountain bike racing at the fall classic, in Breckenridge. Hopefully it has a fantastic turn out, I've missed the MTB circuit this year and along with a butt kicking fitness boost, it'll be super fun to socialise.

Leading into Ogden, Brandyn and I are going early and taking a diversion to inter bike for a day. I've never been before and avoided it for the past few years as it always falls the week of Xterra nationals, but this year I want to visit for a day.

Brian is here there and everywhere, an adventure race in China, Xterra Nationals and a duathlon in Brazil. Some exciting and different stuff for him.

Heres some random pics from Europe, some of them are courtesy fo Brandyn Roark Gray ( because she takes better pictures than me!).

Worthersee, Austria.Klagenfurt, Cafe. Austria.

So over the heavy baggage. Bad Gastein Austria.. 4 hours into our ride. Look a cafe.

Lunch Spot.
Lunch.
Bad Gastein Falls, super neat.
Enjoy

Jenny.

I know I know

So after a few jabs in the ribs about my lack of updates, I thought I should put a little wee one in!
Where are we?
WELL, Brandyn and I are eating I mean racing our way through Germany and Austria. We started in Denver airport with a canceled flight and were ugraded to Business class for the trans atlantic flight. Um.. the way to travel! So enjoyed it, was even a bit reluctant to sleep.

Munich, Dresden then Zittau, saw us in the far east corner of Germany right along side Poland and Czech. Sans our bikes, but no worries, Ina, Benno and the crew at Xterra Germany looked after us, and we where treated to an amazing, event, organised and professional , with a grassroots freindly atmosphere.
Our bikes came and so did Saturday with XTERRA Germany. A great race, I was 6th, Bran 11th. Pretty good for travel and not seeing the bike course. Then the party. Fun.

Sunday we caught the train to Dresden, as it turned out for brunch and some sightseeing.
This week has been quite a bit of travel. Its funny, in some ways I am experienced w/ travel, but I'm realising that its always so much easier when you've done something once before. Hence the relaxed attitude with this trip. My goal is to enjoy it and should I be lucky enough to do it again next year, then it will be so much easier and more focused on the races. For now, I'm like, relax, go with the flow and have fun.

We visited with Ken, Sandi and Colin in their new home Hopfen am see. Stunning, and great to see them and to ride.

8 1/2 hour train ride through the alps to Klagenfurt Austria, sees us in Klopernisee, with the 'Brits' Jim, Sam Garder, Paul Davies, Renata Bucher - well she's swiss- at Pension Agnes. Looking forward to an amazing race at teh European Championships. The swim at sunset the other night was one of the events of my life.
Who would have thought I'd ever be swimming in Austria??? as a professional um.. swimmer.. well triathlete.

Brian. He is going to Brazil for XTERRA Brazil.on Tuesday. Hopefully I still have husband when I get home. Last night I dreamed he wanted to retire so we could have a garden. Weird. Gunnison has a 90 day growing period.

July

I love July. I think its a huge reason to live in G.U.N.N.I.S.O.N.
July is a little like xmas and birthdays rolled together and better:

1. Its not butt ass cold ( I know bad language on my blog!)

2. Has 4th of July weekend which as we live in the best place on earth in July means we have fun friends to visit and play.

3. Has our wedding anniversary.

4. This year marked a decade in the States for me.

5. The days are warm and long and the nights are comfortable ( I seem to value this)
6. The lake is warm and I love swimming there.

7. The wildfowers in Crested Butte are amazing as is the high country riding.

8. I start to feel fit in July.

#8 has been a bit slower, coming back to Altitude from 6 weeks at sea level bought with it my eustation tube ear problem. So I've been battling a bit w/ fluid in my ear. After 2 weeks of denial and 2 weeks of Sudofed ( that would work when I took it and not after it wore off)I was waking up in the night and nearly at my wits end, but finally this past week I started on Fluonase.. and its making a huge difference, Thanks goodness and I'm loving feeling better.

I don't like all these medications so if anyone has some good natural effective ideas please let me know. I'm up for anything effective.

July has the Tour de France too, so much quality TV. Sad and glad that it finished today. Less TV.. is a good thing. My plan to stretch and strength while the tour was on wasn't always carried out. More like coffee in the morning and falling asleep on the couch at night.

Enjoy

Jenny.

SNRGY Multisport Xterra Camp

We have four spaces left for this camp. We would love to have you join us. Contact us for more information. Just click on the title and it will take you to SNRGY multisport blog.
cheers
Jenny

Home

Some pics from the last 2 weeks. July 4: Nico named crazy house: lots of riders, snakes, the dog.. fun though!
Hartmans rocks.

Reno flag bear deadmans-The girls: Bran, Erin, Jenny, Alex. Alan (taking the picture.. lead out boy for motor bikes coming the other way).

Alex climbs

CB classic pics from the weekend beofre. Xavier Fane.

lucky

Slightly sore upper back/neck. Brian has a slightly sore neck. Max seems aok.

Mountain Motel

My updates have been terribly non exisistent.
But I thought tonight deserves a mention. On the way home from pre-riding the Beaver creek XTERRA course in Vail, and hot on the heels of an amazing few weeks with alot of amazing friends, Brian killed his first ever ELK.
It wasn't his fault - it lept from the side hill as we where driving up Monarch mountain pass and onto our bonnet and windsheild. All I remember is thinking Elk.. as bang.. the car fills w/ smoke, and airbags deployed. Are you ok.. yep, me? yep, ... Max? lets turn the car off.
As you can imagine .. chaos ensued but everything worked out and we are in Mountain motel in Salida waiting to be towed to Gunnison tomorrow.
On the eve of our 9th year wedding anniversery.. perspective..people you care about all really all that matter!

Crested Butte Chamber | Fat Tire Bike Week

Crested Butte Chamber Fat Tire Bike Week

Brian, Brandyn Roark Gray and I are leading rides at the festival. Join us for the riding, celebrating and racing.

the Crested Butte 40 is on Sat 27th.. limited to 100 riders. Now would be a good time to sign up!

Jenny Smith Post Race HOO-HA | Kenda Cup East #3 | Massanutten HOO-HA on CyclingDirt

Jenny Smith Post Race HOO-HA | Kenda Cup East #3 | Massanutten HOO-HA on CyclingDirt

Posted using ShareThis

Doing no wrong doing no right.

I am in Harrisonburg, VA visiting Sue Haywood and the Harrisonburg crew for a few days. People make the place and its a really neat place here.
The Massanutten Hoo Haa, Kenda cup was held over the weekend. Kristi has raved about this race and as one of her favorites and I wanted in. Also its just fun to be in the East Coast MTB scene, see Jeff Schalk, Jeremiah, Sue and everyone. The course was so fun, alot of built trails some just finished last thursday, Rocky, muddy, rideable technical, hard as hell it turns out.

Wow.I had a hard race, one of those days, where all things come together and result in feeling like utter cow pattie poo. I even had a headache. and I wanted to both pull out or walk. But only on the climb as soon as I got to the top.. whoo hoo.. .. Massanutten Yee haa... too much fun..

So I dragged my sorry ass around and up the 2nd lap climb, and thought about how last week I could do no wrong.

In contrast Sue Haywood won the double XC closely with Cheryl Sorenson ( a Trek team mate I met for the first time.. what a cool lady.. tough!) and Sue won the Super D too. Good stuff!.

Brian raced in the Teva games, a flat tire put him out in the MTB event, then he stepped it up in the 10k trail running event, finishing a very respectable 11th in what is one of the US's most hotly contested running events.

Photo link

Ace pictures by I play outside.
http://iplayoutside.smugmug.com/gallery/8416374_HVELL#552790064_mEymj-A-LB

ACE adventure event - full

Max and I drove up from North Carolina to West Virginia - to meet up with Kristi at the ACE adventure center for the ACE off road triathlon.

Kristi has talked about this race for years and I was very excited to check it out.

A very short ride pre race day resulted in me deciding not to check out the trails. My bike would get far too muddy and only illustrate how ill prepared I was.

Camping was provided free with registration at the Mountain top campground. So instead of riding I got settled into a site, pulled out the cooker, prepared for dinner and cracked into a Japanese Red Rice beer bomber. ( I'd been saving it for 3 weeks for a special occasion).

Kristi arrived... in fine style.

We had dinner, got ready for the 7am race set up and settled in for the night. Max and I sleeping the back of the van as we had the night before too. Its comfortable and I really like it.

Normally!
Post dinner, it started to rain a bit.....
Then it started to rain allot ( completely pouring down) , along with the rain came thunder and lightening.

Now anyone who has been around Max with thunder knows he turns into a neurotic, quivering, unreasonable mess... panting, shaking, pacing, freaking! out.
He worked into such a state that there was no way to calm him down. And after hours of this I realised there was no way I was getting any sleep - not with neurosis hell of a dog sharing the same space.
4am in the morning, the dog goes back to the back of the van and starts circling. I realise too late whats about to happen, I fly to sitting up and call Max .. NO.. as he explodes diarrhea everywhere... he reacts by runnig up to the front seat, spreading it everywhere.. everywhere.. I open the door yell ..OUT.. and sit in shock and horror at what just happened.
Did I mention its 4am and pouring rain. Crap!
Without breathing too deeply.. try to decide what to do now? .. in the dog's defense he comes over and looks at me with such fear and shame, I almost melt and forgive then and there.

Luckily we camped next to the facilty block and they had these awesome stainless outdoor tubs with hot water. I filled them with 'simple green'.. (its a bike race after all and that all I had in the car), throw out the sheet, and start to wash or at least clean off to wash later: 2 blankets, my sleeping bag, thermarest,the carpet..cycling shoes, toilet bag, yoga mat, long sleeve top, pants, socks.. it was everywhere.

6am the sky clears and 7am the sun's shining its a bright new VW day. Race morning.

We loaded into buses and trucked down to the start. No swim - the river was in a flood. The race is normally swum in 5-6 ft of water, the Gauley was clocked at 14 ft friday, 11 ft on Saturday!

Bus ride.

Andrew, race organiser.. yeah.. no swim.Jen, and Jen.. pre race.
I quite like starting on dry -ish land

So we ran, biked and ran.. It was such fun.

Hard as anything, Muddy, technical, Really, West Virginia trails are awesome.

And fantastic training, it was great to run before cycling for a change.

This pic is a bit close up for comfort .. but it is funny as it was muddy!

After the race things got more eventful again. Max was by the car and as we went to leave, found out he'd been almost run over by a woman. I found this out as she asked if he was my dog? As I reply yes, she yelled at how irresponsible I am, tying a dog to the car, she didn't see him lying there, gave her the fright of her life, she nearly squashed him. WHAT?? as she drives off.

I did freak out a bit , he seemed reaally sore, yelping when i picked him up, reluctant to move, in shock. We call the vet, drive an Hour to Louisville WV, I felt very worried and responsible, I cried to Brian.

Fortunately he was walking from the car into the vet practise: his right leg is scraped, and sore, his rump is sore, we hope its bruising. He has pain meds,and is on calm couch rest.

Kristi said today: he kinda had the good life for a Monday: "In the sun, On drugs and on the couch!"

I slept with him on the bed last night, During the night, decided he can sleep on the bed any night. I love the dog.

Vegas.. then East bound

Cirque de solei. Vegas

Brian, I and Brandyn.

Max and my trip started with a speeding ticket 20 miles east Of Gunni. Its still sitting on the dashboard, I know I have to suck it up and pay it, but have been procrastinating.
We drove East, stopping in Boulder on route to hwy 80 and Chicago, and meeting Brian. Nebraska/Iowa/ Illinois.. quite pretty, spring and green... and it was a long way!

Post Chicago we drove to Battle creek Michigan for the Midwest championship Xterra. Fast, fun, flatter trails made for a great triathlon. Nice swim, fast bike, enjoyable run. Race morning we where met with 30 degree temps and ice.. but race conditions where basically perfect. I rode into 2nd and finished 5th. Brian ran into 7th.
Solid races. The Xterra competition on the US scene this year is awesome. Top 5 in Michigan all finished top 6 at Worlds last year.
We stayed with Andrea and Brett in Michigan, and their two husky dogs. Great hosts and a really neat couple.
Post race Brian and I visited Ann Arbor for a day, it was really fun, student town, stayed next to a Trader Joes ( made me very happy) and we went downtown Monday evening to Arbor Brewing company ( made Brian very happy). Was a good time, lively town, relaxed.
Tuesday was another story. I dropped Brian in Detriot and drove all day through Ohio/Kentucky/Tennessee untill 11pm that night. Ugh.

Big Bone state park, Kentucky.. recovery day..staying in one piece.
Wednesday saw Max and I arriving in Alabama to Oak mountain. Love it here. Great venue and state park. To say I was wrecked is an understatement, couldn't ride my bike on the trails.. too much effort!
I met my host family for the weekend Jenny, Corbin, Cassie and Gauge. A good nights sleep and a new person with my name emerged on Thursday.
The Southeast Xterra was held yesterday and I had a solid race to finish 6th. I had good legs a good bike and improved run.
Xterra's are tough, today I am once again wrecked! So heading East toward Atlanta and north to visit Brian's sister in Gastonia, North Carolina. Next up is the ACE off road triathlon West Virginia this weekend. Apparently its quite the party. 1 1/2 miles downriver swim/ 7 mile run/ and 12 mile bike. Kristi of Dirtbean and I are going to camp and experience some West Virginia racing scene. I can't wait it has been a long time since I've raced in WV.
What a good life! Brian is in Gunnison, racing the Sage burner 25k trail race yesterday, which he won, and the half growler MTB race today. He was 2nd on his single speed.