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.

SNRGY multisport is LIVE

Here I go again linking blogs to blogs and web pages.
Snrgy Multisport is LIVE.
Check out our Blog at http://www.snrgymultisport.blogspot.com/
Our website is still an work in progress but we are making progress. ie: learned today how to sign in and upload.. baby steps people.. baby steps. http://www.snrgymultisport.com/ ( be patient with this one).
Check back often as there are plenty of exciting happenings behind the scenes and in the works. cheers Jenny

Gunnison Growler and the Dog

The Gunnison local growler series started up while we were in Vegas last week, and we joined in with race #2 this evening. Hartman's rock's area is in such good shape and so are the Gunnison/ Crested butte locals.. perpetually!
It was a lung buster, technical skills, single track racing and fun all rolled into one. I often end up duking it out with several single speed in these races, mismatched bikes allow me to catch on the big ring portions and have the 'hurt' put to me on the climbs. Tonight I made a guy hang out behind me for too long and when I did finally let him by saw he was on a single speed. Oops that's not cool.. On my part.

On to the d o double g. Brian woke me at 5.15 yesterday. "Max has run off and I've got to meet Wick' ( to ski) Can imagine how psyched I was with that.. Wednesday is trash day too... damn it.. damn dog.
1 hour 30 looking for the dog in the semi dark in to morning, we gave up and realised it would be ugly. 8am in comes the fat double wide boy. burping and thirsty with something resembling turkey grease or a toxic oil spill from his head , down his neck and legs!
Needless to say the remenants have been nasty, last night was a 4 x interupted one, and today was extra nasty surprise in the lounge. Revolting...
Also needless to say the boy has been bathed and is extra sweety maxwell dog all day today.
He knows.
Wonder why we don't have any additional children?

Jen

Leaving Las Vegas

The opening race of the US cup Xterra series was held yesterday in Las Vegas. Interesting venue for an off road triathlon.. the USA man made city.

What a place Vegas is. The epitomy of most things I don't believe in.. unsustainable, consumerism to the max, man made excess. the rant could go and go.

People were extremely hospitable and friendly. Marty and Larry Simmons kindly hosted Brian, Brandyn and I.
Sunset racing put on a put together brutal event in Lake Las Vegas ( very clean water) and surrounding dirt. I say dirt as nothing grows out there... beyond the irrigated landscaping.
Chris met and rode with us on the course top meet insurance rules with the private property and organised tickets to Cirque de solei KA show. FUN!
Bran and I shopped, Trader Joes and the Henderson Whole foods.. ( a whole food store on steriods.. of course its Vegas.. pretty fun for foodies!).

Then there was the racing. Not too spectacular. Brian and I where both 8th. Lots to improve on. I felt like one speed steady Jenny. But as its the beginning of a long season it may be a very good thing as we progress. We've been doing this for a long time, a little hunger is good for us.


Today its back to the Earth in St George , Gooseberry Mesa and Zion national park. No highway 15 today.. we are taking the back road home.