Pictures and bikes

Our blog gives me full licence to post photos as though we where the only people at the 425 deep event last weekend. Most of these pictures where taken by Jeff Anderson and his pictures of 'other people' can be found on in his flickr library. www.flickr.com/photos/53274507@N00/ - 40k

Today I ran home through town and in the last 3 blocks I saw, first a guy on a Trek 69er single speed cross in front of me and then a kid on a Unicycle ride onto the street. I did a bit of a double take but it was real as I saw him again later in the day when I went for a spin. At the end of my ride I ran into a friend also on a Fisher Rig 29er single. Right on - Go Gunnison!

USA XTERRA National Championships

I always think you’ve packed well if you wear everything in your bag during the trip. At Lake Tahoe this past weekend I did!

We should have known it would snow! Choosing clothing and equipment became an interesting challenge at 36 degrees, soaking wet, in a hurry and planning on riding up a few thousand feet and around the cold side of the mountain before running 10km at the end.
I went with knee warmers under my wetsuit, pulled on a short sleeved jersey, a pair of woolie boolie socks and called it good. I was lucky I even had wool socks they where packed as an afterthought.

But it all worked out, as did my fitness and I came away with a 2nd Place in the 2007 US NATIONALS XTERRA Championships. This time I saw the front of the race for the first time ever… and I Liked it! It’s fun to lead and will be even more fun to win. Nice and motivating. The media enjoyed it too, it’s exciting to finally get in the Jamie and Melanie mix (between them they have won the past 24 North American championship events).

During this race I had the fastest bike split and 3rd fastest pro run split. My 2nd place moved me from a tie to a final 3rd overall in the US Xterra Series.
Brian had a great race here to crack the top Ten in the international 30 deep men’s field and finish in 8th Place! He put together a strong swim and solid bike and a typical fast run. His US nationals race finished him in 6th overall for the US series.

Next up we have a month of training leading up to the World Championships in Maui, HI on October 28th.

All these pics are courtesy of richcruse 2007.

US Nationals Media:
Race coverage: http://www.xterraplanet.com/races/race.cfm?race_id=537
Pictures:
http://web.mac.com/xterraphoto/Xterra/Tahoe_07.html
Inside Tri – Top story
http://www.insidetri.com/portal/news/news.asp?item=110924
Triathlete magazine article and picture of Jenny running w/ Jamie.
http://www.triathletemag.com/Departments/Race_Coverage/2007/Whitmore__Stoltz_win_XTERRA_USA_and_Pro_Series.htm

This event will be televised in an hour long CBS special, visit http://www.xterraplanet.com/ for scheduling info.

Thanks to Trek/VW and our sponsors for their ongoing support.


Ha... if you've gotton this far. here's your treat. Stylie Dara... bet the teeth are warm too! You know -the womens field is growing in strength and depth and its good for us all.

Post race we hit the party... it was fun and would have been even more fun if I hadn't have celebrated with Lisa Lieb by drinking in quick succession 2 dirty martinis. What was I thinking... I wasn't thinking. Much to Brian's amusement he found me sleeping in the Condo bathroom! Nice Jenny! How old are you again? well my shoe size is 9.5!

Fall dreams

We've been really spoiled with the weather lately and its that time in the high country where you know you are riding on borrowed time.
Brian and I went yesterday and explored some new terrain (for us) from Spring creek to Cement creek trail via Rosebud trail.
We'd ridden Rosebud trail before during a long day from Crested Butte South and each had our own memories of the climb. This time around I had some VO2 intervals to do on the climb and it was so loose and rocky I think I climbed with the most anger at a trail as I have ever had.
At the top though cement creek trail was perfect and the views of the fall colors where amazing. The ride took us about 2 hours 45... so it was a really nice way to access the CB South area with less driving and from a fresh perspective.
As its Tri season we donned our running shoes and joggled boggled around Spring creek with some strides for good measure.
I am definately feeling the itch of Nationals next weekend as am I thinking ahead to World champs in November. Its been a long season and I can taste Brians bithday ride, hiking and relaxing that comes after all our racing is done.
I feel like I am in the 5 week countdown and I'll appreciate it this year.
Well enough future dreaming. The sun has just come out, I have a run to do, some bikes to clean and a coaching program for a client before 4 this afternoon.
Enjoy
Jenny

Brian is fast

We were up at 6.20 today... as the local mountain air marathon was happening and they also had a 10 miler road and 5 km trail run. Two weeks out from Tahoe. Perfect!
Brian ran the 10 miles and was 2nd in 56.20... He was second to Josh Eberly (53 mins) a stellar ex Western state and nowdays professional runner who is training for Twin cities marathon in 3 weeks. When you factor in the 5 minute altitude adjustment for Gunnison's rareified air it makes their times very respectable.
I ran the 5km trail race and won in 19.30. Sweet... I was psyched its been a long time since I've run under 20 mins for any 5km.

Now it feels weird as its one of those ... is only 3pm days and seems like it should be at least 6.

Bri is going paddling with Sully and I may or may not head to the pool.

cheers

Jen

Addict?

The other nght over dinner a friend of ours asked me 'do I have an addictive personality?' Inside I was so amused ( girlfriend you have no idea!) and flattered actually ( perhaps I am more relaxed these days?).
Well lets front up and right off the top of my head ... addictive behaviors of this week.
1. Coffee
2. Gummy worms and jelly beans ( flavor of long rides this week- untill I ate most of a four serving packet on the way to my thursday ride and had such a headache I decidedly vitoed that sugar habit).
3. Theres a reason why our house is usually sugar free even though I often open the fridge aimlessly looking for some!
4. The contenintal divide region of Gunnison- Thursday's ride was my 4th trip into the area this week.
5. Things that go around in circles.

Big circles.

I recently got an amazing fix by purchasing a new 2 wheeled toy - I'm the new proud owner of a 29er Single speed Gary fisher Rig.
Like any addict it was really easy to justify my habit:
1.. Tax deductible.
2. Training tool. Especially for those strength endurance seated climb intervals. Much more fun when you have no choice.
3. Brians Birthday white rim ride and the town race series next year.
4. Brian can ride it too.
5. I really wanted it.

It is 100% delivering. Such a great ride. I am enjoying everything about it. The feel of aluminum. The big wheels. The payback for effort. It can be hard work but it gives back what you put in. The color - its black.

For those of you who know us we have retired the converted 'blingle speed rigid 69er trek 9.8'. It was being very problematic of late as we couldn't get the chain tension to work correctly. We have the frame for sale.. so if you are interested let us know.

3 more drawing pins

Our friend Steve has a project going where he is riding over every pass in Colorado. With approxinately 150 passes on the map this is no small task.

The Sunday ride didn't quite work out as intended time wise so today we got up and headed out to the bottom of Old Monarch for a second attempt.

We all ride for our own reasons and for me today it was a stunning day and rather fan- freaking-tastic to be doing to what makes me happiest. 7 hours later we had linked Old Monarch to Chalk creek pass, Hancock pass and Tomichi pass.

There is incredible country out there everywhere. Enjoy it.

Pedaling 9 to 5

What a way....

Steve and I got up at 5 yesterday to go out and cheer Jeff Irwin on in the Vapor 125 ride. While we where dragging ourselves with coffee into the car the riders had already logged a solid 5 hours out on the trails. We arrived at the Whitepine road in a chilly 36 degrees and ended up timing it so that as we pulled off our bikes the first rider was pedalling toward us. A quick bite of peanut toast and we jumped in with Jeff and eventual winner Ethan Passant to ride up the pass.

Does Jeff look like he'd rather be doing anything else. He finshed at 2.39 in the afternoon 14 hours and a half hours - in 3rd place.

Steve and I left Jeff at the top of Old Monarch to ride the Continental divide trail North and link it with Chalk Creek pass and hopefully make a loop back to White Pine.

When we dropped into the singletrack the sign showed hikers and horses allowed and Atv vechiles not. ( no mention of bikes?) add that we don't know anyone who had ridden this section and we did wonder a wee bit what the trail would bring.

Amazing views, 13000ft high climbing and quite a bit of hiking. After 7 hours or so we decided postride that it was an incredible one time ride!

Here Steve is framed by the 14000ft Taberauche peak,

One of the many lakes just below the divide.

I'd been attached to my bike a few moments earlier.

We turned back on the loop at 6 hours and dropped into Garfield, finished our ride by riding up back over Monarch. Good times!

Ride happy.