It can only get better from here - Xterra West Championships

My 48 hour trip to Vegas for the Xterra West Championships, was quick, cold and slow. I was planning on sharing a room with Melanie but she let me know Wednesday night that she was sick with some type of plague. Having already spent a month this Winter being sick with a mysterious, never ending cough I opted for my own room to avoid her Canadian germs. Traveling to races has become vacation and an almost spa like experience for me. I am HORRIBLE at relaxing and always find new projects or things that “need” to be done around my house when I have any free time. A hotel is ideal for me because I can’t do anything but read or watch some kind of garbage on TV.

Ok, back to the race. Clearly, I am avoiding talking about my race a bit since it was less than stellar. I didn’t even check the results until Wednesday and kept asking Doug not to tell me how I did. I have been beating myself up about my performance because like any driven athlete I always want to do better and go faster until I’m on the big step wearing gold. However, I have to remind myself to be patient because I am never fast in the early season, which leaves me fast and free from burnout come Worlds in October. This year is no exception and I have my hands in more baskets than ever before. I’m working harder than ever to strike a balance between the passion I have for my career and my athletic endeavors. I’m torn with which direction I need to go and the feeling of not always being able to give 100% to everything doesn’t always sit well with me.    

Ok, really, onto the race.  The swim was COLD, water in the upper 50s, air in the upper 40s. I jumped in the water and got in about 15 strokes before the race started. How wonderful…I didn’t swim all week due to some nasty road rash from a crash the previous weekend and I just got in 15 strokes, great! I survived the swim but barely. Upon exiting I had serious vertigo and was frozen. In T1, I struggled to get my wetsuit off and to put on arm warmers and a vest. It was quite possibly the slowest transition of my life but I finally got out on the bike and was not shivering. Two years ago at this race I broke my hand on the first lap of the bike and have had some underlying anxiety about returning to this course. By using Brainspotting techniques and mindfulness based skills I felt I was pretty successful in eliminating the extent to which my anxiety and fear would affect my performance. I rode clean and didn’t have to get off my bike at all but clearly lacked any type of top end fitness on the bike.  As much as I tried to push myself I was unable to catch any of the women that I would normally have no problems hanging with on the bike. I did pass 4 girls and moved into 7^th place when I got into T2. Over the Winter I was running strong as evidenced by winning Snowshoe Nationals. Since then I have let my running slide a bit, which showed in my grandma paced run split. I was passed by two women on the run and mentally was checked out. I never like to admit that I get mentally defeated but, yes, I am human and it happens.

After the race I packed up my bike, watched the awards, took a quick shower, got a milkshake and was on a plane home. I had grand plans of planting our garden and working on the chicken coop on Sunday but the weather gods forced me to stay inside and get this, attempt to relax in my own home.  I’m looking forward to some more focused training before ITU Cross Worlds in Alabama on May 19^th. It can only get better from here! 

2012 Sponsors

With the Xterra West Championships less than 24 hours away I really need to bring my blog out of hibernation. The highlight of my offseason was being asked to be Doug’s wife. I could not ask for a more smart, compassionate and funny spouse who motivates me everyday to pursue my passions on a professional and athletic level. Two other highlights from the frozen months are that I was crowned the 2012 USA National Snowshoe Champion and I am now the owner (and sole employee) of Flatirons Therapy. Starting my own private practice has made my days more hectic (full time work + more work = lots of work) and through the process I have come to realize that being a therapist in private practice feeds my soul and is exciting. I hope to grow my practice to a level where it will be viable full-time employment. Until then, hectic days continue.

On the racing front I feel very fortunate to once again be representing the same awesome companies for the 2012 season as I did in 2011. I guess you can call me a creature of habit who likes to be consistent all around.

Avia- Avia is a title sponsor for Xterra this year and I hope to make them proud out there. The new Bolt TXZR racer is light, fast and flashy. I can’t wait to put them to the test tomorrow.

Specialized - This is my 3^rd year riding for Specialized and I’m glad to be on board for another year. My trusty steed this year is the Womens Fate 29er. Assembly of this rig is happening right now in the “man space” at our house.

NoTubes- Hands down the best and lightest tubeless set up out there. I don’t always ride the cleanest lines and these wheels always stand up to my “more interesting lines” and always come out with air in them.

Honey Stinger – What can I say, another year of yum! I love that Honey Stinger is a Colorado based company and makes such great tasting, natural energy products.

Native Eyewear – Native Eyewear is another Colorado based company. The spunky and laid back vibe of the company is something to admire. Not to mention their good-looking and incredibly functional glasses and ski goggles.

Infinit – If you struggle to find a drink mix that truly works for you then I suggest Infinit. Infinit is pretty much the only energy drink that you can customize in all areas…sodium, calories, aminos, flavor, protein, caffeine.

Xterra Wetsuits –My new Vendetta wetsuit fits like a glove and is flexible in the arms and shoulders. I will also be sporting the Velocity Speedsuit for non-wetsuits swims.

Thank you to all my wonderful sponsors! I will strive to be on the podium and when I'm not, I'll still be smiling because the journey of working towards the top has many rewards in and of itself. Here's to a great 2012 season!

USA National Champion - Winter of Snowshoe Racing

My blog is back! I'm not sure why the season ends and I drop off the face of the earth for a few months. I guess I fully embrace my off season and find it healthy to have a few very unstructured months.

I spent the winter focused on snowshoe racing. Nine years ago when I did my first snowshoe race I swore I would never do another one because it was so demanding physically and mentally. And, not surprisingly, I am now in love with the challenge and fun that comes from snowshoe racing. I am a glutton for challenges! Despite having two nasty colds this Winter I've had some great snowshoe results including winning the USA National Snowshoe Championships this past Saturday in Frisco, CO. To say I was surprised to win this title is an understatement after battling a nasty cough for two weeks. Right before the gun went off I decided that my strategy was to lead from the start and see what happened. I got in front and didn't look back. I kept thinking that all the really strong trail and ultra runners would start to catch me. The course was two 5K laps on a very open course allowing you to see where other people were the entire race. On the second lap I was overjoyed when I realized I was actually putting time on the field. I maintained my lead and was able to cross the line with arms raised as the 2012 National Champion. It was great to be racing with so many of my Atlas teammates from all over...we are a force to be reckoned with!

Some pictures from the day and other races this year:

Leading Nationals race from the gun

Second Lap looking strong. Yes those yellow tights are bold!

1st Place at Teva Games Snowshoe race

2nd Place at Beaver Creek #2 Snowshoe Race

1st Place Colorado State Championship (yes I know I'm standing in the 2nd place spot)

Xterra World Championships

Very pleased with my 7th place at the 2011 Xterra World Championships and being the first American Woman! I was excited that the course changed venues simply because I wanted to see and experience a different part of Maui. The new course in Kapalua was less technical than the old course but was just as demanding with lots of steep climbing on both the bike and run.

My super supporter Doug made me pose for the camera for some "scenic shots"

SWIM- The new swim course was in a less sheltered area than the old course and all the "real swimmers" were looking forward to big surf. The two days before the race there were good sized waves but nothing too scary for this "always worried about sharks" kind of ocean swimmer. Race day the water was about as smooth as a lake but that didn't prevent me from almost drowning. When 675 people start together on a small beach there is no way to avoid some level of chaos. The bottle neck at the first buoy was so bad that I had men swimming on top of me and pushing me under the water. Panic ensued for me and I had a vision of being pushed under water and not being able to get back to the surface. I stopped and screamed loudly for everyone to "stop it". Well, nobody stopped being aggressive and I had to doggie paddle my way around the first buoy and find a little bit of clear water to regain my composure. I stayed with a group of women for the remainder of the 1st lap and was able to pull ahead of a few of them on the second lap. Coming out of the water into T1 I had no idea how many women were in front of me. In T1 I saw Suzie, Emma and Renata and knew I would need to get moving quickly on the bike.

BIKE- I only was able to pre-ride the first 4 miles or so of the course, as I didn't think it would be smart to try and ride the whole thing 2 days before the race. Doug was able to ride the entire course for me and warned me to pace myself and not be too ambitious on the first few climbs to avoid blowing up on the upper climbs. I'm so glad I listened to his advice as the climbs were indeed long and steep. My performance on the bike was good but nothing to write home about. This time of year gets hard for me as there are very few hours of light before and after work for me to get longer rides in. I think next year I'll have to suck it up and get on the trainer or do some big night rides to be able to maintain my bike power and fitness until Worlds. I still climbed well and felt strong but just lacked that "perfect feeling". Renata remained ahead of me on the bike from the start and I never saw her again. I passed Suzie early in the bike and fell behind Carina and Danelle who both looked very strong when they passed me. I could see Specialized teammate Emma for most of the bike but she and I were clearly going the exact same speed and it wasn't until the last 4 miles that I caught and passed her. The downhill sections were not technical except when I was behind a pack of men and was left riding in a red dust cloud so thick that I couldn't see at all. My biggest focus on the bike was hydrating and this was something that I executed perfectly. I drank my entire Camelback, a large bottle with Infinit and about half a small bottle of water at both aid stations.

RUN- I was feeling strong coming out of T2 but didn't know what to expect on the run other than a long climb and long descent. I was told I was in 9th place and that 5th place was only 2:30 ahead. If I honored my roots as a runner and my abilities I thought I could maybe make up that 2:30 and get on the box. I passed fellow Coloradan Kelly Cullen within the first mile and could tell the heat was not agreeing with her. She was one of many that were slowed by or fell victim to the heat. Fellow Specialized rider Melanie was leading and had an assumed victory until she collapsed within a few hundred meters of the finish. This was heartbreaking to hear yet amazing to see someone push themselves above and beyond their limits as an athlete in pursuit of excellence. I didn't pass any other women on the run and assumed I was in 8th place. At the top of the climb I saw Emma was not far behind me and I kept pushing the downhills hoping to get away. My focus for the last 3 miles of the run was centered on my breath and not the fact that my quads were cramping up with every step. When I got to the last 1/2 mile of the run I heard I was in 7th. Through the stream bed and onto the beach sections I could see the 6th place girl in front of me and thought for sure I could catch her. I tried to pick up the pace but I felt like I was running in slow motion. This was confirmed when Doug was able to keep up with me. The last bit to the finish was up a steep grassy hill...cruel to say the least! Up this hill my stride got a little wobbly, I did some weaving and I wasn't sure I'd make it for a brief moment. Luckily that moment was about 50 feet before the finish line and I did indeed make it as the 1st American and 7th overall!

The beach run and the hill to the finish were brutal

Congratulations to Women's winner Lesley who was very deserving of her victory on a tough day! While the race was missing last year's Champion Shonny as well as Julie (both out due to injury) the field was stacked and fast with the addition of some ITU girls. It is so exciting to see how fast the women continue to get and hopefully we are making the races more interesting as the "battle for the box" gets closer.

Wow, all that dirt makes my teeth look really white. Not sure my brain was working in this picture.

Huge thanks to all my sponsors for their support this year! Specialized, you make the best hardtail 29er a little 5'3" girl could want! Native, you are a super fun company to partner with and I always know I have the most styling shades on! Honey Stinger, I could eat your chews for dessert. In fact, I sometimes have to resist the temptation to do just this! Infinit, my custom drink blend leaves me strong, even in the hot, humid Hawaii climate! NoTubes, the super light and durable wheels are genuine pieces of artwork! Avia, your shoes leave me blister free and fast! Squadra, what can I say, your kits make me look good (and are super comfortable)!

I'm happy with another great season of racing and look forward to building upon my success next year! However, if you need me in the next few weeks I'll be at the gym reading a magazine on the eliptical machine.

Run, Sara, Run

The last two weekends I took advantage of some local cross country races to take me back to my roots and boost my speed factor. I have such fond memories of high school cross country...running down "potato chip alley" (a path of crunchy leaves), taking cookie breaks at friends houses along our routes and getting stuck in a blizzard on the way to the State meet to name a few. I've come to rely too much on my background of running and always end up neglecting my run training a little. Nothing like a few hard races to get me back on track. Last weekend was the CU Rocky Mountain Shootout where I toed the line with lots of fast college girls. I ended up 27th in a talented field and had the post race hack to remind myself how painful a 23 minute race is. Today, I ran the Coal Creek XC race and 38 minutes proved to be equally painful. I did take the win and came home with a case a beer to ease my aching muscles.

Some photos of my 23 minutes of pain:

A Few Nationals Photos

Photo Credit: Xterra

Photo Credit: Kristen McFarland

Xterra USA National Championships

Xterra USA Nationals was made super exciting this year by the appearance of Lance. The hype was a little much at times but the crowds were amazing! Never in an Xterra have I seen spectators at so many places on the bike and run. Thanks Lance for making our sport a little more known! Also, thanks to all my great sponsors for the support throughout the year: Native, Specialized, Infinit, Avia, No Tubes, Honey Stinger and Squadra!

Doug's good childhood friend was getting married last weekend so he was partying on the East Coast, leaving me without my favorite travel partner or mechanic. Congrats Fran and Candice! Sorry I couldn't be there! After a long solo drive on Thursday I rode the new part of the course and had to stop several times to enjoy the spectacular views. Friday was spent relaxing and doing some light pre-race workouts.

The Xterra Nationals course should be perfect for me as there is so much climbing. Turns out for the last 3 years the trails around Snowbasin and I don't get along as well as we should. I finished the day in 8th with the 5th place podium spot I was gunning for only about 2 minutes ahead of me. Here's a quick break down of the day:

Swim:

For the first time the pros got our own wave and started 30 seconds before the amateurs. I started the swim next to many women and just a few places down from Lance. It seemed like we would have a direct line to the first bouy but the blinding sun led us astray way to the right. Or maybe it was the excessive number of kayaks and boats that caused us to get lost. Anyways, I managed to get back on course and had a good swim hanging with a small group of pro men. I came out of the water in 6th, which is great for me! I'm sure it's against all coaching beliefs but it seems the less I swim the faster I race.

Bike:

This is where I should shine on this course based on my skills. Not so, this year though. Don't get me wrong I was still fast but somehow I just didn't have the power in my legs that was there a few weeks ago. I passed Suzy about 3 miles into the bike and knew there were woman chasing me and probably not too far ahead of me. I was trying to pick up the pace but kept finding myself feeling "off". After being passed by Danelle, I held my 5th place spot on the bike until the top of the Sardine climb, when Shonny (aka the toughest woman out there racing with a torn ACL) passed me. I knew Emma was right behind me and we ended up riding into transition together. I must say Emma and I look good in our almost matching kits!

Run:

I had a less than speedy transition because of the obnoxious buckles on my bike shoes. I'm hoping to get a pair of the Specialized TriVent Terra shoes to help me speed out of transition like a bolt of lightening. Out of transition I could see Shonny, Christine and Emma all right in front of me. Once we were up the super steep hill and to the singletrack they pulled away and my legs would not respond when I tried to pick up the pace. And I can't believe that I ate it not once but twice on the run again. The first time was a minor spill about 1.5 miles in and the second was a little more painful at about 3 miles. I jammed my big toe on a rock and thought I might have broken my toenail off. Then, I started to feel what I assumed was blood in my shoe. As always, whether it's a good day or bad day I did my best and made my way to the finish, coming across the line in 8th. I took my shoe off to see a very bloody foot. The medical staff thought a few stitches would be a good idea but I suggest a little glue instead. Thankfully, they agreed this would be adequate.

Not my best day but it is pretty amazing how fast all of us ladies are and the races are getting more exciting because we are so close. Congrats to Specialized teammates Mel for taking the win and Emma for getting on the podium in 5th. See all you speedy ladies in Maui!