Jeff's Sporting Life: May 2011

May 2011 Training

Friday 27, I was in Saskatoon and I did a 30 km MTB ride on the Minwasian trail along the North Saskatchewan River. I went down low along the single track and pushed a harder pace than last week. It is alot of technical trails and very short climbs. I crashed three times. My right knee felt about 85%

Wednesday 25, I went lane Swimming @ Kinsmen Sports Centre. I did a total of 1,350 metres.

Friday 20, I did a 35 KM MTB ride from Millwoods to Mill Creek Ravine and did more single track and hill climbing. I crashed three times and cut my elbow, brused my shin and thigh and sholders. I am still getting used to clips. My knee felt O.K, still some pain and is about 75%. I still can not push harder gears.

Thursday 19, I went lane Swimming @ Kinsmen sports centre. My knee felt O.K, because I dont have to bend it when I am swimming. I got my heart rate up pretty good as well to work on my fitness. I did a total of 1,350 Metres.

Sunday 15, MTB ride to Millwoods Ravine in very windy conditions. I went 20 kms at a lower intensity. I did a few hills, and then I crashed and made my good knee bleed, It was fun as I am still getting used to clips. My right knee is 60% and is sore right now.

Sunday 8, I did a lower intensity MTB ride from MillWoods to Mill Creek Ravine. I went 30 km's. I did some single track trails along with a few hill climbs. My right knee felt about 55% I had some power for the hill climbs. My knee is a little bit sore now.

Thank you

Happy Mothers day Mom !!!!!!!!!!!!!

This blog is to thank my support system because with out them I would have been able to do what I do.

My parents for everything and especially when they came out to the Perogy MTB XC and Edmonton Canada Cup MTB XC races last year. They handed my water mix to me as I was coming around for a lap. On the start of the third and final lap of the Canada Cup my legs had popped and I did not want to let my parents and family friend Ray D down by quiting.

My Grandparents and uncle Tony back home in Saskatoon for supporting me in this journey.

Martin P. for coming out to Canmore for the Nationals MTB XC race last year, he handed me my gatorade as I was coming around for a lap and took pictures. Also because My legs popped the first lap and I had two more laps to go I did not quit. I wanted to finish and have more pictures.

Howard C. He came to a number of my AMHL hockey games and it seemed like I played way better when he was there watching for some reason.

My River Valley Cycle racing team for all the group rides tips and tricks of the trade they have showed me and the guys at the store for their support.

The Global Devils AMHL hockey team, for helping me out along the way and having a fun season.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me , and at times it must be hard to be my friend because I am on my bike or in the rink alot, however that is what keeps me going and it is my passion and I can afford to do theese sports now so I am doing them and enjoying every minute.

April 2011 Training

Well it has been a cold and at times some snowy days this April. On Saturday April - 2nd was my last spin class.

I have managed to get out and do some road riding six times. I have done a couple of group road rides as well to get used to riding close aka palaton style riding. I went a total of 243 Kms all around Colchester Hall and Strathcona Olympiette Centre.

I went to the gym twice and worked on core strength.

Training during the winter for the 2011 mountain bike XC season

I had decided to train this winter by buying a trainer with skyline to increase resistance as needed.
I did spinning classes @ http://www.rivervalleycycle.com/, the team I race for. In November and December I was doing one class a week. In January-February-March I was doing two to three classes a week.

I bought a heart rate monitor to keep track of how hard I was working. It is very benificial to my training.

Over that period of time I have done just over 1000 kms acording to my speedometor.
I had a great time this winter and learned alot from the instructors and had a good time meeting new cyclists and triathletes that were there, and the race team members to get to know them better was great.

I played div #9 in Alberta Mens Hockey League 2010/2011 season this winter and it was a game a week from September 2010 to March 2011. This was good for the lungs.

2010 Mountain bike XC Racing Season Recap

Alberta cup Mountain XC went as follows out of six races

Perogy in Edmonton, May 16 = 38 out of 40
Bacon in Stony Plain, May 23 = 25 out of 29
Summer Solstice in Bragg Creek, June 20 = 21 out of 25
Canada Cup in Edmonton, July 11 = 36 out of 52
Nationals in Canmore, July 18 = 7 out of 10 = ( 4 points )
Provincials in Hinton, Aug 28 = 7 out of 10 = ( 6 points )

I finished with 10 Alberta Mountain bike cup points and was ranked 23rd out of 136 in Novice. All theese results can be found @ http://www.albertabicycle.ab.ca/ and results from Nationals @ http://www.zone4.ca/results

The 2010 season was my first ever and I learned quick if you do not train for a race, well then you will not do well, however in my early struggles I enjoyed what I was doing. I also realized that I had not trained in the winter and that made me have a slow start. I joined the River Valley Cycle racing team and was doing group rides with them on Monday nights. I participated in a spring series race and finished dead last. I raced in 7 Fat Tire Tuesday races and did not do good in the three lap catagories, I did three two lap races and came in second twice.

For most of the spring and summer I was riding my bike/training 3 to 4 times a week.

I really started doing better during the Bragg Creek Summer Solstice race and continued to get faster from there. My best race was the last of the season in Hinton AB for provincials, I felt strong and my technical riding was the best I have ever done. I felt like a slithering snake lol. I went a total of 1,260 km's training and racing on the road and trails.

Video of Me racing at the 2010 Edmonton Canada Cup Last lap (16sec)

Video of me racing at the 2010 Edmonton Canada Cup, start line (2min 25sec)

Pic #1 is from the Perogy. Pic #2, #3 and #4 is from the Edmonton Canada cup race. (The rest are from Nationals at Canmore Nordic Centre) and were taken by Martin P.

2010/2011 Alberta Mens Hockey League Season Recap

2010/2011 Alberta Mens Hockey League Season Recap:
I played my third season in AMHL with the Global Devils division #9/10. I had 28/30 games played 4 goals 7 assists 11 points. We finished ninth place out of ten teams. We did not make the playoffs. I have alot of fun playing and look forward to the games alot.

2009/2010 Alberta Mens Hockey League Season Recap:
Was my second season in AMHL. I played with the Black Sharx in division #8/10. I had 27/30 games played 4 goals 7 assists 11 points. We finished last place and did not make the playoffs. I got to play with my friend Howard C and he showed me alot of tips on how to play.

2008/2009 Alberta Mens Hockey League Season Recap:
Was my first season in AMHL. I played with the Cheiftans in division #5/10. I had 27/30 games played 6 goals 8 assists 14 points. We finished last place and did not make the playoffs. This was my first time ever playing full equipment organized ice hockey. I had spent the two previous years playing full equipment pick up ice hockey with Enbridge Oil Kings.