Jeff's Sporting Life

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2015: Stage 5 @ Campbell Mtn, Penticton BC

Thursday July 30th, I finished 47th place out of 50 in Solo Open Men Results, It took me 3hrs 38mins, It was a total of 36 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,209 Feet. My average heart rate was 147 bpm and max was 181 bpm. The temperature was 32 deg C and sunny. Check out my garmin data here. The race organisers are calling this race a neutral result. I asked the crew at the timing tent what it means and they said that today's result just will not count in the overall general classification. This happened because there was over fifty racers that went the wrong way on the course. All I know is my elevation and distance matched the tec guide so I know that I made all the right turns and I finished today. Before the start I stopped in at the medical trailer and got some IB Profen extra strength. Then I saw one of the therapists and she wrapped up my bruised right knee with red tape to try to help the pain be less. We started out the day with a 7 km long climb that was off camber and a few spots I had to run the bike up, it was technical. Once at the top of the mountain we did a really cool fast and fun flowing descent with big high berms. Then before the climb back up the mountain there was a section where we road on a trail that if you fall you would go a long way down resulting in serious injury, so I just scooted along it so there was no risk. There was great views of Lake Okanagan. I grinded out another day and thought I did well considering my right knee bruise. I really enjoyed these trails. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their effort to help make this bucket list dream come true.

Pic by http://raveneyephoto.com/.

This was where our start/finish was today in beautiful Penticton, on Lake Okanagan

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2015: Stage 4 @ Myra Bellevue, Kelowna‏ BC

Wednesday July 29th, I finished 48th place out of 50 in Solo Open Men Results, It took me 5hrs 25mins, It was a total of 43 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,944 Feet. My average heart rate was 145 bpm and max was 180 bpm. The temperature was 31 deg C sunny with a few clouds. Check out my garmin data here. We started right out of the gate with a eight km long climb on single track trails. Then we hit the five km timed descent where the trails were fast and flowy. Then after that we did another eight km climb on different single track technical trails. Once at the top we descended for the next ten km's. To finish up the day we climbed back up another five km's. The trails were filled with lots of rock slabs and loose dry dirt. There was some really steep down hill and up hill sections where I had to run down and up because I knew I could not ride them. I did ride some steep descents that I did not think I could ride. My right knee is very bruised and it was getting really sore with every pedal stroke today, It happened on day one when I wiped out. I had to battle out there as I was in so much pain. I did not want to quit, but just grind it out. The views were spectacular at the top of the mountain looking over Lake Okanagan. There was a deer on the trail today. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their effort to help make this bucket list dream come true.

Pic by http://raveneyephoto.com/.

This was where the race started today. The view from the top of the mountain was breath taking.

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2015: Stage 3 @ Kalamalka Lake, Vernon BC

Tuesday July 28th, I finished 48th place out of 50 in Solo Open Men Results, It took me 4hrs 41mins, It was a total of 45 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,724 Feet. My average heart rate was 157 bpm and max was 184 bpm. The temperature was 27 deg C sunny with a few clouds. Check out my garmin data here. We started out on a paved road followed by a small climb where I moved up many spots. Then there was a two km down hill section and I jumped off my bike and ran down parts of it, many racers passed by me. Then today's race saw us climb for the next 12 km's on technical single track with rocks and roots, sharp turns, steep sections, switch backs and I found myself pass well over thirty racers as I hit my pace and stride. When I got to the top I thought I was day dreaming when there was a couple of cow's and a bull on the course. Then there was a series of really steep technical descents that had lots of rock slabs and roots and I again jumped off my bike and ran down most of it and the parts I could ride I went slower on. A lot of those same racers I passed by on the long climb passed me on the descent. There was amazing views looking at the lake and it was blue. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their effort to help make this bucket list dream come true.

Pic by http://raveneyephoto.com/.

I saw this view during the race. Pic by http://raveneyephoto.com/.

This is Kalamalka Lake, and was less than one km from our start, the water is so blue.

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2015: Stage 2 @ Silver Star, Vernon BC

Monday July 27th, I finished 45th place out of 50 in Solo Open Men Results, It took me 3hrs 47mins, It was a total of 40 Kms. Total elevation gain 3,779 Feet. My average heart rate was 156 bpm and max was 182 bpm. The temperature was 19 deg C with a mix of sun and clouds. Check out my garmin data here. Silver Star is a down hill ski resort in winter and a mountain bike park in summer. They have built single track XC trails there so it is not just down hill mountain biking. The trails were in mint condition. They had a lot of flow built into them. My favorite was the pump track for one km as you can just let it rip down there. There was some long climbs mixed into the fold. I felt good on todays stage. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their effort to help make this bucket list dream come true.

Pic by http://raveneyephoto.com/.

As you can see the Downhill Mountain Bike riders get to use the chair lift. Not us as our Legs are the lift.

SingleTrack 6 MTB XC Race 2015: Stage 1 @ Salmon Arm, BC

Sunday July 26th, I finished 47th place out of 50 in Solo Open Men Results, It took me 4hrs 33mins, It was a total of 40 Kms. Total elevation gain 5,136 Feet. My average heart rate was 164 bpm and max was 194 bpm. The temperature was 16 deg C and cloudy. Check out my garmin data here. The race started out with a long climb most of it was on a fire road. Then there was about a three km decent where at the bottom of it I went right over the handle bars landed on my right knee and hit/grazed my helmet on the ground. It definitely slowed me down a bit as I lost my confidence on the down hill sections. Then we climbed to the twenty km mark of the race. Some of the climb was hike a bike as many racers had to walk/run their bikes up. Then the climb went to a fire road, it was a long climb. We started to slowly descend down and the rain the night before made some of the roots pretty slippery. I went down again on another wipe out and slid down on my side. The final ten km's was sections from a popular race Salty Dog and I road this part better and re gained my confidence on the down hill sections. I found today hard. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and to all the volunteers for their effort to help make this bucket list dream come true.

Pic by http://raveneyephoto.com/.

I took this after the race, it is very close to the start line today.

July 2015 Training

Sun 19th, MTB ride @ Mill Creek Ravine for 2hrs (Zone's 1-4) Average heart rate =143 Max =187, Elevation gain 1,148 feet. Km's 20

Sat 18th, Road ride to Uncas School for 2hrs (Zone 1/2), Average heart rate =138 Max =162, Elevation gain 653 feet. Km's 55

Sat 11th, Road ride to Uncas School for 2hrs (Zone 1/2), Average heart rate =134 Max =152, Elevation gain 611 feet. Km's 50

Sun 5th, MTB Inter Club ride UC to Gold Bar Park for 4hrs (Zone's 1-4) Average heart rate =157 Max =194, Elevation gain 2,805 feet. Km's 40

Sat 4th, Road ride w/ parents to Northern Bear Golf for 4hrs (Zone's 1-4), Average heart rate =147 Max =185, Elevation gain 1,230 feet. Km's 101

Rundle's Revenge MTB XC Marathon Race 2015 @ Canmore

Saturday June 27th, I finished 17th place out of 27 in Solo Open Men Results, Overall I was 34th out of 54 for solo open and master open men category. It took me 3hrs 36mins, (Lap1= 53mins) (Lap2= 52mins) (Lap3= 53mins) (Lap4= 56mins) I went a total of 50 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,245 Feet. My average heart rate was 168 bpm and max was 187 bpm. The race was held at the Canmore Nordic Centre. The temperature was 20 deg C for the 8:00am start and when I finished it was 30 deg C. Check out my garmin data here. I felt really strong on the long climbs. I thought I had good cadence today. My breathing was really good considering it is at a higher elevation in Canmore than back home in Edmonton. I knew after the first two km's that I had good legs and lungs today. I was thirty one minutes faster in this years race. One area that I know that I gained some time was on the descents as I was on the edge today letting the bike roll including one root I slid off and wiped out, Thank fully I was ok. One blip for me today was on lap four towards the end I turned the wrong way and that took me a couple minutes to navigate back to the course as I am not a cheater. That is why my last lap was longer otherwise I think it would have been close to the first lap time. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and all the volunteers for all their effort to help make this a great event to participate in.

Pic by http://raveneyephoto.com/

Organ Grinder MTB XC Marathon Race 2015 @ Canmore Nordic Centre (Alberta Cup XCM) #1

Sunday June 7th, I finished 36th place out of 50 in Solo Open Men Results, Overall I was 70 out of 98 for solo open and master open men category. It took me 4 hours 26 minutes, (Lap1= 50mins ) (Lap2= 49mins ) (Lap3= 53mins) (Lap4= 55mins) (Lap5= 59mins) I went a total of 50 Kms. Total elevation gain was 4,741 Feet. My average heart rate was 159 bpm and max was 182 bpm. Check out my garmin data here. This year the lap was 1 km shorter and we had five hours and fifteen minutes for our last lap to count. When I finished I still had forty eight minutes left. By the end my legs were getting sore and I knew that it was not enough time to go for lap six. I know that I was faster this year than last year in the same conditions. Some technical sections I road a bit faster this year. I road a lot of it with an Elite woman Katy C as she finished her five laps just ahead of me and ended up in third place in solo open category. I also road a bit with Louis B as we used to do spin classes together so it was fun. I am really happy with my improvement. The race was held at the Canmore Nordic Centre and the temperature was 28 deg C. A huge thanks to Cyclemeisters for putting on the race and the BBQ chicken sausage hotdog was great and all the volunteers for all their effort.

Pre Race @ start line. Pic by Caitlin C from Mud Sweat and Gears.

Devonian Drop. Pic by Higuchi Photos

Iron Maiden MTB XC Race 2015 @ Canmore Nordic Centre (Alberta Cup) #3

Saturday June 6th, I finished 42nd out of 46 in Sport Results. It took me 1 hour & 21 minutes. It was three laps and a total of 18 km's long. The total Elevation gain was 1,552 feet. My average heart rate was 176 bpm and max was 194 bpm. Check out my Garmin data Here. Today was one of my fastest starts that I have ever had, We had a long gradual climb right off the start and I was ahead of about six racers. I then lost most of those spots once we hit the first technical descent as I was not able to ride it (switch back with log drops) I struggled in the technical descent's today, I road some and the rest I dabbed my foot down for balance. This course had a combination of climbing and technical trails. My fitness felt good as I had some good strong climbing today. Normally in an XC race here it takes me one hour thirty minutes so I am really pleased with my continued improvement. The temperature was 26 deg C. I would like to thank all the volunteers and Spin Sisters for putting on the race including the great BBQ hamburgers for after the race.

Devonian Drop, Pic by http://www.kenandersonphotography.ca/

Soft Yogurt, Pic by http://www.kenandersonphotography.ca/

June 2015 Training

Sun 28th, MTB ride @ Canmore climb up to Whiteman's Pond for 1hr 11mins, Average heart rate =132 max =161, Elevation gain 1,391 feet. Kms 15

Fri 26th, MTB ride pre lap of Rundle's Revenge @ Canmore for 1hr 8mins. Average heart rate =136 Max =162, Elevation gain 1,040 feet. Km's 13

Sun 21st, Road ride @ Colchester Hall to Cooking Lake w/ Parents for 2hrs 41mins, Average heart rate =121 Max =179, Elevation gain 843 feet. Km's 70

Sat 20th, Road group ride @ Wye School to Ardrossan for 4hrs 30mins, Average heart rate =134 Max =185, Elevation gain 2,070 feet. Km's 111

Thurs 18th, MTB Redbike group ride UC to Patricia for 2hrs 18mins. Average heart rate =155 Max =190, Elevation gain 1,440 feet. Km's 32

Sun 14th, Road ride Colchester Hall to Beaumont for 2hrs (Zone 2/3) Average heart rate =131 Max =163, Elevation gain 633 feet. Km's 53

Fri 5th, MTB ride pre lap of Iron Maiden @ Canmore Nordic Centre for 1hr. Average heart rate =131 Max =168, Elevation gain 719 feet. Km's 10

Wed 3rd, MTB ride @ Terwillegar Park for 1hr 40mins (6 Hills @ Threshold) Average heart rate =128 Max =184, Elevation gain 1,086 feet. Km's 20

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