Jeff's Sporting Life

September 2014/2015 Non Contact Hockey League

Wed 25th, (Game #3) 1 Assist
@ 10:45pm, Kinsmen Arena Rangers vs. Hooligans (L 6-5) I got my assist as I won a battle down low behind their net and passed it back to Jason L. We did not play very well in the first period myself included (I have minor injuries with sore hips and groins) The second and third periods we played way better. I liked how our defence was keeping the puck in the offensive zone as it helped create pressure. This was an 80's style game and very fun to play this free flow style. Their last goal I am not sure the puck fully crossed the line. Javan M nice break away goal. Howard C 2A. (This line was great Blaise F 1G & 2A. Alex H 2A. Cameron B 2G & 1A including a short handed break away goal while I was in the box for hooking).

Wed 17th, (Game #2) 1 Goal
@ 10:45pm, Kinsmen Arena Rangers vs. Puck University (L 5-2) I had a two on one chance with Harry A and I passed it just out of his reach, then on the same shift we found our selves in the same situation but this time I faked the back hand pass and shot it and scored. I am really happy how our team played tonight especially after going down three to nothing we battled back to score twice to make a game of it. We skated with them in the first two periods but then in the third they had another gear. I liked the way our D-Man Daniel D played, he got the puck out a lot and played great.

Wed 10th, (Game #1)
@ 10:45pm, Kinsmen Arena Rangers vs. Ghostbusters 2 (W 5-3) I had my hard slap shot deflect off the cross bar. I was in close for a scoring chance and shot it off the goalie's blocker. The turning point happened in the second period. Our goalie Mike G saved a break away. Then late in the period we scored twice in six seconds. Chris R scored the game winner on a nice back hand play and also had an assist. Cameron B 2G & 1A.

2014 Mountain Bike XC Marathon & Mountain Bike XC Racing Season Recap

Marathon MTB XC

Organ Grinder @ Canmore AB June 8th = 37th place out of 48 in Solo Open Men
Rundles Revenge @ Canmore AB June 21st = 20th place out of 42 in Solo Open Men
Tahoe Trail 100km @ Northstar California USA July 19th = 300th out of 355 in Solo Open Men

Alberta Cup MTB XCO

Royal River Valley Rumble in Edmonton AB May 25 = 34th out of 42 in Sport
River Raid in Devon AB July 6th = 26th out of 28 in Sport

This was my fifth season of mountain bike racing. I hired Heather K to be my cycling coach and she provided me with a program along with tips and tricks. I raced 2 spring series road races. I raced in 1 Fat Tire Tuesday MTB XC race. I volunteered for 1 Tuesday night Cyclo Cross race put on by my club United Cycle I went a total of 2,611 km's training and racing on the road and trails.

September 2014 Training

Sat 6th, Road ride with parents @ Colchester Hall for 1hr 16mins. Average heart rate =126 max =192, Total elevation gain 364 feet. Kms 25

August 2014 Training

Sun 31st, MTB ride UC to Quesnell Bridge with parents for 2hrs 10mins. Average heart rate =124 max =191, Elevation gain 1,181 feet. Kms 29

Sat 30th, MTB ride United Cycle to Quesnell Bridge for 2hrs 9mins. Average heart rate =148 max =193, Elevation gain 1,316 feet. Kms 33

Sun 24th, Road ride with parents @ Colchester Hall for 1hr 47mins Average heart rate =116 max =163, Total elevation gain 440 feet. Kms 41

Sat 23rd, Road group ride @ Wye School to Antler Lake for 2hrs 38mins, Average heart rate =170 max =198, Elevation gain 915 feet. Kms 80

Wed 13th, MTB ride w/ Gord B & Jason K to Capilano Park for 3hrs 20mins. Average heart rate =144 max =193, Elevation gain 1,611 feet. Kms 44

Mon 4th, Road ride to Beaumont for 1hr 54mins (25min zone3 Interval) Average heart rate =128 max =158, Total elevation gain 663 feet. Kms 50

Sun 3rd, Road ride with parents @ Wye School for 2hrs 27mins Average heart rate =124 max =167, Total elevation gain 745 feet. Kms 50

Tahoe Trail 100km MTB XC Marathon Race 2014 @ Northstar California, USA

Saturday July 19th, I finished 300th out of 355 in Open Men and Master Men 30 to 39 I was 82nd out of 88, Results. It took me 7hrs 4mins. It was two laps long and a total of 100 km's long. My first lap took me 3hrs 20mins and my second lap took me 3hrs 44mins. The total Elevation gain was 8,484 feet. My average heart rate was 164 bpm and max was 191 bpm. The race was really close to Lake Tahoe. This was a huge race as it saw racers from all over USA including California, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Texas, Oregon, New York, Washington, Virginia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Arizona, North Carolina and even New Zealand & Mexico. I was the only Canadian to (carry the weight of a nation on my shoulders LOL) There were a lot of racers that were pro or semi pro. I had trained my but off for this race as it was my A race of the year including riding over 2,000km's in the past four month's. I would for sure say that this was my peak performance of the season. There was two category three climbs in this race and when I asked if it was compared to tour of California cat three climbs I was told yes. The start of the race was a over 7km climb that saw us climb over 1,000 feet right out of the gate a (Cat 3 climb not including the other two). The race starts 6,000 feet above sea level and climbs to over 7,300 feet, a far cry from the 2,000 feet in Edmonton. This was a climbers course as some of them seemed like they went for ever. This was a qualifier for Leadville Colorado 160km race, I was not focused on qualifying, instead I just wanted to finish and in doing so I got a medal that says I was a finisher, and as the guy put the medal on my neck I fell over the barricade because I was so sore. I cramped up a bit at the 70km mark but I pressed on and it was at that point that the race became 100% mental as your body is saying stop. There was a time cut of eight hours to complete the race. The race had about 45% single track and then it used the fire roads for the climbs and a few down hills.

My friend Martin P and I drove down to the race (23 hours over two days) as it was a road trip and vacation. The temperature was 31 deg C and it added to a already hard day. A huge thanks to all the volunteers and Lifetime Athletic Events for putting on the race.

Start going through Northstar, Pic by Martin P

Finishing lap #1 50kms down 50kms to go heading into feed zone. Pic by Martin P

Just finished 50kms and about to start the climb, Pic by Martin P

I love climbing! Pic by Martin P

I love climbing! I did pass the racer ahead of me. Pic by Martin P

Ah yes, The finish, Pic by Martin P

I could not even stand up straight as I was so sore, Pic by Martin P

So tired and sore But the best feeling of finishing with my medal. Pic by Martin P

Fat Tire MTB XC Race 2014 #1

Tuesday July 8th, @ Terwillegar Park, I finished last place and did four laps. It was 15 kms long and it took me 58 minutes. My average heart rate was 173 bpm and Max 194 bpm. Total elevation gain 965 ft. It was 28 deg C and a perfect night. I had a good first lap and I had a couple racers in sight and then I went the wrong way on lap two and lost about two minutes. I finished strong with a good lap three and four. When the elite racers lapped me I tried to stay on their wheels but just could not, I was braking way too much and for them I didn't hear a single brake as they just flowed through the trails. Thanks to the guys @ Kokanee Redbike Race Team for putting on the race. After the race I did a cool down ride with James J and Justin S two Expert racers and we went for about 40 minutes and did 12 kms. Tonight I road a total of 27 Kms.

River Raid MTB XC Race 2014 @ Devon (Alberta Cup) #2

Sunday July 6th, I finished 26th out of 28 in Sport Results. It took me 1hr & 23mins. It was two laps and a total of 20 km's long. It took me 44mins on lap1 and 39mins for lap2. The total Elevation gain was 1,352 feet. My average heart rate was 182 bpm and max was 201 bpm. Today was pure struggle for me and my body as it shut down on me mid way on lap one. I will not make any excuses as today was a B race for me and was not my focus but it didn't help that I was called into work early on the holiday Tuesday (Canada Day) and then on Saturday morning @ 2:30am and was there for a long time. The thing that I am most proud of was that yes my body was not working properly today so instead on giving up I posted a second lap that was five minutes faster to give me some confidence. Today was a fun day as an old team mate from River Valley Cycle was racing Gord B and we have not raced in the same race since 2011, unfortunately his de-railer broke, another old RVC team mate Sheldon S and his family including two young children came out to watch and cheer, thanks for the support Sheldon S. The course was different this year, it was longer and harder with wide open spots to sprint, mixed with some long steep climbs, and technical decents. The temperature was 26 deg C. A huge thanks to all the volunteers and Devon Bicycle Association and Evan W, Stew H for putting on the race.

You can not tell but this is a long climb, pic by Nancy St-H

Pic by Leanne E, Gord B right behind me.

Pic by Leanne E, and also was cheering.

July 2014 Training

Fri 25th, MTB climb up Marshall Mountain and MT. Jumbo Missoula Montana for 3hrs. Average heart rate =148 max =193, Elevation gain 4,190 feet. Kms 32

Tues 22nd, MTB climb up Bogus Basin Mountain Boise Idaho for 3hrs 12mins. Average heart rate =143 max =178, Elevation gain 3,787 feet. Kms 50

Thur 17th, MTB climb pre lap of Tahoe Trail @ Northstar California for 1hr 14mins. Average heart rate =153 max =192, Elevation gain 1,568 feet. Kms 17

Sat 12th, MTB ride Terwillegar Park to Sunridge Ski Hill for 4hrs 41mins. Average heart rate =146 max =186, Elevation gain 2,979 feet. Kms 64

Thur 3rd, Road ride @ Colchester Hall for 1hr 36mins (Sweetspot Workout 40mins) Average heart rate =137 max =179, Elevation gain 545 feet. Kms 44

Tue 1st, Road ride to Beaumont for 1hr 43mins (Threshold interval 40mins). Average heart rate =140 max =180, Total elevation gain 528 feet. Kms 47

Video climb up Bogus Basin Mountain Boise Idaho (51 seconds)

Climb up Bogus Basin Mountain Boise Idaho. Pic by Martin P

Climb up Bogus Basin Mountain Boise Idaho (I'm in the middle). Pic by Martin P

Climb up Bogus Basin Mountain Boise Idaho, Very Top of the Mountain.

Climb up Marshall Mountain Missoula Montana, Very top of the Mountain

Climb up MT. Jumbo Missoula Montana

Rundle's Revenge MTB XC Marathon Race 2014 @ Canmore

Saturday June 21st, I finished 20th place out of 42 in Solo Open Men Results, Overall I was 40th out of 68 for solo open and master open men category. It took me 4hrs 7mins, (Lap1= 59mins) (Lap2= 1hr) (Lap3= 1hr 3mins) (Lap4= 1hr 4mins) I went a total of 50 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,423 Feet. My average heart rate was 166 bpm and max was 193 bpm. My first lap was my fastest. The race was held at the Canmore Nordic Centre. The temperature was 10 deg C for the 8:00am start and when I finished it was 18 deg C. It had rained hard the night before so the course that consisted of some double track and single track was wet in some sections and I struggles on the down hill off camber root sections, I road it but not really fast. I had to stop on lap three and lap four for a nature break. I felt really strong on the long climbs. My legs got a bit sore on the first half of my last lap and then they recovered on the last six kms of that lap. A huge thanks to Transrockies for putting on the race and all the volunteers for all their effort to make this race a success.

Lots of Climbing, pic by Raven Eye Photography

Lots of climbing, pic by Raven Eye Photography

pic by Raven Eye Photography

Sweet berm, pic by Raven Eye Photography

Did I mention there was a lot of climbing, pic by Raven Eye Photography

Organ Grinder MTB XC Marathon Race 2014 @ Canmore (Western National Marathon series) #1

Sunday June 8th, I finished 37th place out of 48 in Solo Open Men Results , Overall I was 68th out of 85 for solo open and master open men category. It took me 4hrs 31mins, (Lap1= 1hr 2mins) (Lap2= 1hr 1min) (Lap3= 1hr 9mins) (Lap4= 1hr 18mins) I went a total of 45 Kms. Total elevation gain 4,587 Feet. My average heart rate was 171 bpm and max was 194 bpm. I earned 68 points in the Western National Marathon series. My second lap was my fastest and that is strange because I am usually slower as the race goes on. During lap three and four three different times I had leg cramps so bad that I could not even stand up straight. I grinded those final two laps out and trust me there was a cloud of doubt of weather or not I could finish even lap three let alone four laps total. The race was held at the Canmore Nordic Centre and the temperature was 22 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 staying in the rain. I had a cheering section today all the way from back home Saskatoon, my Uncle Tony T and Melissa H. My Mom came to watch, cheer, help out in the feed zone and take pics.