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Little Man Plays in the Mud: Gottwald takes 3rd at Melting Man

March 22nd, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Chris Gottwald, Team OAM Now Cyclist

Do you remember as a kid, when the warm weather hit, putting on your swim suit to go ride your bike in the rain? What about riding through mud puddles and the absolute satisfaction we felt when we got a little bit, or a lot, dirty? While many of us are currently dreaming about sporting our swim suits, let me tell you about playing in the mud!

While my childhood cycling career started at age 7 on a BMX bike, I took a 30-year hiatus from playing in the mud. That all changed on March 8th at the 2nd annual Melting Man gravel road race. I told the promoter to change the name to “Freezing your butt off while riding on a course made up of Michigan’s best ice rinks, snow drifts and mud puddles,” but he said it would not fit on the t-shirt! I guess Melting Man it is.

Truth be told, if you were not there, you missed out! It was one of the most fun events I have participated in, topped off by a great post race party. The goal for me was to get a good work out and I have to say: I got a great deal. For only about 50 bucks, I got to pedal so hard I was bleeding from my eye sockets for about two hours (not really). For my effort, I got a trip to the podium (3rd place), a nice medal, and a t-shirt that I still think needs a new (albeit longer) name.

The day started out cold and cloudy, about 25 degrees. Two hours later, it was sunny and just above freezing. For the last 30 years, I have raced only road and track events, so this was a real novelty for me. The EMTs were busy even before the start, picking up people who had fallen over from word which spread quickly, “Did you see that Gottwald is here on a Fatty?”
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Team OAM Now: A Tale of Two Birkies

March 4th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson and Alex Vanias, Team OAM Now Nordic Skiers

Kaitlyn: The American Birkiebeiner is the largest cross country ski marathon in North America and attracts over 10,000 skiers for the 24k and 51k events. The race is held in rural northern Wisconsin, beginning in the tiny town of Cable and ending in Hayward. Alex and I made the journey for the first time, while Dan Yankus was racing his 6th Birkie 51k. Alex registered for the 50k freestyle race. Thanks to a good time at last year’s VASA 50k, Alex was able to get into the elite wave.

Freestyle skiers take off in 10 waves and wave placement is determined by previous Birkie races. With no previous Birkie finishes, I was placed in wave 4. My valiant efforts to improve my wave placement were fruitless and I knew my biggest challenge would be navigating through thousands of racers.

Alex: The week leading up to the race was stressful as Kaitlyn and I had to move into a new house in Traverse City. Fortunately training the week before an “A” race requires less time. Unfortunately, I still didn’t get to go out to train a few days that week so I was lacking a bit of speed work to keep my top end form going.

Kaitlyn: The atmosphere of the town and the expo was electric. It was amazing to see so many excited skiers taking over these tiny towns. We stopped by the finish line in Hayward the day before the race and checked out the finishing stretch on a snowcovered Main Street.

The morning of the race I watched Dan and Alex take off in a very competitive elite men’s field and made sure I had a good starting position in my wave of over 500 skiers.

Alex:Basically, the day before Birkie I tested my only two pairs of race quality skate skis to pick the one with the best base structure and flex. I have a ski for cold/soft snow and a ski that rocks on hard/warm snow. Birkie was something in between, and both skis felt different, but performed roughly the same in my glide testing. I picked the cold/soft ski as it felt smoother.

The start was relatively stress free since the elite wave only had about 200 skiers and it was very wide. Getting a good position there was not essential.

Kaitlyn: After the cannon sounded, I found myself in a small group of 10 skiers that dwindled to three within several kilometers. It was bizarre to be skiing almost alone on the freeway wide trails, but I knew it would not last long. Within 3k, we began catching wave three skiers; it became progressively thicker and I was soon surrounded by an endless mob of skiers. I had space to dart in between the slower skiers in the flats, but it was a slow march up the hills and a dead stop at aid stations. I was expecting this and willed myself to be patient and conserve energy. The stream of racers was endless as we caught skiers from waves one, two, and three over the course of the race. With 25k to go, I still felt fresh from the controlled effort and finally had more space to hammer. I ended up finishing 31st female out of a field of 700+ women. I calculated that I passed roughly 1500 people over the course of the 51k race.

Alex: Before I knew it, the race had started and I double poled cautiously for a while to prevent any other skier from stepping on and breaking any of my equipment. Within a couple km, there was already a relatively large lead group that had a significant gap, and I had only just caught up to the chase group. As I was starting to figure out, my skis were lacking speed on the downhills, so if I was getting away uphill, I would get caught by everybody downhill. I wasn’t getting anywhere on my own so I sat on the back of the lead group to conserve energy for later in the race. After the halfway point, people were starting to break down, and I was only warmiing up. I was ready to start pushing the pace. That is when I started getting out front to shed some people from my group. I eventually dropped them all and started picking off stragglers from the lead group.

Kaitlyn: Each wave had different colored bibs and I got cheers from spectators and skiers through the entire course as I was one of the first wave 4 skiers. Overall, the atmosphere on the racecourse and camaraderie of the skiers was very impressive. Although having to ski out of wave 4 compromised my time and overall place, it made for a true Birkie experience. I definitely caught Birkie fever and am hoping that I can make it to race next year.

Alex: My legs could barely hold me up for the last few km, but I managed not to fall in front of the huge crowd at the finish, so that was good! I ended up with a solid 28th place. I am hoping to improve on that next year. There was definitely a lot to learn about the flow of things at Birkie.

The Birkie is certainly an amazing event. To catch a bit of the Birkie spirit and energy, check out the video from the finish line here.

Introducing the 2015 Team OAM Now Elite Club

February 27th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Jim Allan, Elite Club/Team Captain

Ed Note: The Elite Club participates in various events to further the love of sport, bring attention and funds to a wide variety of charitable causes, and give back to the community. The club includes a mix of former team members, recreational riders, sponsors, and potential future team members looking to get some experience. As a group, the Elite Club is highly visible and involved in the sporting community and aims to continue that through 2015. We took a moment to check in with Team Captain Jim Allan to find out what’s in store for 2015.

Returning Members
Bob Schultz
Bradley Field
Dan Gauthier
Greg Neagos
Jeff Towner
Jeff Zvirdzinis
Jim Allan
Joe Kucharski
Ken Lown
Kevin Long
Matt Gunderson
Mike Birmann
Mike Hoogerland
Paul Raynes
Ryan Erxleben
Scott Miller
Scott Steurer
Scott Tiret

New Teammates
Peter Chadwick
John Hurn
Hunter Fisk

In 2014, members of the Elite Club participated in various bicycle tours and races, running events, and triathlons. There were also opportunities to lead out 5k/10/Half-Marathons as well as other volunteer community events. By participating in group rides, charity tours, running events, triathlons and other activity, the Elite Club brings visibility to the team and to the sponsors who make our activity possible.

The Elite Club includes athletes who have been identified with potential and wish to gain experience through participation in events with the team, as well as athletes who may not be able to commit to the full team schedule, yet wish to continue participation with the team. With those goals in mind, the team tries to participate in as many events as possible, to achieve maximum sponsor visibility while providing benefit to valuable worthwhile causes. We do have specific events that we support each year and are always looking for more opportunities. In addition to our team and community goals, each team member works to improve his/her performance and often benefits from the team structure to help achieve those individual goals.

Among the events enjoyed in 2014 and anticipated for 2015:
100 Grand Bicycle Tour
MSU School of Medicine Gran Fondo
Grand Rapids Triathlon
Holland Hundred Bicycle Tour
Rapid Wheelmen Colorburst Tour
Barry Roubaix Gravel Road Race
Lowell 50 Gravel Road Races
Michigan Titanium Triathlon
Maple Hill Race For Wishes
Gazelle Girl Half Marathon
Bear Lake Triathlon
Komen Race For The Cure
Iceman Cometh
Elves and More Bicycle Build

It’ll be a busy 2015 for sure…we hope to see you out there!

There’s No Y in Tri: Free Clinics Continue in Grand Rapids

February 25th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

As even the most seasoned triathlete will tell you, there’s always something to learn. Back in January, Team OAM Now/Athletic Mentors presented the first in a series of free clinics in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Tri. Those clinics continue this Saturday, February 28th, at 9am with Triathlon 101- Part B.

During this off season, most athletes are looking for ways to cut time, save seconds, and ensure a healthy and strong tri-season, but only a few of them do it without help. Whether it’s a coach, a training partner, or tips and strategies from seasoned veterans, there are ways that you too can improve your tri performance come spring. Though the weather might suggest otherwise, Tri season is just around the corner and now’s the chance to get inside info on heart rate zones, taper strategies, strength training, and much more.

Triathlon 101-B will be followed by Bike/Run- Fit Technique and Training. Sponsored by Striders and West Michigan Bike, this two part session includes a Good Form Running Session and bike tune up, maintenance and how to change a tire clinic. Geared to all levels, but focused on the beginner, this is a great way to begin to get started on the bike/run portions of the tri.

To get more details, check out the Grand Rapids Tri site here.

To register for the clinics, click here.

Introducing the Team OAM Now Men’s Masters Team

February 25th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Mike Krywanski and Jon Morgan, Team OAM Now Master’s Men Team Captains

Ed Note: After an amazing 2014 season, including 3 riders in the MBRA top ten season long point series, the Master’s Men’s Cycling team is looking to return in 2015, stronger and better. We spoke with Co-Captains Mike Krywanski and Jon Morgan to get a preview of what we can expect in the upcoming year.

Returning Members

Loren Simons
Peter O’Brien
Dave Stebbins
Glenn Dik
Mike Krywanski
Jonathan Morgan
Chris Abston
Terry Ritter
Mike Wyczalek
Richard Landgraff

New Teammates
Leonard VanDrunen
Steve Buccella
Larry Strayhorn

2015 is shaping up as an interesting year for the Team OAM Now Masters 55+ . New teammates squad Leonard VanDrunen, Steve Buccella, and Larry Strayhorn, are all moving up from the Elite Club team. While short on racing experience, they are all fit, enthusiastic and willing to learn. They will be instrumental to our success in our 2015 racing campaign.

Meanwhile, 2014 was a breakout year for the Masters 45+ Team. After rebuilding the roster after the losses of some core riders in 2013, the team built fantastic synergy and placed 2 riders in the Top Ten in nearly every race with more than 12 podiums total. We were also recognized as the most professional among teams and were complimented by other teams for consistent aggressive riding while maintaining a positive presence in the highly competitive masters peloton.

The team makes specific plans and is adept at executing those plans, although it did take us several races to gel completely and start vying for podiums and wins. Eventually, we were able to exert a lot of control over the outcome of races and our strong long rider, Chris Abston, was able to win the final race of the season. Our greatest strength is probably the fact that we’re all very experienced, love to race, and each rider is willing to sacrifice for the plan or the rider in best position to deliver the best team result. We also have 2 dedicated workers in 2014 (Wyzalek and Ritter) who set up the rest of the team for the podiums and results. Riders like this are hard to come by!

Mentoring our rookie group in the 55+ category, will be veteran racers Loren Simons, Peter O’Brien, Dave Stebbins, Glenn Dik, and Mike Krywanski who, between them, have literally thousands of races under their belts. Career highlights from this group include North American and ABR National Road Championships, numerous USAC National Masters podium finishes in all three diciplines, a National 24 hour overall championship, dozens of MBRA State Championships in road, criterium and time trial as well as race wins all over the U.S. In 2014 alone, this group garnered four state age category championships along with top placings at races such as Barry Roubaix, The Lowell 50, Hellkaat Hundie, The National 24 Hour Challenge, Michigan Mountain Mayhem and many others. Loren Simons participated in the Masters National Championships in Ogden Utah where a late crash kept him from a potential podium finish in the criterium.

We are all eagerly looking forward to the upcoming racing season and the blue and orange of Team OAM Now should be well represented, and a force to be reckoned with, at the front of many races, particularly as our new racers gain experience.

Training Tips: Why Try an Indoor Tri?

February 23rd, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM Now Triathlete

Every winter, I aim to make myself endure 45 minutes of intense pain at least once. This winter, I decided to do it three times. What is this torture and why would anyone subject him or herself to such a thing? It is called indoor triathlon.

I hear the question a lot, “What is an indoor tri?” Most indoor triathlons are formatted so participants swim laps in a pool for 15 minutes, ride a stationary bike or bike on a trainer for 15 minutes and run on a track or treadmill for 15 minutes, while volunteers keep track of your distances. Duration and point conversions for scoring vary, but the basic idea is to go as hard as you can for short, timed segments

Then the next question I get is, “Why on earth would you want to do that?” While teammate Raquel Torres is off racing in the southern hemisphere, and teammates Kaitlyn Patterson and Alex Vanias are tearing up the Nordic Ski world, I need a way to motivate and test myself during winter training months. Indoor triathlons are a great way to do a speed check and can also be used as a field test for capturing heart rate, which can then be used in setting zones for training workouts. Indoor triathlon series are even better because the test can be repeated in an essentially controlled environment and an athlete does not have to worry about water conditions or wind variables. In other words, in addition to being motivation, indoor tris can be a valuable training tool.

Indoor tris are also an excellent introduction to the world of three disciplines. For newer triathletes, or those that have never done a triathlon, indoor tri is a great way to try it out in a controlled, safe environment. I would highly recommend that anyone thinking of doing his or her first triathlon this year check out one of the remaining indoor triathlons in the area first to get a sense of what the multi-sport event is all about, but also to get a gauge of what kind of training you’ll need to continue in the off season.

All you need to get started are some goggles and a pair of running shoes! In fact, there are quite a few opportunities coming up in the area for you to check out. Don’t be afraid to give them a try!

March 1 – Spring Lake Community Fitness and Aquatic Center Indoor Triathlon

March 21 – IronBAC Indoor Triathlon

March 29 – David D. Hunting YMCA Indoor Triathlon

March 29 – GVSU Try-a-Tri

Equipment Closet: Ski Poles

February 19th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Daniel Yankus, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

As a professional and an athlete, not to be confused with a Professional Athlete, I balance my ambitions in life between my career and being an athlete. Along the way, I have had the luxury of some wonderful sponsors in my athletic endeavors.

On a return trip from a training weekend, I stopped by the United States Ski Pole Company in Cheyboygan, MI. They were one of the important relationships we sought out when developing our program (race team). What I thought was going to be a quick stop to pick up some poles I had purchased later revealed itself as, instead, a witnessing of the “American Dream.”

I met the owner, Andy Liebner, a handful of times and we had the opportunity to talk about some of the overlooked details of skiing, not just poles. Those little details, we agreed, often separate us from many things in life, not just skiing. For Andy and the USSPC, those little details are the foundation of the dream he started 2 years ago. I spent over an hour with Andy recently and he showed me all the work he has done, including the manufacturing process from start to end, which ended with the completion of my very own poles made by Andy and his crew.

One of the key pieces of this journey is an intense R & D process that includes testing against competitors and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of other poles available on the market. Each pole is tested. Each piece is tested. For every station in the process, the step must have been on Rev L (for non-engineers, Rev L only comes after a dozen or so changes), those changes reflect the perfection in every movement the shop seems to have. The sins of the past are discarded, but that is how manufacturing works: those who wait or become complacent are also often discarded; the manufacturing world waits for no one.

It’s also worth noting that all the pieces used to create these top of line poles are made in the USA. At a time when most carbon products, from bikes to hockey sticks, are made overseas, United States Ski Pole Company has built relationships with suppliers to build something rarely seen in the manufacturing world these days: a product made completely in the USA that can compete with the big players on the market. You can learn more about their production here.

Throughout the tour, Andy showed me features most of us with a ski pole consider an afterthought. Most of us grab a set of poles, lean on them and test for stiffness and weight. That’s all. However, as Andy showed me, there are many details we overlook when we buy ski poles. Each detail, from the basket to the grip, has been redesigned over and over until Andy has exactly what he wants. For example, the United States Ski Pole Company offers a strap that’s not just comfortable, but also has thermal properties. It’s a small detail most of us couldn’t imagine, but after experiencing we don’t know how we did without it. This is probably the best thing about Andy and his company: they’ve thought of all the things we didn’t and then make them a reality. In the same way that we progress as athletes, each piece of each pole has a story. Each piece had a journey from start to finish.

So, as I get ready to ski with my new poles, I know I’m holding something in my hands that is not just some cool lightweight shiny object. It’s easy to get caught up with the “bling” factor, especially as new products hit the market pretty rapidly. That said, nothing beats the confidence I have, as a skier, in a product that’s had so much attention paid to the details…and nothing beats the performance. These poles are, in many ways, a reflection of who we are as athletes, and certainly who Andy is as a businessman: built from the ground up. As you prepare to hit the plentiful snow we’ve had this week, make sure your equipment reflects who you are, and works for you, not just the manufacturer.

To find United States Ski Pole Company poles near you, find a dealer here.

Introducing the Team OAM Now Triathlon Team for 2015

February 17th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM Now Triathlon Team Captain

Ed Note: After an amazing 2014 season, including 37 podiums with 11 first place finishes, the multi-sport team is looking to return in 2015, stronger and better, promising even more podiums. We spoke with Captain Roxane Kippen to get a preview of what we can expect in the upcoming year.

This year looks to be another podium packed year for the members of OAM NOW’s Multi-sport Team and I’m proud to introduce our 2015 roster. Our team members range in age from 20 years old to flirting-with-retirement, and each decade in between is well represented. We are a diverse group, made up of teachers, students, attorneys, finance, and IT and engineering professionals. A healthy balance of all life has to offer is important to us.

On top of things like work, med school (Kaitlyn), vet school (Elaine), a new baby (congrats Erin), family, and other worthy causes, we find time to train, race and promote active lifestyles by volunteering in our communities!

Returning Members
Alex Vanias
Amy Kimber
Cheryl Sherwood
Chuck Grzanka
Cricket Howard
Erin Young
Kaitlyn Patterson
Mike Steele
Raquel Torres
Robyn Kaiser
Roxane Kippen
Todd Anthes

New Teammates
Elaine Sheikh

2014 was a very successful season for Team OAM Now triathletes. Check out our blogs from 2014 for some great race recaps. In 2014, our multi-sport team had 12 athletes who competed in 24 different triathlon events beginning as early as March with Indoor Triathlon and ending with late season races into September, for a total of 50 triathlon finishes.

Of the 50 finishes, 75% resulted in top 3 podiums. There were 37 podiums, including 11 first place overall finishes including Alex at Tri del Sol, Kaitlyn at MI Titanium and Boyne City Tri, Raquel at Grand Rapids Tri and Seahorse Challenge , Roxane at XTERRA Ionia and Little Traverse Tri and a very strong final season for Kathy Kirk in the Aquabike with 4 Overall Wins, including MI Titanium.

This year, we have a solid race schedule which includes several team races, where we encourage as many team members as possible to participate to promote team building and provide great visibility for our sponsors. In addition to the team race schedule below, several teammates have some pretty big “A races” slotted for this season. Alex, Cheryl, and Todd are looking to conquer another iron distance race this year. Elaine is targeting USAT Collegiate Nationals, USAT Age Group Nationals and the World Sprint Championships and Roxane is focused on USAT Off-road Nationals and XTERRA Nationals. Raquel continues to race the ITU circuit and has already begun her season, racing in South American ITU events to add to her qualifying points to earn a spot representing the Dominican Republic at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Follow her on the road to Brazil on our blog.

2015 Team Race Schedule
5/24/2015
Bear Lake Triathlon
North Muskegon

6/14/2015
Grand Rapids Triathlon
Grand Rapids

6/27/2015
Lumberman Triathlon
Cadillac

6/27/2015
Gull Lake Triathlon
Hickory Corners

7/18/2015
Tri del Sol
Middleville

8/1/2015
Millennium Triathlon
Grand Rapids

8/23/2015
Michigan Titanium
Grand Rapids

9/12/2015
Reeds Lake Triathlon
E Grand Rapids

As a team we have a common goal to balance work, life and sport. As Mike writes in his blog, we are a family and love to share in each other’s successes and encourage each other through challenges and setbacks. While we always enjoy being on the podium, the journey is more often a larger victory. We are thankful we have such great sponsors that support us in doing what we love and allow us to be proud stewards of the sport. We’re looking forward to another fantastic year!

Vanias Takes First Overall, Patterson Wins Women’s in VASA 50K, Davis and Davis Take 2nd in 27K

February 16th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM Now Multi-sport athlete

With blizzard conditions and road closures across the state, a troop of brave (or crazy) skiers lined up for the 27k or 50k VASA races on Saturday, February 14. Leading up to the weekend, it was questionable if the races would be held or possibly shortened because of the dangerous wind chills. In the early morning, temperatures were at the 10 degree mark, but progressively dropped, settling near -20 degrees, with the windchill.

Alex Vanias and I decided to stick with the 50k, although many racers opted to switch to the 27k or even skip this year. After strategically selecting our clothing, we headed to the start line to find 3” of new snow already on the course and continuing to fall. Despite the cold wax on my skis, they felt very slow in the powder, and I realized it was going to be a survival race.

After the start, I settled in the back of the chase group of guys and tried to keep my effort under control. Alex skied away from the competition within the first 10k, despite a broken pole, and was the first to break the fresh powder. I progressively moved through the pack and found myself alone by the end of the first lap. The second lap of the 50k is significantly less sheltered than the first half and exposed us to horrendous wind and drifting. I was attempting to ski conservatively, but the conditions were so slow that they allowed for no rest.

The final 8k converged with the 27k and I was thankful for a packed trail. I had already been racing for longer than I had expected and knew the winning times would be slow, possibly record setting. The finish line and warming tent were a very welcome sight indeed. After finishing 2^nd and 3^rd the past two years, I was quite happy to win my first VASA and finish 7th overall. Alex also won his first VASA after finishing second the past two years.

Rebecca Davis and Mike Davis both pulled off podium finishes in the 27k. Rebecca raced freestyle and Mike raced classic and both finished second overall.

The skiers and volunteers deserve major kudos for braving the elements for this memorable VASA. This week, the focus is on rest and recovery for the Birkie this coming weekend!

Kailtyn Patterson, Dan Yankus, and Alex Vanias Take 1st Women, 2nd and 3rd Overall, Respectively at White Pine Stampede

February 12th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Mike Davis, Team OAM Now Nordic Skier

Team OAM Now had a full attendance last weekend at the White Pine Stampede, with the exception of Jon Morgan, who is still out from a fall he had at the Noquemanon. The White Pine Stampede is a point-to-point race starting at the Mancelona High School and finishing at the Summit Center of Shanty Creek Resorts. Each Team OAM Now member competed in the 50k skate race this week, with two members finishing in the top three overall and Kaitlyn Patterson winning the women’s race.

The White Pine course was well groomed, although some fresh snow fall from the evening before left some powder over the trail. Many of the racers used different waxing combinations, some of which worked very well. Between the fresh snow and warmer than expected temperatures, it was a difficult race to figure out.

The White Pine was my first 50k skate race, so I took a fairly conservative approach. Skate skiing is my weaker of the two skiing disciplines as I have more opportunities to train classic. My main goal for this race was to come in to the finish with something left. I did not want to get to the 25k marker and have no legs left for the hills in the second half.

The start took off a little slower than normal, so I was farther up in the pack than I had planned to be. I got nearly to the 10k marker and felt like I was going harder than I wanted. After that, I paced the rest of the race much better and came to the finish with some energy left in the tank. I was able to finish 18th overall with a time of 2:35:01.

Dan Yankus was able to finish 2nd overall in 2:12:37. Alex Vanias finished 3rd overall just 6 seconds behind Dan. Kaitlyn Patterson was the first woman skier and 7th overall. Her time was 2:26:55. Rebecca Davis was able to finish 31st overall, which made her the 5th woman, although she broke about 10 inches of her pole with 22k left in the race. Her time was 2:45:26.

Also OAM’s own Julian Kuz finished 16th overall.