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Our Big, Fat Greek Adventure

April 25th, 2016 by Kaitlyn Patterson

Last weekend, Alex Vanias and I took our OAM NOW kits across the Atlantic to compete in the Lamia Challenge UCI mountain bike stage race as part of our trip to Greece.

Before we begin the epic tale, I shall first clear up a few points about how this whole thing came to be.

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece located in the northern part of the country. You can look across the bay of the Aegean Sea to see Mt. Olympus

Why Greece?

Alex was actually born in Thessaloniki, Greece and lived there for most of the first 12 years of his life. He moved to the U.S. in junior high but still has family and friends there. A trip to Greece has been on the bucket list for quite a while since Alex hasn’t been back to visit in six years and I have never been there despite being his partner in crime for more than four years. One thing on Alex’s bucket list was racing his bike in the motherland, so the planning began.

How did you choose the race?

Race selection involved Alex poring over a list (pages long-who knew?!) of road and mountain races in Greece, and the Lamia UCI Challenge was chosen for the following reasons: 1.) We could hit three races in one weekend 2.) It was a UCI race with the potential for solid competition and UCI points and 3.) Alex’s plans never lack ambition. The early date limited our MTB specific prep though, especially since we had snow in Traverse City until the day we flew out and we made a quick transition from ski season to cycling.

So with about six weeks of committed training on the bike including some trainer intervals, one gravel road race, a week in North Carolina, and a handful of March mountain bike rides, we were off to do our first UCI race. And even with as much research as we could do, we really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

En route to climbing Mt. Chortiatis. Thessaloniki can be seen in the background.

In the days leading up to the race after arriving in Greece, we decided to sacrifice some freshness to spend some quality time on our mountain bikes and get acquainted with the rocks, mountains, and heat. My brain was overloaded with all the new stimuli that the first ride was a bit surreal but I did learn several things- 1.) My concept of climbing was redefined yet again. Who needs switchbacks when you can go straight up? 2.) The lines that look like roads on the map are literally and figuratively goat trails 3.) The goats will not move out of your way quickly 4.) I’ll take the goat trails over the terrifying drivers on the convoluted, narrow roads. 4=5.) Greece is beautiful but also a bit sad. You can look out from the mountain for views of the Aegean Sea and Mount Olympus but then you look around you and there are houses, buildings, animals and people in various stages of neglect.

The day before the race, we traveled the several hours southwest to the smaller town of Lamia, which based on everyone’s reaction, was a very odd place to hold a race. We wanted to pre-ride at least a portion of the 40km point to point race so we headed towards the race start about 23 km from Lamia after picking up our packets. Soon we were headed up endless switchbacks and Lamia faded below us in some truly amazing mountain scenery. However, the isolation and elevation were definitely making me wonder what I got myself into. Alex’s mom, Terri, was our race support for the weekend and handled the mountain roads in a manual van like a champ. She dropped us off at the start and somewhat reluctantly continued on to the village we hoped to end up. The portions of the course we rode confirmed our thoughts that we just might be in over our heads. The climbs were open, sustained and wonderful but the singletrack sections were like nothing we have in Michigan (understatement). Thankfully, the ratio of mountain roads to singletrack was manageable and it really was an awesome, real mountain bike course.

Just heading to a race start…

I felt like I went back in time 100 years going through these remote mountain villages

Day 1- 40k point to point

OAM NOW represent!

The next morning after a restless and anxious night, we headed up the mountain again, thankful we had scoped it out the day before. We joined a small contingent of Greek, Bosnian, German and Belgian riders at the modest start area. Although the race instructions were announced in careful English, Greek was the dominant language (including Terri and Alex), which contributed to the disorienting and surreal experience. Since it was a logistically difficult and new race, the start lists were very small with only four women and eight men lining up. Terri was armed with an official feed zone tag and quickly befriended the other coaches and support crews.

The tiny womens field takes off for a brutal 40k cross country race

Although the starting miles were open and downhill, the men gunned it from the line and I watched Alex disappear, hoping for the best. Two minutes later, my small women’s contingent headed off. Although I had been planning on starting conservatively on the downhill start to assess the other riders’ singletrack skills, the switch clicked in my brain that turns me into a different cyclist when I’m racing. The best Greek rider, Varvara Fasoi, attacked off the line and the other girls didn’t respond so I led the chase. I had a fleeting sense of optimism as I kept her in sight but just a couple curves up the road, I saw Alex fixing a flat. I considered that he needs to figure out how to make peace with the bike gods or Greek gods or whoever can help his terrible racing luck, but I tried to shake it off and hoped it was fixable so he could finish and have another chance to race.

The first extended road climb further shattered the women’s field and I held second but had lost sight of Varvara on the singletrack. To my relief, Alex caught me at the top and disappeared into the mystery of the portion of the course we did not pre-ride.

Elevation profile of the first 20 miles

Although I usually wish for climbs, the backside of the course was undeniably more than I bargained for. The loose road climbs were relentless and steep enough that I ran out of gears and seriously contemplated getting off my bike and walking (and I thought I was a climber).

And to make matters worse, I came upon Alex again waiting for me so he could use my tube and pump after another flat. (The Greek racers use tougher tires, the whole country is comprised of sharp rocks).

Considering the circumstances, I still felt pretty good and was pleasantly surprised I was holding a reasonable gap to Varvara and had not been caught from behind over halfway through the race. However, I should have known that it couldn’t be that easy. With about four miles to go I also got a flat that wasn’t sealing. Without my own tube, I didn’t have many options since everyone else was racing 29ers. I knew I had to make it work to stay in the hunt and I resigned to hiking my bike the final four miles, conceding a lot of time and ultimately finishing last. Major bummer for both of us but I was pleased with how I was riding before disaster struck and we both lived to race another day.

It was a slight consolation that I was essentially hiking through an enchanted forest. It definitely could have been worse.

No, we did not have to cross that bridge although we did race across a couple just as questionable.

Even though it was only 25 miles, that race ripped me to shreds. Although I was previously a bit bummed that the individual time trial on the second day was only 4.55km, after the first race, I felt that would be about all I could manage. However, because it was a short TT, pre-riding the course would be very important. And since it was a UCI race, the course was only open to train on at certain times, which meant we had to summon the mental and physical energy after the race to fix our tires and check out our next challenge.

I don’t think I’ve ever had so many moments in such a condensed time period that I didn’t think there was any way I could do something but then somehow managed to pull it off. Well, riding that course after the race was one of those times. Even though this race was held in a park in town, this did not save us from a punishing elevation profile with 750 feet of climbing per lap and quite a few technical features. When I hit a certain threshold of fatigue, my bravery level drops precipitously, which made for an interesting pre-ride on the rock gardens, drops, and bridges.

However, I realized I simply did not have a choice besides getting off my bike at anything difficult when I am supposed to be in the “pro” mtb race with everyone watching. So we made it happen feature by feature and major kudos to coach Alex.

Day 2- Individual TT

The second race was held as part of a day of racing including citizen and junior classes. I was really impressed with the number of junior racers (especially girls!) and the technical trails they were riding. The UCI race was the last of the day (so it warmed up nicely to nearly 90 degrees) and we headed off in one minute intervals for one hot lap.

Alex and I seeking shade as we waited for our TT start time

Since the race format and course did not play to our strengths and with some definite fatigue and jetlag going on, neither of us had especially high expectations. It went about as smoothly as we could have hoped, considering the circumstances and the best part was it was less than 20 minutes of suffering and the day was done. When the results were posted later, to my surprise “the American girl” ended up second! I was pleased but knew I was benefiting from a relatively weak field and a scarcity of female cyclists around the world.

On the podium! Redemption from flatting the first day

The results from the men’s race were the first direct comparison for Alex since it was hard to extrapolate how his performance would have compared without the mechanicals the previous day. However, the TT confirmed that he really was racing Greek ninjas as they absolutely blazed the course. Although he was a bit incredulous with the reality check, it was soon turned into resolve for the mass start circuit race the last day.

Day 3- Short Track Circuit Race

The circuit race was held on the same course as the TT- four laps for the women and five for the men. This was possibly the most mentally challenging race going in because of the fatigue level and the technical and physical demands of the course, this time repeated over and over. I felt pretty terrible the morning of the race and was off the back immediately on the downhill start. I managed to rally and catch two of my competitors but I couldn’t match Lejla (Bosnia) on the downhills and settled for third.

Almost perfect timing! The men and women raced together and I crossed Alexs path, 5ft below!

Almost perfect timing- the men and women raced together and Alex crossed my path 7ft above!

The final showdown- men’s race lining up

With the mission of holding on to the field as long as possible, Alex battled Theodoros Petridis, the whole race, only dropping back after an endo from a rear brake issue (only flesh wound souvenirs).

Added bonus. Prize Euros!

Making friends with the Greek National coaches

Overall it was the coolest, most epic experience ever. Although the results might show the Americans tailing at the bottom of the G.C. results, there is something to be said about jumping into a deep pool without a life vest and making it work. Our perspective of what is difficult has been shifted which can be applied to racing this season and beyond. And if nothing else, U.S. mountain bike racing here we come!

Spring Criterium Training Series at Kent ISD

April 6th, 2016 by Kaitlyn Patterson

Although it might look more like December than April outside, road racing season is coming soon!

Spring training races are a great way to boost fitness, skills, and confidence early in the season. Cyclists from Southeast Michigan have opportunities through Waterford Spring Training Series and Ann Arbor Spring Training Series but now there is an option for the West side of the state!

Ignite your event is hosting a series of “Saturday Showdown” criterium training races held at Kent ISD Knapp Campus (take note- some races are on Sunday!) These races are not sanctioned by USA Cycling so there is no license required to race. There will be an A and B race every week. The B race will be 45 minutes in duration and begin at 12pm. The “A” race will be 60 minutes and begin at 1pm.

There will be a race every weekend in April leading up to the Kent ISD Criterium on May 7 which is a USAC event.

Race dates are:
Sunday, April 10th
Sunday, April 24th
Saturday, April 30th

Detailed race information can be found here http://www.igniteyourevent.com/saturday-showdown-kent-isd/

The address for Kent ISD is located at 2930 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Liv Mountain Bike Skills Clinic on May 2nd!

April 6th, 2016 by Kaitlyn Patterson

Need help conquering the learning curve of mountain biking? Want to improve your skills and confidence in a non-intimidating environment?

Take advantage of a cool opportunity through Liv Cycling coming to Southeast Michigan in May!

Giant is a leader in women’s cycling with Liv, their women’s specific product line. Liv is focused on helping make cycling accessible for women through both products and outreach efforts. Liv will be hosting a mountain bike skills clinic and demo at Highland Recreation Trail on Monday, May 2nd, 2016.

The clinic will consist of a skills clinic from 5:30 to 6:30 pm covering proper gearing, braking and body positioning to improve confidence and efficiency. The clinic will be followed by a no-drop ride from 6:30-7:30. All levels of riders are welcome to attend.

Liv mountain bikes will also be available to demo for the clinic. If you would like to demo a bike for the ride, please arrive early and bring a helmet, shoes and a credit card. Please contact Velocipede Peddler to reserve a bike in advance, 1353 E Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823, 517-351-7240.

More information about the clinic and bikes available to demo can be found on the Giant website.

Ride Life Ride Giant and Liv Demos will also be available at various sites in Michigan this spring.

Stoney Creek Metro Park- April 30
Burchfield Park (Lansing) – May 1
Midland City Forest Park- May 3
Boyne Mountain- May 5
Island Lake Recreation Area- May 7
Luton Park (Rockford)- May 8

Six Reasons Nordic is Hard, but Also Awesome

February 12th, 2016 by Kaitlyn Patterson

–By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM Now skier and cyclist

Cross country skiing is a unique sport and as you get more immersed in the sport, the more quirks arise. For a bit of skiing enlightenment for curious onlookers, I made a list of some of the quirky parts of nordic skiing that make it an intriguing sport.

Kaitlyn en route to winning the White Pine Stampede this season

The challenge of mastering not just one, but two different techniques
Actually, master is a strong word. Most skiers are naturally better at one and often set up their priority races around that strength (at least mortals who are not professional skiers). Key workouts reflect the demands of important races so it can be easy to neglect improving the weaker technique. Some aspects transfer across techniques (strong double poling, weight transfer, cornering) but they are definitely each unique beasts.

Classic-(also known as striding, or kicking and gliding this is often more well-known in the general population)- Although classic skiing might be the easiest to learn, it is probably the hardest to master as there are a lot of technique subtleties that make it far from running on skis. Since there is a lot of double poling in classic races, athletes with strong upper bodies can have great potential, paddlers are an excellent example of this.

Freestyle: (also known as skating, it is similiar to a rollerblading or ice skating motion)- Skating is the faster technique but requires a wide, groomed trail. The technique definitely has a learning curve and is exhausting without technique. But when it is done well, it’s a beautiful thing.

Alex Vanias skating at U.S. Nationals earlier this season

Skiers need an engine, guns, and finesse
If an athlete have at least one these attributes in a sport, they can often be decent. But similiar to swimming, it is harder to get away faking any of them in skiing. Even if a skier has the highest VO2 max on the start line, if he flails around for a couple hours he won’t win. Or even come close. He will likely be mortified that there are people who look much older, bigger, less fit, have two X chromosomes, etc, who are beating him. By a lot.

On the other hand, good technique goes a long way but also takes time, patience and a good coach. Besides a strong aerobic system and technique, you also need to be strong. Skiing places huge demands on muscle groups that are often neglected like the core, shoulders, back and hips.

It helps to be part Eskimo and part physicist
Snow is never just snow. Eskimos have 50 words for snow and skiers essentially do the same thing, just likely not as eloquently. Differences in the snow will influence which glide wax to use to make skis faster or which kick wax to use on classic skis to allow for adequate kick up the hills.

Differences in air temperature, humidity, and how long the snow has been around are all factors in the structure of the snow and therefore how it interacts with the base of your ski. At recreational levels, using the temperature to pick which wax is just fine, but at the highest level (and budget) all these factors will come into play to select the fastest skis and wax.

To compete on the highest level, an arsenal of skis is necessary to be prepared for any conditions.

As much as some people (like me) hate to admit that equipment matters, wax and skis are a huge factor in skiing and can make the difference between the race of your life and a terrible race, even with the same output from the athlete.

Unpredictable weather is a significant source of anxiety
Because of the importance of ski and wax selection in racing, the weather plays a huge factor. Weather forecasts are not necessarily known for their impeccable accuracy and when a race is riding on it, this can be a stressful state of affairs. Similar anxiety strikes with especially weird weather or drastic temperature changes over the course of the race.

For example, a conversation en route to a race watching the thermometer on the car might sound like this. “It’s too cold, it wasn’t supposed to be this cold. Think we will have time to rewax when we get there? Why can’t they ever get it right?!”

Marathons require ninja fueling skills.
Ever try handling a cylindrical object with 5 foot sticks strapped to your hands while traveling at 10+ miles per hour at 80-90% max HR? Enough said. Fueling requires practice and attention to logistical challenges. Bottles freeze, camelbak hoses freeze and cold gels change from semisolids to solids. Solutions include insulated bottles, awesome friends or family willing to do bottle handoffs, and practice with a drink belt and gels that remain accessible.

Skiing easy demands skiing verrry sloooowly

Since it is such a full-body, demanding activity, it can be hard to ski easy enough to be considered recovery. It can be done, but is easier alone and if necessary not uploaded to Strava (check out Elaine’s blog post on that topic!)

Although it might sound like an overly technical and intimidating sport, cross country skiing can be an accessible and enjoyable form of cross training, recreation or competition. The quirky technicalities of the sport at higher levels are fun to some but are not a barrier to enjoying the woods at any speed.

Team OAM NOW XC Ski Clinic- It Really Did Snow This Year!

February 4th, 2016 by Kaitlyn Patterson

For cyclists, this winter in southeast Michigan has been great for riding with the warmer temps and low (No!) snowfall. However, for cross country skiers like those members of the Team OAM NOW Nordic Ski Team, the fall period of roller skiing, wet runs, increasing cold and darker nights on roads is all in anticipation of SNOW and the fabulous sport of cross country skiing. Needless to say, we all thought the season was off to a great start when we had 16” of snow followed by a week of cold weather at Thanksgiving. We had planned a “dry-land XC clinic” and had more than 20 kids and adults from the Boys Trail Life Group show up to get fitted, learn some basics and get introduced to Huron Meadows Metropark near Brighton, Michigan.

Jon Morgan of Team OAM Now, Lee Ries, and Adam Haberkorn of Huron Meadows hosted an overview of XC skiing for the Boys Trail Life Group

Comically, on a day when we thought we would run and speed hike with the Boys Trail Life Group on grass, it started to snow and didn’t stop. We ran the Buck’s run loop in the maelstrom and assumed we would be back on snow for the next clinic. The picture below is the group heading out into the storm that left us with 16” and five days glorious days of early season base training.

The crew heading into the storm…

And coming back in (still smiling!)

Unfortunately the winter has been the lowest snowfall on record recently for the southeastern Michigan area, but the Huron Meadows staff and miraculous snowmaking has saved the season for many and the Buck’s Run 2.5k loop has been skiable nearly every day in 2016.

The base is perfect and we will host another clinic this Sunday, February 7 from 3:30-5:00 for the Trial Life Group and others who have expressed interest. Despite the CRAZY warm weather, the course is being rebuilt on Thursday from the mountain of snow stock and the clinic will go on as scheduled. ANYONE is welcome, Huron Meadows rents very good skis at the clubhouse, and the Bucks Run course is fun, easy, sheltered and fun. All Team OAM Now members are welcome, come out and join us! This is the last weekend clinic until March due to racing…wish us luck!

January Michigan Cup Racing Highlights

February 1st, 2016 by Kaitlyn Patterson

January is already over and cross country ski season is in full swing! The ski season in Michigan is very condensed and the late start to due to minimal December snowfall makes it even shorter. However, the Nordic team has been busy racing across the state from Brighton to Marquette with four race weekends in the books. Each race is part of the Michigan Cup circuit which connects the cross country ski races across the state into an overall series competition for both teams and individuals.

Team OAM Now skiers represent our Cross Country Ski Shop partner by competing on the Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop Michigan Cup Team. The small but talented Team OAM Now contingent helped Cross Country Ski Shop to win the Brumbaugh Cup the past two seasons. Team OAM Now skiers have taken the overall Michigan Cup individual title for both men and women the past two years. Kaitlyn Patterson won the women’s title in both 2014 and 2015, Alex Vanias won the men’s title in 2014 and Dan Yankus in 2015.

Hanson Hills/Cross Country Ski Shop team won the Brumbaugh Cup in 2014 and Kaitlyn and Alex won the Individual Michigan Cup titles (photo credit: NordicSki Racer)

In the month of January, Team OAM Now skiers competed in five Michigan Cup races- Frosty Freestyle, Krazy Klassic, Cote Dame Marie, Noquemanon, and Forbush Freestyle. The Nordic team is missing leader Dan Yankus who is not competing in nordic this season to focus his limited time on cyclocross and road racing.

Frosty Freestyle- Frosty Triumphs Over Dire Snow Conditions
-By Jon Morgan, Team OAM Now skier and cyclist

Falling the second weekend in January in southeast Michigan, the Frosty Freestyle historically deals with challenging weather conditions and this year was no different. However, the staff at Huron Meadows and the race organizers do an amazing job with snowmaking and grooming and manage to put on a high quality race even with no natural snow whatsoever.

Jon Morgan competes in the Frosty Freestyle held completely on man-made snow

Jon Morgan races the Frosty Freestyle held completely on man-made snow

The 2016 Frosty Freestyle race was very tentative with five days of above freezing temps and rain leading up to the race. The organizers pulled it off yet again and created a very good 2.5kilometer course appearing as a strip of snow across the grass.

On race day, skiers were met with a firm fast course of artificial snow with heavy (real!) snow falling during the race. Jon Morgan kicked off his ski season by winning his age group and taking 11^th overall despite breaking a pole in lap 3 of the race. Jon is returning strong after a hamstring injury ended his 2015 ski season prematurely. Jon also raced in the classic style event on Sunday- the Krazy Klassic. Due to the short race on a flat course, most racers chose to go without kick wax and double pole the whole race. Jon won his age group yet again and took 9^th overall.

Kaitlyn and Alex represented Team OAM Now at the SISU Ski Fest instead, missing the lower peninsula races.

Results

Cote Dame Marie- Two Wins in Ideal Racing Conditions

The following weekend at the Cote Dame Marie, racers reconvened in Grayling, 175 miles north of Brighton to find ideal mid-winter racing conditions. The men raced 26k in the freestyle technique over two laps of a gently rolling course at Hanson Hills Ski Trails. The women raced only one lap for 13k.

Kaitlyn leads out the women's race. She won the 13k race in 44: , (Photo credit: Curt Peterson)

Kaitlyn leads out the women’s race. She won the 13k race in 44:06 (Photo credit: Curt Peterson)

Alex dropped the field within a kilometer to win over Milan Baic by over two minutes. Jon Morgan took 14^th overall in a strong field.

Kaitlyn also dropped the women’s field within a kilometer, finishing over a minute ahead of former Northern Michigan University skier Jordyn Ross who took second. Kaitlyn continued on to finish the second lap for 26k of racing. Her 26k time stood as 11^th overall in the men’s field.

Results

Noquemanon Ski Marathon- A Technical and Physical Challenge

Alex competes in the 2016 Noquemanon Marathon. He finished eighth in the 50k classic event.

The Noquemanon is a popular point to point race that starts in Ishpeming and ends in front of the Superior Dome in Marquette. It follows much of the same course as the popular Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic. Although the course features a net descent of 1,000 feet, it is deceptively difficult with steep climbing, frozen lake crossings, and technical descents. The Noque also can be especially difficult to wax for due to the significant temperature fluctuations across the course.

The epic course of the Noquemanon Ski Marathon. It is almost a shame to race past all the beautiful lookouts

The Noquemanon is unique in that the classic race is the premier race drawing the most competitive fields and offering a significant prize purse. Alex, Kaitlyn and Jon all competed in the 50k classic event.

Although the night before the race was balmy and hovered around 30 degrees, clear skies overnight led to a significant temperature drop to 16 degrees race morning. Alex skied with the lead pack of guys for ten miles but unfortunately one icy lake crossing sheared much of his kick wax off. Despite double poling most of the second half, he didn’t concede much time and finished eighth overall in 2:39:37 for his best Noque placing yet. Although the second half features a “net” descent, there is still plenty of climbing and not being able to use your legs much is hard, especially for a cyclist.

Kaitlyn also struggled after losing kick wax and having to rely on upper body strength. Jon caught Kaitlyn in the double poling sections the second half and the pair skied the remainder of the race together. Jon took 44th overall finishing in 3:16:52. Kaitlyn finished as the fifth female overall in 3:17:31.

Results

Forbush Freestyle- Windy, Slushy Success

–By Alex Vanias, Team OAM Now skier and cyclist

The Forbush Freestyle course. The trails are deceptively challenging and fun

Alex was the lone Team OAM Now skier to race at Forbush Corner near Grayling the last weekend in January. The trails at Forbush corner are twisty, hilly and fun. They fit an impressive amount of trail in a condensed area and you would never know how close the freeway is!

Alex pulled away in the first several kilometers to win by two minutes yet again on his new Speedmax skis.

“It was right around 32 degrees at the start and warmed to mid 30’s during the race. The snow was acting a bit colder than air temp, so I opted for my cold grind Speedmax with extra hand structure added in. I did two passes of the Swix 0.5mm broken-V roller and one pass of the 1.0mm Linear roller to deal with the moisture as the snow warmed up, without adding much drag at the start. My glide was as good or better than the competition. The second lap had churned up snow on the climbs and was a bit soft for my stiffest ski, but I found the tracks were solid on the descents and made up for the climbing struggles.”

Kaitlyn and Jon will compete in the White Pine Stampede the first weekend in February while Alex will travel to Minneapolis to test himself against some of the best skiers in the Midwest at the City of the Lakes Loppet.

Nordic Immersion- Watching, Writing, and Racing

January 13th, 2016 by Kaitlyn Patterson

-By Kaitlyn Patterson, OAM NOW Nordic Skier and Cyclist

To kick off 2016 I made the trek to Houghton, Michigan to attend U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships (also known as U.S. Nationals) held the first week in January. But instead of lining up as a competitor, my job was to be a professional observer for the week. Since November I have been writing for FasterSkier, one of the primary sources of North American cross country ski news. I mostly cover World Cup events remotely but since U.S. Nationals were held in the Midwest, I got my first shot at on-site reporting.

Nationals consists of four days of racing including an interval start race (racers go off one by one and race the clock, just like a time trial), two days of head to head sprint racing, and a mass start distance race. The event is held early in the season because it allows athletes a chance to qualify to represent the U.S. in international competition the remainder of the season. Since it is held so early, I didn’t plan on racing to give me more time to transition to ski season after an intense fall of cycling. However, teammate Alex Vanias prioritized roller skiing all summer and fall and would compete in the 30-kilometer mass start freestyle event despite having only one week of on-snow training prior to the race.

Michigan Tech did an amazing job hosting the event with limited snow and skiers from all over the U.S. and Canada converged in Houghton. I enjoy watching races almost as much as I enjoy competing and I got to see some great battles. I also had a chance to meet some really impressive, down to earth athletes and coaches including another Caitlin Patterson of the nordic ski world who had a great weekend and won both distance races (together we confuse a lot of people). Our hotel was filled with skiers making for a fun and quirky place to hang out. Basically the week could be best described as doing quirky things in a quirky place with quirky people. And it was great.

My FasterSkier partner Gabby and I even had official "media" bibs allowing us access to any part of the course.

My FasterSkier partner Gabby and I even had official “media” bibs allowing us on any part of the course

On my “days off” from race reporting I got to enjoy some of the best skiing in the Midwest at the Michigan Tech trails. We also had amazing weather with temps between 15 and 30 degrees and a couple days of sunshine!

Ski trails the width of a highway!

Enjoying the Houghton sunshine!

Finally the day of the mass start freestyle event arrived. It was a great field and I was excited to watch the race up front and see what Alex could do. The day didn’t disappoint with an impressive win by Tad Elliott who came back from a rough couple years battling mono and Epstein-Barr virus. Alex moved up from starting position 76 to finish 43rd against a talented field of collegiate and professional athletes.

Alex competing in the 30k freestyle at U.S. Nationals

After watching races all week and feeling great skiing, I was itching to race. Alex planned on racing the 42k event at the SISU Ski Fest in Ironwood two days after his 30k. After working out some logistics, I decided I could join him and return to Houghton to wrap up U.S. Nats reporting.

Ironwood is a small, old mining town on the border of Wisconsin with strong Finnish history. Everyone is incredibly friendly and the town rolls out the red carpet for racers including traditional stew and pasties at the “Finnish” line. Hundreds of snow-deprived skiers from across the Midwest arrived excited for the new snow and great racing conditions.

Sisu is a Finnish word meaning determination, bravery, and resilience.

The course wound through the ABR trail system before heading north to finish in downtown Ironwood. Both Alex and I started in the elite wave and after narrowly avoiding a pileup in the first 100 meters, we were off!

I settled in a train of guys along with the one other female. It was great to be racing again but I noticed pretty early in the race that I had underestimated the stress of skiing and working all week. I attempted to ski relaxed but the spent too much time accelerating and trying to pass other racers on the narrow trail. At about 30k, the first female took off and by the time I passed the racer in between us and began chasing, she was out of sight. I had also fallen behind in my fuel intake and sat in the back of the train to regroup. I was able to rally but it was a bit too little, too late and I finished second- just over a minute off the lead. The winner was Jan Guenther, an accomplished skier and triathlete who also owns Gear West- the biggest nordic ski shop in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Alex was fighting a much tighter battle for the win against Matt Leibsch. Matt is one of the top cross country racers in the country with a previous Birkie win and a two top-10 results at U.S. Nationals this week. Alex and Matt dropped the field early and despite Matt’s efforts to drop him, Alex was skiing strong and it became apparent it would come down to the finishing kick. Matt overtook Alex the last kilometer to win by just 18 seconds.

SISU 42k freestyle men’s podium. The quick lumberjack is Matt Liebsch, followed by Alex Vanias, and Nicholas Power. (Photo: Vic Calore)

It was a great two races for Alex and a testament to his off-season training and potential for the season. It was an epic week for both of us and I’m excited that winter has finally arrived in Traverse City so we can train and race!

The OAM Nordic Team will be back in action this Saturday, January 16 for the Cote Dame Marie in Grayling, right in the backyard of our ski shop sponsor- Cross Country Ski Shop!

Results for U.S. Nationals 30k freestyle

Results for SISU Ski Fest

Two Great Tri Clinics, One Place: Presented by Team OAM NOW & Athletic Mentors

January 12th, 2016 by Erin Young

TRI 101: Presented by Team OAM NOW & Athletic Mentors

This is a great clinic to come hear what Triathlon is all about. If you have been considering doing a TRI or have done a few and are looking for tips to improve, this will be time well spent!

Where: Downtown YMCA

When: Saturday, January 16th 9:00am- 10:15am

Click here to register

Swim Technique & Training: Presented by Team OAM NOW & Athletic Mentors

Open to all levels, but geared toward athletes looking to step beyond beginner. Swim stroke technique discussions and training recommendations.

Where: Downtown YMCA

When: Saturday, January 16th 10:30am – 11:30am

Click here to register

Tough Training Lessons from Strava

January 12th, 2016 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Elaine Sheikh, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

When I first started becoming serious about endurance sports a few years ago, several cyclists I rode with on Tuesday nights mentioned using Strava. I really had no idea how it worked. For me, training consisted of swimming, cycling, and running basically whenever I felt like it, and mixing in body weight workouts and yoga to keep everything fresh. When other athletes suggested I make an account and upload my workouts, “Not for me,” I replied. “I have limited data and I use Apple Maps so I won’t get lost. I have it on my little wireless cateye computer and I pop it into my excel spreadsheet so I can make sure I’m biking enough.”

That was the attitude I had until I began veterinary school at Michigan State University. There, I met some intense triathletes who really encouraged me to get Strava. “We have an MSU Tri Club Strava group! We can all keep tabs on each other! It’s really fun!” I caved. I learned how to upload activities from my watch so that I didn’t have to use my phone. I manually entered swims. And, I started tracking other athletes. While I know Strava is great for some people, it was, undoubtedly, one of the worst decisions I made in my triathlon journey.

Still, I learned a lot in the year and a half that I used Strava on a regular basis. I want to share those lessons so that others can learn how to avoid the pitfalls of any form of social networking focused on training. Again, I think Strava is a great tool for many people, and I don’t want to minimize that in any way. However, it’s like diet. Some athletes thrive on a vegan diet. Some swear by a high-fat, low-carb approach. Others perform well on just about anything they want to eat. Every athlete is different physically, mentally, and spiritually, so take anyone’s advice with a grain of salt. What works for me may or may not work for you. Here’s what I learned:
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Giving Back: Getting by with a little help from the elves

January 3rd, 2016 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Jim Allan, Team OAM Now Cyclist

A December holiday ritual for members and friends of the OAM NOW/ATHLETIC MENTORS Team is the annual Elves and More Bicycle Build. The Elves and More West Michigan organization raises funds to purchase bicycles that are assembled by volunteers and then distributed into an undisclosed neighborhood to boys and girls. Their involvement and record is impressive as described in the background information:

“In the last eleven years, Elves & More- West Michigan has provided 11,800 new bikes and helmets and 3,300 treasure bags of toys and needed items to all the children in the ten neighborhoods of Grand Rapids. With the financial help of many generous people and companies and the continuous efforts of our volunteers, we expect another amazing year.”

After dressing for the task in festive Christmas caps and capturing the obligatory pre-event photo, the team went right to work assembling the bicycles. A nice group attended the event including: Leonard Van Drunen, Pete Chadwick, Steve Schousen, Jim Allan, Dan Gauthier, Roxane Kippen, Danielle Nye, Mike Hoogerland, Greg Neagos, Paul and Steve Buccella, Jim Fottis, Dave Newton, Alan and Mari-Megan Moore.There is usually a re-training period for the returning alumni as well as tips for the newbies and, after a little startup balancing of assignments, the work table and surrounding work stands become a whirlwind of activity. It doesn’t matter what your skillset is coming into this event, everyone leaves with an appreciation for all aspects of bicycle construction.

The whole process is dependent upon on-the-job training and, as such, a few bikes are returned until all the requirements are met.

It is always gratifying to see Steve Buccella’s father Paul, who is approaching 95 years old and is now in his second year of helping us, happily pitching in to help unpack the bicycles and prepare them for assembly.

Our method of counting the completed bicycles included a flaw, so we have to estimate that in a (90) minute period our team assembled in excess of (120) bicycles. The total output of all teams was in excess of (1100) bicycles.

And this event is not all work and no play, since we always follow with a conversational ride to Rockford for lunch and then further up the White Pine Trail. Unfortunately, we were met again by rain, so this year we were more attentive and turned around before reaching the 25 mile point.

All in all, it’s an outstanding way to spend a Saturday with great team mates to benefit an outstanding cause and have a lot of fun while connecting with community.