Sponsor News

Volunteering to Encourage New Runners and Riders

June 24th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

On May 22, Greater Kalamazoo Girls on the Run, hosted nearly 3,500 people to run its annual 5K event. 1,800 of those participants were 3rd-5th grade girls who participated in the Girls on the Run program which is designed to teach positive lifestyle lessons, and self-esteem, to girls through running and other activities. The rest of the runners are community and family members looking to support the girls on what is, for many, their first 5K. The annual 5K is a huge community event with a spectator lined course and the support of many local businesses and organizations as well as kick-off and finish line celebrations. This year, the race lead off featured our very own GOTR Leadout Robyn Kaiser and Jeff Mira who not only started the race, but also helped enable the race’s first ever hand-cyclist to participate. Certainly this is a milestone for the organization, and hopefully the first of many 5K races to come for all participants.

Similarly, Kalamazoo’s Bike Week enabled Team OAM NOW members Read the rest of this entry »

Repetitive Use Injuries: Tendonitis and Tendonosis

June 19th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Jeffery D Regan LPT RTR Director of Rehab Services OAM

During the past 24 years of my experience in physical therapy, I have been fortunate to be involved in the education, training, and rehabilitation of many athletes from young to old, from amateur to professional. Orthopedic Associates of Michigan (OAM) and I are honored to be a part of this organization; we also look forward to reaching out through this blog to answer any questions you may have in regards to your specific sport and/or training. I’m a hockey, baseball, and running guy by trade, but if I don’t know an answer to your question, I have the resources and personnel to get it. Regardless of sport, one common ailment we see is repetitive use injuries in the form of: tendonitis or tendonosis.

Normal vs. Inflamed Tendon

The simple definition of tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon caused by:

1. Doing too much too soon on a soft tissue structure that was not physically capable of handling the load placed upon it.
2. A bio-mechanical abnormality that improperly loads the tendon with force that is not in alignment with the fibers of the tendon itself.
3. A bio-mechanical abnormality where the tendon is being compressed between two or more boney structures.
4. A lack of range of motion leading to abnormal friction on a boney prominence. While there are sometimes other causes, these are the top reasons it manifests in athletes.

Tendonosis, on the other hand, Read the rest of this entry »

Master Men Cyclist Dave Stebbins Talks 24-HR National Challenge

June 11th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

The 24-hr National Challenge has taken place every Father’s Day since 1983. According to the website, it’s a race to test both endurance and determination. Cyclists come from all over the world to participate. Athletic Mentors took the time to talk with Team OAM NOW Masters Men Cyclist and 2005 winner Dave Stebbins.

AM: In addition to the 2005 National 24 HR Challenge Middleville MI win with 477.7 miles, you also came in first in your age group in 2013 with 401.1 miles. What’s your goal for this year’s race?

DS: Last year’s race had a 2 hour 47 minute thunder storm delay from 1:15 am until just after 4 am, so everyone’s miles were down last year. This year will be my 11th 24-hour race . I have finished 2nd overall 4 times and 1st in 2005. This year, my goal is the same as each year I’ve competed:
1. Train to the best of my ability.
2. Ride my own race.
3. Stay on the bike for 24 hrs, stop only at check points, and monitor both nutrition and liquids.
4. Be totally prepared for the unexpected.
5. Just to stress it: stay on the bike and do not stop.

AM: Why the 24 Hr challenge? Why this race? What brings you back to it year after year?

DS: Glenn Dik, also on our team [and also racing this year], is why. He did 10 of these before my 1st one and is 6th overall on the all-time miles list. I like to do this race because it is local. It may not be the biggest, but it’s by far the hardest thing I have ever done. So many Ironman Triathletes talk about the full Ironman to which I say challenge yourself; try the 24-hr. At least the Ironman competitor gets to go and sleep after the race. 24-hr speaks for itself. The personal challenge of fighting with mother nature (age) and seeing how we can stay moving on the bike for 24hrs keeps me coming back every few years.

AM: What surprised you the first time? Anything that still surprises you?

DS: The first one I did, honestly, I rode 366 miles. I was surprised by what the leaders did…they road 470. I just stuck with it. In 2005, I did 477.7. That first year, I was in awe that they put 100 miles on me. I was new so I stopped a lot, but I was so impressed by them and by what the human body can do when we push it.

AM: How do you prepare/train for this race? How long? Any particular training strategies (ones that you’d care to share?)

DS: Strength training. Cross-training: run, swim, cycle (a lot). Recovery, nutrition, and rest are equally important. Train, eat, sleep, recover. Repeat. So much of this, and racing, is mental. I keep things positive, and training one’s self to do that is crucial. I train my mind as hard as I train my body. I’m going to use this word, tired, but I don’t feel it. I tell myself I am not going to get tired. When tired comes, or fatigue, just the word in my head, I literally see a stop sign that says no, that’s not going to happen. I think about the hiker who got trapped, who cut his arm off, Aron Ralston. How did he ever get himself out? How did he eat? I’m on a bike; I have food. How did he do that? If he could do that…if he can survive that, I can do this. I use the willpower of others to get through my hard times. I’ve learned what the mind is capable of doing when you train it to survive and achieve. I do a lot of training, but really, it is both physical and mental and both are equally important.

AM: I think a lot of people might find the overnight piece daunting. How do you keep going through the night? Do you incorporate lack of sleep into your training cycle?

DS: Oh! the night is the best part. Read the rest of the interview here!

Team OAM NOW’s Chuck Grzanka Looks to Continue Podium Spots in Grand Rapids Tri

June 5th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

Triathlon season in West Michigan got off to a chilly start. As a matter of fact, the first race in the area was changed to a duathlon this past weekend due to water temps being in the low 50s. However, that has not stopped OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors triathlete Chuck Grzanka from taking to the races. Chuck has already raced and landed on the podium in two triathlons in Charleston, SC this season in order to prepare for the USA Triathlon National Long Course Championships to be held at the Grand Rapids Triathlon in Michigan on June 8th.

Chuck Grzanka began training with Mark Olson of Athletic Mentors seven years ago to race mountain bikes. Since then, he’s spent a few years racing road bikes, and for the last three years has focused on racing both sprint and olympic distance triathlons and consistently been on the podium in his age group. Encouraged by his coach to try a half iron distance triathlon this year (and share in his suffering), Chuck has been preparing since January for the big event in Grand Rapids.

Part of that preparation included the two races in South Carolina. On April 19th, at Try Charleston, Chuck raced the sprint distance event. While one might think the weather and road conditions would be more favorable there than in Michigan that didn’t prove to be the case. After 10 hours of torrential downpours that ended at 5am the morning of the race, the air temp was a cool 55 degrees and the water temp a comfortable-with-wetsuit 65. Unable to avoid potholes even in South Carolina, the bike course was riddled with dangerous puddles and the run course, in many places, required stomping through mud that covered the entire path. Despite less than great conditions, Chuck placed 2nd in his age group with a time of 1 hour 17 minutes.

This past weekend, Chuck raced a second sprint distance race in Charleston with, thankfully, more pleasant conditions than a month ago. An air temp of 62 and a water temp of 72, smooth roads and sunshine is something we’ve been longing for in Michigan. Chuck placed 3rd in his age group with a time of 1:12, with a stellar bike split that placed him 12th fastest of 243 men. He is now headed back to his home turf for the final weeks of training for the big day.

The Grand Rapids Triathlon is just one week away. Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors would love lots of fans and if you wanted to roll up your sleeves and lend a hand, I’m sure the race directors wouldn’t mind some extra volunteers.

Team OAM NOW Helps Spread the Love of Sport

June 2nd, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

On May 7, 8 & 9, Team OAM Now members, Kathy and Doug Kirk, were able to share their love of cycling while working with Western Michigan University’s Sports Education Camp and the Michigan Blind Athletic Association.In cooperation with one another, the two organizations bring together cyclists and visually impaired children who do not normally have the opportunity to participate in recreational and athletic events like cycling. Over the weekend, approximately a dozen tandem captains, including Kathy and Doug, took blind school age kids for rides on tandem cycles. Not only does this event give the kids an opportunity to experience a bike ride, but it’s also an opportunity for cyclists to share their passion and their sport.

It’s a project that both Kathy and Doug love, having participated in the annual event for several years now. “This is one genuinely heartwarming way to spend an evening or three. Some of the kids are scared half to death, and some wiggle around so much back there it’s hard to keep the bike aimed down the road. But, much like us,” Kathy says, “most of them simply love riding and can’t get enough of it.”

Both Kathy and Doug encourage interested cyclists to participate in the program (you can find more information here), but they suggest that if you have access to a tandem bike and know a visually impaired person, don’t hesitate to put him or her on the back. “We guarantee it’ll make your day and theirs too.”

Finding a Doctor Who Treats You…the Athlete

May 27th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Team OAMNOW Tri-athlete Mike Steele

As athletes, we are often picky about who we trust to diagnose and treat us. And, as athletes, we are often impatient to get back to doing what it is we love to do after an injury. Finding a doctor who can treat an athlete is one thing, but finding a doctor who both understands the particular needs of an athlete and can also treat them is spectacular. On a recent trip to Orthopedic Associates of Michigan (OAM), I was fortunate to find both and none too soon. OAM, sponsor and team doctors for Team OAM NOW, treats the whole athlete by serving and supporting the active community from the young and developing to older athletes. Finding a doctor, or rather a team of doctors, who understand the nuances needs for each is crucial.

Having recently turned 45, I felt as if my body was in revolt. Tendinitis of the bicep/shoulder and tendinosis of the Achilles were both diagnosed, but, now I needed treatment. I briefly mentioned I was a member of the Team OAMNOW race team and quickly Dr. Matelic said, “I love the uniforms!” It’s incredibly nice to know you’re getting treatment from someone who actively supports what you do and how you do it. He proceeded to discuss my treatment options and recommended physical therapy.

That’s when Lindsey, a member of the OAM Physical Therapy team, entered. Again, it’s crucial to me, and my treatment, that the OAM PT team and Lindsey understand that I need to keep moving. Lindsey was instrumental in developing a plan which allows me to continue working out while addressing my specific injuries. All of the staff who treated my injuries were excited and anxious to know more about Team OAMNOW and what we’re doing this year.

If you find yourself in need this year, be sure to stop in and see them for personalized treatment with the athlete in mind. Maybe you can give them an update too!

Faster Out of the Water Means Faster to My Bike

May 21st, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Profesional Tri-athlete Raquel Tavares-Torres

Swimming is not my favorite part of the triathlon. For me, triathlons “start” when I hear the click of my helmet. I love to bike and I love to go fast, but at this level, if you want to race like a pro (ITU races), you’ve got to draft with the pros. In other words, I need to get out of the water with the faster competitors because they are also the fast-moving cycling pack.

Despite my parents desire to raise swimmers, I rebelled by falling in love with cycling, specifically, mountain biking. It’s what I did for fun as a teen. While I tried triathlons then too, it wasn’t until nearly 2 years ago that I returned to the event. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for me to race at the Elite level. While hard work and good fortune got me here, I continue to learn and get stronger and more confident in my skills.

After some experience racing at the Elite level, I realized I needed to be a better swimmer and put aside my mixed feelings about jumping in the pool. Though everyone saw me as a strong swimmer, it never quite felt that way to me. Why? I believe it’s because I never fully committed to training in the water.

In order for me to bike with the faster athletes, I also needed to become a better open water swimmer. So, a few months ago, I committed myself to being the best swimmer I can be by concentrating on my weaknesses and I have, thankfully, found lots of room to improve!

First – Get in the water as much as you can. Time in the water is time in the water. Despite my busy schedule, some swimming is better than none. That means that if I need to jump in the pool with my daughter, and she is diving and trying to play with me in between my main set, it’s better than no water time at all.

Second – Listen to a coach’s advice on technique. Athletic Mentors’ Coach Belco’s advice has made me focus on this element of training. Before, my swimming style was a seemingly natural stroke, kick, breathe. However, close attention to technique and a focus on smooth, fast, strong, relaxed is making a huge difference. I no longer “fight” with the water, but move through it, smooth and fast. Coaching matters. Technique matters.

Third – Enjoy the water; learn to love it. Since I’m a very passionate person, I have learned that the best way to excel at something is to have it come “naturally.” The more natural it feels, the easier it becomes. The easier it comes, the better I am at it. If I am better, I love it more. So swimming becomes natural and enjoyable the more time I spend in water and the better my technique becomes. Because fish are natural swimmers, I simply try to imitate them. Smooth and relaxed inevitably, for me, leads to fun. It also leads to speed. Remember, I love to go fast. Fast is fun.

These three things mean I come out of the water with the faster swimmers and, in turn, I hit the road with the faster cyclists. Speed wins. This is my goal. Currently, I average 1:10 in 1,500M workout. My goal is to average 1:07.

While I’ve isolated swimming here, I hope to also improve my transitions, cycling and running. Not only has it been fun to discover room for improvement, but also to discover it was as simple as changing my attitude towards being in the water. Refocus. Examine. Improve.

Raquel Tavares-Torres is currently working towards earning enough individual points to qualify for the Dominican Republic’s 2016 Olympic Triathlon Team.

OAM NOW / AM’s Torres One Step Closer to the 2015 Rio Olympic Dream

April 16th, 2014 by Cheryl Sherwood

Raquel Torres has been training hard and making great progress toward reaching her dream goal of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games for her home country of the Dominican Republic.

With this being her first real full season back to competition since her teenage years, Raquel is gaining qualifying points and confidence as she gets more international races under her belt.

She’s cracked the top 10 in all 3 of her ITU races in the start of this season, with a 4th place in Chile on March 30th, just 3 minutes off the podium.

Raquel is staying in South America for a few more races in April before returning home to Kalamazoo to her very supportive husband and adorable daughter.

Stay tuned for more race updates throughout April and the year as her quest to Rio continues…