Team News

Patterson Takes First at Arcadian Grit and Gravel

June 2nd, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM Now Multi-Sport

The elite men and women racers started together three minutes before the rest of the field. I was able to make a crucial break with part of the elite men’s field on the first climb and separate myself from the other female racers. I maintained this lead throughout the race and finished with a solo victory. I’ve been able to spend more time working on my bike handling skills this year and it has been fun to see it pay off in recent races.Four years since the inaugural event, this unique race on the coast of Lake Michigan has quickly become a staple in spring mountain bike racing. Arcadian Grit and Gravel is held in early May, just as the leaves are turning a brilliant green and the trillium are in full bloom. The course is a combination of gravel roads, two-tracks, a bit of pavement, and nine miles of single-track through the Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve. The race starts in the tiny town of Arcadia, on two miles of pavement before hitting the dirt. There are two significant climbs in the first 10 miles of the longer race to help spread out the fields before the narrow single track sections.

Arcadia was a short trip for my family to come and enjoy the race and a beautiful day. My grandma was especially excited to be on the support crew!

Check out some of the race pics here.

Sponsor Spotlight: Agility PT

May 26th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

Agility PT

This Kalamazoo County orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic offers comprehensive care for the athlete with services ranging from physical therapy to training and performance programs. Agility PT has been a Team OAM Now/Athletic Mentors sponsor for 5 years.

With the only Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy in the Southwest Michigan Area and two Board Certified Clinical Specialists in Orthopedics on their staff, Agility PT delivers the same kind of excellence the Team OAM Now athletes hope to achieve. This type of drive and dedication to sport is well understood by 2009 Ironman Finisher and clinic Co-owner and Director of Clinical Operations, Scott Miller. Scott currently races multi-sport with Team OAM Now as a member of the Elite Club.

In keeping with their desire to serve the whole athlete, Agility PT sees its role as much wider than providing after care, or even performance analysis. Agility’s self-described mission is to have a positive impact on individuals across the lifespan, from beginner to elite athlete. In fact, they regularly sponsor a significant number of Michigan events ranging from local events like Kalamazoo’s Kal-Haven Ultra Marathon and Portage’s Winter Blast Half/5k to the Race for Wishes Road Race Championships and the largest cross county meet in the Midwest, the Portage Invite. Similarly, they also support local triathlons including the Gull Lake Tri and Shermanator. Partnering with regional and national organizations, as well as local businesses, allows them to expand their service knowledge and their ability to individualize treatment by providing contacts for complimentary services.

Miller says “Agility and Team OAM Now/Athletic Mentors have a common goal, which is to push individuals to their peak performance with class, superior knowledge, and a comprehensive approach. We are of like mind in that we lead by example. We are athletes working with athletes.”

This level of dedication to athletics and support for their community meshes seamlessly with Team OAM Now values and goals resulting in a perfect partnership.

Ed Note: The relationship between athlete and sponsor is often understated and oversimplified. Team OAM Now/AM does its best to make sure the relationship we build with our sponsors reflects its importance.

We promote our sponsor’s brand, with professionalism, on social media including blogs and Facebook. We are active in the community and participate in over 75 community events every year to help our sponsors give back to community. We (the athletes) understand our sponsors’ services and brand, use their products and services, and refer business to them. In return, the sponsors help us develop young athletes, and create exposure and opportunities where those circumstances might not otherwise exist.

For a sponsor, this kind of support is also an investment in someone’s dreams, a measure of faith in ability and determination, and a connection with the team’s values. For an athlete, the support given by a sponsor is invaluable. In fact, it’s more than support; it’s a vote of confidence; it’s an opportunity to achieve; it promises the joy of bringing along a “family” when there is triumph.

For this reason, we’d like to take time to introduce you to our sponsors. We cannot thank them enough for their support of Team OAM/Now, its athletes, its goals and visions, and its values.

First Timer at Fifth Third River Bank Run

May 13th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Brian Reynolds, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

One race that has been on my bucket list for the past 5 years is the Grand Rapids Fifth Third River Bank Run. In previous years, both my training level and other races, such as the Kalamazoo Marathon, have interfered with the River Bank Run and I didn’t want to race unless I knew I could put in a good effort. I finally made my bucket list item a reality this past week. River Bank was an “A” race for me, so I tapered my training leading up to it. To make things more interesting, much like everyone else right now, my allergies were bad during training; I had a sore throat and achy body for a few days. Luckily, I felt better by race day.

On the day of the event, I arrived at Grand Rapids 1.5 hours before the race. With the thousands of runners and spectators, I was quite lucky to find a parking spot near the start. It rained the entire morning, but that did not stop thousands of runners from competing. I walked to the starting area, about 45 minutes before the race, and was soaked by the time I arrived. The temperatures stayed cool, around 63, so there were no worries about overheating. After warming up for about 30 minutes, I made my way to the start line. I talked briefly with a few runners who I knew and appreciated the start line atmosphere, which felt relaxed; everyone was smiling and chatting with one another. I lined up behind the elite runners, who started 30 yards ahead of the racing field.

When the gun went off, the field spread apart quickly. I felt good and relaxed over the first mile. My goal for the race was to enjoy the experience and finish strong. To finish strong, I needed my starting pace to be conservative. For the first 5 miles, I was just under a 6 minute pace which is conservative for me. The effort felt easy, but it took awhile to find my rhythm. For miles 3 – 5, I had a interesting conversation with a 51-year-old gentleman named Eric who finished 3rd at River Bank in 1986 with a 1:33:28 (6:01 pace). After mile 5, the race chatting was over and it was time for me to get to business.

It wasn’t until mile 7 that I settled into my real race pace. I crossed the halfway point at 46:03ish and my 2nd half was a 44:15 which is a significant negative split considering the 2nd half of the race is hillier. I got too aggressive on mile 11, when I ran a 5:33 mile which, unfortunately, tired me out for the next mile. In total, I passed 8 runners in the 2nd half of the race, and no other runner passed me. At mile 12.5, I had to cross a 4-inch deep water puddle that soaked my feet, resulting in blisters on the back of my ankle. I ended up in 40th place with a finishing time of 1:30:18; it’s a pretty solid time for me, given my training leading up to the race.

Overall, besides the rain, the race was a great experience and I enjoyed the course. This is definitely an event I want do again, but in the future I’ll be in better running form.

Sponsor Spotlight: Grzanka Grit McDonald

May 11th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

Grzanka Grit McDonald

This Grand Rapids law firm, offering personal service in practice areas from workers compensation law to product liability, has been a supporter of Team OAM Now/Athletic Mentors for many years.

As one of the highest (AV) rated firms in the distinctive Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, it’s no wonder that Grzanka Grit McDonald share a desire for excellence with Team OAM Now athletes. In fact, firm founder and president, Chuck Grzanka is such a strong believer in the team that he’s a member (Team OAM Now Triathlon).

Grzanka has been a strong advocate for cyclists in Michigan for decades and his firm specializes in cyclist accident crash litigation, among many other services. In fact, Grzanka and his firm have represented injured athletes for many years statewide and, more recently, throughout the country. Their new site, www.MichiganCyclingLawyer.com, has allowed them to help a wider and more diverse group of injured athletes. Knowing the injured athlete personally allows for a strong working relationship.

Grzanka says “Being a cyclist and triathlete myself brings a new level of sport knowledge which is unknown to most lawyers. I have lectured to many groups and clubs about cycling safety as well as instructed law enforcement in specifics of Michigan bike law. It has been my belief that an educated athlete and law enforcement officer can, and will, work together to reduce the increasing number of auto/athlete crashes statewide.”

Previous clients have referred to the partners at Grzanka Grit McDonald as leaders who are knowledgeable, aggressive, and professional. Because they share these characteristics and values with the Team OAM Now/Athletic Mentors athletes they support, they’re an excellent match.

We promote our sponsor’s brand, with professionalism, on social media including blogs and Facebook. We are active in the community and participate in over 75 community events every year to help our sponsors give back to community. We (the athletes) understand our sponsors’ services and brand, use their products and services, and refer business to them. In return, the sponsors help us develop young athletes, and create exposure and opportunities where those circumstances might not otherwise exist.

For a sponsor, this kind of support is also an investment in someone’s dreams, a measure of faith in ability and determination, and a connection with the team’s values. For an athlete, the support given by a sponsor is invaluable. In fact, it’s more than support; it’s a vote of confidence; it’s an opportunity to achieve; it promises the joy of bringing along a “family” when there is triumph.

For this reason, we’d like to take time to introduce you to our sponsors. We cannot thank them enough for their support of Team OAM/Now, its athletes, its goals and visions, and its values.

The Borgess Run Makes A Fine Tune Up For Team Members

May 7th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Erin Young, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

The Borgess Run For the Health of It is one of those events that I participate in each year. It is in my hometown of Kalamazoo and offers a distance for any runner, even a walk. With a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon, I wind up doing one of the events every year, always for a different reason. One year I was preparing for a 3 day stage race and did the marathon event the day after a 26 mile trail run to have a supported run as part of my training. Last year I was preparing for a 50 mile event and wanted to use the 5k as a speed workout. This year was much different since I had my first baby this February. I didn’t know what I could expect from my body after such a personally and physically altering experience, so I decided that the half marathon was a reasonable goal.

I thrive on goals and knew this event would nudge me to put on my running shoes even when I had excuses (mostly that I simply wanted to cuddle my little one). I heard all of the scary stories about how exhausted I would be when the baby arrived or how I wouldn’t have the time to run any longer. This was disappointing to hear since running is my social life. I don’t have coffee with my friends; I run with them. We don’t get dressed up and go out for dinner on weekends; we set our alarms for 6 AM, put on our headlamps to wake the quiet trails with our laughter. When my friends apologize for being “slow” on an off day, I remind them that any trail run with a friend is already a great day. So, when I grew too big to run the last 2 weeks of pregnancy, I missed the quiet mornings, and chats with my dear friends. I may have been in denial, but I believed that I would be back with my friends and running this half marathon on May 3.

My loyal running friends stuck with me through some difficult runs, sometimes walking the last mile or two home. Turns out this was good for all of us. We loved the slowing down and walking. We noticed a 6 foot beaver dam that we had run past at least 17 times this year. We laughed just as hard and enjoyed each other’s company. We are speeding up again. I am running longer and feeling fantastic about being a runner and a mom! Not only did I make it successfully and smiling through the half marathon, I ran to the event and back home again. No speed records, but this is a new type of personal record!

The Borgess run is a lot like a parade of all your running friends in Kalamazoo. If they weren’t running, they were cheering, manning an aide station or playing in a band roadside. Teammate and 2014 Kalamazoo marathon winner, Brian Reynolds, had a similar experience as he is somewhat of a Kalamazoo all-star and has been doing the Borgess since the inaugural marathon event. This year Brian went for the 10k event and won his age group and took 2nd overall. What is most impressive is that Brian ran 34:32… that is a 5:33 min/mile pace! I don’t know very many runners who can run just one mile at that speed! Brian adds, “The 10k was a C race for me to prep for the 25K event that I’m running next week. I felt good and had a good pace the first 2 miles then settled into my 25k pace the next 4 miles. The weather was really nice out today for a 10k run. The course is a fast course because it’s mostly flat for the first 4 miles and only a few rolling hills through Spring Valley Park.”

Team OAM Now multisport team members Mark Olson and Paul Raynes were also competing in the Borgess events. Mark ran a solid time of 1:38 in the half marathon. This 7:32 minute per mile pace is quite impressive for an athlete who spends more time helping other athletes than on his own training. Paul ran a 22:32 that landed him in a 3rd place podium spot for his age group. Nice work Team OAM Now runners!

Mud, Sweat, and Beers: Patterson Takes 1st, Vanias Takes 2nd

May 6th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM Now multi-sport athlete

Over the past several weeks, I wrapped up an intense Nordic ski season and watched the ski trails progress from groomed corduroy, to icy hardpack, to mudpits, and finally to dry and fast mountain bike trails. The VASA trail was in perfect shape for the mountain bike season opener, Mud, Sweat, and Beers this weekend. Actually, the only mud to be found was the man-made mud pit placed strategically before the finish line for spectator enjoyment. The weather was perfect and the 73 degree temps made for happy racers and spectators.

Alex Vanias and I had the benefit of living close to the trail so we were able to pre-ride the course several times in the week leading up to the race. The race began at Mt. Holiday ski area and climbed through the Holiday Hills neighborhoods before entering the VASA trail system. The loop was a combination of fast, flowy singletrack and wide open trails. The Elite fields had several Team OAM Now representatives with Alex in the men’s race and Amy Kimber and I taking on the women’s field.

The first climb out of Mt. Holiday broke up our field quickly and created a four woman break. Each rider was experienced and strong and the pace was kept quick by rotating leads. About halfway, two of the riders fell off on a tricky singletrack section leaving me and last year’s winner. I knew she was strong and a good technical rider and the best chance I had was trying to drop her on some tough climbs about two miles from the finish. I attacked hard and she didn’t respond, allowing me to enter the stadium alone for an upset victory.

Alex battled return champion Jorden Wakeley over the entire course but finished just 6 seconds short of the win. Amy Kimber finished 8th in a very strong women’s field.

Overall, it was a great day at a fun, high energy event. Mt Holiday does a great job hosting the race and made it feel like a party all day. I even left with a quirky trophy to show for it!

Team OAM Now On the Podium at Striders Classic

April 28th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM Now Triathlete

The Striders Classic is just that, a classic. It is an annual spring event that has been around for many years and is often used to test speed leading into early season A races, or to make a long run a bit more enjoyable by joining in the fun (or misery) with hundreds of other runners. Team OAM NOW triathletes Paul Raynes and Roxane Kippen raced the 5K while long-course triathlete Cheryl Sherwood and ultra-runner Erin Young took on the 10-miler.

The morning of April 11th was cool, but fairly calm, perfect for a running event. The sun was out and all were in good spirits awaiting the start. The 10 Mile Race began first, so Cheryl and Erin were off with the masses for their 10 mile social run. Five minutes later Paul and Roxane set out for their 22 minute 40 second 5K.

The 10-mile course was an out and back, but included about 7 miles of rolling gravel roads. Erin, after several weeks off from having a BABY, enjoyed the treat of running on gravel roads again. Being back in her running shoes and able to run with friends on a beautiful day brought her much happiness. Cheryl and Erin ran together for the entire 10 miles. Now that is team building!

The 5K course was mostly paved roads, with the exception of a short jaunt out on a gravel road to the turnaround point, before the return route to the finish. Roxane wanted to test her speed against her benchmark of 23:15 one month earlier at the Irish Jig 5K, and set out with an aggressive pace to see if she could hold it. Around mile 1, she could hear the quick footsteps of teammate Paul coming up from behind. From there, they exchanged positions a couple of times, with Paul leading the last mile and finishing just 2 seconds ahead of Roxane, which landed him on the podium with 2nd place in his age group. Roxane’s 30 second improvement from a month ago earned her the top podium spot in her age group.

Roxane attributes a time, just seconds away from her 10-year old PR (personal record) in the 5K, to an off-season focus on core strength. Improving her core strength has been a key component in the gains Roxane has seen in her running efficiency and speed. To incorporate this into your routine, check out some of Coach Mark Olson’s core training videos here.

Overall, the Striders Classic is a very well organized event. The finish line treats were excellent and included bagels, fruit, hot chocolate, and coffee. The results were displayed immediately on a flat screen next to the finish line and the awards were announced without delay. OAM NOW will surely take part in this race in future years. Thanks Striders for another great event!

Team OAM Now Takes 6 Podiums at Lowell 50, Amy Kimber Takes First Women’s 34-mile

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

By Elaine Sheikh, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

The Lowell 50, a classic gravel road race, offer two races: a 34-mile and a 57-mile race. This year’s race, held on April 11th couldn’t have brought us nicer weather to race. While the Barry Roubaix two weeks earlier had a starting line temperature in the teens, it was 45 degrees at 10 a.m. when the first wave, the 57-milers, left the start line. What a difference two weeks in the spring makes!

In the 57-mile race, Team OAM Now was well represented by Dan Yankus, Collin Snyder, and Leonard Van Drunen. After that first wave, most of the 34-mile men rolled out, followed by the master’s men and the women 34-milers at 10:08. The race started with a mile neutral roll-out. Immediately, I knew I was much farther back in the pack than I wanted to be. I had my eye on some strong women, but they were so far ahead of me I would have needed to weave my way around a lot of men to get to them.

Sure enough, as soon as we started riding hard, they were gone and I was still stuck too far back to keep with them. I settled into what I felt would be a sustainable pace, since I had no wheel to draft off of, and committed myself to slowly gaining on anyone who fell off the pack I was behind.

This was my first race since I suffered a pelvic fracture in January. As such, I had only ridden outside once since January, and while my coach Mark Olson has done a fantastic job getting me into shape on the trainer, I definitely forgot how bad a steep hill could hurt! Still, I felt much stronger than I thought I would, and I was able to pass many women quite easily.

At mile 13, I finally saw the jersey of a friend, Heather Goss. I knew Heather to be a solid wheel, so I dialed up the effort level slightly to catch her. She was just falling off small group of men, and was quite open to working together. We were able to keep each other motivated and steady until the end of the race. However, at mile 28, I realized I was in trouble. At that point, I had drank less than 6 ounces of water and hadn’t yet touched my sports drink. I was bonking hard, but without water in my stomach, it would be impossible to get and keep a gel down.

A group of men passed us at mile 30, and I tried as hard as I could to hang with them. By mile 32, though, I was barely hanging on. Heather stuck with the men and I slowly fell back. It was everything I could do to keep peddling. I looked down at my computer and realized how close I was to the finish. I started riding as hard as I could. I finished just 30 seconds behind the group I had ridden with at the end of the race, landing me a solid 5th woman overall and 1st in my age group for the 34-mile race. I was pleasantly surprised with how strong I felt, especially since I have been injured. I guess the whole “winter miles make summer smiles” saying is true, even if those winter miles are on the trainer!

Team OAM Now had a great day, and though we didn’t have a lot of people racing, we did secure six podium slots. Amy Kimber won the women’s 34 mile race, Collin Snyder and Daniel Yankus were both 2nd in their age groups in the 57 mile race, Tristan Greathouse was 2nd in the 34-mile boys’ 13-17 category, and Steve Buccella was 3rd in the 34-mile men’s 50-59 race.

Team Results:
57-mile:
Collin Snyder, 2nd place men 18-29
Daniel Yankus, 2nd place men 30-39
Leonard Van Drunen, 5th place men 50 and over

34 mile:
Amy Kimber, 1st place women overall
Elaine Sheikh, 1st place women 18-29
Tristen Greathouse, 2nd place boys 13-17
Steve Buccella, 3rd place men 55-59
Larry Strayhorn, 9th place men 55-59
Jim Allan, 12th place men 60 and over

Team OAM Now Riders Help Ann Arbor Velo Club with Spring Training Series and Beginner Racer Program

April 10th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Terry Ritter, Team OAM Now Cyclist

USA Cycling has initiated a program aimed at getting new racers into the sport, and Team OAM NOW athletes are there to help. Through the organization of Lucas Wall, the Ann Arbor Velo Club Spring Training Series will host the Beginner Racer Program starting April 12th, with Team OAM NOW Developmental Director and Masters racer Terry Ritter, and new Elite team member Collin Snyder there to mentor and lend a hand.

The USA Cycling Beginning Racer Program (BRP) is designed to provide new racers with an enjoyable and educational experience as they learn to race their bike. The objective of the BRP is to inspire and educate new riders, thus leading to safer, more enjoyable racing experiences.

The BRP is modeled off of the highly successful Northern California Early Bird Racing Series. Established approximately 30 years ago, the Early Bird Racing Series serves over 1,000 racers annually and is the culmination of many years of hard work from USA Cycling coaches.

The BRP is broken down into five separate clinics, with each clinic holding a unique and progressive curriculum. Each clinic is comprised of three components: 1) on-bike instructional clinic 2) mentored race and 3) race debrief.

The five components of the curriculum are:

Basic Pack Skills – Protecting Your Front Wheel
Cornering – Choosing and Holding Your Line
Pack Awareness & Skills
Sprinting Basics
Bringing it All Together

For new racers, the USA Cycling BRP is a great way to learn the skills and dynamics of bike racing in a safe and none intimidating environment. Whether you are a young junior rider or a master’s athlete, the BRP will guide you step by step through how to race without the pressure of doing it in a competition. It’s also a great way to move up a category as each clinic awards 2 points towards the 10 points needed to upgrade.

For more information about the BRP, check out the USAC site here.

For more information about the Ann Arbor Velo Club BRP, check out the AAVC STS site here.

The Master’s Men’s Team Hopes to Maintain Barry Roubaix Momentum- More Age-Group Podiums Ahead

April 9th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Mike Krywanski, Team OAM Now Cyclist

4/09/2015

Despite a bitterly cold winter which made training outside uncomfortable at best and on many days almost impossible, the masters 55+ squad managed to find a way to get their workouts in, as evidenced by the fine showing we made at the first big event of the year, the Barry Roubaix. Those 10 degree group rides along with the regular Thursday night “pain cave” workouts paid dividends in the form of podium finishes for several of our riders.

Leading the pack and finishing at the top of the podium in the 55-57 (36 mile) age group was Leonard Van Drunen with a smoking time of 1:58:05. Larry Strayhorn rode a strong race to 22nd place, setting a personal best time of 2:12:11. Also finishing on the podium was elite club rider Greg Neagos in 4th place followed by Ken Lown in 19th at 2:11:02. In the 58-60 division, Glenn Dik and Steve Buccella rode together for much of the race finishing on the podium in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. While Glenn has been racing almost forever and his result was certainly not unexpected, Steve has made a big jump in his level of performance and his fine 2:00:40 shows how hard he has worked over the winter. In the 61+ division, Loren Simons finished in 7th place at 2:08:12 demonstrating good early season form for a rider who normally doesn’t hit his peak conditioning until mid summer.

Senior riders Dave Stebbins and Mike Krywanski took on the challenging 62 mile course and were a bit outgunned by the younger racers in the 51+ age division. Both got off to their typical (relatively) slow starts and missed the split which came early in the first 3 miles of the race. Despite a hard chase by the second group on the road, the gap widened and Dave and Mike had to be satisfied to stay with the fast moving chase group. After racing literally side by side for the entire 62 miles, Mike finished in 10th and Dave in 11th, averaging well over 19 miles per hour.

Overall, this is an outstanding performance and really showcases the hard work the team did over the winter. We hope to continue this momentum now that we’ve moved outside regularly and the racing has begun.