Women

Team OAM Now’s Davis Takes 1st Women’s, Patterson takes 3rd, while Yankus and Vanias take 2nd and 3rd at Black Mountain

March 5th, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Rebecca Davis, Team OAM Now Nordic Skier

Racing this weekend at Black Mountain turned out to be my strongest weekend yet, so it was a nice way to wrap up my season. On Saturday, I went with a colder wax choice, which seemed to work pretty well. I managed to get both good kick and glide for most of the 31k classic race.

The race course started on a lake and then climbed up, and up, and up. Eventually, racers made their way back down onto the lake and finished. This was one of the hardest courses I have seen. My biggest women’s competition was teammate Kaitlyn Patterson. She is obviously a top notch skier, and although Freestyle is her preferred technique, she is still very competitive in the classic races. I knew she was still high from the Birkie, but probably a bit tired from racing four 50k races in five weeks. I decided to push the pace early, hoping I could get some space.

I noticed at about 10k she was right behind me and decided to relax a bit in case she made a move, hopefully saving enough to hang on. I was able to shake her about half way, and added to the lead the rest of the way, while passing quite a few of the men.

I finished 1st woman and 11th overall. Kaitlyn felt her marathons catch up with her, but still managed to finish 24th overall and 3rd women’s. The OAM men all had great races, with Dan Yankus finishing 2nd, Alex Vanias 3rd, and Mike Davis 6th.

After a hard effort on Saturday, I had low expectations for the race on Sunday, partially because it was a freestyle race which I don’t feel as strong at, and partially because I was very sore. Having seen the hills on Saturday, I knew they would not be easy on my already screaming legs.

We started on the lake again, climbed onto a very hilly 10k, and finished back on the lake. Taking off, I felt stiff, and a junior girl got a pretty good lead on me. I headed into the climbs with a group of guys I felt were at a good speed for me. About 5k into the race, I passed Mike stuck in the snow bank on an uphill after he was run off the trail when the men went three wide on a one person trail. He was in good spirits, but decided to ski in at a more leisurely pace instead of stressing to get back up to the front group. At the top of the climbs, I felt a little weak and was passed by another woman, but she encouraged me to stick with her. After another kilometer or so, I started to feel much better and was able to really work the down hills. I passed both women in front of me, and never looked back.

Coming into the finish, I was surprised the race was over so quickly, and sprinted into the finish with a smile on my face. It was a really rewarding way to end my season. Now it’s time to pick up the paddles again.

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.

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

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.

Team OAM Now’s Rebecca Davis Takes First in Women’s Race at Hanson Hills 12k Classic

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

By Mike Davis, Team OAM Now Nordic Skier

It was a very cold morning in Grayling for the Hanson Hills 12K classic. Waxing was easy for many, as the cold temperatures left no lack of kick. I didn’t want to lose any glide, so I chose to double pole this race on my skate skis. Team OAM Now performed well, with all the men finishing in the top ten and Rebecca Davis winning the women’s race.

The Hanson Hills 12k Classic Race is an interval start race with each racer starting in 15 second intervals. They put everyone into order by age group, then the order they signed up. The interval start makes it difficult to pace because you have no idea where you stand during the race. My strategy for races like this is to go as hard as I can for as long as I can. Regardless of our differing strategies for this race, it seems like Team OAM Now was doing something right with another impressive showing.

Rebecca Davis must have had a good strategy, as she was able to win the women’s race by 56 seconds. Dan Yankus had a very strong race by finishing in third with a time of 44:10. Alex Vanias came in fourth just 31 seconds behind Dan while I finished eighth overall with a time of 47:40.

Each race is a great opportunity for different conditions and more experience which allows us to learn and develop new strategies. With each race, we’re hopeful that we keep growing and improving…of course, we’d also like to keep winning.

Two Podiums for Team OAM Now at the Forbush Freestyle 17K

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

By Rebecca Davis, Team OAM Now Nordic Skier

The Forbush Freestyle 17k is always one of the toughest races on my schedule. It isn’t the longest, or the biggest, but the course is incredibly technical- constant turning, and short, hard climbs. On top of that, the trail conditions usually seem to be a bit soft, which adds to the challenge. This year was no exception, and even though I have more training than I do most years, this race was still humbling for me.

The men and women started separate at this race; typically, in those situations, I take an early lead and hold on for as long as possible. This time, I decided to fall into the pack right away and take advantage of watching the better women skiers on the technical course. I realized that I can keep up fairly easily for about 4km, and then my legs started to tire from the constant climbing and turning, causing me to fall off the pack. I know where I need to focus my training for next year! After falling off of the leader, I was able to hang on to finish second place in the women’s race. It was one of my better standings for the year, but definitely not my strongest race.

Dan Yankus managed to hang on the lead pack for a 3rd place finish after realizing that his skis weren’t as fast as the first 2 finishers. Mike Davis had a tough fall on one of the hills near the end of the race putting him at the back of his pack, but still managed to finish 21st place.

Despite a tough race, and only a few team members competing, Team OAM Now certainly had a strong finish.

Introducing the 2015 Team OAM Now Women’s Cycling Team

February 3rd, 2015 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Marie Dershem, Team OAM Women’s Cycling Team Captain

Ed Note: With amazing season highlights like JoAnn Cranson’s trip to the Senior Olympics, and her win at the West Branch Road Race, Charlotte Long’s 2nd place wins at both the Lowell 50 and Peak to Peak, Marie Dershem’s 3rd place win at the State Championship Time Trial, it was a fantastic year for Team OAM Now’s Women’s Cycling Team. We took a minute to talk to Team Captain Marie Dershem about what’s in store for 2015.

Returning Members
Marie Dershem
Laura Melendez
Charlotte Long
JoAnn Cranson

New Teammates
Jenny Steketee

Our entire team had some great accomplishments in 2014, both together and individually. Laura Melendez, who brings strength and amazing endurance to the team, competed in the National 24 Hour Bike race. In addition, she placed 1st in CAT 3 Tour De Mont Pleasant Crit. JoAnn Cranson can time trial with the best of them. Working with her teammate, Marie Dershem, she pulled away from the peloton and time-trialed her way to a victory at West Branch Road Race (CAT 3), where Marie placed 2nd. Some highlights for Charlotte Long include exhibiting her trail and road skills by placing 2nd in both the Lowell 50 and Peak to Peak mountain bike race (after upgrading to Expert). Then, she expertly took second place in the State Championship Road Race. Marie Dershem‘s time trial experience as a former triathlete came in handy when she came in 3rd place in the State Championship Time Trial (CAT 3), which was followed by a State Championship Road Race win (CAT 3). With several other podium spots among all the teammates, it was a fantastic year.

In 2015, we have a newcomer, Jenny Steketee, who brings years of competitive speed skating to the mix. Her strength and power will translate amazingly well to the bike. We look forward to all she has to offer and welcome her with excitement. This is a well-rounded team that has experience working together. Every team member trains hard individually. We can all count on one another to work hard, to work for one another, and to be committed to the team.

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Our team’s biggest strength is the diversity in talent. Both Marie and JoAnn are excellent time-trialists. Laura has the perfect mix of endurance and strength. In addition, her years of experience racing aids in putting together strategies to race well together and build on each other’s strengths. Marie and Charlotte share a love for climbing and tend to use hills as break-away opportunities. Charlotte is a proven sprinter and Marie is building toward this as well.

This coming season, we have an amazing opportunity to come together and really take control of the field in any race we enter. We have such a wide range of talent that, when we work together, we can do anything. Every team member is willing to work for each other, which makes all the difference in the world. We can easily play to each person’s talents and create a winning opportunity for everyone.

In 2015, plan to see us at Le Tour De Mont Pleasant, BTR Crit, Maple Hill Race for Wishes, Delta Subaru Gaslight Crit, as well as quite a few others. Additionally, the team is also interested in travelling to some out of state races to add variety and new challenges. It is certainly going to be an exciting year to be a woman racing with TEAM OAM Now!

Three Team OAM Now Nordic Skiers finish in top 5, Overall, at Noquemanon

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

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM Now Multi-sport Athlete

The Noquemanon Ski Marathon is one of Michigan’s premier cross country ski events and has been on my athletic bucket list for years. It is a challenging, point to point, race that begins in Ishpeming and finishes at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Michigan. Although there is a net descent over the 50k race, there is some serious climbing over the first half. The Noquemanon is unique in that the 50k Classic is the featured race and draws talent from across the Midwest.

Classic races add several elements of challenge because kick waxing is so crucial. This year’s weather was on the opposite end of the spectrum from last year’s “snowmageddon,” with temperatures hovering just above freezing. Waxing for the changing weather was a source of anxiety for most skiers in the classic race as everyone tried to decide what would be the trick for optimal kick and glide.

The entire Team OAM Now Nordic team took on the challenge of the 50k Classic race beginning in the Elite wave. I have not spent much time on classic skis since high school and was less than confident about racing a marathon. Although I seriously considered changing to the freestyle race, I decided to go for the classic race to just see what might happen.

The start of any ski race is tricky to navigate with many bodies, skis, and poles in a condensed area. Thankfully, we were off smoothly, the tracks were not as icy as expected and my skis were kicking and gliding well. Less than 5k in, I saw teammate Jon Morgan off to the side holding his hamstring after a bad fall. He unfortunately had to pull out with a torn muscle. I heeded his warning and was a bit more cautious on the tricky descents.

I felt great after the first 15k, but realized that my pacing was a bit ambitious and I had fallen behind on my calorie intake. I fell off the pack I was skiing with, but was able to regroup, drink, and ski more relaxed. I skied significantly more smoothly and stronger the second half and was able to pull back several racers. By the final 10k, my upper body was toasted from the hours of double poling and I was thankful to see the Dome appear in the distance.

Overall, the race and the course lived up to expectations in both challenge and impressive scenery with the Lake Superior overlook, frozen lake crossings, and granite bluffs. The organizers do an amazing job with the logistics of putting on such a long point to point race.

I ended up finishing in 4th place overall and Rebecca Davis was just behind me in 5th. Dan Yankus had a strong race to finish 5th place in a strong field. Alex Vanias finished in 16th, and Mike Davis 33rd overall. Another great day for Team OAM! We’re hoping Jon has a speedy recovery!