Canmore XTERRA....ready.

Transition #1 - Quarry Lake

Just a picture of my babies that I miss so much already!! I am sure they are having a way more fantastic time at home with Daddy, then following us around here in Canmore!! I guess easier for us as well....but life is not complete without these guys....

Looking back towards the Lake, a bit of a run to Transition!

Canmore!! It was a beautiful day here today!! A gorgeous sunny day!

Rob Veg and I are without families this weekend, we headed up to the Nordic Center for a pre-ride of the bike course, which is the same as last year, but unlike last year, it is nice and dry.....yipppeee!!

The course is super fun, starting with a longish climb before dropping into a technical little descent...after that there are some nice hard pack climbs, rooty climbs and some longer rooty descents. I chose to ride my Orbea Hardtail for the race, and although it is a little rattly on these roots, I still think was the best choice for me, for this course. I have been feeling pretty fast on this bike! I just have to make sure to really watch my lines in those sections!

Had a fantastic swim in Quarry Lake, where the swim will take place, the water is perfect! I just need to remember to not swim like a fool!! I tend to forget my form when I race!!

I had my ankle taped again on Friday, I have been having some rolling issues during trail runs, that make it quite difficult to run confidently and with speed, hopefully the taping helps, and my ankle holds up!!

Everything is done, bike and gear are ready, and it was quite a relaxing day.....everything went smoothly, and quickly....and we are left with a couple of hours to chill.......this is why the rest of the family decided to stay home, but I am longing for some noisy children (who would love running around this hostel) and longing for my millions of hugs and kisses...and it has only been one day!!! Crazy!

I just need to remember Avery's race tip....and I quote

"Mommy, just swim, bike and run as fast as I do....then you will win"

I will steal some of her confidence!

Rob---setting up Camp---hope we don't have any noisy roomies tonight!!

Race prep.

Sometimes resting to maximize peformance can be more difficult than the overspeed treadmill sessions, long hill climbs, or the long swims. Staying still is hard....

With only 4 days until XTERRA Alberta, in Canmore, my time training has been decreased and I am left feeling tired, sluggish and lacking energy, but with a few more short workouts planned this week, and lots of rest (yeah right) I am hoping to go in to Canmore feeling springy, fast and ready to raceDuring this time of taper, I have read that your immnue system is not as strong, and certain foods can wear down your immune system even further, such as certain sugars.

I am focusing this week on eating a diet plentiful in foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, brocolli, green tea and tomatoes, and I have noticed that these foods are actually staples in my diet anyways!
We spent the past weekend camping at the beautiful Champion Lakes, and if there is ever a harder time to not eat loads of crap, this is the time, and although, our trailer is usually clear of any offending foods...it always seems to appear!! I was able to control myself (most of the time)
The other challenge, is not eating too much, but eating enough...and of course all the right stuff....no ice cream and cookies last night when we were at friends for dinner (almost felt rude saying "no") and cutting out my daily glass of wine :o(

With the kids being older, you would think that I would get a solid nights sleep....but most nights, I still have one or the other waking up, but of course it is not nearly as tiring as when they were babies! So this week, I am cutting out all of my early morning workouts! No more 5:30am wake up calls for me, sleeping until 8:00am is my goal....and going to bed before 10:00pm, every night this week! So far, so good!

I am trying to relax this week (as relaxed as life gets with 2 kids) and stay mentally strong and positive! I start doubting my training, and how I will perform this weekend...did I too too much, did I do too little? Fortunately I have had a structured, coached training schedule all year, so I have high expectations, and although this race isn't the biggest race I will do this summer, it will be a good benchmark for the upcoming Whistler Nationals and Maui Worlds!!

I also have to give my neglected legs a wax, because that will make me faster for sure....whatever you think will make you faster, will make you faster :o)

After days of riding and lots of hours on the saddle.....Shawn, well went to Pharmasave, asked sonme poor guy working there, what he would recommend for his chafed bum :o)
The Rossland Grand Finale!! We were super lucky enough to have Rossland Xterra racer. Kelly Geisheimer take us on an awesome 30km ride, looping together amazing singletrack climbs like Drakes and Tamarack and down the crazy fun Super Mega Death trail, and a climb back up Doukabour! It was an amazing ride, she was a super awesome rider!!!

Nice legs!!
WE squeezed in one more ride called RedTop-Redhead! This one brings you Red Mountain and then down a really fast, fun trail! We had such a nice time in Rossland, the trails were so easy to find, and once on them, very well marked! Still trails we need to go back and explore!!

I had a dream....

I feel like kid again!! Well like a 24 year old again!! The kids have been at Nana's and grandpa's...and I am so happy that they are having a nice time with them....and I don't feel like I need to rush back...just ride, ride and ride.....life is pretty quiet and easy like this, hasn't really had this feeling since having kids!! I am loving this, but I don't really like quiet and easy :o) I love noisy and busy and would never go back, wouldn't change a thing! I have said this before, and I will say it again...I am a lucky, lucky gal!!
Shaw and Paul hiking our bikes up PowerSlave in Nelson...I am not much of a shuttler, but this ride was incredible!! We were riding for 3 hours, all in the pouring rain, and I was still happy as punch!!! PowerSlave was a bit tough, steep and rooty, a few sections where I was walking, but still good!

Shawn on PowerSlave

Ahhhh...Placenta!! Another Nelson ride that was one of my firsts!! There has been a lot of work put into this trail and it is smooth...well except for all the roots and rocks, and still pretty flowy----we connected on to this one after PowerSlave.

Illuminati-----connected on to this one after Placenta---- A little bit Xcountry riding after all of our DH fun!! Good trail---these guys take good care of their trails around here!!

Headed to Rossland after our epic Nelson ride-----and here we are...and this is awesome!! Headed up to Centennial trails and did Techno Grind and then Kootenay Columbia trail up to the top of KC mountain and did the Ridge down----this is Shawn coming down KC Ridge. These are great XC riding, lots of good climbing and awesome, fun smooth, fast descending!

Top of Kootenay Columbia Mountain....I am going to LOVE it here in Rossland!!!

Nelson---Way too much fun!!

The riding in Nelson is just way too much fun!! Challenges me, and ups my confidence about my riding---which I kinda need after bombing my last race! The climbs up are good grunts---but feel good---and the downs are tougher than the riding I normally do, and improve my technical riding skills and make me feel like I am as good a rider (or better) than I was in the midst of my racing career!!


Log Jam-----the first ride I ever did in Nelson----so many years ago! Years later, it is still amazing, a sweet bit a singletrack, with great flow and just enough roots and rocks to keep things interesting!! SO MUCH FUN!

We hooked up onto a new trail after Log Jam called Toe Jam-----this one wasn't quite as flowy, and a bit more chewed up, but still super fun!!

EliSim----this trail is up in Mountain Station, and is absolutely my new favorite ride!! It is a fast flowy ride that seems to go on forever!!! It does have some man-made bridges, but they are all super duper friendly!! The roots and rocks on this trail are just little guys :0) friendlier than Log Jam---but super fun still!!This one gets you whoo hoooing!!

A friendly bridge on EliSim.

Another bridge on EliSim--even has a railing and is nice and wide---but still makes you feel like you are doing something exciting and brave!

Avery walking the SkyTrek ----she has been talking about doing this since last year----She

was awesome----but is was pretty scary up there!!

Heading out for another ride in Nelson and then over to Rossland----hopefully hook up with a local Rossland rider for some fun trails!!

Riding in Revelstoke!!

Avery---my little two wheel rider, ripping it up!! She already has had a couple of crashes.
More about getting my ass kicked in Revelstoke's---Stoked to get Spanked race soon---but first some pics of the totally Rad riding in Revelstoke!!!

TNT- Watched a guy go over the bars in front of me on the first lap of the race.....and I went over my bars on the second lap!!

TNT----super Fun! Mount Macpherson trail system

Hemlock Groove

Quarry trail

Fairmont Fantastic 3

Shawn at the Finish!

Rob---heading out of the pretty transition area for the run!

Shawn, exiting the swim!

Waiting for the race to start! We started our fantastic Canada long weekend with a little race in Fairmont called the Fantastic 3. Shawn and I competed in this race last year, and we enjoyed it so much that we returned this year. Last year we left the kids with my mom, but wished they were with us, as the kids would have loved the Hot Springs and other Canada Day festivities being held at the Resort in Fairmont!

This is a pretty relaxed event consisting of a 600m swim in the Fairmont pool, 6km mountain and 4.5 km run. The mountain bike was improved this year, taking out the 3km road climb up to the ski hill and replacing it with another (newish) singlestrack section, that was super fun, with little river crossings, bridges and plenty of rocks and roots to keep things fun! The run takes you below the lodges and then back up nice trails along the river.....so lots of gradual ups, that felt pretty tough for a short race!

There were only about 30 competitors in this race, so this race is pretty relaxed and fun, and with a pool swim, short mtb and run....it is a great starter triathlon for anyone intimated by bigger races but wanting to thier first off-road tri!

It is such a great race and venue, that even Shawn, who swears off triathlons will do this one....

Reasons why Shawn does the Fairmont Fantastic 3

1. Registration includes a free beer at the finish

2. Includes free Burger

3. Free beer.

4. Enjoy a dip in the Hot Springs with the kids post-race

5. Free beer

6. Includes a nice techy shirt

7. Free beer

8. They changed the race course to include just awesome singletrack.

9.Free beer

10. Free beer.

Next up.....not sure. The Lungbuster is on Saturday, a 9km bike up to the Lost Boy Lodge at the Fernie Ski hill. We have raced this one the last couple of years, and "enjoy" it. I say enjoy, but a 9km switchbacking climb can never really be called enjoyable.

With a yummy lunch, music, prizes and an amazing view fromt the Lodge, it is a great race to do....and plus a super duper fun ride down when it's all over!!

Revelstoke also has a race that I have been wanting to do, and we will be heading over there......so, we will see!