Chasing Boys of the BC Team

On the bike that is...

Training with guys is awesome. (Living with them... not so much.) They are fearless, competitive and have some serious athletic abilities. This allowed me to make some big gains in my fitness by pushing through limits and getting out of my comfort zone.



I was able to continue my velodrome biking from last summer, although the indoor track in Burnaby is quite different than the outdoor one in Calgary - think steeper, sketchier, and faster. I love it, if only because it's the least terrible way you can do a bike sprint workout. Trying to catch the back wheel of the guy in front of me or speed around the sprint lane as fast as I can, I forget how hard I'm working.

BMXing in Squamish was less of a workout, more of a gongshow. The place is crawling with kids, decked out in pads and full face helmets. While putting our gear on in the parking lot we heard more than once "mom those crazy guys are here." Watching all 8 of them flying over jumps and nearly colliding up banks was both impressive and terrifying. I enjoyed trying a new skill and not being half bad at it. I crashed in the first moto but ended up winning (against two moms, but like our trainer Andrew says - a win's a win). BMXing was consistently followed by Sushi, someone nursing an injury, and the boys debating their differing accounts of the race. ("I was winning!" "Dude, you were 3 guys from the front.")

Hill sprints on Friday afternoon's were the workout that I dreaded all week long. But I am learning - why bother coming up with excuses for something I know I'm going to end up doing and feel amazing about? I love the feeling of accomplishment and sometimes euphoria after a really grueling workout. When I was injured I really missed having those opportunities to push myself to the limit, and then a little further. So as difficult as 6 sets of 5 minute hill sprints are, I am grateful to find myself in a place where that level of effort is what's required.

Bike Testing in Vancouver to kick off the 3 week training block.

Heading for a mountain bike in Squamish

The beautiful Canadian Sports Center Gym in the Athlete's Village in Whistler

So with an expanded set of bike skills, a little more physical strength, and an appreciation for the cleanliness of the girls' team, I am home. In a week I will return-to-snow in Mt. Hood, so I am preparing mentally and literally for that. Another (ski!) blog coming soon.


PS check out BC Men's coach Brandon Dyksterhouse's website for cool videos on the guys' team.

How Good is this Set Up?

This month I got to experience something I've never had; top-notch training and living at home simultaneously! The photo above is the usual view of my family's orchard and although this past month's weather was untypically rainy and grey, I think the Okanagan still made a good impression on Sarah (my teammate, friend and namesake).

 I've always been baffled at kids from Whistler, Canmore, or Calgary who workout with their team/trainer and then go home to eat dinner with their family and sleep in their own bed. Lucky for me, BC Team dryland coach Andrew Lambert moved from Vancouver to Vernon; a mere 20 minute drive from my home in Oyama. I was reminded of the motivation, creativity, and fun that comes from training with other people.

Sarah moved in for the month and instantly won over my family with her contagious smile and genuine thrill for doing the dishes.

 This was my first training block as a 'full time' athlete since my injury. As the weeks went on I began to feel my body remembering how to move efficiently. Progress is fun. On the drive home from training, Sarah and I often exclaimed things like "I was so much better at that this week" or "I didn't feel like my arms were going to fall off after 4 sets of pull ups today." Most days we had two sessions; an upper or lower body strength workout in the morning, and then a pool workout, yoga, or hill climbs in the afternoon. In between sessions we lounged around Andrew's house with Maverick or hung out at the nearby beach. Friday afternoon's activity was biking up Silver Star Mountain, followed by a cold dip in Kalamalka Lake and an early bed time.

Maverick!

Taking the workout outside

As our fitness improved, we were able to recover more efficiently and therefore have a bit of a social life. I loved showing Sarah my town and introducing her to my friends. On rainy Saturday mornings we frequented the Kelowna Farmer's Market followed by some small-shop meandering, downtown lunching and library browsing.

Sarah went home a few weeks ago to pack and drive down to Mt. Hood for the Women's team's first on-snow camp of the summer. (Since she left I've had many friends remark "oh where's Sarah!?" and then look sincerely bummed when I tell them she's gone home). Next week I head to Whistler for more dryland training - this time with the rumoured to be exceptionally fit Guys' team. Wish me luck..