Nocturnal Training

I just tested my new bike light and headlamp on an night time ride……incredible. Riding at night brings a whole new perspective. From a tunnel vision like blackness only being broken by an intense hallow beam to the damp smells of the trails and frequent glowing eyes of deer off in a field. I am hooked. This is a great way to ride. No one else on the trail. Stars overhead. And oh yeah….don’t forget the clear glasses……millions of bugs seem to be attracted to the headlamp. And at 20MPH your eyes don’t stand a chance.

TMMAR Takes 1st at MNOC

TMMAR takes first place at MNOC's ROGAINE (Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance) event last weekend. Peter and William competed in the two person male division.

Training on the Road

I am in Lake Forest California this week on business which makes it tough on training. If I am lucky i can get a one or two evening runs in during the week. I typically stay to the streets but this time I wanted to venture out and see if I could take advantage of the local hills/mountains. I was directed to a neighboring park where I ran into a ranger who blocked my access.....because there was a rumor of Mountain Lions being seen.

http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=283503

Check out this video of the dude who decided it might be fun to pet the 'kittens'. I don't think this is the same interview as I saw on the news last night but this guy thinks he is part "Cat" because he is a Leo. Something tells me he might have smoked a little too much herb in his life.

Anyway, thanks to "Ralph", a local runner who introduced me to another trail that provided some good, safe running.

Black Diamond Headlight

Okay. This is the first of many future posts on product reviews. I recently purchased the Black Diamond Icon Headlamp.

A single 3-watt bulb and four 0.5-watt LEDs that runs on 3 AAA batteries. It also has a NRG
rechargeable battery kit, sold separately for $30.

I have not used it in a race but I did go chasing my Vizsla at 2am and this baby stopped him like a deer in headlights (literally). He had no idea I was behind that shining beacon. For the price (About $85 with the rechargeable kit) I think it will work fine. (BTW....I bought mine at Midwest Mountaineering....so should you!)

The only hassle about Black Diamond lights it their 'half button' technology which makes slightly push the button to switch levels. I would much prefer to just mash the button four times and cycle through each mode vs. trying to be soft and delicate.

What have you done this week?

Simple question? Let's see, I have logged a few training runs, Clark been eating some bon bon's, Peter is pedaling his way across Iowa logging 500+ miles and William just summited Mt. Rainier.

MNOC 8HR Race July 12

MNOC did another great job at setting up an extremely challenging and fun course. This 8 hour raced proved to be that and more with the majority of teams finishing at the 8hr mark. The setting was North of Bloomer WI in a very remote section of the Chippewa Falls National Forest. This course provided everything from deep woods with more deer flies then anyone expected, single track riding (that is being modest as there some sections that were just overgrown animal trails loaded with stumps, rocks and fallen trees), swimming to reach CP14
, equal parts of portaging and kayaking and some deep bog and swamp trekking. All of this combined with a beautiful day made this one of the best races!

This was the TMMAR first race without Cheeks (aka. Clark Flowers) but we had a solid replacement with William Eddy who backed up a nearly flawless orienteering by Peter.

The race had a few spills. I took header over the bars trying to bunny hop a log and Peter did a face plant after flipping over his handle bars. Jessica provided a little anxiety early in the race with a broken chain that proved to not have an significant impact in the race.
Another pitfall was the miscalculation of the race time and water. Once again most of us were running on a few ounces to get us through the last hour or so. Never again! At a minimum I will always carry two extra bottle so of Vitamin Water as insurance….calories and electrolytes!

Top spots went to Wedali (Congrats). TMMAR took second. And I think Speed Kills took third.

Results should be posted at MNOC soon

Welcome to TMMAR

Meet our newest member of TMMAR: William Eddy