Ladies and Gentlemen -
First, the race website is now listing the race date as MARCH 28TH. It still says tentative. Craig Romrell is calling to verify, but for now, please leave the March 28th and April 4th OPEN.
We now have the makings for 7 teams. Wow! I never expected that many, but this will be a blast! Because our numbers are growing it is now more important than ever that the team captains coordinate the details of their team needs from now until race day. If you haven't already, please check www.adventurexstream.com for race details, gear requirements, etc...
Now for some important stuff. Seriously, it is.
Registration - Please also have your team ready to register at 9:00AM January 5th.
www.MapMyRun.com - Ryan Ashworth has created a group on MapMyRun.com called Moab Xtreme Teams. I hereby ask Ryan to provide everyone with a couple things. (1) an invitation to the group; (2) a brief overview of the site functionality and benefits.
Training Routes - Craig Romrell has graciously offered to upload some "Routes" to the group site on MapMy Run. It has been suggested that everyone take some time to actually run or bike the routes once they are uploaded. Ryan Ashworth and Craig Romrell will be providing some additional details shortly. The power of this idea is simple: Everyone will run the same route and record their time to the group site. This will act as a training aid and provide inspiration to catch the leaders or at least help teams track one anothers performance in advance of race day. A fun and motivational tool.
Ropes Certification - Ric Bruce has graciously offered to provide the ropes certification training. Ric is and has been with Salt Lake County Search and Rescue for many years. Ric is also a member of one of our racing teams. If you are unable to make it to Ric's class please plan to sign up for a class at Black Diamond or some other gym. I hereby ask Ric to provide the group with a date, place, and time for this training.
Training Groups - I had several people ask me if their are groups of us training together. It sounds like there is interest in getting together to train together. If you are training as a group or would like to please send out emails to the group with details of training times and places.
Next Meeting - Besides Ric's Ropes Training Class, our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday March 11th at 12:30. Let me know if you have suggestions for the meeting place.
Since we are not meeting again as a complete group till Ric's class, everyone have a happy holiday and coordinate any interim meetings with your team captains AND DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Moab Adventure XStream 2009 preparations...
The time to register for the 2009 Moab Adventure XStream 12-Hour race is rapidly approaching.
In an effort to finalize our teams and answer any last minute questions, we have scheduled a group lunch appointment for Wednesday December 10th at 12:30. Please plan to attend if at all possible as this will be the last time we will meet as a group before the official registration date, which is January 5th at 9:00AM MST. The race is still scheduled for April 4th, but it is also listed as a "tentative" date still. Hopefully it will not change but keep the Saturday before and after clear if you can...
Due to the size of our group, it will be incumbant upon each team to get themselves registered at 9:00AM on January 5th to ensure space availability. The race only allows for about 300 people so we need our 20 signed up early! Attached is a Word document (doc and docx) outlining the teams as they are presenty organized. Please review the list. Each team has a captain (Greg Randall, Craig Romrell, Ric Bruce, Scott Swallow, and a new addition Rich Coles). The captain's job is to arrange for or delegate all of the details and needs of the team (registration, transportation, hotels, team gear, training, ROPES CERTIFICATION, etc...). In anticipation of our lunch meeting next week each team captain will need to confirm with each racer on their team that they will be at the lunch OR if they can not make it, confirm that they are definately committed to the race. (Also, if your contact info is not complete please email me additional information and I will update the list.)
Finally, it sounds like we have interest from at least 3 or 4 more people who would like to join in the fun and bodily harrasment. With this in mind I have started compiling a list of people for a 5th team.
THIS WILL BE REALLY FUN!!!
Please let me know how many people will be at our lunch and I will call ahead for a reservation. Any suggestions for the restaurant location. Needs to accomodate up to 15 -20 or so of us and not be too noisy (until we get there).
As always, game on! (see post script for interesting information)
Jeremy
P.S. It looks like the race organizers have created a NEW Moab Race for fall of 2009. This is typically when they have done the 3 day expedition race in Moab, but this year they have shortened the duration and made it a 30 hour race. In the past it has been televised.... Something to consider... And last but not certainly least, Jason Miller has officially signed up for the Arizona Ironman for 2009 demonstrating that he is likely the most hard core among us!
In an effort to finalize our teams and answer any last minute questions, we have scheduled a group lunch appointment for Wednesday December 10th at 12:30. Please plan to attend if at all possible as this will be the last time we will meet as a group before the official registration date, which is January 5th at 9:00AM MST. The race is still scheduled for April 4th, but it is also listed as a "tentative" date still. Hopefully it will not change but keep the Saturday before and after clear if you can...
Due to the size of our group, it will be incumbant upon each team to get themselves registered at 9:00AM on January 5th to ensure space availability. The race only allows for about 300 people so we need our 20 signed up early! Attached is a Word document (doc and docx) outlining the teams as they are presenty organized. Please review the list. Each team has a captain (Greg Randall, Craig Romrell, Ric Bruce, Scott Swallow, and a new addition Rich Coles). The captain's job is to arrange for or delegate all of the details and needs of the team (registration, transportation, hotels, team gear, training, ROPES CERTIFICATION, etc...). In anticipation of our lunch meeting next week each team captain will need to confirm with each racer on their team that they will be at the lunch OR if they can not make it, confirm that they are definately committed to the race. (Also, if your contact info is not complete please email me additional information and I will update the list.)
Finally, it sounds like we have interest from at least 3 or 4 more people who would like to join in the fun and bodily harrasment. With this in mind I have started compiling a list of people for a 5th team.
THIS WILL BE REALLY FUN!!!
Please let me know how many people will be at our lunch and I will call ahead for a reservation. Any suggestions for the restaurant location. Needs to accomodate up to 15 -20 or so of us and not be too noisy (until we get there).
As always, game on! (see post script for interesting information)
Jeremy
P.S. It looks like the race organizers have created a NEW Moab Race for fall of 2009. This is typically when they have done the 3 day expedition race in Moab, but this year they have shortened the duration and made it a 30 hour race. In the past it has been televised.... Something to consider... And last but not certainly least, Jason Miller has officially signed up for the Arizona Ironman for 2009 demonstrating that he is likely the most hard core among us!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Lotoja 08
Had you asked me most any day during the spring and early summer if I would be ready or excited for the Lotoja, my answer, due to a number of different factors, would have been little more than doubtful. Even come late July, after many miles on the bike, my confidence was shaken. However, I cite the following experience as an example of why, with a Team like ours, I could NOT afford NOT to race with you:
shivering, drenched, and thousands of calories deficient, I spent two of the most entertaining hours of my life in a High Uinta outhouse waiting out a storm; two hours that with anyone but Jer and my bros would have been miserably onerous; two hours that made me realize that with a team like ours, you have “100% reason to remember the name”.
On what other team will you find yourself at the front of the pack pulling and pushing the pace 95% of the race course? On what other team will you see Jer take off with quad searing speed in an attempt to “trim the fat”, only to see Jason 10 minutes down the road, single handedly pulling them right back into position behind us? With what other team will you have the chance hear Craig dishing out epithets at the leeches on our tail?
Our team is the real deal, the complete package. Big time Miller time strategy was right on, an inspiration for any support crew and his nutritional genius is fast becoming a tradition unlike any other...leaves you wondering what next? Jer apparently decided he had not had enough extra work in his life with the arrival of beautiful baby Claire, so he decided to bust out a big shot cadence spending double the time as the rest of us pulling at the front of the pack. It is little wonder why his neck went out at the finish when the whole 10 hours 27 minutes of riding time Craig had his head up, always watching, always paying attention, always calling out adjustments to be made and sending his shout outs of motivation. That said, the only thing I had to do was ride. Though I didn’t get the chance to see Wade and Brian much, from what I know of Brian the pace was swift and perseverant, and from what little I know of Wade, there was never a dull moment.
Yes this email is coming a week after the fact, but don’t let that be a reflection of lack of gratitude because our Support Crew was money!!!! As glamorous as it was for you to watch us wolf down hundreds of calories in a matter of seconds, chugging coke, biting into potatoes, and gracing you with our race day scent, you went through a full day of work just so that we could have a good race. This is not, nor meant to be, adequate recognition of your efforts, but Thank You Anne and Nat.
shivering, drenched, and thousands of calories deficient, I spent two of the most entertaining hours of my life in a High Uinta outhouse waiting out a storm; two hours that with anyone but Jer and my bros would have been miserably onerous; two hours that made me realize that with a team like ours, you have “100% reason to remember the name”.
On what other team will you find yourself at the front of the pack pulling and pushing the pace 95% of the race course? On what other team will you see Jer take off with quad searing speed in an attempt to “trim the fat”, only to see Jason 10 minutes down the road, single handedly pulling them right back into position behind us? With what other team will you have the chance hear Craig dishing out epithets at the leeches on our tail?
Our team is the real deal, the complete package. Big time Miller time strategy was right on, an inspiration for any support crew and his nutritional genius is fast becoming a tradition unlike any other...leaves you wondering what next? Jer apparently decided he had not had enough extra work in his life with the arrival of beautiful baby Claire, so he decided to bust out a big shot cadence spending double the time as the rest of us pulling at the front of the pack. It is little wonder why his neck went out at the finish when the whole 10 hours 27 minutes of riding time Craig had his head up, always watching, always paying attention, always calling out adjustments to be made and sending his shout outs of motivation. That said, the only thing I had to do was ride. Though I didn’t get the chance to see Wade and Brian much, from what I know of Brian the pace was swift and perseverant, and from what little I know of Wade, there was never a dull moment.
Yes this email is coming a week after the fact, but don’t let that be a reflection of lack of gratitude because our Support Crew was money!!!! As glamorous as it was for you to watch us wolf down hundreds of calories in a matter of seconds, chugging coke, biting into potatoes, and gracing you with our race day scent, you went through a full day of work just so that we could have a good race. This is not, nor meant to be, adequate recognition of your efforts, but Thank You Anne and Nat.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Lotoja 2008
Well I can now say I have experienced what it feels like to bike 206 miles in 10 and a half hours. It was a blast! We had a great team. Jason, Craig, Brian, Evan, Wade, thanks for the good times. And thanks to our incredible support teams, we could not have done it without you!
I only regret puking my guts out all over the side of Jason's truck shortly after the race. I still remember wondering if all the people dining at the outdoor cafe caught a glimpse of my technicolored yawn. I am still a little baffled about what brought on the nausea. Maybe I needed to drink more water or maybe the last 500 yards of pedaling at way beyond my max heart rate just put me under.
What a great race! - Now, I will anxiously await the blog postings from Craig and others with photos and more details (especially the obvious details I have left out)......
I only regret puking my guts out all over the side of Jason's truck shortly after the race. I still remember wondering if all the people dining at the outdoor cafe caught a glimpse of my technicolored yawn. I am still a little baffled about what brought on the nausea. Maybe I needed to drink more water or maybe the last 500 yards of pedaling at way beyond my max heart rate just put me under.
What a great race! - Now, I will anxiously await the blog postings from Craig and others with photos and more details (especially the obvious details I have left out)......
Sunday, September 7, 2008
LOTOJA 9-6-2008
Not unlike many races of its caliber, planning for the Lotoja begins many months in advance. While just riding the 206 miles is admirable in its own right, truly competing within your category and the overall field takes more than just training and commitment to the bike. Perhaps most importantly it takes a strong team that pushes you to stretch your limits beyond what you could accomplish on your own. Our team this year, Teton Veloz, was comprised of Brian Romrell, Evan Romrell, Craig Romrell, Jason Miller, Scott Swallow, Jeremy Jensen and Wade McFarland. Although some on our team were new to road racing they all have a proven track record of being able to "flip the switch" and compete well in other similar endurance events.
The Lotoja this year required teams such as ours to enter the CAT 5 lottery and register in the age division of our youngest rider, the 19-24 series. Fortunately our number was picked and we were granted admission into the race. Although training never goes exactly as planned in the months leading up to the race by the time September 6 rolled around our team was strong and ready to ride.
We couldn't have asked for better weather for the race this year. When our category, CAT 5 (19-24), started at 7:37 am the temperature was in the upper 40's and skies stayed pretty clear throughout the day and it was in the low 70's along much of the race route. From the outset of the race we found our team leading our race pack with very few willing to join the pull rotation. This being the case we didn't push the pace too much from Preston to Logan which cost us in the overall time but kept us in the front of our pack and in control of our own destiny. Admittedly we weren't sorry to see most of our group drop off after the first feed zone and thin out even more over Strawberry Summit leaving 10 or so racers near the lead. Unfortunately Brian and Wade fell victim to one of the slower groups and then fell victim to a group of riders hitting their brakes in front of them which sent Wade's handle bars into the spokes of Brian's rear wheel leaving Wade with some road rash and Brian with a severely bent rim. From Strawberry to Montpelier the rest of us hooked on the back of a terrible "yo-yoing" group that was continuously speeding up and braking. Once in the feed zone at Montpelier our support crew worked marvelously, switching out our water bottles and food and sending us on our way well in front of the yo-yo gang.
From Montpelier we climbed over Geneva Summit then enjoyed the nice downhill reaching speeds over 50 miles an hour. When we got to Highway 89 we once again began pulling a large group that mooched off us until the beginning of the King of the Mountain Stage at the base of the Salt River Pass. The wind was pretty steady at this point as Evan sprinted up the mountain first in our group. We regrouped on the other side of the pass where Jason started to experience some cramping in his legs. At Afton we stopped for some Coke/Dr. Pepper, PB&J's, and red potatoes. From Afton to Alpine the group of freeloaders drafting off of us grew larger and larger. Craig began yelling to the rest of the team "Trim the fat, if these guys aren't going to help us out, let's get rid of them." Heeding this call, Evan, Craig, and Jeremy pulled away from the pack leaving Jason stuck behind a couple of other riders. Jason seeing us pull away went out in front and worked hard to catch up. By so doing, Jason managed to pull the whole pack back up with him and we ended up towing the train all the way into the Alpine feedzone.
After another round of caffeine and carbs we headed up the Snake River canyon, past Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna. We were passing racers the whole way up and many would hop on to our train if they were able. One of the racers in our race pack who we will affectionately nicknamed "hair" began working with us at this point, taking his turn pulling in the rotation. We had seen hair throughout the day and he had once again caught up. As we were nearing the feed zone in the canyon, Jeremy was taking a pull with hair right behind, followed by Evan Jason, Craig and many others in the freeload chain. After Jeremy signaled the end of his rotation and went to the side of the chain, hair hit the gas and started going strong. Evan right on his tale stayed with him but Jason, Craig, and Jeremy were behind and unable to stay in the drafting pocket. We had stayed together for 180 miles and now the four of us were going to see where the chips would fall in the final 20 miles to the finish. Hair slowed down near the feed zone. Evan passed him first, followed by Craig and then Jeremy and Jason. Through the Hoback and closer to Jackson, hair and Craig started riding once again in a small group of riders. Evan was well ahead at this point and had found the only other rider from our race group that was in front of us. Jeremy and Jason worked together until Jason's leg started cramping once again, then all four of us were split up and would be until the finish.
Evan made a deal with his compatriot and with their 15 second rotations they started blazing to the finish, Evan sprinting out at the end for the race group win and automatic entry to next years race. Craig came in fourth place. With 10 miles left, the muscles in his neck went out and he could only stare at the ground in front or sit up and take his hands off of the handle bars. He was not passed in the last 10. Jeremy was fifth place, gutting it out to the finish and leaving it all out on the road. After the finish and on the way into Jackson in the truck, Jeremy left it all on the road once again. ;) Jason finished 7th. When asked about the race Jason was heard to say, "What are we doing?, we're crazy, 206 miles on a bike. I'm all numb!"
Wade came riding in a little while later followed by Brian. Both were in good spirits despite their unlucky accident. Sometimes its tough to get back on the bike after an accident like that, neither competitor tossed in the towel but finished strong.
The Lotoja this year required teams such as ours to enter the CAT 5 lottery and register in the age division of our youngest rider, the 19-24 series. Fortunately our number was picked and we were granted admission into the race. Although training never goes exactly as planned in the months leading up to the race by the time September 6 rolled around our team was strong and ready to ride.
We couldn't have asked for better weather for the race this year. When our category, CAT 5 (19-24), started at 7:37 am the temperature was in the upper 40's and skies stayed pretty clear throughout the day and it was in the low 70's along much of the race route. From the outset of the race we found our team leading our race pack with very few willing to join the pull rotation. This being the case we didn't push the pace too much from Preston to Logan which cost us in the overall time but kept us in the front of our pack and in control of our own destiny. Admittedly we weren't sorry to see most of our group drop off after the first feed zone and thin out even more over Strawberry Summit leaving 10 or so racers near the lead. Unfortunately Brian and Wade fell victim to one of the slower groups and then fell victim to a group of riders hitting their brakes in front of them which sent Wade's handle bars into the spokes of Brian's rear wheel leaving Wade with some road rash and Brian with a severely bent rim. From Strawberry to Montpelier the rest of us hooked on the back of a terrible "yo-yoing" group that was continuously speeding up and braking. Once in the feed zone at Montpelier our support crew worked marvelously, switching out our water bottles and food and sending us on our way well in front of the yo-yo gang.
From Montpelier we climbed over Geneva Summit then enjoyed the nice downhill reaching speeds over 50 miles an hour. When we got to Highway 89 we once again began pulling a large group that mooched off us until the beginning of the King of the Mountain Stage at the base of the Salt River Pass. The wind was pretty steady at this point as Evan sprinted up the mountain first in our group. We regrouped on the other side of the pass where Jason started to experience some cramping in his legs. At Afton we stopped for some Coke/Dr. Pepper, PB&J's, and red potatoes. From Afton to Alpine the group of freeloaders drafting off of us grew larger and larger. Craig began yelling to the rest of the team "Trim the fat, if these guys aren't going to help us out, let's get rid of them." Heeding this call, Evan, Craig, and Jeremy pulled away from the pack leaving Jason stuck behind a couple of other riders. Jason seeing us pull away went out in front and worked hard to catch up. By so doing, Jason managed to pull the whole pack back up with him and we ended up towing the train all the way into the Alpine feedzone.
After another round of caffeine and carbs we headed up the Snake River canyon, past Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna. We were passing racers the whole way up and many would hop on to our train if they were able. One of the racers in our race pack who we will affectionately nicknamed "hair" began working with us at this point, taking his turn pulling in the rotation. We had seen hair throughout the day and he had once again caught up. As we were nearing the feed zone in the canyon, Jeremy was taking a pull with hair right behind, followed by Evan Jason, Craig and many others in the freeload chain. After Jeremy signaled the end of his rotation and went to the side of the chain, hair hit the gas and started going strong. Evan right on his tale stayed with him but Jason, Craig, and Jeremy were behind and unable to stay in the drafting pocket. We had stayed together for 180 miles and now the four of us were going to see where the chips would fall in the final 20 miles to the finish. Hair slowed down near the feed zone. Evan passed him first, followed by Craig and then Jeremy and Jason. Through the Hoback and closer to Jackson, hair and Craig started riding once again in a small group of riders. Evan was well ahead at this point and had found the only other rider from our race group that was in front of us. Jeremy and Jason worked together until Jason's leg started cramping once again, then all four of us were split up and would be until the finish.
Evan made a deal with his compatriot and with their 15 second rotations they started blazing to the finish, Evan sprinting out at the end for the race group win and automatic entry to next years race. Craig came in fourth place. With 10 miles left, the muscles in his neck went out and he could only stare at the ground in front or sit up and take his hands off of the handle bars. He was not passed in the last 10. Jeremy was fifth place, gutting it out to the finish and leaving it all out on the road. After the finish and on the way into Jackson in the truck, Jeremy left it all on the road once again. ;) Jason finished 7th. When asked about the race Jason was heard to say, "What are we doing?, we're crazy, 206 miles on a bike. I'm all numb!"
Wade came riding in a little while later followed by Brian. Both were in good spirits despite their unlucky accident. Sometimes its tough to get back on the bike after an accident like that, neither competitor tossed in the towel but finished strong.
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