Training

My Backyard

Posted by sarianderson on April 10, 2017
Posted in: Random Fun, Training, Training and racing with kids. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

After 11 years of living in the Roaring Fork Valley and being in awe of Mt. Sopris daily, I finally got Ian to the summit yesterday. He’s never been motivated to hike or ski the mountain as he prefers to mountain bike the amazing trails at the base, but I mentioned it late Saturday evening and he jumped on the opportunity. The weather wasn’t pleasant with high winds and not much in the way of sun, but once we determined the snow was stable we went anyway. We don’t have many early mornings without the kids so when my parents took them overnight, we had to take advantage. It wasn’t my fastest trip up and down Sopris but it was my favorite (despite a little whining on my part with my crappy skiing).

The view of Mt. Sopris from our front door.

There was enough snow to skin from very close to the trailhead but there were places with just enough.

We stayed on the summit for a total of 1 minute due to the wind. Hopefully I’ll get Ian up there again when he can enjoy the views.

Spring is coming!

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Back to the Beginning?

Posted by sarianderson on September 29, 2015
Posted in: Photos and Videos, Racing News, Training, Upcoming Races. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Just two weeks ago, as I mentally prepared to go in for another small surgery on my ankle, I got a call from Jari Kirkland asking me if I could go to Ecuador for an adventure race. I told her that I was nowhere near trained for it. Of course, I really wanted to go. I talked it over with the guys from the team and told them that I might be a liability—they didn’t care. Ian told me that sure, it might not be prudent for me to race, but how often do you get a free trip to Ecuador. So, 24 hours later, I decided I was in for the Nonstop Ecuador Es Tu Cancha race.

I’m very excited to get out for another adventure race and to see Ecuador. My training has been upped significantly, adding some night riding and paddling.

Heading out for a night ride in Moab

Heading out for a night ride in Moab

Summit of Mt. Sopris. Round trip of 3 hours 34 minutes and elevation gain of 4,390 feet

Summit of Mt. Sopris. Round trip of 3 hours 34 minutes and elevation gain of 4,390 feet

Ian and me at the top of Searle Pass, 12,034 feet, on the Dirty Copper Triangle

Ian and I at the top of Searle Pass, 12,034 feet, on the Dirty Copper Triangle

Ian traversing between Searle and Kokomo Passes

Ian traversing between Searle and Kokomo Passes

Dirty Triangle 09.27.2015 2

Kokomo Pass, 12,027 feet

Kokomo Pass, 12,027 feet

Follow the yellow brick road

Follow the yellow brick road

I have a few more weeks squeeze in some training, especially at elevation (Quito is at over 9K feet!). I plan on running the Four Pass Loop this weekend and getting out on a few long rides. This race will be a wildcard for me, but I’m excited to have a goal to work towards and it’s motivated me to be as ready as possible.

Shredding with the Littles

Posted by sarianderson on August 30, 2015
Posted in: Juniper's Adventures, Miscellaneous, Training and racing with kids, Uncategorized. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Getting back in the game. So much fun shredding laps at Snowmass with Juniper, Axel and Ian.

Snowmass laps with Juniper & Axel

Downhill laps with Juniper & Axel

Riding the gondi

Riding the gondi

Snowmass 08.29.2015 3

Axel

Snowmass 08.29.2015 7

The only picture Juniper let me take of her since she never wanted to stop.

Snowmass 08.29.2015

Axel entering the trees where he quickly figured out the trails are perfectly tacky.

Snowmass 08.29.2015 4

Axel is ready for his own full face.

Axel chillin' with his buddy Levi

Axel chillin’ with his buddy Levi

Celebrate Everyday

Posted by sarianderson on July 23, 2015
Posted in: Recovery, Training. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Everyday I feel a little better and everyday I celebrate a little.

I’m almost two weeks out from breaking my L2 and L3 transverse processes and I feel like a new person. From not being able to move at all early last week, I’ve progressed to spinning on my road bike. I figured this would take at least three weeks and couldn’t be happier that my body feels good on the bike.

Just under two weeks out from breaking my L2 and L3 transverse processes and back spinning on the road bike.

Just under two weeks out from breaking my L2 and L3 transverse processes and back spinning on the road bike.

With all the support of our amazing friends, I was able to truly rest last week and stayed on the couch almost one hundred percent of the time. Good thing Le Tour de France is on – what a great way to start my morning when I am forced to rest.

Despite still having miserable pain when I move in the wrong way and some nerve pain continues in my hip, I’m so thankful to be up and moving around. After describing my crash multiple times to people, I’ve realized how lucky I am that I didn’t do more damage.

I’m off to the beach for a week with the family which will help me continue to take it easy. By the time I return, I’ll be three weeks out and maybe, just maybe, ready for a few easy mountain bike rides. I’ll be staying away from the bike parks for a little longer but looking forward to when my body is ready to get back at it.

Sunlight SkiMo Citizen’s Race #1

Posted by sarianderson on December 20, 2013
Posted in: Race Coverage, Race Results, Recovery, Training and racing with kids. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Sunlight Citizens Race #1 - Greg & Jeremy

Jeremy Rietmann (l) & Greg Strokes (r) transitioning for the second climb. Jeremy passed Greg on the catwalk at the end of the last descent to take the win.

Starting a race at 6:30 a.m. in the dead of winter is never easy, but this one was totally worth it. Wednesday morning marked the first citizen’s race of the 2013-14 season at Sunlight above Glenwood Springs. Randy Young and Doug Stenclik of Cripple Creek Backcountry organized the race with the help of Brian Edmiston. Approximately twenty of us were greeted with warm temps and a beautiful, nearly full moon for the crack of dawn start.

It took me the entire first climb to get my legs going, but then I felt pretty good for the second ascent. Other than a hard crash in some heavy snow on the final descent, the race was a great way to start the day. I recently came across this quote, “The best way to get in race shape, is to race.” So far, this is definitely working for me.

The next Citizen’s Race is January 22. Come check it out!

Results from memory:
Jeremy Rietmann
Greg Strokes
Doug Stenclik
Sari Anderson
Lindsay Plant
John VanNordstrand
Unfortunately I missed the remaining finishers in order to get to work.