You read my last post, you saw that I took Sunday off because I wasn't feeling well. I woke up Monday morning with a fever and full blown influenza. That agony lasted a while, then I developed bronchitis. I took the whole next week off. The following week I just did some short, easy workouts. I couldn't do much because as soon as I got going I started coughing. Last week I finally got back to it (though even now after 4 weeks I can't run because of coughing). Last week I did 12 hours and 49 minutes of training with 9 hours 45 minutes on the bike trainer. This week I did 13 hours and 15 minutes of training with 9 hours 50 minutes on the bike. My other training has been a few Insanity videos and the elliptical inside. My treadmill is in the up heated garage, which is out of the questions until my cough is 100% gone. I plan another hard week this week, and then I'll take a recovery week.
In other news, I have started on a plan for is summer. With prayerful consideration, I have decided to do the 100 mile option at the Hampshire Hundred mountain bike race. The issue with my decision is that it's the day after the Maine Adventure race, which I have done 6 years straight and it's my favorite race. There is no way I can do them back to back, especially since this will be my first 100 miler. I'm going to miss that race so much this year! But the Hampshire Hundred is a perfect first 100 miler. I've done the 100k twice, and it's not super technical.
Last week was a bit of a light week with 11 hours and 15 minutes of training, which did include a 3 hour ride on the bike trainer. This week had more volume and was also fairly intense. I had a total of 12 hours and 55 minutes of training, including 9.5 hours on the bike trainer. It actually was going to be higher. I just decided to take today off. 3 out of 5 people in my house are sick (really sick!) I feel ok, just a little tired. I'm nervous about pushing my body right now and lowering my immune system. Probably smarter to skip today. It was still a good week. In other news, I've got some new online training clients who I am working with on their nutrition and exercise. I'm excited to see their progress! If you are interested in some help, let me know. An exercise/nutrition program is $99, or just one or the other (exercise or nutrition) is just $65. Le t me use my ten years of experience to help you!
I hope everyone's new year is off to a fabulous start! Mine has involved training, training and more training. This week I got in a solid 12 hours and 39 minutes. This included 4 sessions on the bike trainer, 3 insanity workouts and 3 runs. Here comes another good week!
I would love to hear what your New Years goals are. I am available all month for designing customized programs at low prices. I also can do faith based programs if you are a Christian. But this is optional, and all beliefs are welcome!
This quote and image may be old, but it's very true. Keep this is mind, and contact me about getting in shape!
I haven't updated my blog for a while, and I need to! A couple weeks ago I received my plaque for winning the 2014 New England Endurance Series. This season did not go ANYTHING like I had hoped, but it proved that if you persevere, things can go better than you expect. In every race this season, with the exception of one, I had a HORRIBLE performance. In my first race I had 2 flat tires. After that, I had my 2 accidents. I missed about 6 weeks of training, and once I started training and racing again I did so very delicately, getting off the bike and walking anywhere I felt I was a fall risk. I wasn't being a wimp, I was simply being aware that it would be very easy for me to undo all my healing. It's been over six months and I'm still in pain every day, and I can't lift my arms all that well. So, while I was rather embarrassed about all of my performances, added together they equaled something. I thank God I was able to race at all. And I'm very grateful that I have one race where I could be pleased. Placing second out of approximately 30 women in the bike portion of the Maine Adventure Challenge is the highlight of my year. I was able to do well in this race because I had gotten back in to relatively good shape, and the course is non technical. I never had to get off because of a risk of falling. I'm looking forward to performing ten times better next year! Let this be a lesson to not let anything stop you!!
Summer is nearing the end and fall business is picking up, but there is still time to take advantage of my summer rates for personal training and sports nutrition. Contact me today!! Together we will tackle your goals and reach them in no time! In other news, if you are local, I will be doing personal training and nutrition consults at Faith's Fitness in Newport, Maine! Message me today about meting up in person and starting some awesome workouts!
Wow, time has gone by! I'm still injured, but gradually healing. I can ride mostly normal, though my upper body feels weak and I'm still being a bit cautious about reinjuring myself. The weekend after Carrabassett Valley, I raced in the 12 hours of Millstone. I was experiencing some over training. I was really tired, sore, and very clumsy and unfocused. The course was super technical, but not hilly. So not the type of course that I would do particularly well on anyway. I did 5 laps before calling it quits. On the last lap I was so clumsy I just kept stopping and trying to refocus. After the end of that lap I. Hacked the electronic timing and realized I had no chance of catching up to the woman in first place, so I just went home. Two weeks ago was the Maine A dventure Race. Every year Bill and I have competed in the race as individuals, both racing the entire course. But this year I could not kayak, due to my injuries. So Bill and I did a team. He kayaked, I mountain biked, and he hiked. We figured we could be fairly competitive. But, the race didn't get off to a very good start. The kayak flipped over and Bill landed in the water. The boat filled up with water, and rescue had to come help him. He lost a lot of time and was one of the last people out of the water. Wen I took off on my bike I knew I had a lot of catching up to do. Ad I did. I passed 46 people. There were 81 on the course, so I passed well over half of the people racing. I still can't believe I did that. I was the second place woman on the bike and 14th out of all 81 people. I handed off to Bill and he passed more people on the hike, finishing 5th out of 81! We made up for the poor start and finished reasonably well. I'm very excited to be doing the Peak 6 hour mountain bike race in Pittsfield VT in 2 weeks, and even more excited about the Vermont 50 two weeks after that! Though it was a bad time for me at Millstone, I have to say e course was beautiful and it was the friendliest race I've ever been to. Here is a picture of one of the many quarries on the course.
I wasn't sure what would happen with my race season after the array of injuries I was victim to. The 5 weeks I missed of training hurt. But, I was already signed up, so I went for it. June 28th I raced in the WildCat 100 (66 mile race). I had barely been on the bike, I was having some shoulder pain, and I couldn't do any front wheel lifts. I decided to just take it easy, and get off any place I felt I was a fall risk. The day turned out to be super hot, in the low 90s with high humidity. Fortunately this course isn't super tough. There's a bit of climbing and some technical places, but not bad at all. Even with my broken body and feeling uneasy just being back on the bike, I was able to make it through all 66 miles. I was the first and only female finisher!! I won a real nice new helmet. July 19th was the Carrabassett Backcountry Challenge. Now that's another story. The course is really tough. Lots of technical, lots of steep up and down, and the thickest mud you can imagine. I had gotten in a few rides, but I was still feeling limited. No front wheel lifts. I was still having pain every day, so I knew falling (which I always do on this course!) put me at a high risk for re-injuring myself. I decided at any place I felt I was a fall risk I was just going to be super cautious. Fortunately it was about 10 degrees cooler than at WildCat, though still hot enough to feel lousy out in the hot sun. I had gotten in a few decent rides, but I was still a bit uneasy after those 5 weeks off. I tried a front wheel lift once, and it didn't work. My shoulders are both still not back to normal. It was a long, slow day, but I'm really happy to say I finished it. I was probably an hour slower than I would have been if I had not been hurt, but I made it through a hard 63 miles. 5 women started, 4 finished and I was 4th. Who cares! No one, myself included, would have thought I would even be on a bike at this point! Next up: the 12 hours of Millstone on saturday the 26th. I've never ridden there, but from what I read it's super technical. Wish me luck! I leave you with a couple pictures of the course in Carrabassett Valley.
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And I don't mean "catching a break!" I'm healing and progressing well. Fortunately I've been able to run, though awkwardly. I can do modified Insanity workouts. So, I'm getting in my overall fitness, which is good, but not super helpful for my mountain bike training. Ill get there in time. Don't forget about my personal training and nutrition specials from now until June 30! Cheap cheap cheap! If I can't work on my goals, I would love to help you with yours! Contact me today!
Sarah Brown is a competitive endurance athlete, specializing in mountain biking and mountain running. She is sponsored by Honey Stinger. Sarah is also a certified personal trainer offering online training services.