US Jr. National team meber and local boy Jacob Rathe is tearing it up in Europe. This week he finished 11th overall and scored two podium finishes at the Giro di Basilicata in Italy.

Check out the story on Jacob and the US Jr. National team below.

https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=3858

JDS

Local girl Sue Butler starts the season out strong with a win on Saturday and a solid 2nd place finish on Sunday at the season openers in Washington. Other local CCX racers Wendy Williams, Rhonda Mazza, Shannon Skerrit and Erik Tonkin finish solidly in the top 15 both days.

Check out the stories and results on Cycling News below.

Star Crossed - 9/20/08

http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2008/sep08/starcrossed08

Rad Racing - 9/21/08

http://www.cyclingnews.com/cross.php?id=cross/2008/sep08/radracinggp08

JDS

Last week, Endurofit athlete and friend, Jennifer Urich, summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Jen headed to Africa after a successful season to accomplish one more goal and explore the continent. Making good on her intention, Jen reached the summitt of the mountain at 6:30am on September 18th. 

“Kili” just so happens to be the highest peak in Africa at 5,895 meters (19,340 ft). Now that’s some serious altitude!!!

Be sure to check back in next month to find out more about her adventure and see the photos from her journey.

Congrats on another goal acomplished and amazing adventure Jen!

JDS

Endurofit athletes Hugh Givens and Flo Liebowitz, won the Masters Men’s 50+ and took 3rd in the Women’s 45+ races respectively at Kreuger’s Farm Crit last weekend. 

Making the hole shot off the line in third, Hugh immediately joined a small break off the front. The group slowly whittled down over the course of the race leaving only Hugh and one other rider left to battle it out. Hugh wisely feigned fatigue after a pull and the other rider attacked him as planned with less than 2 laps to go. Hugh caught him at the base of a small rise and counter-attacked the rider to stay away for the win. A fine piece of riding indeed! 

Flo Liebowitz improved upon her 4th place finish by getting on the podium in the Women’s 45+, and on her single speed no less. Flo accomplished this after doing an LT test on Friday and a 5 hour climbing ride with the coach on Saturday. Now that’s how it’s done sister!

Other good results and fun times were had by our friends and previous clients as well.

Check out the results here: http://app.obra.org/results/event/13073#race_138157

JDS

This Fall I will be offering several great learning opportunities to help you get the most out of your training and improve your performance. Each of these will be given as workshops and lectures locally and as webinars for those not living in the Portland area. You can either learn through an intimate, in-person experience or from the comfort of your own home or office.

These events will provide each attendee with a great opportunity to gain the knowledge and the skills you need to improve your performance and get more enjoyment out of your sport. Each offering will include a lecture and practial exercises to help you learn to help you truly embody the subject matter and get the most out of attending. You will leave with new skills to help you make the most out of this upcoming season.

These events include:

• Creating the Perfect Off-Season
• Developing Your Inner Fitness -  Train Your Inner Athlete for Ultimate Performance
• Training w/ Power 101 

To find out more about these exciting learning opportunities or to register please visit:

 http://www.endurofit.com/Events/New Clinics.html

 I hope to see you there!

JDS

4000 athletes (213 of them Americans) are participating in the Paralympics in Beijing this week.  They represent 150 countries in 20 sports.    Right now we are 2nd in the medal count.

Our athlets have some incredible stories and many new world records are being set across all sorts of sports.  These are  incredible athletes both in mind and body.  Our team has a strong contingent of military athletes as do many other teams. You will be inspired!

You can watch the action live at
www.universalsports.com   or
www.paralympic.org

You can learn more about US athletes at http://paralympicsteamusa.org

Check it out!

Sent to us by:

Kristen Dieffenbach, Ph.D., CC AASP #193
WVU - College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
Assistant Professor - Athletic Coaching Education

Since CCX season is kicking off I thought I would posts a couple of links to check out for vidoes that demonstrate proper skills. These can be used to review and reinforce good technique when practicing for the upcoming races this fall. 

The first is a series of videos we put together from some local clinics and the Alpenrose CCX clinics last season put on by Erik Tonkin and crew.

http://www.endurofit.com/Free%20Resources/Videos/Cycling%20Skills%20Videos.html

You can also find other CCX skills and racing videos on You Tube at the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZQUHGqyEyU 

Have fun watching and practicing and good luck this season.

JDS

Yes, it’s that time of the year when Cyclo-Cross season is about to get into high gear and the gang at the Cross Crusade comes out with another great flyer for the series. Here you can check it out below as it’s hot off the press. Enjoy the flyer and check out www.crosscrusade.com for all of the info on the upcoming series. See you at the races. -JDS

Last night at Alpenrose Dairy, in SW Portland, Erik Tonkin and his crew of volunteer coaches hosted the first of the annual Sellwood Cycle CCX clinics for their biggest crowd yet. Over 150 CCX enthusiasts gathered en mass at Alpenrose to practice their skills under the tutelage of local CCX pros and top amateurs.

Coaches included the likes of Erik Tonkin, Rhonda Mazza, Shannon Skerrit, Molly Cameron, Sue Butler, Wendy Williams and others. This clinic provides a rare opportunity for new and old CCX racers and enthusiasts to practice their skills under the guidance of such experienced and skilled coaches and racers.

Attendees were broken up into groups depending on experience and skill level so they could learn at their own pace. Each group had at least 2 coaches overseeing it and some times more. Drills were aimed at helping participants improve their skills by learning proper technique.

No matter your skill level, these clinics offer a unique opportunity to hone your skils for the upcoming racing season. There are only two more of these clinics left, so head on out to the Alpenrose Dairy next week to work on your mounts, dismounts, barrier skills and bike handling with other CCX enthusiasts. Be sure to stop by the BLOG next week for photos from the clinics.

To find out more about the clinics, give Erik and the folks at Sellwood Cycle Repair a call at 503.233.9392. To find out about the upcoming races this season, visit the the Oregon Bicycle racing Asociation at www.obra.org and www.crosscrusade.com. 

Check out video training tips by Erik and friends from last year’s clinics at the following link:

http://www.endurofit.com/Free%20Resources/Videos/Cycling%20Skills%20Videos.html

JS