Athlete Accomplishments - August 2009

It's been a long 2009 season and a lot of you are taking your well-deserved unstructured time or complete rest.  Some are preparing for cyclocross while others are just rebuilding your endurance base and having fun.

I think it is a good time to take a moment and list some athlete accomplishments so far this season. You all have done some excellent hard work and it has really paid off. Check it out:

Brad Schrock: Brad has been working with a travel-heavy work schedule and despite this has racked up some solid placings in his local crit series.  In the Tour of KC, he came in 11th on day 1 and 13th on day 2 despite being held up by a crash in the finale!  Brad's dedication and persistence despite his busy schedule always impress me.

Chris Peariso: Chris set his main goal this season as the Men's Pro Solo division of the BC Bike Race.  Despite having no experience with the terrain or that style of racing, Chris managed a solid 7th place overall.  Excellent!

Ellen Kirtley: Ellen came into her final countdown to the Senior Games burnt out and stale.  She asked me to coach her starting only 2 months before the big event and I wasn't sure we could really salvage her form.  After a lot of rest and some very specific training, Ellen managed 11th on day 1 road race.  In the Day 2 road race, she played the wind to her advantage and placed 4th!  After the road races, she set her sights on the 2 TTs - her specialty.  She didn't disappoint - one 4th place and one bronze medal later she headed home with a successful Senior Games in the bag.

Heather Gundersen: This cyclocross superstar's road season got off to a solid start with a 3rd place at Banana Belt, 11th overall at Cherry Blossom SR, and 4th at King's Valley RR before scoring a win at the Table Rock RR.  Since the spring, she has remained consistent with a coupe of top-10 rides at Mt Tabor and a bronze medal at the OBRA TTT Champs.

Jane Adams: Jane has continued her winning ways this season with a whole slew of top places and wins in a variety of races all along the East Coast.  Her highlights include a 3rd at the Kenda Cup East and 2nd places at the Williams Lake Classic and a well-deserved win at Michaux.  Jane is gunning for a result in next year's Dalby Forest World Cup race in her native UK.

Jennifer Reither: JennX has had an awesome season, beginning with an 11th place in the pro race at the Tour of California Women's Criterium in the pouring rain.  Since then, she has been steady on with solid rides in South Carolina and Tulsa Tough.  In June,  a 10th at the Manhattan Beach GP preceded a 3rd at the San Pedro GP.  She recently went to Master's Track National Championships where she earned a silver medal in the points race and a bronze in team pursuit.

Mark Miller: Mark has been racing both on the road and off, with great results.  He got his season off to a good start with 11th at Cherry Pie RR, followed by a slew of top 10 MTB results: 3rd at Horning's Hustle, 5th at Bear Springs Trap XC, 7th at Spring Thaw XC, and 4th at both Pickett's Charge and Return of the Jedi.  Nice work!

Mike Benno: Mike has had a solid road season, with top-15 placings in a variety of events.  Highlights include 12th at King’s Valley, 6th at the OBRA RR, 3rd at Mt Tabor, 2nd in the Vancouver Courthouse Crit, and two wins in the Mid-Summer Crit Series.  Mike has been resting well and is now 100% focused on cyclocross!

Shawn Tevendale: Shawn is a versatile MTB racer focused on endurance challenges.  Shawn has been dealing with on-bike nutrition issues this year, but his focus has paid off with 8th at the Cowbell Challenge Marathon and a 2nd place at the 18 Hours-Scouts Honor.

Steven Hunter: Steven’s season focus is cyclocross, but his road results are nothing to snicker at.  He has managed 15th, 14th, and 13th, respectively, at the Eugene Roubaix, Silverton RR, and Rehearsal RR.  He’s also managed some solid PIR results of his own while working for his teammates!

Stuart Lynne: Stuart is a stellar BC Master’s rider.  He’s a regular top-contender in his class and has reached another level this season.  His results include PBs on a variety of TT courses, both flat and uphill, including one at the Mt Seymour HC in the pouring rain.  He also earned a gold medal at the BC Master’s TT Champs and won at the Mt Washington and Cypress Hillclimbs along with the BCMCA Team TT, at which he arrived rock star-style via helicopter.

Susan Peithman: Susan’s season has been trying at times, but despite this she has managed some great results.  A 4th place at the Sublime Sublimity CR was followed by top-10 rides at Banana Belt, Piece of Cake RR, and the Cherry Blossom SR.  More recently, 6th and 7th places at the Swan Island and Vancouver Courthouse Criteriums have put her in good position for her build-up to cyclocross.

 

You’ve all worked hard for these results and they speak volumes about your dedication and persistence.  Here’s to more great success to come!