Midwest MTB Racing Recap

The weather took a turn for the best this week, for sure, but some good news relative to mountain biking still rolling in, keeping the report action going for at least two more weeks. TJ Woodruff, Wisconsin native who has established himself as one of the top mountain bikers in the country, just returned home from a "Live High Train Low" program in France and sends an exclusive report from his experiences. Minnesota native Eric Thompson writes on US Collegiate Nationals.  And a look ahead to some upcoming events related to mountain biking including news from Chequamegon land.

Live High, Train Low

TJ Woodruff is back on US soil after experiencing a once in a life time event. TJ sent a great report recapping his stay across the pond after performing one of his last workouts in a snow storm;

During the last eight weeks I’ve been participating in an altitude training research study held in the Jura Mountains of France (near Geneva, Switzerland). The study sought to investigate the effects of ‘Live High, Train Low’ on performance and the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for those changes. Over the last ten years it has become generally accepted that training at low elevation while sleeping or living at a higher elevation (naturally or simulated) is the most effective means to use altitude training to improve endurance performance. Numerous studies have supported that ‘live high, train’ works best, but none have outlined the mechanisms responsible for the improved performance. This particular study was organized by Dr. Carsten Lundy of the University of Zurich and it brought together a great team of researchers to work with those of us athletes participating as subjects. With a couple of last minute no-shows there were 17 of us who came from the US, Canada, Denmark, and Switzerland.

We’ve lived in a dorm facility that is used primarily by French Nordic athletes during the winter months when the National teams host their own training camps. Our meals were all prepared in the cafeteria so with everything taken care of there were few outside concerns during our stay. I was fortunate to continue my Momentum Endurance coaching duties as normal during my stay while other athletes may have been more prone to cabin fever. Being in rural France with only a bike is great for training, but also means some long hours with not a whole lot going on. Keeping up with everyone back home and being able to work was a great way for me to maintain connection with the outside world. This was especially true during the four week long intervention phase where we were required to be in our rooms for 16 hours each day.

We were asked to train ‘as normal’ during our stay so that impact of the altitude exposure would potentially have the biggest effect on our physiology. That meant keeping with the 12-20 hours that I normally train when not competing on a regular basis. Most of the others (all being elite level) kept with a similar regime as well. Data from of our training was collected along with results from a multitude of tests that we were frequently put through. During the 56 days we were put through the following tests:

• Two muscle biopsies were taken from the quad muscle. I opted for one sample taken from each leg. One was taken before altitude intervention and the other taken four weeks later after having been adapted to the hypoxic environment. I must say that each of these biopsies were the most uncomfortable moments of my life.  Thank goodness each procedure lasted only a matter of fifteen or twenty seconds.
• Seven ‘carbon monoxide rebreathing’ tests were conducted. We would breathe on a closed system which contained a trace amount of CO that would bind to our hemoglobin. Blood samples taken before and immediately after this CO exposure would allow our Hb mass to be determined. With more Hb, one’s ability to deliver oxygen should increase.
• Two days of cardiac output determination. Arterial catheters were put in one arm with a venous catheter placed into the other. A trace amount of Lithium was injected through the vein and then blood from artery could then be analyzed. This was done while we did a VO_2 Max test. After the first VO_2 Max was done, we would wait two hours before conducting a second VO_2 Max test done while breathing oxygen-reduced air to simulate 2800m (roughly 9,200 ft).  Our cardiac output was then calculated for both the low elevation and high elevation tests. One of these testing days was done before altitude intervention, and the other was after in order to determine any changes that had occurred.
• We did a total of eleven VO_2 Max tests (six while breathing hypoxic air to simulate 2800m), seven Wingate tests (30 seconds – all out) were done, and seven indoor trainer time trial races on a computer simulated course were conducted (each taking roughly 40 minutes to complete).
• Before and after each time trial tests our quads were electrically simulated in order to determine the degree of peripheral fatigue by comparing our ability to produce a maximum contraction before and after the TT.
• One of the VO_2 Max tests was done after a hemodilution.  Additional blood that was gained as a result of the acclimation to altitude exposure was removed prior to testing and then re-infused after the test. This test was done to quantify the effects of the increased Hg mass.
• Eight times we were required to sleep while wearing a HR monitor and to do a morning HR test.
• At least eight times we provided a basic blood sample for analysis.

It goes without saying that we were thoroughly poked, prodded, and generally put through the ringer! After having completed my final tests yesterday I’m mentally and physically drained from the study and very much looking forward to tomorrow’s 18 hours of travel which will get me home. That being said, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience here. I got to meet some really great people during the stay, I was able to train on and generally explore hundreds of kilometers of incredible roads across the French and Swiss country sides, and the first-hand experiences gained by being a part of a well done scientific experiment are second to none. It’s very cool that I was able to contribute to the scientific knowledge base as it relates to something that I’m passionate about. Improving endurance performance is a fascinating quest and one that we all enjoy being a part of to varying degrees. I’ll return home with some great memories and valuable experiences despite the fact that I was in the blinded control group and received no altitude intervention whatsoever.

All good in the end,

Follow TJ's cycling in his own blog.

US Collegiate MTB Nationals

Shorview native, Eric Thompson, who attends college at Lees-McRae, sent in a report from his experiences at US Collegiate MTB Nationals.

Once the trees started changing and the air got colder the collegiate mountain bike season started to come to an end. The Lees-McRae Cycling Team headed out to Truckee, California to pursue new experiences and national championship titles on the week of the 18th of October. The venue was like nothing else I had ever seen, Northstar Resort in Truckee, California held some of the best trails to be ridden. A perfect place for the Collegiate National Mountain Bike Championships.

On Friday, October 15th was the morning of the cross country race. All of the endurance riders were ready to preform and take on the 28 mile race which included over 1000+ feet of climbing each lap. A daunting task to someone who does not have altitude and mountains at their disposal. At the start line each school was called up individually, I was called up second on my team gaining a great position just two rows back. The race started on a loose gravel climb offering perfect opportunities for crashes and pile ups, and of course that is what happened. After dodging a crash I worked my way up to the front looking at the rear wheels of a couple of my teammates, and many from the top ten the following year.

At the top of the mountain on the first lap I found myself close to a familiar competitor, Jack Hinkens, who was riding very smooth and was bound for a great finish by the end of the day. Starting my second, I couldn't believe that I still had three laps to finish. This course was not friendly to big riders but I fought the urges to back down. During the rest of the race it only felt like I was falling backward, but I thought about how well my teammates were doing in order to give myself motivation to keep the pedals turning.

By the last lap my body took on sheer exhaustion and I couldn't help to result to survival mode. I ended up 19th for the day with teammates having great races at 4th, 11th, 15th and 24th. I kept my spirits up looking forward to the next day of short track!

In the morning of Saturday the 16th my body felt ready to take on the fast paced event of short track. I lined up 4th row on the start and from there I knew that it was going to have to be smart and move up when possible. When I gun went off everyone scrambled to their pedals. It was sheer chaos in the loose gravel with everyone trying to find a smooth line up the first climb.


By the top of the climb before we entered the single track, and I was around 25th position. I kept my cool and moved up when possible, staying aggressive but saving time and energy. During the whole race my teammates and friends gave me motivation to never give up, we had our whole gravity and women's team running up and down the main hill, putting more effort in cheering than racing! Quickly time faded and on the last lap I put in one more effort to hold my top ten finish. I was pleased with my 10th place and very excited for my teammates efforts as well.

I want to send out a special thanks to my dad who flew out, and my mom who was always on the phone after the races. Also to my coaches and my teammates, it was a great last nationals! Next stop, Cyclocross!

Sheboygan Wigwam MTB Challenge

Claire Cannon posted a very nice recap from the Sheboygan Wigman Challenge, where Duluth native Sara Kylander-Johnson took the win in the Elite women and Mike Phillips took his first ever WORS Elite men's win after taking time off from racing earlier in the year.  Read the full recap on WORS site.

Looking Ahead

Scott Putman checked in, giving heads up for the fundraiser for the Ashwaubenon Nordic Ski Team. The team will be hosting a 10 mile and 5K trail race and a 5K run+20 mi Mt. bike duathlon at the Brown County Reforestation Camp in Suamico on Sunday, October 31st. Scott reports: "The race trail is 2 x10 plus mile loops about 70% single track at the reforestation camp.  We leaf blow the trails.  Great lodge, great feed.  The race is close to Green Bay Wisconsin". There is also a team category. 

Nat Lopes, National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) Development Director and key player in the growth of high school mountain bike racing, will be at Quality Bicycle Products Friday, Oct. 29th, from 6 to 8 pm to discuss the new Minnesota League.  Members of Minnesota's Development Committee will also be on hand to talk about immediate needs and how interested people can help.  Although there are a lot of mountain bikers having kids, doing a nice job weening the little ones from sucking the schrader and presta valves to rolling the big wheels, it is frustrating the lack of junior riders in the sport of mountain bike racing. A high school league could provide a nice feeder to series racing as the races are typically shorter and first timer friendly. Nicely done to the folks behind this movement.

There will be an additional 250 lucky riders to toe the line at next years Chequamegon. Gary Crandall reports: Starting with the September 16-18, 2011 Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival lottery, the cross county event entry limit will be increased from the traditional 2,500 riders to 2,750 total. The sold out event limit is selected via a random lottery held each spring shortly after the March 15 postmark deadline for submitting entry forms and fees.  In 2011, the lottery selected limit for the Chequamegon 40 will be raised to 1850 riders.  For the Short & Fat 16 mile, an additional 900 participants will be selected. Entry forms will be available in February.

Keep the wheels moving!
                                  

About the author... Jay Richards maintains a very active lifestyle. He somehow finds time between managing a full-time resort (Maplelag) and bringing up a family of four boys with his wife Jonell, to compete in both mountain bike and a few cross-country ski races. Jay rides for Maplelag Resort, manages the Maplelag/Paramount mountain bike team and enters his 20th year of racing and promoting mountain bike races.