run.

So its been like 3.5 weeks and my shoulder is still causing me grief. I missed Crankworx and now the Fluidride Cup (I won’t get the overall now!) and I have been getting some major ants in my pants watching everyone ride and race. I was dreading another day off the bike just hanging out while everyone rides and I heard about this trail running race while working on some event stuff at work. I don’t really run but its something to do, right? So I decided to enter this running race called Salomon 5 Peaks. They had a sport course and an enduro course, I thought, if i am going to do it, I might as well just do the whole thing so enduro it was…11 km up in Whistler’s alpine.

The race was tough but not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I saw on the elevation map of the course that there were 3 downhills (proceeded by uphills of course) before a massive climb, which was the last big push of the race. Just knowing the order of the climbs was pretty good help. I thought that it was all downhill after the big uphill which it mostly was but there there was a lot more uphill than I saved energy for so that last km was so hard. We ran down this steep fire road for about a km, that was painfull….it just jarred every bone and muscle in my body! From there we went into some tight single-track which I was so relieved for but my legs were mush after that downhill so it was hard to make my legs go where I wanted them to go. The last km of single-track was rolly/uphill to the finish…I was so beat.

Anyway, it was such a fun way to spend a saturday. I was thoroughly worried I was going to come dead last because I thought that all of the people who race enduro run loads and train but I am happy to say that I was not last. I was 13/19 in my class and 173rd out of 241 overall. Pretty far back…but not last =). I think I am gonna have to try another one soon!

crankworx.

Lots has been happening the last couple of weeks.

Its been just over two weeks since I crashed on my shoulder in Bromont, I thought for sure that it would be good enough to race for Crankworx but its not. I was planning on racing everything- Slalom, GarbanzoDH, AirDH, GS and the Canadian Open but I thought that it would be too much for my shoulder so I cut it down to three. I guess I was a little too optimistic, I registered (without having ridden since I hurt my shoulder) and then went up for Garbanzo practice…not so good. I was determined to just push through it all and race but after some hard thought, I decided to withdraw. Realistically it comes down to this- I can ride with my shoulder the way it is but I can’t ride fast, it hurts and it is dangerous because I don’t have a whole lot of strength in it right now. You have gotta have your shit working to pin it. I really want to go and just shred with my friends even if I can’t race but its not fun because it doesn’t feel good and cruising is so boring…especially with everyone in town- all I want to do is pump out 15 pinner laps on get loose on roots and rocks and corners. Seriously though, I thought long and hard about this all- I don’t think that there is any point in racing to be in the mid-to-the-back of the pack, when I race, I am racing to win and I know that my body is not capable of a solid performance right now. I think I made the right decision.

Definently bummed on not racing on my home trails that I have on lockdown but I have accepted it and moved on and I am having a good time just hanging out, talking to people and representing my sponsors. I have met lots of new people and I am already getting pumped for next season. I mean the season isn’t over yet but I am so excited to get healthy and strong and apply all that I have learned this year towards next season. Big goals!!! I am so excited just thinking about it….!!

Anyway, I will try and get some pics and twitter stuff going on for the rest of Crankworx to keep you all updated on the happenings.

Pictures: Benny Cruickshanks