Win 1 of 2 New Balance running kits, valued at up to 450$ each!
Hi everyone,
Derrick and I have been competing in Cyclo Cross races all over North America this year and we are taking the next step by travelling to Belgium for a couple of weeks to race the best in the world and do some UCI races including the World Cup in Hofstade, Belgium. Cyclo-Cross is not an Olympic sport, therefore there is extremely limited funding. Since we are Elite amatuers, sponsors are able to assist with the costs of some of the equipment; unfortunately all the travel costs are out of our pockets.
In order to facilitate our trip, my boss, Jim MacFarlane the owner of New Balance Ottawa/Sports 4 has generously donated 2 full winter running kits that we are raffling off in order to help cover some of the financial burden. Jim has always supported local athletes and has been very understanding and accommodating to the demands of my training and racing over the last four years.
We will only be selling 200 tickets for a chance to win one of two New Balance 450$ running kits. Kit includes 150$ shoes and 300$ in clothing (retail value). Vince Caceres (also a very understanding man) of the Cyclery has also donated a voucher for a complete bike tune-up valued at 60$.
Tickets are 15$ each and available at the New Balance Ottawa store 1371 B Woodroffe Ave (in College Square). The draw will be held on December 10th at the New Balance Ottawa Store. I will be there weekdays until the draw date, working and selling tickets. We have recently received our Fall/Winter selection of clothing, so come by the store check out the new line, buy a ticket and say hi.
Thank you in helping us pursue our dreams and making them come true.
If you can't come by the store send Derrick an email and he'll get a ticket to you.
Even if you don't run the kits are really good for lounging or they can make a great Christmas gift for the runner in your life.
Natasha and Derrick
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
US Grand Prix-New Jersey day 1
Man oh man. That was hard. That really hurt. Usually my cross races unfold in similar patterns. Poor start, chase hard, have fun, usually try to flash the Ben Stiller Blue Steel once or twice, stick my tongue out at Natasha and ride through people or go group to group behind people I'm pretty sure I could/should beat. So today, the special on the menu was different from the usual. Great start, suffer, suffer actually loose a few positions, then I rode with the former Champion of Denmark, then I rode with Chris Horner who I believe finished 20th at the Tour de France this year. Did I say that was hard. Come to think about it I feel like I just smoked a pack, no a carton of Marlboro's. That guy was punching it so incredibly hard out of corners it was insane, I made one little bobble and lost his wheel and that was that.
I suffered, a lot. I actually wanted to cry. I think I finished about 23rd, which is pretty good, since I'm usually about 20th in the Verge series and that is about 40% easier. Last year at the GP I was 51st. So definitely best cross ride for 2008 so far. Not to mention at one point a large branch or tree limb flew up and lodge itself in the wheel. The wheel was not very happy, I rode around on it for 30 minutes with it being stuck on the break pad. Good thing I didn't get the spare bike cause the seat collar was busted.
Natasha had a great ride she finished 15th. She biffed it in the sand but managed to get back on. She started off a little slow, and pulled her way back. There are alot of rally good girls here, so it's really good for Tasha. Hopefully her interventions of trying to recover better will pay off tomorrow. I think she can squeeze a top ten if she really puts her mind to it.
The atmosphere here is awesome, there are so many people cheering, screaming, it's really cool. It's always good to hear people telling you to go hard. Mercer Parc is great, great venue for a cross race. Course is wicked, there is a fly over, it looks like a skate board ramp, you run up one side, jump on your bike, fly down it meanwhile other people are going under it to get to a different part of the course. I really like the way they do the courses here, it's really well thought out. The leaves are still on the trees, and not to be a chick or anything, but it's pretty scenic. The Hotel room is great, just built one month ago...makes it hard to go home. They do a pretty good breakfast, which we finagled some free coupons by trying to get a deal last night. I know Maurice (Natasha's dad) takes great pride in me when I get discounts or get stuff for free. My dad would be proud to know that I made an egg sandwich at breakfast then wrapped it in napkins and had it for lunch.
Although I'm not really sure if anyone cooks in NJ. Because we tried to go out tonight for some din' and all the restaurants had a 45 min wait...so we had salad, baked potato and chicken at Wendy's. It was alright, kind healthy, which is weired. Cheap too, probably like 12$ Canadian, eh.
I suffered, a lot. I actually wanted to cry. I think I finished about 23rd, which is pretty good, since I'm usually about 20th in the Verge series and that is about 40% easier. Last year at the GP I was 51st. So definitely best cross ride for 2008 so far. Not to mention at one point a large branch or tree limb flew up and lodge itself in the wheel. The wheel was not very happy, I rode around on it for 30 minutes with it being stuck on the break pad. Good thing I didn't get the spare bike cause the seat collar was busted.
Natasha had a great ride she finished 15th. She biffed it in the sand but managed to get back on. She started off a little slow, and pulled her way back. There are alot of rally good girls here, so it's really good for Tasha. Hopefully her interventions of trying to recover better will pay off tomorrow. I think she can squeeze a top ten if she really puts her mind to it.
The atmosphere here is awesome, there are so many people cheering, screaming, it's really cool. It's always good to hear people telling you to go hard. Mercer Parc is great, great venue for a cross race. Course is wicked, there is a fly over, it looks like a skate board ramp, you run up one side, jump on your bike, fly down it meanwhile other people are going under it to get to a different part of the course. I really like the way they do the courses here, it's really well thought out. The leaves are still on the trees, and not to be a chick or anything, but it's pretty scenic. The Hotel room is great, just built one month ago...makes it hard to go home. They do a pretty good breakfast, which we finagled some free coupons by trying to get a deal last night. I know Maurice (Natasha's dad) takes great pride in me when I get discounts or get stuff for free. My dad would be proud to know that I made an egg sandwich at breakfast then wrapped it in napkins and had it for lunch.
Although I'm not really sure if anyone cooks in NJ. Because we tried to go out tonight for some din' and all the restaurants had a 45 min wait...so we had salad, baked potato and chicken at Wendy's. It was alright, kind healthy, which is weired. Cheap too, probably like 12$ Canadian, eh.
So tomorrow we'll do it over again and roll the dice. Tomorrow's secret goal for me is to beat Natasha and maybe I can use that as an excuse not to drive through NJ,which is also really crazy...no left turns everywhere, you have to do these huge right turns and hit the street from the different side...oh well, better get used to different driving laws, Belgium is only a month away. Oh yah, other weired thing about New Jersey, you are prohibited by law to pump your own gas. I just don't get it.
Later
DSJ
Saturday, November 10, 2007
2nd and 4th in Toronto
So I guess the good part of going for the hole shot, is that even if you don't get it, you end up with a good start, so finally the Cornwall kid got a good start! Man, it's like they actually designed a course where I could put my start demons to the curb. Not only that but I was a able to stay in the main group, which ended up with myself,Greg, Oz, Nathan Chown and Andrew Watson and Canadian Chanmp Mike Gerrigan.
I guess the last few weeks of getting my ass kicked, repeatedly payed off. I was able to stay on the group, not only that but found confidence to take charge and attack. Man it was eally fun to be in the race and have some say in how the smack down was going to happen. Much easier riding in a group then chasing trying to pull time back.
Gerrigan flatted, so there were five. Watson crashed, then there were four. Greg put in a super slick to move to get away and made it stick. I got a little too excited here and there perhaps using up some energy attacking from less then perfect places, but whatever.
The battle for second went to the line with Oz, Chown and myself. Let's just say I was forced to take a less than perfect approach to line and I blew the sprint. So 4th, but probably the best Cross race I've had all year. No actually that was probably the best race Cross race I've ever had. I was hoping for top 5 today and I got it. The podium was only inches away, so I'm really stoked about that as well. The final few hundred meters could have been better for me, but at least I was there today and that's more that can be said from the first half of our Cross adventures. Finally I got a cheque that was worth more than paper it was printed on.
I guess the last few weeks of getting my ass kicked, repeatedly payed off. I was able to stay on the group, not only that but found confidence to take charge and attack. Man it was eally fun to be in the race and have some say in how the smack down was going to happen. Much easier riding in a group then chasing trying to pull time back.
Gerrigan flatted, so there were five. Watson crashed, then there were four. Greg put in a super slick to move to get away and made it stick. I got a little too excited here and there perhaps using up some energy attacking from less then perfect places, but whatever.
The battle for second went to the line with Oz, Chown and myself. Let's just say I was forced to take a less than perfect approach to line and I blew the sprint. So 4th, but probably the best Cross race I've had all year. No actually that was probably the best race Cross race I've ever had. I was hoping for top 5 today and I got it. The podium was only inches away, so I'm really stoked about that as well. The final few hundred meters could have been better for me, but at least I was there today and that's more that can be said from the first half of our Cross adventures. Finally I got a cheque that was worth more than paper it was printed on.
It's good to se GR riding well and Oz stand up there as well. A little O town throw down.
So good result, great experience. Tommorow will be a little bit more technical, alot harder, so we'll see. But I definetly have some new found motivation to throw down.
Tasha had a great race. Wendy Simms got away in the first lap and her and Jen Stephenson and Kelly Jones battled it out. Jen's repeated attacks on the climb made Jones fall off. Tasha came around Jen on the last corner and took the sprint for second.
I'm sure Tash will write a little something tommorow about the weeekend.
Some good risotto in the belly, hopefully a good flick on tv and do it over tommorow.
Tonight no need to philosiphize, no need to pick the skin off the bones, what it is is what it is.
And what it is is getting better.
Later.
So good result, great experience. Tommorow will be a little bit more technical, alot harder, so we'll see. But I definetly have some new found motivation to throw down.
Tasha had a great race. Wendy Simms got away in the first lap and her and Jen Stephenson and Kelly Jones battled it out. Jen's repeated attacks on the climb made Jones fall off. Tasha came around Jen on the last corner and took the sprint for second.
I'm sure Tash will write a little something tommorow about the weeekend.
Some good risotto in the belly, hopefully a good flick on tv and do it over tommorow.
Tonight no need to philosiphize, no need to pick the skin off the bones, what it is is what it is.
And what it is is getting better.
Later.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Nacrasha
In my 3 years of cycling I have adapted to many different nick names. "Crazy Natasha" was my first year when I went into the big races, like Altoona and Green Mountain and had no skill what so ever or racing experience and didn't have a clue what to do. I would just follow the fastest wheels until I blew up, taking lots of risk and crashing many times. I then became "Nacrasha" for stupid crashes and being unaware of my surroundings and hitting things like steel posts that I have road by and seen many times. Then cross started this year and the new name was "Nathrasha", I got some awesome results early in the season and then the last two weeks came along. Tired from lots of workouts and no recovery, I have seem to fallen into the old me again and not being able to push in my races. In my coaches' eyes, this was his secret plan. To beat me down until I said mercy and then he would give me rest.
Ahhhh rest, I had rest last week and it seemed to work somewhat but then the Nacrasha came out in me. First race in Connecticut this weekend I really wanted to lead it out. In warmup it started to rain, Derrick told me to practice the start. Up a hill and screaming down into a 180 degree turn from pavement to grass. I tried it full tilt and my breaks locked up and then I slid out landing on top of my bike and avoiding any serious road rash, just dents in my bones from landing on the frame. Needless to say, when the race started, which was just 5 minutes after the crash, I wasn't planning on getting the hole shot anymore. I ended up going into the first corner in 8th and magically working my way through the field and into a battle for second. I started leading through the corners and then dropped the girls with me and was actually gaining ground on first place. Then I forgot about the rain and started taking risks. The next thing I knew, my bike was taken from underneath of me and my head and leg took a severe beating to the ground. So hard that my helmet got cracked. By the time I got back up I was in third again. Caught back up to second and then just rode from the back, dumb move to do in cross. Then someone caught us and I still road at the back, even dumber move. As I was constantly closing gaps out of corners instead of accelerating and making people chase me, I finally got dropped and ended up coming into the finish 4th.
Next day, drive up to Massachusetts for the next race. Feeling a little stiff and sore from yesterdays two crashes but ready to race. Bad start again, somehow move my way up to second and then I made some costly technical errors and had to run with my bike where everyone was riding. Back in 4th again, but move up to second and then I start going backwards. I figure my rest from last week was probably only good enough for one solid day. With another semi easy week things should be back to normal and the Nathrasha will be back with new skills to add to the mix......
On another note, my skills have seem to have rose to a new level in some areas that I have been working on. Thank you Derrick for being so patient with me and even though I was so frustrated, to just say it's okay, it will happen eventually and it did. My cornering and remounting both improved this weekend all thanks to you, if it wasn't just for all my bad luck.
Ahhhh rest, I had rest last week and it seemed to work somewhat but then the Nacrasha came out in me. First race in Connecticut this weekend I really wanted to lead it out. In warmup it started to rain, Derrick told me to practice the start. Up a hill and screaming down into a 180 degree turn from pavement to grass. I tried it full tilt and my breaks locked up and then I slid out landing on top of my bike and avoiding any serious road rash, just dents in my bones from landing on the frame. Needless to say, when the race started, which was just 5 minutes after the crash, I wasn't planning on getting the hole shot anymore. I ended up going into the first corner in 8th and magically working my way through the field and into a battle for second. I started leading through the corners and then dropped the girls with me and was actually gaining ground on first place. Then I forgot about the rain and started taking risks. The next thing I knew, my bike was taken from underneath of me and my head and leg took a severe beating to the ground. So hard that my helmet got cracked. By the time I got back up I was in third again. Caught back up to second and then just rode from the back, dumb move to do in cross. Then someone caught us and I still road at the back, even dumber move. As I was constantly closing gaps out of corners instead of accelerating and making people chase me, I finally got dropped and ended up coming into the finish 4th.
Next day, drive up to Massachusetts for the next race. Feeling a little stiff and sore from yesterdays two crashes but ready to race. Bad start again, somehow move my way up to second and then I made some costly technical errors and had to run with my bike where everyone was riding. Back in 4th again, but move up to second and then I start going backwards. I figure my rest from last week was probably only good enough for one solid day. With another semi easy week things should be back to normal and the Nathrasha will be back with new skills to add to the mix......
On another note, my skills have seem to have rose to a new level in some areas that I have been working on. Thank you Derrick for being so patient with me and even though I was so frustrated, to just say it's okay, it will happen eventually and it did. My cornering and remounting both improved this weekend all thanks to you, if it wasn't just for all my bad luck.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Connected in Conneticuit
So...we finally managed to make it to Connecticut.
Race 1 in Farmington.
As we were warming up on the course, I told Natasha she could take a downhill 180 turn from pavement to grass "pretty fast". Well I guess she thought I said very fast...cause as the rain gave the pavement an ice like gloss I heard the sound of tubular vs pavement mixed with rain...as I looked over my shoulder I saw Tasha somehow avoid an almost catastrophic crash on the pavement. She still went down but somehow clipped out and slowed it down by...well I don't really know what she did, but she did a good job of crashing. I take full credibility for showing her how to do that, lord knows I've been called "my favorite crash waiting to happen".
Needless to say this happening 5 minuted before staging she was a little sketched out. So she started off in about 8th, picked her way through to second about 15 seconds from Lynn. She gave it full gas to catch but slid out on some kind of plastic/rubber ontop of the grass. She went down pretty hard, hit her head, but she got up and rode to 4th to minimize the losses. She's a little sore, but I know a really, really good nurse to look after her.
Somehow anytime Pedal Mag or Canadian Cyclist list the results they always manage to mix up the results, say she races for a different team or as today have USA written beside her name. As her results are always mixed up, I have failed to really provide an actual result.
So far I have either had a bad start, blown up, had a crash or a combination of all three.
As I love to be consistent, today, I pretty much had the worst start possible, the guy in front of me missed his pedal, then my rear wheel slid out, which had me in about 37th place during the first lap. I picked my way up to 18th and managed to actually ride clean, no crashes, legs were good, actually rode well. Oz rode strong and finished 8th. He's not really my teamate, but he's a great guy and he deserves some success, he planned his whole year on going in well in Cross.
I was actually happy with today, not really the result, but with the way I rode after the 1st lap.
So now if I can put that together with the start I had at Nationals or Gloucester I will be in the mix for all kinds of unreasonable amounts of pain. Believe me that's actually a good thing!
Fingers crossed, think positive, tomorrow will be better.
Good thing about riding from the back you get stronger, bad thing well you feel like you suck.
Other mentionable details about this weekend...
We're staying at a Hilton suites...very nice. The girl at the front desk gave us an awesome rate for last night for some unknown reason, most likely because we look like we don't have money.
Someone in another room either beside us or above was snoring so loud, it was actually ridiculous, sleep apnea for sure. I wasn't sure if I should bang on the wall or call 9-1-1. So I banged on the wall. We went to complain this morning and they comped our room, last night was free. Sweet.
If you're ever in Massachusetts get a chicken burrito from Fresh City...mmmm. Not quite as good as a shwarma, but I could see myself 'jonesing' for this.
If you ever have the overwhelming urge to bring an extra seat to a Cross race do it. For some reason I actually brought another seat and guess what, I broke my seat 20 minutes before the race. Thank you little voice inside my head.
Tomorrow we drive back to Northampton Mass. Perhaps my week of rest will pay off. Come on good start!
DSJ
Race 1 in Farmington.
As we were warming up on the course, I told Natasha she could take a downhill 180 turn from pavement to grass "pretty fast". Well I guess she thought I said very fast...cause as the rain gave the pavement an ice like gloss I heard the sound of tubular vs pavement mixed with rain...as I looked over my shoulder I saw Tasha somehow avoid an almost catastrophic crash on the pavement. She still went down but somehow clipped out and slowed it down by...well I don't really know what she did, but she did a good job of crashing. I take full credibility for showing her how to do that, lord knows I've been called "my favorite crash waiting to happen".
Needless to say this happening 5 minuted before staging she was a little sketched out. So she started off in about 8th, picked her way through to second about 15 seconds from Lynn. She gave it full gas to catch but slid out on some kind of plastic/rubber ontop of the grass. She went down pretty hard, hit her head, but she got up and rode to 4th to minimize the losses. She's a little sore, but I know a really, really good nurse to look after her.
Somehow anytime Pedal Mag or Canadian Cyclist list the results they always manage to mix up the results, say she races for a different team or as today have USA written beside her name. As her results are always mixed up, I have failed to really provide an actual result.
So far I have either had a bad start, blown up, had a crash or a combination of all three.
As I love to be consistent, today, I pretty much had the worst start possible, the guy in front of me missed his pedal, then my rear wheel slid out, which had me in about 37th place during the first lap. I picked my way up to 18th and managed to actually ride clean, no crashes, legs were good, actually rode well. Oz rode strong and finished 8th. He's not really my teamate, but he's a great guy and he deserves some success, he planned his whole year on going in well in Cross.
I was actually happy with today, not really the result, but with the way I rode after the 1st lap.
So now if I can put that together with the start I had at Nationals or Gloucester I will be in the mix for all kinds of unreasonable amounts of pain. Believe me that's actually a good thing!
Fingers crossed, think positive, tomorrow will be better.
Good thing about riding from the back you get stronger, bad thing well you feel like you suck.
Other mentionable details about this weekend...
We're staying at a Hilton suites...very nice. The girl at the front desk gave us an awesome rate for last night for some unknown reason, most likely because we look like we don't have money.
Someone in another room either beside us or above was snoring so loud, it was actually ridiculous, sleep apnea for sure. I wasn't sure if I should bang on the wall or call 9-1-1. So I banged on the wall. We went to complain this morning and they comped our room, last night was free. Sweet.
If you're ever in Massachusetts get a chicken burrito from Fresh City...mmmm. Not quite as good as a shwarma, but I could see myself 'jonesing' for this.
If you ever have the overwhelming urge to bring an extra seat to a Cross race do it. For some reason I actually brought another seat and guess what, I broke my seat 20 minutes before the race. Thank you little voice inside my head.
Tomorrow we drive back to Northampton Mass. Perhaps my week of rest will pay off. Come on good start!
DSJ
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