Whether you’re a female skier looking to learn from other women, a couple yearning for the steep and deep, a family wanting to visit South America or an expert skier seeking a one-of-a-kind Alaska heli skiing trip, World Extreme Skiing Champion Kim Reichhelm offers unique experiences with a common theme of progression.

In Kim Reichhelm’s Women’s Ski Adventures, female skiers improve their skiing ability, overcome fears, gain confidence and have fun all in the company of women. Clients ski alongside Reichhelm, mastering challenging terrain while skiing resorts like a local.

“It’s a whole ski empowerment experience,” says Reichhelm. “I want to create an environment that’s fun. When you put your guard down, that’s when you’re going to learn.”

For 23 years, Reichhelm’s Aspen based SkiwithKim has offered authentic experiences and custom made trips for clients from a variety of backgrounds. This season, Reichhelm offers women’s clinics, co-ed steep skiing camps, the Gorsuch ski experience, Portillo sessions for families and adults, Valle Nevado heli-skiing, heli-skiing Alaska and Kings and Corn Alaska, a spring skiing experience in Alaska’s Tordrillo range that combines corn skiing and fishing. Reichhelm also offers private and corporate trips for groups of all sizes, abilities and needs.

Reichhelm made the U.S. Ski Team before racing for Colorado University in 1979. She competed in the first World Extreme Skiing Championships in Alaska and was integral in bringing the event to Crested Butte and Kirkwood, which built the foundation for modern day big mountain competition skiing. Reichhelm is the only skier to have won the South American, U.S. and World Extreme Championships in the same year. Her success isn’t only attributed to her experience and professionalism , but also her vivacious, fun-loving personality that lures return clients every year.

“Skiing is a sport where the mind can mess with your mental ability to do well,” says Reichhelm. “I think I am able to offer clients a uniquely different, laid back atmosphere where they can do well because they are relaxed.”

2012 Season Schedule:

January 3-5 – Vail
January 9-12 – Vail
January 20-23 – Aspen
February 7-10 – Alta
February 17-20 – Aspen
Feb 24-27 – Steamboat
March 1-4 – Aspen
March 17-25 – Alaska Heli-skiing
June 7-13 – Alaska
July 28- 4 – Portillo
August 4-11 – Portillo

For more information on Kim Reichhelm’s Ski Adventures, call 888-444-8151 or visit Kim’s website.

Start/Finish/Transition Area

This is our first adventure race, and we are doing it together, for fun, and with no competitive intentions. Katya and I make up the only all-female team in the two-person open division, and we’re proud of it. Our goals: Have fun and don’t finish DFL (dead effing last). But, as usual, she is smoking me, and we are actually doing pretty well. We’re rappelling off a hanging cliff atop a rocky peak overlooking a small lake, and this is Big Mountain Adventure’s Over the Edge Sprint Adventure Race.

Over the Edge
Like an eggbeater, my teammate’s legs are flailing but mixing nothing, except air. The cliff went concave suddenly, and her feet lost contact with the wall. So now she’s trying to swim back to it, spiraling because of the movement. She is visibly shaking. I’m under a juniper on the ground and smiling but suppressing hysterical giggles. The last time I laughed when she fell, I could tell she was annoyed. I’d feel hurt too. But, this time, I can’t help it. I giggle. And that’s all it takes for her to recognize the comedy in it too, so she lets herself laugh a little.

This rappel—the namesake of the race—was the only moment Katya showed fear or incompetence. We were more than three hours into this adventure race, and she’d led us through a tough course—deep into Golden Gate Canyon State Park on mountain bikes, through an alpine swamp (which I didn’t realize existed until today) on foot, to almost every checkpoint on the orienteering course, then down to Dude’s Fishing Hole near the little mountain we climbed to arrive at this ropes course. She gave me first shot at the low ropes challenges—a slack line and a Tyrolean traverse—then proved herself stronger and tougher than me yet again, when I failed at the traverse twice before she muscled herself across it.

Katya finishes the Tyrolean travers (a still shot from my helmet cam footage).

Male racers stood by, waiting for a turn on the traverse as we struggled through several giggly and excruciating tries. The race organizer manning the low ropes course recorded us on his phone, because our shouts, grunts, and flailing would be entertaining to watch. My beautiful, at least 6-foot-tall teammate literally grit her teeth, ignored the pain, and powerfully shimmied across the rope to the finish line—a prominent branch perpendicular with the rope. Katya’s effort earned us the point we needed but also left legs scarred with rope burn from her ankles to her calves.

Head Over Heels
Almost two hours into the race, though, a half-buried rock in the narrow trail nearly ended it all. At that point, we’d ridden (and hiked) our mountain bikes up, up, up for an hour, taking a wrong turn at the first intersection, backtracking, then finding our way to the trail leading to the O course. O stands for orienteering in adventure racing, and I’d been glad to set down my bike for an hour, searching on foot for orange Suunto flags and passport punches. On the O course, Katya led us through the swamp right away. Pointing at our location on the map, she asked if I’d mind skipping time on the trail and cutting across, directly to the first checkpoint. I said it was fine, but she still apologized when that shortcut had us slogging through mud and dense brush. Still, I insisted I was having a great time and, when we exited into a clearing with an orange flag-adorned tree, I fist pumped to celebrate her genius. To reach the next few checkpoints, we clambered up to an overlook, punched our passport, and jogged back to the trail. A solo female racer ran with us, so we were all chatting when a rock tripped Katya.

I halted—helpless—as she fell. My teammate, who had led me, encouraged me, pushed me to go faster and eat something, was about to smash her face on the ground, and I couldn’t prevent her from falling further. Another rock in the trail caught her chest and kept her face from hitting the dirt. Thankfully, Katya got up, checked herself for injuries, and kept running. It made me nervous, and that’s why I laughed. She was okay, and my natural response to that relief: giggles that bubble out of my mouth like a burp on a first date. Katya is familiar with this worst tendency of mine and knows not to take my nervous laughter personally. Still, she was pissed. In typical Katya-fashion though, she was a great sport and didn’t snap at me.

Mind Over Matter
Since my slight giggle during Katya’s rappel is not stress-inspired but a result of joy and amusement, it’s more appropriate, and I’m glad she also finds her situation funny. With a lighter-hearted approach, Katya re-gains composure and focuses on the wall. I’ve already punched our passport when she gets the ground, so we slide and crawl back to the bike drop near the fishing hole together.

The descent to the first bike checkpoint has me squealing and grunting over the roots and rocks all the way down the bridge hung with a flag. We take a nature break in the woods beyond the bridge, because that’s where we can get privacy. Everyone turns around at the flag and rides back toward the bike drop before continuing uphill.

The next couple hours—brutal and honestly hardly worth describing—begin with a long, rooty uphill section that we mostly walk up, our bikes bouncing at our sides. I feel awful on the final big climb, just depleted of energy, so I pop Clif shot blocks like candy and finally down a gel. I’m low on water, so both feel like putty on my palette and in my throat. But—thanks to Katya’s map skills—we take all the right turns to checkpoints, at road crossings, and at Panorama Point, where a professional snaps our photo.

We talk some, but mostly ride, walk, eat, and drink. We find ourselves on flowy, narrow singletrack for the last hour of the bike leg and take in the scenery. Katya admits during this section, she is tired. But racers running from the other direction remind us we are nearing the transition zone, and she perks up.

A quick check-in punch at the transition area and we stumble down to the pond for the paddling challenge. The rules say only one of us must paddle, but we are committed to completing the race as a team and climb in the ducky together. I power the boat from the front seat, and Katya expertly steers from the back. We are on the water for all of two minutes.

Getting Over It
Back at the transition zone, I cram more food and water in my pack then put on fresh socks and running shorts. Changing in the open proves tricky. My plan: slip on a skirt, wiggle out of my chamois, and pull up running shorts. But I’m suddenly worried I might show my butt. “It’s not worth it,” I say, knowing full well that changing out of those bike shorts is definitely worth it. Katya, ready to go, exclaims in disbelief and convinces me to just change—and quickly. So I do, and we jog up the hill in the direction we rode at the start. She knows how to light a fire under me.

It’s just after 3 o’clock, and we only have three hours left to complete the course, which isn’t enough time. So, our new strategy requires we collect as many of the nearby checkpoints as possible, skip the two furthest ones (taking an unfortunate 40-minute penalty for each), and run back to the start/finish area before 6 p.m. to avoid a 12-minute penalty for every 2 minutes we’re on the course after the cut-off. Still, we’re glad to be rid of our bikes for the day, and Katya says, “What a fun way to get to know a state park!” I agree wholly.

Another two-person team leaves the transition zone around that time too, so the four of us run together. Katya chats with them pleasantly, but I am a tired and less-than-fun companion. Aware that I’m not being very helpful, I try saying something nice but am having trouble doing anything besides shuffle up the trail. I think back to the mountain bike leg and remember wondering while pedaling up this same hill if my heart-rate would ever slow down. Now, I realize that, while it doesn’t seem much slower, I’ve been going non-stop for six hours and am not only still alive but keeping up with these super-fit men.

Katya and I coined a term for racers like these two while training at a functional fitness gym back in New Mexico. Our regular class was full of fit, adventurous men with lucrative careers and beautiful families. Finding them very attractive, we referred to them as the “hot dads” and have since discovered hot dads can be spotted on trails and bikes nationwide.

At first, this particular pair of hot dads is unaware we are in the same division. They jog gently just ahead of us, enjoying easy conversation, until Katya reminds them the 2-person open division does not have separate male and female categories. They immediately become more competitive, and we go our separate ways, Katya and I even bypassing a checkpoint until the return run just to put some distance between us.

One checkpoint is near impossible to find, so we zip on to the next few and even take an off-trail shortcut to save several minutes. A solo-male racer crosses paths with us and pauses for a minute to show us where the map isn’t entirely accurate so we have an easier time finding checkpoint six. We reciprocate with a tip about our successful little shortcut. He decides not to take it, but it’s at least his call.

Me (on the left) and Katya (right) in the transition area the morning of the race.

Almost Over
At the back of the running course, we pass another two-man team and quickly punch the last checkpoint we have time to reach before pushing ourselves to out-run them, since it’s all downhill to the finish from there. Katya tells me they cut in line for the ascension, so we have no shame in trying to show them up. Imagine two smiley women in nearly-matching (on purpose) shirts passing two very serious men at this point in a race. I’m of average height and an athletic build so have to take two steps for every one of Katya’s. Years of experience tell me I can beat her in training almost everyday, and she’ll always win the race. She has just returned from six months of volunteering on organic farms in South America, eating and drinking to her heart’s content but neglecting her usual workout regimen. Still, she’s fit and tough enough to have a very respectable race today, and I’m proud to be her teammate.

When the guys are out of range, Katya asks how I’m feeling. I tell her I feel great. And it’s true. My smile is broad, and I feel light on my toes. She’s feeling good too. We’re cruising through aspens and enjoying this smooth, flat section of trail. We agree that this is the most fun we’ve ever had in a race, that this is better than any triathlon we’ve ever done, and that we’re so glad to finally be adventure racing together. Then, right then and there, we make a pact to recruit more friends next season, to get more people adventure racing with us come spring. Until then, we’ll stay fit, running together and riding together, cooking together and skiing together, drinking together on the weekends. I’ll continue kicking her ass in training, and she’ll continue dragging my ass through races—fully capable of leaving me in the dust but loyally encouraging and enabling me every step of the slower-paced-than-she-could way.

____________________________

Follow the world’s top adventure racers as they cover upwards of 450 miles this week in the AR World Championships. At least one woman races on every team, so—in just the same way I am inspired and motivated by Katya—you’re sure to learn from and be moved by one of these female endurance athletes. Sari Anderson’s website is a good place to start, as she’s racing is Tasmania while her husband blogs updates from home.

Dotted across the sparkling water of Mission Bay in San Diego, a number of activities take on any given sunny day: jet skiers zip by in adrenaline-induced glee; a group of young kids take part in a day camp sailing adventure; wake boarders flip and somersault through the air like human kites.

But tucked away in a corner of this popular Southern California destination is a glimmer of long, blonde hair and a small group of people floating behind its owner. The hair belongs to Gillian Gibree, a Roxy athlete, surfer and owner of Paddle Into Fitness, a small, but thriving, standup paddleboard business. She floats confidently in front of the group as they transition in unison into downward dog, a position the floating yoga class knows all too well—but this time, the sweaty studio has been replaced with glassy water and a cool ocean breeze.

We’re all aware of the benefits that yoga has on our physical and mental well-being, but what happens when vinyasa flow becomes nautical flow?

Gillian, along with various other water-sport enthusiasts around the world, is experimenting with just that. What she’s found is a seemingly intangible harmony of spirit, body and nature.

Standup paddleboard yoga is the newest trend in fitness and spiritual health. It’s how water sports say “namaste,” and according to Gillian, it’s where yoga meets nature in its finest form.

“You can have a seal pop up next to you, the seagulls flying above you, you’re in a bathing suit getting tan,” she says. “It’s so peaceful. It completely changes your normal yoga routine.”

Of course, Gillian says she recommends first mastering the routine of standup paddleboarding, commonly known as SUP, before paddling out to show off your floating Dancer’s Pose.

SUP, which can be performed in any body of water, involves a large, oval board that resembles a wide surf board, a one-ended paddle and a whole lot of balance. Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, the paddleboarder strokes the water, alternating from side to side in order to keep a straight line, make turns or reverse.

The sport is relatively new within the last decade, and has been growing in popularity since Hawaiian surfers began using paddles to push themselves out to off-shore waves while standing up for better visibility. In fact, what we know today as “paddleboards” were originally a form of transportation for Polynesians thousands of years ago. Today, it’s caught on as a fun way to get in shape, and according to Gillian, the sport is catching on with women, in particular.

“There are always men in my classes, but definitely more females,” she says. “I think females really love SUP because it is pretty low impact.”

That’s not to say women can’t handle a challenge.

Yoga enthusiasts who want to try a little floating flow, can choose to make minor changes, or no changes, to the traditional yoga positions while practicing on a paddleboard. This makes the activity a full-body workout that calms your mind while challenging your balance and flexibility in a way that an average gym sesh just can’t beat.

Gillian, who offers lessons in San Diego and Orange County and holds retreats in locations such as Tahiti and Bora Bora, modifies a few of the more challenging yoga positions like Side Plank and Warrior Pose.

Side Plank is usually performed by laying on one side and then lifting your hips toward the sky, using just one arm and your feet for balance. In SUP yoga, Gillian suggests keeping one leg on the board (the left leg when in left Side Plank and the right leg when in right Side Plank), then shifting your leg from the knee down until it is perpendicular to the board. This allows you to hook your foot over the rail of the board for added stability while the side of your torso and hips remain pointed upward.

Warrior Pose, which involves a deep lunge in which the back leg typically remains straight, is also modified by dropping the back knee to the board while lunging forward.

Other modifications can be made as desired, making SUP yoga an activity that can be performed by almost anyone.

“SUP is very beginner-friendly,” Gillian says. “I can teach families, from little kids to grandma and grandpa.”

She adds that many people who come to her for lessons are often former athletes who were injured and can no longer participate in many sport activities. Because of the low-impact nature of SUP, even people with injuries are able to benefit from the paddleboard workout.

Unfortunately, purchasing the equipment can also work out your wallet, but Gillian says that, if you’re serious about paddling, throwing down the cash for a good board is well worth it.

She recommends Starboards made with carbon fiber. It’s an investment, but these boards are durable, she says.

And you don’t have to live by the beach to explore the benefits of SUP and SUP yoga. While Hawaii and Southern California remain primary destinations for the sport, don’t shrug it off as a beach-vacation-only activity just yet. The sport can be practiced anywhere that a standup paddleboard can float. That means lakes, ponds or even rivers. (Whitewater SUPing, anyone?)

As for the seals and seagulls–well, you might have to make a trip out to Mission Bay for that experience. Just follow Gillian and a floating crew of downward dog-ers.

Namaste.

________________

Teresa Bigelow recently graduated from San Diego State University, where she studied journalism and French. An avid traveler and culture enthusiast, she is pursuing a career in travel writing or humanitarian reporting. Twitter handle: @TeresaBigelow

Jeannie (Photo credit: Beth Lockhar)

From the Fall 2011 issue

Your Challenge: Commit to a program of pre-season ski and snowboard training exercises to get you ready for winter fun on the slopes and get the right gear for you.

Timeframe: 3 months

Gear Goddess

Are you looking to upgrade your gear this season? We asked Jeannie Thoren for her top tips on buying the right stuff, since she has been spreading the gospel on ski gear for women for more than 30 years. The longtime ski instructor, gear tester, and owner of Jeannie Thoren’s Women’s Ski Center in Vail—a shop devoted exclusively to women’s skis, boots, and accessories—offers her sage advice.
“I believe that the weak link in a woman’s skiing is usually her equipment. Uncomfortable boots and inappropriate equipment cause frustration and seriously limit your ability to get better.” —Jeannie Thoren

Gear Ski & Boot Fitting Tips

Thoren is a huge proponent of demoing your skis and boots before you buy. “You don’t buy a car without driving it, do you?” she says. These days there are pretty good demo choices for skis at major destination resorts. Boots are another story, though, because it is pretty rare that you can demo them. But there are steps that you can take to find boots to match your feet and your ability. Here are Thoren’s top tips:

1. Shop early. The best chance for the greatest choice is relatively early in the season. Depending on your market, that means mid-October to mid-December.
2. Best retailer. There are dozens of boot models in the market. You need a retailer with ample selection (10-15 women’s models). Get a sense of the boot fitter’s ability and experience. Do they make custom insoles? Will they do any shell and liner modifications? Is there any sort of fit guarantee?
3. Budget. Depending on your ability level and special fitting issues, you will probably need to spend $400–$600 for a good-fitting ski boot. Custom insoles can range from $125–$200; good generic insoles are $35–$50.
4. Make an appointment. Ideally, the shop or at least their key boot fitter takes appointments. Plan on 60–90 minutes for your session.
5. Go prepared. Wear loose-fitting trousers so you can get the cuff up to the knee. Bring the socks you intend to use skiing. They should not contain any cotton and be medium to lightweight and tall enough to come out of the boot.
6. Bring your old boots. It will help you assess the fit and flex of your new boots when you can compare new to old. It will also help the boot fitter to know exactly what you’ve been using.
7. Fit the larger foot. People often have one foot larger than another. I recommend fitting for the larger foot. Long term, it’s more comfortable snugging up the smaller foot within the shell with shims than trying to gain space for a larger foot in a smaller shell.
8. Upgrade the footbed. Factory insoles in ski boots are junk. Minimally, you should plan to upgrade to a quality generic such as Superfeet’s “Trim to Fit” insole. A lot of fit issues can be minimized from the support that a quality insole gives.
9. Try a heelift. Even in women-specific boots, the lower shell is still dimensionally a men’s shell, thus a woman’s narrower heel doesn’t fill the heel pocket properly. The addition of a heelift (3/8”–1/2”) under the liner will elevate the heel and improve heel retention and reduce shin irritation.
10. Check boot flex. Ski boots have gotten softer fore and aft and stiffer side to side. Generally, while still indoors, you should be able to flex both boots at the same time far enough forward so that your knees block your view of the boot toe.

Visit Jeannie Thoren’s website jeanniethoren.com for a schedule of her boot and ski fit talks as well as ski clinics. If you’re in Vail, stop by Jeannie Thoren’s Women’s Ski Center shop at 520 East Lionshead Circle; (970) 476-3888.

Fitness

Get in Slope Shape

“As women, we shy away from things that make us muscular. Hey girls, do your push-ups. They give your whole body power and make your core strong.” —Jenn Metz

In skiing and snowboarding, you want your core to be as strong as your legs. Why? Because a strong core helps you control and effectively move the “platform” (e.g., your skis or board) below you. It’s not all just in the legs. If you’re only doing plyometrics, you can hurt yourself. You need to focus on full-body training.

Now is the time to start training your body for skiing and snowboarding, so when the slopes are blanketed in white, you and your body will be ready for a fun—and injury-free—season. We enlisted the help of Jenn Metz, who has been teaching skiing and snowboarding for 35 years, to share some of her favorite pre-season training exercises. Metz currently teaches for Vail Resorts, so we thought it appropriate for her to demonstrate her exercises at the top of Vail Mountain. She is also an independent BeachBody coach, helping people find new and fun ways to achieve their fitness goals.

A full season of skiing or riding takes a toll on the body’s muscles, tendons, and ligaments. According to Metz, in an ideal world, training for the following season should begin the day after lifts close. Metz always takes a three-phase approach to her snow sports training:

Phase One Recovery. At the end of ski season in May, Metz incorporates both passive and active rest (e.g., lots of sleep), light workouts, and yoga to stretch and rebalance.

Phase Two Strength/Cardio Base. From June to August, Metz ups the ante with interval cardio work, mountain biking, and strength training. She is a big proponent of programs like P90X®, Insanity®, RevAbs®, and Turbo Fire.®

Phase Three Power, Core, and Agility. September–November Metz works on power training, focusing on whole-body and core strength, along with agility in the form of plyometrics.

The following exercises focus on Phase Three of training for the ski and ride season. Hopefully you’ve been doing some good cardio training all summer so that these won’t “hurt” too much. But as with any program, build up slowly, and don’t overdo it. Incorporate these exercises into your fall routine, and when the slopes at your favorite resort open, you’ll be ready to take them on with gusto.

Push-Ups with Variations

With each of these push-ups, drop your shoulders and roll your upper arms back to engage the upper core. Keep hips level, feet flexed, heels down; think of moving as one unit.  (All photos by Jack Affleck/Vail Resorts)

One Leg Up Push-Up: In push-up position, hold up one leg at all times, keeping as straight as possible. Reps: 8–10 reps on each leg x 3

Moving Plank: Walk hands one at a time to right side of mat then back to left. Reps: Repeat back and forth for 30 sec. to 1 min.

Push-up to Side Plank: Drop down, push-up to straight arms then roll to one side with other arm up straight. Roll back down and repeat. Reps: 8–10 reps on each side x 3

Jack-Knife: With straight back and legs, lift upper body, arms, and legs into a V. Drop back down and repeat. Reps: 8–10 reps x 3; build up to 12 reps and you’re a goddess! Form:Keep back straight in both up and down positions. Twisting Jack-Knife:When up in V, add a twist and reach to one side then the other in each rep. Reps and form: Same as regular Jack-Knife.

Twisting Plank Push-Ups: Start in push-up position and swing your left leg under you to the right; don’t touch foot to ground as you lower arms, then push back up. Keep foot off the ground for all reps. Switch to other leg under. Reps: Start with 4 to each side x 2, then build up to x 3

Plyometrics

Do the following three exercises as a series with no more than 30 seconds rest between each set. Keep the head up, core engaged, and the upper body as still as possible. Time for each set is 30 sec. – 1 min.; build up to 1.5 min.

Foot to Foot: Set up two end points (we used ski poles) about 4 feet apart. Stay in a low skater-type position and hop back and forth between points from one foot to the other; try to touch the ground with one hand lightly on each side. Go slowly with balance.

4-Square Hop: Cross your poles or draw lines in the dirt to create a 4-square. Hop from square to square with both feet, half of the set clockwise, half in the other direction. Then repeat both directions hopping on one foot.

Ladder Hop: Lay two poles top to bottom, or draw a 6-foot long line in the dirt. Hop from side to side over the poles/line on two feet up the line and then down. Then repeat hopping side to side on one foot, then the other.

For ideas on training and how to use home-based fitness programs like P90X®, e-mail Jenn at tjmetz@rkymtnhi.com.

Can you believe Jenn is 50?! With her active, healthy lifestyle, she proves 50 is the new 40—or 30.

Katya and I have raced together before, but this is our first adventure race.

So, I keep trying new outdoor experiences to build my skill set and pushing my boundaries to gain proficiency in all areas. This week, I’ll check off paragliding when leap off Aspen Mountain. And next week, I’ll compete in my first adventure race. I’ve never even done an off-road triathlon, but this 6-hour sprint should be a nice intro to the multi-sport sport.

Women’s Adventure has run a few adventure race-related articles, such as Adventure Racing 101, a Q&A with Charmion Harris, and a profile of Robyn Benincasa. Plus, we regularly hear from Chelsey of Team YogaSlackers. Still, after reading all of these stories and talking with adventure racer friends and even asking to volunteer at the last two Colorado races this year, I felt a bit left out and clueless—like I really didn’t understand it at all.

Then, a member of Big Mountain Adventure Racing told me, “We’re happy to have you volunteer, but truly the best way to learn about and get into adventure racing is to jump right in!” A couple seconds of thought and I realized that he’s exactly right! So, I did it: roped my friend Katya into teaming up with me for the Over the Edge Sprint Adventure Race coming up on… September 17th. Now, that’s crazy soon, and we just signed up yesterday, so we’ve got to get it together ASAP.

This course—somewhere between 18 and 30 “beautiful” miles long—is in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, near our home base in Boulder, CO. Meant to be a 6-hour race, Over the Edge AR will have a 9 hour cutoff. Katya and I hope to be done well before then but are relieved we have that much time. The course will have us mountain biking on technical singletrack, running or trekking on steep terrain, testing our navigation skills on a Rogaine-style orienteering course, completing low ropes challenges and a rappel, plus executing a short flat water paddling section. Making it easier on us, Over the Edge AR is a hub race, so we have just one gear drop at the start/finish line that doubles as a transition area.

Usually, our team includes our friend Alyssa and is called the TriFecta. This time, we're calling ourselves The TriFecta Minus One.

This morning, Katya and I went on a long trail run to strategize, discuss our goals, and air our worries and weaknesses before race day. Physically and mentally, we are set—I think. But I’d love a few tips from you, since you all are the experienced ones here. What do you wish you’d known before your first adventure race? What advice do you have to offer a couple of newbies?

On the contrary, if you’ve never done an adventure race but dream of entering one “someday”, what would you like to know? What would convince you to get out there and “jump right in” a race to experience it and, finally, really understand it?

I can’t wait to discover the tricks of the trade and learn the secrets to a successful, fun day of adventure racing. Of course I’ll update you after the race and tell you what worked—and what didn’t. But, until then, I’ll look forward to hearing your stories then sharing your tips (and more) in my blog next week.

Photo by Ben Fullerton

For the past couple weeks, I have had to unwillingly “chill out”. This is not something I do well. In fact, it has been one of the hardest things for me and my ego to deal with! While I normally do work on the computer for some of the day, the other part of my day is usually spent outside training, slacklining, playing, or doing yoga.

Yoga has always been my “chill out” time. However, according to my Ayverdic Practioner, Stephanie, this was not good enough. “Your digestive system as gone on strike,” she said. “You have to stop and let yourself heal!” Stephanie was right.

I had just dropped out of a six day adventure race due to stomach issues. Unable to eat without being racked with pain half an hour later, racing for seven days straight was just not possible. It was one of the hardest moments ever to let my team race on without me, but my body was screaming, “STOP!”

Eating and drinking are very important in an adventure race. Racers burn anywhere from 600 to 1,000 calories per hour depending on their height and weight. I’m on the lower end of that, but that still equates to nearly 15,000 calories a day, of 100,000 over an entire race. To replenish, we eat every 15-20 minutes, so not being able digest properly is a big issue.

I said a very sad goodbye to the guys and was transported by staff into town to try and figure out what was wrong. Luckily, the race was taking place right outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where serendipitously one of my good friends was getting married! For the entire week of my healing process, I was surrounded by some of my best friends, several of whom are nurses, mothers and teachers. While the guys were out racing, I was put on a strict diet of eating kitchari (an Indian dish) for three straight days, ordered to only do light yoga, go on walks, meditate, and do pranayama daily.

Instead of seeing this is a gift that it was, I saw it as torture. Instead of loving my body and being okay with my state at that moment, I was frustrated and disappointed with myself.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that this shifted. One morning after going to the doctor and getting more blood tests done (and still not knowing what was wrong with me), I went to the lake to meditate. Sitting and breathing, I realized that I had been given what I had been unconsciously asking for these past few months—time for myself, time to hang out with my girlfriends, time to go on walks, and time to find my meditation and pranayama practice. Sure, it wasn’t exactly how I wanted it to be. The timing wasn’t perfect; I couldn’t eat exciting wedding foods, drink with everybody, or have Jason (my husband) there with me. But I could be a part of the moment with the people I loved.

I am now home, and I am feeling much better. The doctors never did figure out what was wrong with me, and I am still dealing with some minor issues. But I am grateful that I finally did realize what a gift it was to give my body rest and be surrounded by some of my best friends.

My body was sending me messages to slow down, and I listened. This in itself was a big step for me. By giving up something that I loved temporarily, I gained a pranayama and meditation practice, the ability to love my body on a deeper level, and time. I have gone on a few long runs and bike rides and, while I am not fully back to my “normal” self, I am happy with my slightly more “balanced” self.

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Chelsey Magness of Team Yogaslackers is our Yoga guru and a world-class adventure-racer to boot. She regularly contributes blogs and V.I.B.E., or Vinyasa Inspired by Experience, videos. Stay tuned for more ways to incorporate yoga into your adventures—or your rest time.

Ok, so the title is a little much considering any woman who conceives a child is automatically considered an endurance athlete, but I figured since I am working my way into the Ultra Running world it would fit for now.

Prior to my pregnancy I was training to run marathons and more if possible, but it seemed any time I paid the advanced fee to enter a race something always popped up and I would miss the race. Interferences ranged from work, to being in the documentary “Running America”, to getting pregnant! I continued to run throughout my pregnancy and, if you are curious, I was not a small, petite pregnant woman. I was 164 pounds and most of the time I was asked if I was having twins. Regardless of my pregnancy fitness level, the weight kept adding up. However, I wasnʼt concerned. What a great time to put on healthy weight! After 39 weeks of pregnancy, Tayden Christopher Dengler entered this beautiful world. My first endurance event ended up being labor and delivery and not a road race. I think that experience will make me appreciate racing even more.

From the delivery room I decided that I was going to give a new meaning to “barefoot and pregnant” by starting my training as a mom in minimalist, barefoot shoes. The concept intrigued me, and I figured this would be a good transition point. After researching different brands I fell for the Merrell Barefoot Pace Glove. The design was something I preferred over the Five Finger and I loved how light the shoe was. When I was running I felt so smooth and never experienced any of the pain I had with traditional shoes such as a tight IT band or shin splints.

My training was picking up and feeling incredible, I was up to 20 miles in my incredible new shoes, then I had a setback. For some unknown and out-of-the-blue reason, my MCL decided to give me problems. My knee would become so tight after runs I would have no range of motion. Many times I tried to suffer through the pain since I was training for my first ultra, a 50M with the Black Hills 100 in South Dakota on June 25, 2011. My dream of my first ultra was soon shattered when I came to the realization with tears streaming down my face that I would not be competing in this event. I knew that I needed rest, ice, stretching, and elevation to correct this problem.

After a month away from running and some intense stretching my knee finally corrected itself and healed. I was confident in my health and signed up for another ultra, 24 Hours of the Beast of Burden in Lockport, NY.

My training was picking up to where I had left off over a month ago, but something was a bit off. I was feeling heavy and slow and I was just overall tired. Within a couple weeks we had our answer to this little problem, baby No. 2! Yes—as I mentioned before—whenever I sign up for a race, something happens. And, sure enough, it happened again! Rolf and I were not trying to get pregnant; we were actually trying hard not to! But, sometimes the universe has another plan, and we are so grateful since the two of us could never decide if we should have another.

I was determined that I would not let this stop me from my first ultra. My training lacked for about 4 weeks prior to the race. Due to the shock of another baby, having to reroute our expedition, and my feeling tired and nauseous, it was tough to get outside and spend significant time running. Most of my training consisted of chasing a toddler around the house, which apparently was enough.

Not that I would recommend this to any woman, let alone one who is pregnant, but I showed up to the start line at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 20 and ran one hell of a race. My time was not impeccable by any stretch. It took me 15 hours to run 50 hard and hot miles. My ankles were swollen by the end and I could barely walk. However, I did not drop significant weight, maintained excellent hydration and electrolyte balance, had zero blisters, and felt like I could continue going with a little rest. Pre-pregnant Jen would have done things a bit differently and I would have probably been rescued from the course due to dehydration; however, my mind was on the baby and not winning a race.

Looking back on the race, it was a complete success. I wanted to run 75 miles, but instead I made incredible lasting friendships, had some amazing supporters, felt great, watched intense athletes push their limits, lit my ultra fire, and took my second baby on his or her first 50 mile run. I may not have won the womenʼs group, but I did win in the “barefoot and pregnant” division and had an incredible time doing so!
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With a mission to motivate and empower families to explore America’s wilderness, WAM reader Jenny Dengler took off on a one-year road trip with her family. During Expedition America 2011, the three will average one week in each state while attempting to climb their highest peaks. Jenny explains her reasons why and invites you to follow their journey through her blogs for Women’s Adventure magazine.

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“I thought of that while riding my bicycle.”

—Albert Einstein, on the Theory of Relativity

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A gaggle of gals at last year's Denver Skirt Chaser 5K. Photo courtesy of Skirt Sports.

I am always amazed and impressed by women who take the time and energy to give back to the active community and get other women out moving and grooving. One of those women is Nicole DeBoom, the founder of Skirt Sports.

I first met Nicole a number of years back—okay, the exact number is slipping me—in her garage to check out her first iterations of Skirt Sports styles. She shared the fun tale of how she decided to start her company. She was out running one day and passed a storefront window. As she glanced at her reflection, all she could think about was, “Why am I wearing such boring workout clothes? I look like a guy and I want to feel girly when I’m out playing.” Skirt Sports was born soon thereafter.

Since that first garage meeting, I have visited Nicole and her team and their growing offices in Boulder, Colo., with a big warehouse in back stocked with skirts, tops, jackets, hats, etc., all adorned with the company’s super-cute skirty logo. And I’ve watched the evolution of Nicole’s vision into a wonderful gear company; but also, more importantly, a company that strives to get more women, young and old, out moving, running, biking, yoga-tizing, walking, hiking, and just having some plain old fun.

In its second year, Skirt Sports is running its Kick Start Fitness Program in the Denver area for 15 women with barriers. The goal is to provide the women with a supportive atmosphere and help them train for the local Skirt Chaser 5K on October 1, 2011. Each racer receives a customized training plan, consultations with a personal motivator, fitness apparel, and a free entry to the October event.

The final date to apply is July 25 at 5 p.m., MST. So if you know of someone who would benefit from this wonderful program, send them to the Kick Start website to sign up. Applications to join the Kick Start team are open to all women in the Denver area over the age of 18 with barriers to fitness including health, income level, lack of motivation, a sedentary lifestyle, and fear. The final team will be announced on July 29.

And if you’ve never done a Skirt Chaser race, you should. The next one is in Denver on October 1, 2011. The format: guys and gals can race and the gals get a 3-minute head start. Sport skirts, of course, are welcome.

Hope to see you out there!

Backcountry skiing... it wasn't nearly 40 miles.

Never mind that I’ve only been backcountry skiing a handful of times, that I don’t have a set of skis appropriate for the race—I haven’t made my Christmas wish list just yet—or that the last time I actually trained for something (a marathon last May),  it took me months to recover my enthusiasm for running. Despite these reasons I have to avoid it, doing the “Grand Traverse” would earn me some hard-won backcountry cred and I’ve got an experienced friend who’s convinced I’d be a killer teammate. Both are inspiring my serious consideration.

I’ve never let inexperience or “novice” status stand as an appropriate excuse for missing an opportunity, but is this race more than I can handle? There are about 100 days between now and the big event. Is that enough time to gather the gear I’d need, whip myself into shape, hone my skills, and still lead a quasi-normal life?

We’re set to finalize our plans before registration opens Dec. 1 and, at this point, there are some extenuating scheduling issues that are key to our eligibility… so it could go either way. But I’m open to advice if you’ve got any insight into judging your own abilities and trying something hard-core for the first time.