Managed to last a whole hour out there today. I got lured out by a late afternoon appearance of sun and a spectacular double rainbow. But after only a few miles I managed to find the same cloud I got stuck under a few weeks ago, and soon it was pouring rain and I was kinda soaked. Not actually hypothermic though. And it was useful for checking out which gloves/jacket/tights work best under those conditions. Good thing I chickened out on the 300k ride up north, because the choice of clothes I had packed, including two left gloves (duh) never would have worked.
Lots of that sandy (mud) stuff on the roads too bwaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Well, maybe we can all get in a little more outdoor riding time tomorrow.
-Janet
Showing posts with label The Osprey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Osprey. Show all posts
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Janet Christiansen, The Osprey
Janet Christiansen is an accomplished cyclist, runner, and tri-athlete. She began competing in 1987 and has since been a serious contender in cycling, running and triathlon events at the local and national level. Her focus for the past four years has been on long distance cycling known as ultra-cycling. She regularly logs over 15,000 miles per year on her bike training in all weather conditions and a wide variety of terrain.
She became known as “The Osprey” in 2003 at her inaugural ultra cycling event- the feared and revered Furnace Creek 508 which traverses 508 miles through the deserts of Southern California. The Furnace Creek 508 is billed as the toughest 48 hours in sport. After pondering over maps of the desert with wonder about place names such as Furnace Creek, Stove Pipe Wells, Badwater, Death Valley, and Dante's Inferno, all destinations of the 508 race- she took on the beast. She took second place in her division after learning some tough lessons about taking care of yourself in ultra cycling events and beat the beast into submission the following year placing first in her division and third overall.
While that terrible Sunday in Hell from her first 508 (mis)adventure is something she wishes to never repeat ever again, it has helped her learn much about ultra cycling, training and nutrition.
Seeking even tougher challenges Janet set her sights on the ultimate in ultra cycling, Race Across America (RAAM). Billed as the toughest race in the world, RAAM is a non-stop race from California to Maryland. RAAM takes racers through the heat of the desert, climbs over the Rockies, traverses the windy plains, and winds its way through the hills of Virginia. Janet did not take on RAAM on a whim and has taken steps to learn the course and test herself in some of the harshest racing conditions by entering RAAM as part of a two woman team. Not only did they win for their division, they broke the course record.
Ultra Distances (> 24 hours)
San Diego Randonneur Brevet Series 2004-2007
California Gold Rush Randonee (1200km) 2005
Furnace Creek 508 -1st Womens, 3rd Overall in 2004
Furnace Creek 508 -2nd Womens, 15th Overall in 2003
Hoodoo 500 – Voyager category (no crew support) – 2007 1st place/1st to ever attempt this
RAAM –two woman relay team 2007 – 1st place - set course record
RAAM – solo 2008. DNF’d medical reasons (250 miles short of finishing-bummer)
Double Centuries
Santa Rosa Terrible Two- 2nd Womens 12’53” (4th woman in event history to break 13 hrs) 2003
California Triple Crown winner 2004 (Heartbreak, Santa Rosa Terrible Two, Central Coast, Knoxville double centuries)
Triathlons and Marathons
Santa Rosa Vineman Ironman - 1st Womens 2002, 1998, 1997
Hawaii Ironman - 3rd Women’s 35-39 age group 1996
San Diego Marathon - 2nd Womens 1995, 1996
Nice Triathlon 1994 - 15th Womens Pro division
US Cycling Federation events
Women’s National Road Race - 10th 1988
Ore Ida Women’s Challenge - 25th 1991
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Houston we have a problem...
Houston we have a problem... Jan 14
Janet gave us all a good scare when she sent the below email out. The title alone was enough to get my heart racing as to what could have happened.
From Janet:
____________________________________
...I just took a spill on my bike (wiped out on some loose sand) and probably cracked a rib or two. My ample experience in this area tells me it will be about a week before I can do much of any kind of working out on a (stationary) bike, and another week after that before I get back on my actual road bike. Meantime ice, Allieve, and Gino. Gino is my personal medicine man/holy man who got me well in time for RAAM 2007 when I did the exact same thing.
____________________________________
The reason she says she has ample experience with cracked ribs is that she had a similar accident two years ago- about a month before the start of her first RAAM attempt as a two woman team. Amazingly she was able to recover and they had a fantastic RAAM.
Although it does appear that Janet did in fact crack a few ribs in the crash and possibly suffered from some pulled intercostal muscles, she was able to quickly return to her bike and do some easy rides, albeit with some shallow breathing. All of us who know her, know that she is a fighter and will not let a few cracked ribs slow her down. We just keep reminding her that the wheels of the bike belong under her and not over her head.
It just goes to show that anything can happen during the run up to the starting line. Hopefully this is the last of Mr. Murphy's (you know- the guy that came up with some crazy rule) musings with the Osprey.
Janet gave us all a good scare when she sent the below email out. The title alone was enough to get my heart racing as to what could have happened.
From Janet:
____________________________________
...I just took a spill on my bike (wiped out on some loose sand) and probably cracked a rib or two. My ample experience in this area tells me it will be about a week before I can do much of any kind of working out on a (stationary) bike, and another week after that before I get back on my actual road bike. Meantime ice, Allieve, and Gino. Gino is my personal medicine man/holy man who got me well in time for RAAM 2007 when I did the exact same thing.
____________________________________
The reason she says she has ample experience with cracked ribs is that she had a similar accident two years ago- about a month before the start of her first RAAM attempt as a two woman team. Amazingly she was able to recover and they had a fantastic RAAM.
Although it does appear that Janet did in fact crack a few ribs in the crash and possibly suffered from some pulled intercostal muscles, she was able to quickly return to her bike and do some easy rides, albeit with some shallow breathing. All of us who know her, know that she is a fighter and will not let a few cracked ribs slow her down. We just keep reminding her that the wheels of the bike belong under her and not over her head.
It just goes to show that anything can happen during the run up to the starting line. Hopefully this is the last of Mr. Murphy's (you know- the guy that came up with some crazy rule) musings with the Osprey.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Training Starts
Janet has started her training in earnest, but the weather seems to not be cooperating...the joys of an ultra-cyclist.
On Jan 4 Janet decided to brave the ride to Julian from Rancho Bernardo... she wrote:
"About halfway between Santa Ysabel and Julian it turned overcast and I started getting pretty chilly. It was frustrating to see the rest of SD County bathed in sunshine. I managed to made it to Julian and survived the descent back down alternating which bare hand to stick under my jersey and thaw out. In Santa Ysabel, I could start to move and feel my fingers again but was still in overcast surrounded by sunshine seemingly everywhere else. Then it started raining on me! I decided to give myself the Indian name “Stuck Under the Same Go$$amn Cloud”
It was warm and sunny enough in Ramona at last to shed a couple layers. I carry a little backpack for stowing wind jacket, head band, tights etc.
In one of the side pockets I pulled out a nice pair of mittens I had gotten for Christmas…"
The rigors of training for the "Worlds Toughest Race" have begun.
On Jan 4 Janet decided to brave the ride to Julian from Rancho Bernardo... she wrote:
"About halfway between Santa Ysabel and Julian it turned overcast and I started getting pretty chilly. It was frustrating to see the rest of SD County bathed in sunshine. I managed to made it to Julian and survived the descent back down alternating which bare hand to stick under my jersey and thaw out. In Santa Ysabel, I could start to move and feel my fingers again but was still in overcast surrounded by sunshine seemingly everywhere else. Then it started raining on me! I decided to give myself the Indian name “Stuck Under the Same Go$$amn Cloud”
It was warm and sunny enough in Ramona at last to shed a couple layers. I carry a little backpack for stowing wind jacket, head band, tights etc.
In one of the side pockets I pulled out a nice pair of mittens I had gotten for Christmas…"
The rigors of training for the "Worlds Toughest Race" have begun.
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