by admin | Aug 17, 2008 | Fernie TransRockies
We did it…both Breathe Easy Teams completed the TransRockies in Support of Asthma Canada!!
It is SO great to be back in Fernie! What a great experience. Many
lessons learned. Hydration is important to stay on top of your asthma,
so is dust avoidance (a major trigger) and pacing yourself for the long
haul. Thanks again to my partner for the constant 80% effort reminders,
hydration example and Sherpa power. Other teams mentioned that we were
a great constant by which to gauge their pace. Steady on. Although we
were not racing, it was great to see our progress in a field of
originally 9 teams and we went from 7th place, to 4th place in the final with only 6
teams left; a race of attrition. It reminds me of how to live daily
with asthma. Check your peak flows, avoid triggers, take your
medications, drink and eat well and listen to your body.
The other Blackstone Fernie team of Michele and Sebastian did very
well. It was great to see them at the finish line. Thank-you to
everyone who made this possible. Our total donations are over $10,000
and climbing. The donation site is still open at www.asthma.ca. Shayne
has shaved his moustache in good faith and we will continue to work on
our educational seminars in the schools this fall. The Society of
Asthma Canada uses all donations to further education and research for
asthma nationally.
Thanks again for your thoughts, a cold beer and hugs
and cheers at the finish line. Happy Birthday Shayne. Finishing the TransRockies was a
great way to celebrate it.
Pepper
by admin | Aug 16, 2008 | Fernie TransRockies
Hello Fernie!
Sherpa Shayne here in the Crow’s Nest Pass, having successfully completed the ride from Elkford. It was long, hot, dirty, and I think that Pat Gilmar has a price on his head for designing the course. Both Pepper and I are hanging in there with bandages and butt cream. The bikes have been running fabulous (thanks Straightline et al), and we are looking forward to coming home.
Support for Asthma Canada continues to come in from our fellow riders, they are impressed to see us out there. Despite this, my moustache continues to grow along with the ratty goatee. All donations would be greatly appreciated, especially by Mary-Jane. We look forward to seeing you all very soon. Home has never looked sooooooooo good.
by admin | Aug 15, 2008 | Fernie TransRockies
The ‘rock garden’ of Day 5 has absolutely no flowers… in fact it doesn’t have anything to do with a ‘garden’ but is more accurately described as a graveyard of head-sized boulders strewn from one end of the path to the other. The fact that some people ride it amazes me; the ‘rock garden’ was a walking zone… or rather a stumbling zone after 75 k of up and down and 6k of debris fields to ride and push through. I found it a much harder day than yesterday!
At this time I’d like to thank the Support Team of Will Matthews and Krista Adams who provide the transportation of our travelling home and most importantly… great food and soul nourishment. They are the background strength behind the goal of getting Shayne and I to the end of this race to support the Asthma Society of Canada. Both Blackstone teams finished healthy and can be supported at www.asthma.ca.
By the way, Michele DID ride the ‘rock garden’.
Pepper
by admin | Aug 14, 2008 | Fernie TransRockies
Oh what fun! …109 kms of single-track, double-track and flying gravel road. There were hazards galore with cross ditches and seven stream crossings, one which was threatening to sweep me down river. As I stood crotch-deep in the middle, Shayne thankfully came out to take my bike before I pitched in for a glacial swim. In fact, Shayne has proved himself to be a wonderful Sherpa on several occasions… not to mention reminding me constantly to stay at 80%, drink and stand up to save my butt. Surprisingly I’m listening. The most important goal of the Transrockies is to finish healthy and raise money and awareness for asthma nationally. And since there are 27 countries represented at this year’s race, maybe internationally.
-Pepper (Blackstone Fernie – Breathe Easy 1)
Hello Fernie! Day 4 out here in Whiteswan, with the longest day of riding done. Everyone is healthy, and we are managing to have a good time when not riding. We have met folks from South Africa, the UK, Belgium, and the island of Jersey (look it up), all here to ride and have fun. The rides are going really well, Pepper gives me too much credit – I’ve seen her shoulder her bike and carry it up an avalanche slope the length of 2 football fields. And she was only a little breathless. I still have the moustache, and I am also now sporting a cheesy goatee until we hit $20,000 on the asthma.ca website. Please donate so my wife will let me in when I get home – she may not recognize me. Thanks for all the good luck wishes, see you all soon.
Shayne (Blackstone Fernie- Breath Easy 1)
by admin | Aug 13, 2008 | Fernie TransRockies
It was a relief to get onto some flowy single-track and there was lots of it! The time trial format was really cool and it let all the teams have some space to prove their handling skills.
Michele- I finally solved some of my nutrition bugaboos and found my legs for the first time this race. We raged on the single-track and schooled a few of the men’s teams about the right way to ride a log & steep downhills. We found our team rhythm and felt we put in a good time on the course, passing a few of our competitors and making up some time on others. There were definitely a few technically challenging spots and some amazing scenery. There was one portion of the course which ran above the Kootenay River about 200 meters atop of a cliff wall which were absolutely no slip zones!
Seb- The course was absolutely amazing, some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen and some of the best single-track I’ve ridden. I’d definitely like to come back and ride here just for fun. There was about 60% single-track, 30% quad track and only about 10% gravel road, but just enough hike-a-bike to qualify it as a TransRockies day! I feel we made some time on our competitors and should move up a couple of places in the standings and I’m quite happy about that.
It was a good day to be representing Blackstone Fernie and raising awareness of Asthma Canada. W
by admin | Aug 12, 2008 | Fernie TransRockies
I sit under the awning of the RV, the rain coming down again, waiting for Pepper, Shayne, Michelle and Sebastian, the riders of the “Breath Easy Teams” in support of Asthma Canada.
Pepper is my partner and I love her very much….but right now the word is RESPECT…respect for her dedication to Asthma awareness, respect for her tenacity and courage and respect for her commitment to take care of herself and be an example for other Asthma suffers.
Today, the race is more than 70 KM and over two mountains with 3800 meters of climbing but that does not explain the challenge. There are grades that would challenge a mountain goat and swift rivers to cross. There are swamps and bogs and rain and snow. The descents are full of roots and rocks and mud and many times bordering deep canyons.
I sit and wait…it could be a 10 hour day today and then 5 more days to go after that…my heart goes out to Pepper and all the Breathe Easy Team and wish them a safe journey.
Please help them to reach their goal by donating to Asthma Canada .
Will Matthews
Breathe Easy Support Team
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