Rockin' and Roller Skatin'

      This was no ordinary Saturday night, that's for sure! Meilee, me, and little Miss Sophia went crazy on the Roller Skating Dancefloor! With flashing lights and catchy tunes, I wished that night would never end! This was my first time Roller Skating and I must say that it was quite enjoyable(and yes, I did fall a few times in the beginning), and might I recommend this to many others also! Afterwards, Mrs. Dawn(Sophia's mom), my mom, Sophia, Meilee and I went to Olive Garden for soup and salad and went home with full tummies and thoughts about the day.

Biking Goals for 2015

Some of my biking goals for this new year include:

* Trying to finish the LUMBERJACK, a 100 mile mtn bike race that is held on the third week in June.

This race is in 'Big M' mtn bike trail. There are three laps, each lap consisting of thirty-three miles. 

If I finish this race, I will be the youngest to finish, as so with the Ore2Shore and the Iceman Cometh.

* Another biking goal for 2015 is to try a new approach to the trainor. 

Cuz, hey, I'm gonna have to get used to it soon! Oh, and my lucky stars, I got six new trainor videos,

 each holding new levels of pain to endure, new techniques to be taught, and longer amounts of time to learn to suffer for. Like for my LUMBERJACK goal, I have to be prepared for the distance, sweat, blood, and time needed to be able to survive this sufferfest.

* Like last year, I am going to try and ride 1,000 miles, which I came really close to doing.

* ...and last, but not least, improve my confidence, and also my area of self motivation! Especially when I'm going solo for a race while dad is racing with Meilee(speaking of Mei, make sure to check her blog for recent updates!)and my confidence levels are dwindling. 

So that is my list of 2015 Mountain Biking Goals for this New Year!

Do you have any big 2015 goals? Personal or relating to sports? If so, please leave in the comments!

               

                                            HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

                                                      -Avery-

 

Vacation at the U.P.

      Sure, one BIG reason we came to the Upper Peninsula was for the Ore-2-Shore, but we also came to have some vacation time. WAIT! Before I get into vacation, let me tell you some OUTRAGEOUS news. Bella Rose, my dog I got for my 6th birthday, had PUPPIES about a week before we were gonna travel up to the U.P., we decided to take them with us. Now they are about three weeks old, with eyes open, their personalities are beginning to draw out on their blank slates!!! There are SEVEN puppies, six girls and, get this, one boy. 

   

ISN'T THAT THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER??? 

So that's the scoop.

      Anyway, back to the vacation. We decided to camp at a campground that had waterfalls and beaches close by so we could hit two birds with one stone. First we were at Otter Lake Campground from August sixth to the tenth(speaking of between the sixth and the tenth, the seventh was Dad's birthday. So for his little present, I took Mei with me up to the campground office with my wallet, the office had nice little things in there like...ice cream. When we came back, I handed Dad my present, a Choco Taco. It was a nice little birthday treat). Then it was the Ore-2-Shore, which took a lot out out of me, but afterwards, we went to the beach, which was basically my shower at the moment. But soon we decided to switch camps. 

      Next thing we know we are at Perkins Park unloading our things. Pretty soon we became friends with our neighbors which lived in Marquette. There was John, Jill, and their son, Izzy, which we spent a night hanging out with while the parents talked around the fire. Wherever there was a waterfall, there was a hiking trail to the it, so Meilee and I found walking sticks and ran ahead while Mom and Dad stayed behind talking. This year we decided to visit waterfalls that we haven't been to, so there was a lot of variety in the scenery, but every one we went to we were able to walk in. Then, at the end of the day we would sit around the fire and make s'mores or talk about our favorite part of the day. Pretty soon it was time to leave the U.P., so we said our byes to our neighbors and we were back on the road for another thirteen hours. I really loved being in the U.P., the scenery was awesome, it was really great meeting and making friends, and above all, spending some quality time with my family.

CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT YEAR!!!   XD

-Avery

Biking Buddies

      When dad and I were riding from Ruby Campground to the Avoca Rail Trail(on training biz), on the way back we ran into a fellow cyclist that was having a quick snack break... We started talking and it turns out she comes all the way from the San Francisco area. She was heading towards Port Huron to get some passports to Canada to keep riding upwards. Her name is Veronica and her goal is to ride all the way up to the northeastern seaboard.                      

After Dad told her that I did the 48 miler(ORE-2-SHORE)and the Iceman(and that I was the youngest to finish both)she asked for a picture, and of course I said YES. At one point Dad told Veronica about my blog, and she wrote it down so she could visit it. 

      Next thing we know, we are riding on the rail trail together. Soon Dad and I came to our road we had to turn on to get back to Ruby campground. But before we went, I asked her for a picture so I could write a blog post about her(which is, as you can see, already done). 

     So, Veronica, if you're reading this, hi! The post has been put up successfully! Hope you have safe travels!!!

-Avery : )   : )  : )

The State Games of Michigan

      Cannonsburg, a trail where some mountains are usually underestimated as natural elevations of the Earth's surface, or hills(or at least underestimated until the caller climbs the so-called 'hill') . Packed with enough hills(or mountains, depending on your perspective) to go around, this is not the easiest of trails. Because there was no SPORT class that was 11-14, Dad put me in  JUNIOR WOMEN 11-14 .The only thing was that they reconstructed the trail, so I wasn't used to it. About a couple days before the race Meilee, Dad, some Team Troll guys, and I pre-rode the trail for the race. Because Cannonsburg was close to where some of my family from the west side live, some family came over to support Meilee and I racing.

      With no trainer, Meilee and I rode around for a while until it was time to race. It was really weird being in a group with at least one of my same gender, for I was (and still am) used to riding with boys. When we got lined up, I was feeling pretty crummy and my stomach felt like I was on a rogue roller coaster for a straight 9 hours! I only had two other competitors,  Emily and Madison, and when I asked ages, I turned out to be the youngest.

"3,"

"2,"

"1,"

"GOOO!!!"

With a kick off the ground to get me started, I began to pedal to the first hill.
      Madison was able to pass me, but I kept Emily behind me with a quick sprint on a couple flats, but within the first few turns she was gone. I had a feeling Madison was already gone, but I kept up my pace. In the beginning, it was almost all uphill, except the few downhills and flats thrown into the earthy concoction for good measure. As I did in almost all of the races that I did before, I told myself,
WHAT WOULD THE DAD SAY???
GUH-GUH-GUH-GUH-GO FASTER!!!
GUH-GUH-GUH-GUH-GO FASTER!!!
GUH-GUH-GUH-GUH-GO FASTER!!!
WHAT WOULD THE DAD SAY???
To not just get me spirited, but upbeat, too. About 75% of the way through I felt much more comfortable, I was getting more agile and maneuvering around all obstacles in my way just got much more manageable.  Soon I came to the end of my first lap, with a rip of the tasty gu pack, I ate it really quick and got it down with some water, and let my 2nd lap commence.
      To start the 2nd lap, I avoided the small mud puddle by jumping over it with a quick spring of my feet on my clip in pedals. Because I knew more about the trail than a lap before, I was able to read the trail with ease. With a pace kept strong, the tightness both internal and external began to cease and my mind felt more clear. With the shiver of good vibes running up and down my spine and back again, I felt very energy-filled. But after 5 miles of hills, flats, downhills and everything inbetween, I came against a slight flaw that taught me something that would really help in the future, and it all came from watching Dad years before... I was going up a quick hill that I didn't notice at first, so I went down 3 gears in the back, and CLICK my chain came off. Instead of panicking, I calmed myself down enough to think, so I got off my bike, got to the side of the trail and inspected my chain.
      Okay, Avery, remember what Dad did for quite a few years whenever your chain came off? Don't panic! It may be a race, but DON'T panic!!!
So carefully, I took my chain and tried hooking it back onto the gear. It took a couple tries, but when I got it I was all like,
YEAH!!! I FIXED MY FIRST CHAIN!!! WITH NO HELP!!!   : ) x 1,000,000!!!
But like at Stony Creek Marathon, now was most DEFINITELY not the time to celebrate, finish the race first!!! With some quick turns I saw Dad, swiftly Dad joined behind me for the last half mile. Next thing I know I am climbing the last hill to the finish line.............DOWNHILL!!!
FINISH!!!
      Madison turned out to be 5 minutes faster than me and Emily was 5 minutes behind me, so I got a 2nd place! Meilee got a 1st place for 10 and under girls, or 3rd place if she was in 10 and under boys and girls.


-Avery