Back in the Saddle - Karen's cross country mountain bike comeback is Sunday, July 19!

I plan to look happy and content while sweating uphill during my race, the way I look in this photo from a Wilder Ranch mountain bike ride. Photo credit: Bird Emrick.

Today, I ramped up the training for my upcoming cross-country mountain bike race with a top-secret nutritional tool for high-performance. I can't tell you exactly how many Pepperidge Farm Brussels Mint cookies I consumed because that calorie count is a trademarked secret. This data will be revealed with the publication of my new book, "How Cookies Fuel Your Inner Athlete."

The new Super Food of elite athletes!

For now, I am cutting back on my workouts ("tapering") and eating my secret race foods (cookies) for my big comeback to mountain bike racing this Sunday, July 19, 2009, at the NEW EVENT: the Harvey Bear Ranch Mountain Bike Race in Santa Clara County, California.

Details:

July 19th, 2009 - race begins at 9:00 a.m.
Race classes for Beginner, Sport, and Expert.
10-23 miles depending on class
Fun, challenging course for every age.
Space is limited to the first 100 riders!
Onsite registration from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM day of event if spots are available.

This will be a fun, challenging race at Harvey Bear Park and the first time a race has been allowed there at this Santa Clara County Park & Rec Facility. This 4,595-acre park - featuring a 635-acre lake, provides camping and boat launch facilities, showers, 19 miles of horse, bicycle and hiking trails. It is located in the Diablo Range east of the City of Gilroy.

Course Notes:
The course includes several big hills over fire roads. The hills are challenging. There is a mix of single track. Beginner and sport will run 10 miles and expert 23 miles. Total elevation gain will be 2000 ft and 3000 ft.

Here's what the race blog from organizers South Valley Bike and Run Club said about the Harvey Bear race this weekend:

"It's a challenging place for beginners because it has two abrupt climbs, and the first one is as soon as the race starts. Look at it like a tough training day! After 2 miles of up hill you get to go down. The only real tough area after that is San Ysidro, which I'm sure many people will walk portions. There will be an aid station at the top to refill your bottles. We will also have a spare first aid kit up there.

Make sure you carry enough fluids, even though we are starting early it could get warm."

Good luck and thanks,

Greg Richards