Sea Otter Classic 2008 in Monterey, California - The highlight for me was BMX Olympic hopeful Jill Kintner's Women's Skills Clinic

Sunday, April 20 - I was thrilled to attend a 2-hour mountain bike skills clinic taught by Jill Kintner, a top Olympic hopeful for competing in BMX bike racing in Beijing this August. The 26-year-old from Seattle, Washington, is a member of the GT Bicycles Team and is living and preparing for the Summer Games at the Olympic training center in southern California. She has two more major races this spring, in Denmark and China, to determine if she will have enough points to represent the United States in BMX. Thanks to Beverly Garrity, founder of SLaB, who organized this clinic.

For more Jill Kintner clinic photos and shots of trials rider Ryan Leech, visit my photo gallery.




Making its debut at the Olympics, BMX, stands for bicycle moto-cross (an "X' denotes the "cross.") No motorcycle invovled - just modified bicycles that allow racers to achieve top speeds racing over and down uneven terrain on special courses.







Here I feel the love from the Sea Otter mascot. I have been coming to Sea Otter Classic for nearly 15 years.




Here is a BIO of Jill I received in advance of the clinic:

Jill Kintner
Date of Birth: October 24, 1981
Hometown: Seattle, WA

When you are the best at what you do, what do you do next?
This is a dilemma that GT team rider and top female Olympic hopeful Jill
Kintner knows well. After literally growing up on the BMX track her
father owned in Washington State, it seemed Jill was destined for 20
inch greatness. Pushed by a neighborhood full of boys as well as her
brother, pro Freestyle BMX rider Paul, Jill rapidly developed into a
fierce competitor. Beginning at the age of 14, Jill dominated race
after race until she presided over an empire that included more than
70 race wins, the NBL National Series pro title and the 2002 ABA
World Championship crown.

At the height of her BMX dominance, however, Jill discovered the
sport of Mountaincross and abruptly abandoned BMX to race mountain
bikes, a move that was anything but safe. But after a brief
acclimation process, Jill was back to a familiar spot: on top. She
signed to GT in 2005 on her way to three consecutive UCI 4X World
Championship titles. With nothing but green pastures in front of her,
Jill made another risky decision upon learning that the Olympic
Committee had approved BMX Race for the 2008 Games in Beijing – she
switched back to BMX.

Jill is now living and training at the Olympic Training Center in
Chula Vista, California and is currently the frontrunner for a place
on the Olympic team. Having just captured the 2008 USA Cycling BMX
National Championship title it seems almost certain that Jill will be
representing the US in Beijing.

A win in Beijing will have special significance for Jill as she is
racing for the memory of her father who passed away before she made
the switch back to BMX.

Karen's April-May '08 Event Schedule - Sea Otter Classic, Yoga and more biking!

FUN STUFF COMING UP:

Sat.-Sun. April 19-20
Sea Otter Classic, Monterey, CA
Held Thursday, April 17- Sunday, April 20 at Laguna Seca Recreation Area in Monterey, California (an hour's drive south from Santa Cruz), the Sea Otter Classic is the ultimate festival of bicycles - for road, mountain bike and BMX riders. I am going Saturday to ride a recreational, cross-country mountain bike event - not ready for racing at the moment.
Sunday at Sea Otter, I will attend a women's mountain bike skills clinic and ride hosted by Olympic BMX hopeful Jill Kintner.

Fri.-Sun., April 25-27
Women's Yoga Retreat - Mount Madonna Center, Watsonville, CA
Led by Laurie Broderick-Burr and Kelly Blaser, retreat highlights inclue: Asana classes and group meditation, delicious vegetarian food, and gorgeous vistas from the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Sat.-Sun., May 3-4
Mountain bike clinic: Dirt Series presented by Rocky Mountain Bicycles
In April, North America's premier traveling mountain bike skills instruction program takes to the road for its eighth season. This year, the Dirt Series by Rocky Mountain Bicycles offers an
unprecedented 19 women's-only and co-ed mountain bike camps in destinations like Sun Valley, Southern California, Park City, North Vancouver, and the Dirt Series home base of Whistler.

Memorial Day Weekend: Fri.-Mon. May 23-26:
Great Western Bike Rally
Paso Robles, CA
From their website:
The Great Western Bicycle Rally is a large, friendly, family-oriented bike event extravaganza dedicated to recreational cycling that transforms the Paso Robles fairgrounds and the surrounding countryside into a pedaler's paradise.

Though I did not make it downtown to the Mall in Washington, D.C. to see the National Cherry Blossom Festival, I joined my mom for a bike ride in Kenwood, Maryland, where the cherry blossoms were gorgeous.

My train trip to Morocco, I mean Philadelphia, via Trenton, New Jersey

I had a rude awakening on my Amtrak train ride from Union Station in Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia on Monday. I was dozing on the train (a two-hour trip) when someone tapped my shoulder.

"Where are you going?" asked the train conductor.
"To Philly," I replied.
"You just missed your stop," he said.
I bolted upright.
"In 28 minutes you'll be at the Trenton, New Jersey, station. You can get off there and come back."

I was annoyed with myself, but mostly, I was embarrassed to tell my cousins why I was running late for dinner.

I watched the scenery slowly roll by, knowing I was headed the wrong direction. Twenty-eight minutes have never felt so long. I arrived in Trenton, waited half an hour, then got back on the train to Philly - again. This time I did not turn on my iPod or computer.

Moments before the train left, the young woman seated in front of me flipped open her cell phone to take a call. I noticed the elaborate henna design on her right hand.

"Hi Dad.... Yes, I'm on the train, on my way home...The best part was riding the camels through the red sands of the Sahara with our guide."

From then on, I was hooked. As the train pulled out of the Trenton station, I listened shamelessly to her conversation because I wanted to learn more about the Berber nomads she had encountered. I felt an instant kinship with this fellow adventure traveler and curiosity about what inspired her to go to Morocco. At times, I strained to hear her over the noise of the train. I had so many questions: How long was she there? Was it an organized trip? What did she think of Casablanca? Soon she said goodbye to her father and was quickly dialing again. I had to make a move fast.

I leaned forward and said, "Excuse me. I could not help but overhear your cell phone conversation about your trip to Africa. Would you mind telling me about it?"

She paused, a little surprised.
Perhaps I should not have overstepped this cell phone social convention?

Then she smiled and told me all about Casablanca, riding camels in the Sahara and the fun of traveling with three other women who spontaneously agreed to spend 10 days together in Africa. Girlfriends getaway in Morocco! I also learned she is a chemical engineer, a recent college grad and grew up in Eugene, Oregon. Most important, I discovered a young woman who was passionate about exploring the world: she had studied abroad for a year in South Africa and spent several months in a mountain town in Peru volunteering at a medical clinic. Her next trip will be to Chile and after that, perhaps New Zealand.

By the time the train arrived in Philly, I felt as if I too had been on a wonderful adventure. Whether it's riding a camel in the desert or asking a stranger to tell you her story, taking a risk can be very rewarding - even on a commuter train for just 28 minutes.

Karen Kefauver
Freelance writer and content provider
karen@karenkefauver.com
http://www.karenkefauver.com

Highlights from Adventures in Travel Expo in Washington, D.C. Day 2: Sunday, March 30

Check out my fantastic feather headdress! I felt very glamorous, but only for a few minutes, because I had to return it to a beautiful dancer from Aruba. She had invited me to try it on - potentially the first step in getting me to visit Aruba. I was surprised that it was lighter than it looked, though difficult to balance.
For expo pictures from Saturday and Sunday, visit PHOTO GALLERY.
I also enjoyed presentations from world travelers Marybeth Bond, author of Best Girlfriends Getaways Worldwide and Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. Bond, an animated speaker, packed her talk with amusing anecdotes and great tips for women traveling together in groups or pairs. Schultz, more softspoken, detailed her journeys to special places she believes men and women should visit during their lifetime.

On the Expo floor, I visited business associates who have become friends through our membership in the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Washington, D.C.-based Tonya and Ian Fitzpatrick are founders and hosts of Travel'n On Radio. On Saturday, they broadcasted live from their ATE booth. One of their three segments featured Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods of the World. He was one of my favorite speakers this weekend. Very funny and down-to-earth. Travel'n On Radio's next major event is a live broadcast from the French Quarter Festival, April 11-13 in New Orleans.

My last stop of the day was at the Expo was the Da Vinci White booth. I asked how teeth whitening was related to adventure travel. I learned that this cosmetic procedure using hydrogen peroxide (but not strips) is becoming a popular service on certain cruise ship lines! No dentist necessary but to receive the treatment, customers do sit in a dental chair equipped with technical-looking apparatus in their mouths. Apparently, whiter teeth can result after a 15-minute session.

Overall, the ATE was well worth my trip from Santa Cruz, CA. Tomorrow, I head to Philly for two days before returning to the West Coast Thursday morning.

Highlights from Adventures in Travel Expo in Washington, D.C. Day 1: Saturday, March 29

The Adventures in Travel Expo, March 29-30, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. was a fun blend of guest speakers, international exhibitors, live performances and interactive activities. Highlights for me from Day 1 included a talk by charismatic Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods, the joyous bellydancers from the Sahara Dancers (video clip above) a test ride on a Segway and learning about Fitpacking. If you are not currently off on an adventure, I hope my online photo gallery from the Expo will inspire you to book a trip soon. I will report on Day 2 at the Expo tomorrow!

For the Adventure Travel Trade Association's meeting today, I visited Alexander Graham Bell's office ...

which happens to be at the National Geographic Society's headquarters in Washington, D.C. I learned that the inventor of the telephone also succeeded his father-in-law as president of the National Geographic Society in 1898. (Thus, he had an office there).

I was at the the sprawling NGS headquarters to attend a regional meeting hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Since attending the association's world summits in Whistler, Canada, in 2007 and in Seattle in 2006, I have found their events educational, fun and valuable for business networking. Today's gathering was no exception. I am now inspired to go to the Adventure Travel Trade Association's Brazil Summit in September and perhaps the Norway Summit in October.
For meeting photos, visit my photo gallery. It's linked to my website, www.karenkefauver.com.

Fun with Apple Photo Booth on American Airlines

Air travel can be a lot of fun when you happen to sit next to a creative seatmate. On my flight from San Francisco to New York City, Thursday, March 27, I met Christian Hansen of Seattle, Washington. After we discussed his recent travels in India and I told him I was headed to the Adventures in Travel Trade Expo in Washington, D.C., we opened up my Apple laptop for more entertainment. Christian, 20, a filmmaker and photographer, showed me how to create some wild effects in Photo Booth. Thanks, Christian!

Mexico: Zihuatanejo, Troncones, 12/07

On my most recent trip to Mexico, in December '07, I fell in love with the small town of Barra de Potosí (population, 500). I had initially planned to stay only a night or two in this fishing village, 30 minutes south of Zihuatenejo on the Pacific Coast. However, my visit stretched to five nights and I could have stayed longer!

Perhaps falling in love with Barra de Potosi is how Laura Kelly, the owner of my lodging, Casa de Encanto, wound up becoming an American expat. A former private investigator in California, Kelly reinvented her life by opeing Casa del Encanto (House of Enchantment), more than a decade ago. Now, she is an important part of the small community.

I spontaneously decided to visit Patzcuaro, a mountain town at 7500-feet. So from Barra de Potosi, we took three buses and two taxis and arrived at sunset. It was so cold that I piled on all my layers of beach clothes. We spent three days exploring the local markets and sights.

To wrap up our vacation with some real rest and relaxation at the beach, we swam in the ocean, went surfing and ate many fresh fish tacos in Troncones, a popular resort area an hour north of Zihuatenejo.

Before our flight home on Christmas Eve, we explored the city of Zihuatenejo.

In April 2008, I will have a more detailed story and photo gallery of my travels posted on Away.com. Stay tuned for URL.

Wayne Kelly's tips for being on the radio

In advance of my being a guest on the Travel'n On Radio Show, hosted by Ian and Tonya Fitzpatrick on 630 WMAL, I reviewed the fantastic set of tips from professional radio broadcaster, Wayne Kelly, whose website, www.onairpublicity.com is devoted to useful public relations resources.

From Wayne's Kelly's online tutorial:
SUCCEEDING “ON-AIR” WITH THE CHEAT SHEET

Use these preparation hints for any interview. With this checklist you will remind yourself of the things you have to do to be a great guest.

1. Remember: Radio is about telling stories.

• The best storytellers are expressive. They can be serious, funny, angry or sad.
• The best stories are simple. Avoid statistics and numbers unless you really need them to illustrate a point.
• The best storytellers talk about people and emotions by describing thoughts and emotions.
• They do not regurgitate boring facts.

2. When preparing for any interview, ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my message?
• Does every detail pass the “So what?” Test? You have to share with listeners why they should care about your topic.
• What are the key points I want to express? (Up to four.)
• Do I have interesting ways of telling my story? Remember that failure stories are as inspirational as success stories. It makes you human, and listeners like that.

3. Remind yourself of these points:

• Tell the truth.
• Avoid a yes or no response unless you are asked for one.
• Ums and ahs kill a great story. Try avoiding them as much as you can.
• Avoid reading from prepared statements. Throw away the long notes and give the interview from the heart. It works every time.

4. When being interviewed:

• Keep your answers simple and brief.
• Be sincere.
• Find a way to get your message out.
• Be nice. Do not get angry with a poor interviewer.
• Always attempt an answer. Do not leave the host hanging.
• Be funny when it is appropriate.
• Use the host’s name if you get a chance.


5. Mechanics (if you’re in the studio):

• Do not rock or swivel in your chair.
• Match the host’s energy level.
• Speak closely to the microphone but avoid popping your Ps by avoiding direct contact with the microphone.
• If you are holding a pen, do not click it throughout the interview. (It is amazing what nerves make us do)

6. Mechanics (if you’re on the phone):

• Speak clearly into the mouthpiece (This may sound silly but many people hold the mouthpiece under their chin)
• Do not use speaker phone as the quality is terrible
• Do not use a cell phone as the drops and delays can sometimes make it sound very weird and nothing sounds worse than you constatntly saying “Pardon?” because you couldn’t hear the host.
• Stay out of the bathroom…there is too much echo. (Don't laugh...people have done it)

Wayne Kelly
© 2004 - 2007 On-Air Publicity.com. All rights reserved.

A trip to Farragut North is a journey back in time as well as foundation for the future

When I was in high school, each summer I worked at a Washington, D.C., law firm headquartered across the street from the Farragut North metro station. As a teenager, it was thrilling to dress up (think early 80's styles), take the subway downtown from Bethesda and go to work in the nation's capital. Emerging from the subway, I loved joining the flow of hustling business people packing the sidewalks on Connecticut Avenue.

Today, I got to enjoy Farragut North again, but with a new twist: I met with two National Geographic travel editors to discuss book proposals. Larry Porges and Barbara Noe (pictured right) and I discussed ideas over lunch at the Tabard Inn. Of course, I can't tell you the top secret ideas, but I will happily point to the NGS books they have published thus far to give you an idea of their titles.

Coming up soon - details so you can tune into the Travel'n On Radio Show this Saturday, Dec. I will be one of the featured guests on the topics of travel, fitness and travel writing.

Halloween on the Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA, October 31, 2007 - Karen emcees as Carmen Miranda

One of the highlights my Halloween every year is emceeing the City of Santa Cruz's Halloween on the Wharf. On a gloriously sunny afternoon, I dressed to the hilt in my Carmen Miranda costume and announced the Kid's Costume Contest. Here are a few photos taken by my beau, Norman Field. For more Halloween photos from Norman, visit his gallery at Pbase.

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival

Karen embraces a handsome specimen at the 37th Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival.

Adventure Travel World Summit 2007 - highlights

Friday, October 5, Whistler, British Columbia — Don George (red sweater), Everett Potter and I formed a media panel and did a 90-minute presentation entitled "How to Tap into the Influential Freelance Writer Market and Improve your Public Relations Strategies."
To indicate it was time for questions and answers from the audience, I put on my bike helmet, in tribute to the conference's host city, Whistler, famous not only for its skiing, but also mountain biking.

Photo credits for the media panel photos go to Drew Simmons of Pale Morning Media LLC, in Waitsfield, Vermont.

Adventure Travel World Summit 2007

For full collection of photos from Canada, visit:
the photos on my www.karenkefauver.com.


A Taste of Fat Tire Adventure in Whistler

My mountain biking debut in Canada was just like in the movies! After years of watching radical riders tackle the legendary mossy green trails of British Columbia in the Banff Mountain Film Festival, I knew just what to expect on a steep singletrack trail: lots of elevated, narrow wooden bridges to navigate.

My Saturday, Oct. 6 afternoon ride with a group of participants from the Adventure Travel World Summit was tame by Banff Mountain Film standards, but the adrenalin factor was still high. Our ride leaders, Chris Ford and Grant Lamont, from Whistler Bike Guide, took us on a fun maze of singletrack trails. Our 3-hour bike tour took us by Lost Lake and other scenic spots not far from Whistler Village.

My favorite part of riding was the challenge of crossing the wooden-planked bridges, which were narrow, uneven and twisty. I stayed on course on five of the six bridges I crossed in the woods: one one bridge, I dropped a foot off the side of the bridge but managed to stay upright on my bike.

When a heavy rain started to fall, it was time to head back. I was happy to have a taste of cross country adventure in a town where downhill mountain biking is king. Whistler Bike Guides plan to offer guided one-day and multi-cross-country tours in 2008. Check them out: Whistler Bike Guide.

The trip was sponsored by Outside Magazine as part of the third annual Adventure Travel World Summit, hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association.

Adventure Skydiving in Hollister

My friend Christian wanted to do something "he had always dreamed of" to celebrate his 40th birthday this past September. The party entertainment? Skydiving! Fortunately, he knew where to go to get expert instruction: Adventure Center Skydiving in Hollister, www.1800funjump.com.Turned out only eight of the 100+ guests invited took the host up on his unusual birthday offer. I am glad I lived to tell about it!

Special thanks to Sebastien Nicolas, my tandem skydive instructor. He had a great sense of humor paired with solid experience. Plus, we had fun talking about what his fiance, Sarah, thinks of his job (she thinks it's cool!). My fiance, Norman, was on the airplane with me, also about to do his first tandem jump.

I survived skydiving!

Skydiving - here I come!

Santa Cruz, CA —
Instead of my usual Saturday morning yoga class in Santa Cruz, I am about to go skydiving in Hollister instead! It was not my idea of a relaxing weekend morning, but when my good friend Christian Fine invited Norman and me and 163 other of his closest friends, to celebrate his 40th birthday with "one of those things I always wanted to do" - how could we refuse? Actually, all but 8 of us declined his invitation. At 10 a.m. this morning, we will all meet at Hollister Airport (about a 45-minute drive from Santa Cruz) and jump out of a perfectly good ariplane from 18,000 feet. I will let you know how it goes, hopefully...

Although it's morbid to consider my funeral arrangements before I leave this morning, if I don't make it back to complete this blog entry after my first tandem skydive jump with Adventure Skydiving, Inc., know that I want the cause of death stated in my obituary: "Karen jumped off of a perfectly good airplane at 18,000 feet up and she had a great time — 'til the end."

Not surprisingly, I am not the first person to ponder the wisdom of the jump - Adventure Skydiving helpfully addresses the issue in their Frequently Asked Questions section of their website:

Is Skydiving Dangerous?
Of course it's dangerous. You get out of a plane three miles above the earth. And gravity does work, in fact, it rules supreme. The only thing between a skydiver and "deceleration trauma" is a chunk of nylon about the size of your living room. Which part of not being dangerous was unclear?

Is It Safe?
Ahhh...a much better question.
Adventure Center Skydiving owns the latest student, solo, and tandem gear. All of the equipment used at Adventure Center Skydiving is serviced and maintained by FAA certified technicians of the highest ratings. The parachutes are packed by professionals, the reserves packed and repacked even if unused (it's not only a good idea, it's the law). Although an inherently dangerous sport, just as driving a car is an inherently dangerous activity (you did know that, right?), we take every precaution to assure your safety while on our drop zone. Do you drive with bad brakes and bald tires?

So, the short answer is that the sport of skydiving has been made as safe as possible. And at Adventure Center Skydiving, we take every precaution possible before, during, and after your skydive.

Air and Space story on Burning Man

Burning Man's Magic Airport

Watch the Burning Man revelers pull an airport out of the desert…then make it disappear.
By Chad Slattery.
My mom emailed me the link to this wonderful article from Air and Space. Enjoy!

Photos from Burning Man 2007

Love-Hate Affair at Burning Man 2007

My first Burning Man experience was a love-hate affair. During my five-day stay in Black Rock Desert in Nevada, (Monday, Aug. 27 to Friday, August 31) my feelings fluctuated between jubilation and loathing. I loved the spirit of freedom, the fabulous art cars and massive art installations. My primary interest in attending was to view the incredible sculptures and buildings I had seen in pictures for years - what I saw in the dusty desert actually surprassed my expectations. However, I hated the constant cacophony of contrasting music that thumped through the playa past 2 a.m. and started again at 6 a.m. for a pagan sunrise ritual. Though I was massively sleep-deprived, I am absolutely glad I went because it is an experience I will always remember. Will I go again? The verdict is still out! More soon.. For more of my Burning Man 2007 photos, visit http://www.pbase.com/karenkefauver/burning_man_2007

Burning Man - Off to the Playa!

At home in Santa Cruz, Norman models a pink wig, gas mask and goggles - what he will wear when a dust storm hits in the desert. We leave on Sunday, August 26, to drive to Black Rock Desert in Nevada. We plan to carpool with Cory and John to honor the theme of Burning Man 2007 - "The Green Man," an emphasis on global sustainability. For now, we are packing costumes, outdoor wear for cold nights and hot days, camping gear and of course, toilet paper. The only thing supplied on the playa is porta potties. We will take 2 gallons of water per person per day to drink. Our quartet - all newbies to Burning Man, will join a group of 30 from Santa Cruz, a group named the Twisted Quackers. Although we have packed for plenty of 24-hour bike races, packing for this event has been an unprecedented challenge! Yet, we think all the preparation is worthwhile and anticipate our first Burning Man will be a wild adventure!

Tufa towers at Mono Lake, CA

Mono Lake is one of my favorite places in Northern California. On a recent camping trip at Convict Lake in Inyo National Forest, Norman and I made a point of taking a 30-minute drive to Mono Lake for sunset. Here are a few of my photos.

24 Hours of Adrenalin + Hula Hooping!

Saturday, June 9 - Sunday, June 10 Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA—

At 10:15 p.m. I set off on my first night lap—I had not done any night mountain bike riding since the 2006 24 Hours race. I was nervous, but also excited to ride under the stars. As part of a 5-woman relay team, Go Go Go Girls, I had been designated the last rider in our rotation. I had only completed one lap before this night time lap and did not know the course well. My daytime lap had gone okay —although only 10 minutes into that ride, I lost the left lens of my sunglasses. It bounced out of the frames and vanished in the tall grass along a steep rutted section. That section of the race course would return to haunt me at night.

My Crash

I was feeling confident and strong for the first 15 minutes of my first night lap. Then I smashed face-first onto the dirt trail. I flipped over the handlebars and BOOM—breath knocked out of me, my face in the dirt, the grit coating my lips and teeth. I lay moaning, terrified. Upon impact pain had shot up my jaw and neck. I slowly picked myself up and moved to the side of the steep trail - the same spot where I had lost my sunglasses lens. I stood there debating whether to call it quits. I could easily walk back to the start line. I looked down and saw blood streaming from my right knee.

I looked like a massive dust-powdered doughnut with some cherry filling leaking out. Grit filled my gloves and shoes. A kind rider stopped to see how I was. He stuck with me and eventually took off. I stood still, shaken. Another rider went by and called out: "Are you ok?" at the top of the descent. "Yes, I am ok," I assured him with more confidence than I felt. I turned to watch this considerate cyclist navigate the steep section skillfully. In the dim light of my headlamp, I was amazed to recognize the red helmet and Team Santa Cruz jersey: It was my fiance Norman riding by! "Norman, it's me!" I shouted as he flew downhill. No reply. Only the sound of his bouncing chain. My heart sunk.

Pivotal Moment
I really wanted to cry, but I latched onto a more powerful desire: to win the Midnight Hula Hoop Contest! The race organizers were hosting the first-ever 2007 24 Hours of Adrenalin midnight Hula Hoop contest. Despite my bloody and swollen knees, dusty face and shattered confidence, I walked and rode back to the start/finish area as fast I could, determined to get to that contest to prove myself. Many of you know, I can hoop with the best of them! On the long ride back to camp, Santa Cruz solo rider Sean Sullivan insisted on stopping to make sure I did not have a concussion.

I rode hard to get back to camp by 11:50 p.m. I passed Norman's tent, which was on the race course. Miraculously, he was there and not out on the race course. "Norman, that was me!" I said, "The one who crashed." He was going so fast and did not hear me when I called his name. His heart was breaking when he saw me covered in dirt. I told him that he had been very kind to offer to help a "stranger" in the night during his grueling solo effort and that all was ok. We briefly rode our bikes hand and hand before we parted. He continued racing and I had handed the baton to my teammate, Rita. Then I went to the Hula Contest.

So You Think You Can Hula?

"Whoa! What happened to you?" the race announcer and hula hoop contest emcee asked. "I did a faceplant on the trail," I said. "Wow!" he said, eyeballing my dust covered body and face.

I downed two pieces of hot corn, helped round up a few other hula contestants and we were underway! The ground rules were declared: he/she who hoops the longest is the winner! I knew I could hula hoop til dawn if need be. Soon enough, I out hooped the others, even showing my special John Travolta disco moves while hooping. I felt victorious!

My moment of triumph at the 24 Hours of Adrenaline mountain bike race had arrived in the unlikely form of being the Hula Hoop Winner. My prize? A pair of fleece shorts, donated by Cowboy, the owner of Fuzzy Duds. I chose the most outrageous multi colored paisley shorts I could find.

Then I sought medical attention for my wounds. A big thanks to Marc, the famous brewer and Mel's fiance, for generously volunteering to take a midnight stroll and look all over for the nearly-impossible-to-find first aid tent.

Grand Finale
I hobbled back to camp well after midnight and woke up Michiko for her lap. The pain was setting in and I went to clean off my wounds in the light of the nearby bathroom. I was horrified to see that both my knees were grotesquely swollen. My left in particular looked like it had sprouted a lemon on top of the knee cap. I knew my race was over when I saw that. I got ice packs out, left the Go Go Go Girls team a note that I would touch base in the morning but it looked doubtful I would ride again that day. I went to sleep about 2 a.m. and slept soundly til 5:30 a.m.

I got up then to find Rita preparing to go out on a lap. That was one of the lowest points of the race for me—I was physically unable to go, or more precisely, I could have gone, but the outcome for my knee could have been serious. It was a big risk. Nevertheless, by taking care of myself, I felt like I was letting the team down. I felt sad, which fatigue and injury can heighten. Rita assured me it was fine that she ride in my place, but I was disappointed—for the team and for myself—the dawn lap is a glorious time to be on the trail while the rest of the world sleeps on a Sunday morning...

Our team captain Henri was unwavering that this was the 100 percent right decision for me not to race with my bashed knees. I felt better and she was thrilled by my hula hoop contest story and goofy shorts. I shifted moods and dedicated myself to being our team photographer for the remaining few laps.

I also had a better chance to monitor Norman's incredible progress in his solo 24 hour race. He had ridden steadily through the night, no sleep, supported by a great crew at camp that included Mark, Evan, Eric and Darik, who were also assisting Melanie Dominguez. I am happy to report that both Norman and Melanie had stunning finishes in their respective solo categories: Norman, 3rd place in the men's solo division, Melanie, 3rd place in the women's. Incredible results against steep competition! Bravo! It was also exciting to see Team Cloud Nine, consisting of dear friends Cory and John Caletti, and their teammates Dan'O, Eric and James win 2nd place in their tough 5-person co-ed category.

Awards Ceremony
I offer a final salute to my fantastic teammates: Henrietta, our Team Captain, from Pacific Grove, Rita Leon of Team Santa Cruz, Michiko of Berkeley, Yvette of NorCal! You guys were super fine Go Go Go Girls. To Barbara, our team volunteer, we could not have done it without you. It was a pleasure to have our moment of fame as Third Place winners in the 5-woman category!

For full event photos, visit: http://www.pbase.com/karenkefauver

Puerto Vallarta Mexico, December 2006

The Festival of Guadalupe was in its final two days when Norman and I arrived in Puerto Vallarta on December 11. We walked the cobblestone streets to the plaza and church and watched for hours as processions of colorful dancers, singers, mariachis and groups paraded to the church to worship.

Other highlights of our visit included: parasailing, a jungle canopy tour and an hour's boat taxi to Yelapa. We have posted more photos at Norman's pbase website http://www.pbase.com/nlfield/puertovallarta


Hasta luego!

Mountain Bike Boise - Thursday, June 8

Thursday, June 9
I did not spot any cougars this afternoon during my 2-hour mountain bike ride in Boise's Ridge to River Trail System. Yet my leisurely ride, led by David Gordon and Jody Liby, has been the highlight of my day, the first adventure of my 5-day trip in Idaho.

I arrived at the Boise Airport after a smooth, 90-minute Alaska Air flight from California's San Jose International Airport. I got a brief introduction to the city from Lisa, the driver of the Boise Shuttle Service, while she drove me just 3 miles to downtown Boise's Marriott Hotel. A transplant from Portland, OR, Lisa enthusiastically described the outdoor dining and the weekly farmer's market.

I joined Ron Gardner for lunch at one of Boise's new hotspots, Donnie Mac's Trailer Park Cuisine. Decorated in funky retro style, the restuarant had outoor sitting and a funky old trailer parked in its lot. The menu offers up a tasty variety of burgers, salads and possibly the best vanilla custard I have ever tasted.

After lunch, I joined David and Jody to do a little off-road exploring. I had a great full suspension red Trek mountain bike to use from Idaho Mountain Touring. Fantastic ride!

I worked up a good appetite climbing the hills on the super smooth trails winding through the hillside. We went to Hyde Park, a section of town known for lively outdoor dining and a haven for hungry mountain bikers. At Lucky 13, a casual and very popular eatery, I ordered and gobbled down a big turkey sandwich. Perfect finish to a great day.

Tomorrow: Whitewater rafting and meeting with racers who will compete in the Raid Adventure Race.

Watch Out, Boise! Karen Ventures to Idaho

Boise, Idaho, Beckons

I have heard the siren song of Idaho and am headed Thursday, June 8, for my first visit to the state famous for its potatoes and increasingly known for its recreational adventures. Idaho has the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 sates.

During my 5-day stay, I will explore Boise and embark on mountain bike and whitewater rafting adventures. And a special highlight: I will witness some of the Raid X-Adventure Race, a multi-day, multi-sport adventure, www.theraid.org

Stay tuned!

Appeal of 24-Hour Mountain Bike Race Revealed

One Rider's Report on 24 Hours of Adrenalin

I had never been interested in racing or even attending a 24-hour mountain bike race — until this year. In fact, for the past few summers, when friends formed relay teams or planned to compete as solo riders in these events, I was baffled. Why they would be attracted to non-stop cycling, day and night? What was the appeal? I thought only of sleep deprivation and the danger of biking dark trails.


Recently, I discovered the unique appeal of endurance mountain bike racing when I joined a 5-woman relay race at the 24 Hours of Adrenalin, May 13-14, at Laguna Seca in Monterey. I had never intended to race at this event, even though my boyfriend, Norman Field, of Team Santa Cruz, was returning for his third year in a row, this time to compete as a member of a local team called Dirty 5-Way Superstars.


But fate works in strange ways: Two nights before the race, my bicycling friend, Winona Hubbard, of Team Santa Cruz, called and told me that she had a last-minute opening on her team and would I please consider racing with her? When she promised me that the emphasis was on fun and that there was no pressure to try and win, I was tempted. When she added that we would all be wearing fun costumes at the race, I shocked myself by saying YES. That's how I became the fifth member of the Go Go Go Girls Team.


On Saturday morning, an hour before 10 a.m. race start, I found the colorful campsite of Winona and her husband Alex, also of Team Santa Cruz, who was racing in a two-man relay with his brother, David. I met the other Go Go Go Girls: Henrietta from Pacific Grove, Renee from Auburn and Michiko from Berkeley. Amazingly, Team Captain Winona had pulled our group together from online bulletin board postings and from acquaintances she had made at other races. We were meeting each other for the first time to do the race!


By Sunday morning, after riding 40 tough, hilly miles, I was quite tired after only 90 minutes of sleep during the past 24 hours. But I was also happy that I had finished 4 laps - far more than I imagined I could do! I discovered that the real joy of the event was the teamwork. While I won't say I was joyous at 3 a.m. after doing my first night ride ever, I did find that riding in the dark, guided only by moonlight and the light mounted on my handlebars was more fun that I had expected. As our team members handed off the baton to each other, lap after lap, hour after hour, we built a camaraderie and cheered for each other. We rode hard and pushed ourselves to go fast, but we kept it fun by wearing costumes and staying positive no matter what the time was on the official race clock.


We were very proud to ride to a third place finish in the 5-Woman Relay Division! It was also a special treat to share the awards ceremony stage on Sunday with other talented Santa Cruz athletes including Norman's Team of Dirty 5-Way Superstars, (Cory and John Caletti, Dan O'Connor and James Borgman) who placed second in the 5-person co-ed relay team, after John Brown's Family Cycling Center team captured first place in that division. I certainly enjoyed our moment on the podium at the awards ceremony, but the real prize was making new cycling friends and the profound satisfaction of taking a risk to say yes to a new bicycling adventure!


For photos visit: www.pbase.com/karenkefauver/gogogogirls

For race results: www.24hoursofadrenalin.com

Ready, Set, Race! 24 hours on a Mountain Bike

9:30 p.m. Friday, May 12
This time tomorrow, I will be biking the trails by moonlight.
My 24 Hour Mountain Bike race begins at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Tonight, I am cozy at home still in Santa Cruz. At 6 a.m. tomorrow, I will drive south to Monterey to meet my 5-woman team, Go, Go, Go Girl who have set up camp tonight. We will race as a relay team, one after another, night and day for 24 hours this weekend. My teammates told me they have made me a nametag with gold glitter on it - that's a good sign, for sure.

Countdown: 24 Hours until my first 24-Hour Race

The countdown is on until my first 24-Hour Mountain Bike Race starts tomorrow! So far, I have three duffel bags packed. More to go ...

Karen Tests Legs & Lungs in 24-Hour Mt. Bike Relay Race

I must be nuts! Late last night, I accepted a last-minute invitation to join a 5-woman team, Go Go Go Girl! to become part of a relay at the 24 Hours of Adrenalin Mountain bike race, held this weekend in Laguna Seca, in Monterey, just an hour south of Santa Cruz. The race begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, and ends Sunday, May 14. Here is my BIG CHANCE to find out, first-hand, about the joy of mountain biking night and day!

Why Race a 24-Hour Mountain Bike Event?

Karen's Question to 24-Hour Mountain Bike Racers: Why?
Honestly, I am still baffled about the appeal of these 24-hour moutnain bike races. However, the Coolest 24 Hour Mt. Bike Race was a superb event - Jim, the race director went all out in organizing a great experience for the racers and making it a successful fundraiser for cancer. In fact, it was so well run and so much fun (great food, prizes, band, and most of all good vibe) that Norman is eager to return to Cool next year.

I am in awe of Norman and other solo racers, since I am unsure that I could remain motiviated to ride around and around the same course as many times as possible. Norman said he enjoyed pushing himself mentally and physically and felt that he was only competing against himself. My quest to understand this continues - I just may have to race one myself sometime to figure it out. Stay tuned!

Report on New Cycling Event: Cool, CA Mountain Bike Race

The Coolest Mountain Bike Race!
Norman Field is amongst nearly 200 racers who competed in new event near Sacramento, May 6-7, 2006

By Karen Kefauver
Race photos: http://www.pbase.com/karenkefauver/cool_mt_bike_race

Santa Cruz — As 24-hour mountain bike races are growing more popular across the U.S. and my bicycling friends flock to sign up for relays or solo divisions of these events, I have been curious about what compels them to race nearly nonstop, night and day, lap after lap, on a looping, off-road course. I decided to accompany Norman at his first solo 24-hour mountain bike event, this past weekend, May 6-7, in Cool, CA, east of Sacramento. That way, I could investigate the appeal of this event without the pain of racing myself.

As it turned out, being a support person in one of these events is also a challenge in and of itself. Happily, I had superb help: Norman's sister and brother-in-law, Rachanee and Dan, arrived early Saturday morning and stayed til the end. They were essential to Norman's success. We also had fantastic aid from Hank, who arrived Saturday evening for a few hours with crucial resupplies and good cheer. Plus, our friend Melanie, a veteran 24-hour mountain bike racer, had provided great tips over dinner before we left and had generously loaned us camping gear. During the race weekend, she called often to cheer Norman and boost our energy.

We departed on Friday at noon, the Jeep packed to the gills. We missed Melanie, who was recovering from recent foot surgery and unable to join us as originally planned. But we wondered how we could have managed another passenger! After a four-hour drive northeast, we rolled into Cool, CA, ready to set up camp. We were grateful to our hometown Santa Cruz County Cycling Club Race Team for the loan of the pop-up tent which was our central hub where Norman stopped to refuel each lap. That blue tent became home for the next two days, in addition to our 2 individual tents.

FRIDAY
On Friday evening, we went for a leisurely 2-hour dusk ride and were impressed by the beauty of the area — lush green hills, red clay paths. We scouted out the race course - some climbs so steep that they required walking! Ouch! Some downhills so strewn with rocks that they required my walking (Norman had the skills to ride them.) The highlight of our ride together was Norman spotting a lone bear ambling into the woods. He was a safe distance away, but I wondered if that fellow would visit our camp later for dinner. We turned in by 11 p.m. (No bears visited).

SATURDAY
12 noon - Norman started his first 24 Hour Solo Race with a mad dash, literally. Known as a "LeMans start," Norman and the other racers had to run a quarter mile around a field before they got on their bikes and set out to do their first 9-mile lap. Norman aimed to complete 11 laps, or 99 miles, during his 24 hour time period. The winners of these events are the riders who complete the most laps in their division. Norman was not out to win, just to experience the test of endurance. He went strong and steady, stopping after each lap, back at the tent so we could help him get more food and drink, clean his bike and give him a pat on the back. He remained upbeat even as the day wore on. I was in awe and baffled that he did not want to quit and nap, as I imagine I would.

At 7 p.m. he took a 2-hour break to enjoy a steak dinner and feast prepared and served in Rach and Dan's camper trailer. Thanks! Our friend Hank joined us and provided good cheer and supplies for a few hours on Saturday night. Norman was reenergized and after dinner, kept on riding, even after I went to bed at 1 a.m. He promised he would be safe and be vigilant about charging the two lights he had affixed to his bike, one on the helmet, the other on the handlebars.

SUNDAY
When I awoke at 6 a.m. Sunday morning, to my amazement, I found that Norman was STILL cycling and had indeed ridden all through the night while I was asleep. At 7 a.m., he declared he would actually exceed his 99-mile goal and do 12 laps, for a total of 108-miles! I was floored. I got to work making breakfast and we all ate and celebrated when Norman rolled in, done racing, at 9 a.m. or so. Way to go, Norman!

We broke down camp and loaded for several hours. Fueled by coffee and chocolate, we hit the highway shortly after the noon conclusion of the event and traded driving duties all the way home. We somehow made it back to Santa Cruz on what felt like an interminable 4.50-hour drive. We collapsed into bed that night, both wiped out. I am very proud of Norman's accomplishments. I felt happy that I had played an important role in helping Norman achieve a goal that was meaningful to him. I had a hard time imagining myself doing this event, though I was inspired by the woman who had set up camp next to ours, Mary, of Folsom, CA. She was the only woman who had signed up to race solo, and on a single speed bike, (only one gear!) no less. It was her first solo event and she did really well.

MONDAY
Norman's body demanded 13 hours of sleep, plus an hour nap, and frequent feeding on this first day of recovery. (He was smart to have taken the day off of work). A massage and sushi dinner were part of the celebration, but mostly, good, solid rest was the top priority. After all, he is planning to do this 24-hour mountain bike racing all again this next weekend. But one major difference: he will be part of a 5-person team at Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA.