Mazama Ski Clinic and Madshus Demo!

 This coming January we're excited to partner with Methow Olympic Development to offer our first day-long ski clinic, featuring three incredible coaches and some fantastic learning opportunities!

The Mazama Ski Clinic and Demo Day will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2014, based at the Mazama Community Center. The clinic cost (lunch included) is $100, and for that you get top-flight instruction from our coaches:

Sam Naney - Methow Endurance coach/co-founder; current professional ski racer
Scott Johnston - Former US Ski Team member, current coach of Sam and the Methow Olympic Development racing team
Alan Watson - Former US Ski Team member and former University of Utah Head ski coach

The clinic will go from 9am - 3pm and will include a sandwich lunch provided by the delicious Mazama Store kitchens. We are limiting participation to the first twenty sign-ups to make sure we've got a great small-group feel, and will do our best to divvy up the groups by ability level so everyone gets the most focused attention. Focuses will include basic and advanced technique in both skate and classic, as well as more specialized instruction (as applicable) in up/downhills, cornering, and wax selection and application.

But that's not all...

We're also psyched to partner with Madshus Skis to offer equipment demos throughout the day. This demo is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC in addition to clinic participants. It will be a rare and exciting chance to try out the latest innovations from the World's foremost Nordic equipment manufacturer. Clinic participants who are anxious to take part in the demos should plan to arrive early to get set up with their demos before the 9am clinic start time.

Keep reading...

We'll also be handing out some uber-sweet Helly Hansen Nordic training apparel - only for clinic participants!

Again, we're limiting the participation to the first twenty signups; after that we'll start a waiting list and notify everyone of their status. So get there first and ensure your spot....

REGISTER HERE

Thank you to clinic sponsors:

2014 Women's Ski and Yoga Retreat

Another bluebird day on the trails (photo by Sun Mountain Lodge)

Ladies, it's time to start thinking about a weekend of fun! Fall may have just started, but it's never too early to start daydreaming of skiing through beautifully groomed trails on a bluebird day.

The 12th annual Women's Ski and Yoga Retreat at Sun Mountain Lodge! Held February 28-March 2, 2014, this weekend is all about relaxing and having fun with other women in the Methow's own winter wonderland. Whether you are brand new to the sport or are an experienced skier, there is something for everyone; our expert coaching team will help you become more proficient in both skate and classic skiing in a friendly, supportive environment. 

Each day we'll start with yoga practice, fuel for the day with a delicious breakfast, then have morning and afternoon ski sessions (with a break for more delicious food, of course) on portions of the 65 kilometers of beautifully groomed ski trails Sun Mountain has to offer. Top it off with a post-ski stretch, and relax with new friends.

During your free time, sit with a good book at the fire; take in the beautiful mountain views with a soothing soak in the hot tub; or get a reviving massage for your tired muscles. With ski and yoga instruction for every level, everyone can treat themselves to this wonderful weekend.

The retreat cost is $325 and includes: ski instruction, trail passes, yoga sessions, breakfasts and lunches, and Friday night wine and hors d'oeuvres. Rooms and other activities are additional. Sun Mountain Lodge offers a special room rate for retreat participants of $113 + tax per night, single or double occupancy. Additional persons are $10 per person, per night (four person maximum per room). Call Sun Mountain Lodge directly to make room reservations at: 800-572-0493.

photo by Sun Mountain Lodge

Click here for a peek at what's in store.

Make sure to register early to ensure your spot! To register: complete this form and then pay by either mailing a check to the address below, or use your credit card or PayPal account by following the links under the Retreat info at our "Events" tab above. 

Methow Endurance, PO Box 196, 

Winthrop, WA, 98862        

This retreat fills every year, so don't miss out! For any questions, email me at:

alison(at)methowendurance.com

Now bring on the snow!

Registration deadline is Friday, January 31, 2014. Please note, no refunds will be given after this date.

Upcoming Race: Driveway Butte Hill Climb! New Category!

Mark your calendars on November 2nd for the 3rd Annual Methow Endurance Driveway Butte Hill Climb! Long regarded as a training standard for local and regional endurance athletes, Driveway Butte is a great way to test your summer fitness and see how you stack up against your friends and neighbors.

Starting at Klipchuck Campground, a mere ten minute drive from Mazama, the Hill Climb ascends over 1500ft in 2.5 miles to a beautiful notch in the ridge, offering spectacular views of the Washington Pass area and Silver Star peak. Not that you'll be looking...the climb is relentless, with nary a flat stretch from beginning to end. Given its late fall placement, the trail often has a thin layer of snow covering it, adding an element of challenge to the already lung-burning adventure...

The 2011 racer field at the finish

Get your legs ready for breaking trail in January!

This year we're excited to offer an additional category: Backcountry Skier! Wintertime in the Methow Valley is a magical time for vertical junkies, who earn their turns skinning up into the highest reaches of the North Cascades. To honor (and challenge) them, we're opening a "Backcountry Skier" category of the race, where racers must heft a standard load of backcountry ski (or snowboard) equipment up to the finish. Specifically, their gear must include the following:

- Metal-edged backcountry skis or snowboard (skis must utliize Randonee or Telemark cable bindings)
- Backcountry-specific boots (no Nordic racing/touring boots)
- Rescue gear: Shovel and probe
- 1 liter of water
- Poles

The equipment can be carried in any fashion you wish, either on a pack or in hand, but it all must arrive at the finish with you. A one-minute penalty will be added for any missing piece!

This year's running should be the biggest yet, with anticipated athletes arriving from Seattle, Leavenworth, and British Columbia to join our local competitors. Registration is $15 for racers over 18 years of age, and $10 for under-18 year olds. There will be a $5 additional fee for day-of-race registration, which will be open from 7:30 to 8:15am.

Like all Methow Endurance events, a portion of the proceeds for the race will go to a local charity. For this year, we will be donating to Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a local non-profit dedicated to helping provide Christmas food baskets and much-needed resources to local families in need during the holiday season.

To register for the race, please use our Webscorer registration page:





Webscorer - 

We hope to see you there! 

The "Methow" Experience

Everyone who has visited or lived in the Methow knows of its beauty and the hold it takes on you, compelling you to hike, bike, run, ski and bask your way through day after day of incredible sunshine and scenery. The Valley doesn't have any one "clique" of athletes/adventurers; everyone dips their feet into each pool. The bikers get invited to climb the Beckey Route with the alpinists; the skiers get convinced to go for a run with the runners; the hikers are persuaded to try and see if riding their mountain bike up and down Cutthroat may in fact be more fun than hiking it. We all have a great and humbling time while trying the new activities, and are rarely content to stick within one mold.

The Methow Valley Sports Trails Association (MVSTA) has been perhaps the most influential in creating the above scenario. For several decades now MVSTA has hosted and managed amazing events and festivals dedicated to celebrating the splendor of this place and to encourage people young and old to try their hand at an outdoor activity. With Methow Endurance, we humbly aspire to continue carrying that flag with our own events, bringing newcomers and veterans together in a shared enjoyment of the outdoors and personal improvement.

A group of up-and-comers raring to go at this year's Methow Endurance 5/10km, an event made famous for many years by MVSTA

Yesterday, Alison and I embarked on a run which ended up being a bit longer than expected. We made the mistake of using a Washington Gazetteer for mileage estimates, and assumed the route chosen would be about 25 miles and take somewhere in the neighborhood of six hours. Instead, it was more like 35 miles and took about eight and a half hours. But it was spectacular, and took us over several mountain passes, including Slate Pass and Grasshopper Pass on the PCT. While we were on the run we encountered numerous groups and couples partaking in their own forms of mountain enjoyment. One local couple was excited to be venturing onto a new part of the PCT on a day hike; they've explored all over the Valley but never gone south from Hart's Pass. Another young woman was encouraging her new husband to make the moderate trek to Tatie Peak to see the vista; he was meanwhile wishing he'd done a few more hikes beforehand...

Running along the PCT, south from Hart's Pass

A misconception which Alison and I, through Methow Endurance, are trying to dispel is that "training" is only for athletes. In our minds, you "train" to get better at something, anything. The burgeoning cook "trains" their hands to chop onions faster and cleaner so they don't sob their way through a French Onion soup preparation. The 65-year old recovering from a knee replacement "trains" himself to lift a weight in a certain way which will help strengthen his leg again. And yes, the runner makes two-hour efforts faster as a way to "train" toward a better marathon finish.

The "Methow" Experience is about adventure, exploration, and challenge. It's about "training" yourself to adapt to a new effort, whether that effort is hiking Maple Pass AND Cutthroat in one day, or to prepare for your first American Birkebeiner 50km ski race. We see those goals, all of them, and we are as inspired by the novice hiker as we are the veteran skier.

**Summer Training Special** A One-Month Training Plan for $75!!

For the month of August we're offering a slamming deal for folks interested in injecting a bit of organization, structure and help into their fitness efforts. For first-time Methow Endurance coaching clients, if you sign up before August 15th you'll qualify for a special of $75 for the first month of training. No strings attached, no long-term commitments. We're confident that once you recognize the benefits a coach brings, you'll want more!

Our goal is to spread the message that intelligent coaching and fitness support doesn't need to be expensive; our base "Mt Gardner" coaching plan is only $100/month. For that price, you get individualized training plans and workout descriptions, and weekly check-ins with your coach to monitor your progress and adjust as needed. If you sign up now, that first month is only $75!

Not sure if you need a coach? Don't think you deserve one? Here's a short list of those who can benefit significantly from Methow Endurance coaching

- People working full time who want to stay active, but can't commit more than 30min-1hour per day

- Young athletes trying to prepare for high school competition seasons

- Lifelong athletes looking to attain the next level of fitness after years of plateauing

- And many more!!

Call or email us today with questions or to sign up!

Colorado, California and Utah, Oh My!

Trying out my new La Sportiva duds. They make great clothing, too!

This spring I was super excited to be named to the La Sportiva Mountain Running team. I've always loved their trail shoes, and couldn't help feeling proud to be recognized worthy of a sponsorship. Sportiva now sponsors our events and has given me the fabulous opportunity to participate in three of their Mountain Cup races this summer. The fun begins next weekend, in Manitou Springs, Colorado, at the Barr Trail Mountain Race. The 14ish mile run climbs up to (gasp-literally!) 10,000ft, then turns around and goes back to the start. This will be my first race at altitude, which is both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. Next up will be Table Rock 27k, in the Marin Headlands, outside of San Francisco. Aside from the race, I'm psyched to get to check out my friends Devon and Nathan's new bakery and cafe, MH Bread and Butter.

I'll take a break from the Mountain Cup for a weekend to do the Speedgoat 50k, in Utah, the last weekend of the month, where I'll get a chance to run at altitude again, for more than twice the distance. Matt Hart took this awesome video if you're interested in seeing the glorious course: my goal is not to die during the 11,000 feet of climbing. One of my best friends is getting married that day, so while I'm suffering up one of the many climbs, I can transport myself to a beautiful wedding in Maine. 

Then I'll come home and try to work as little as possible and eat. A lot.  I figure that's also a perfect time to process a bunch of fruit, and rest up for the next race on the Mountain Cup, the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase, back in Utah the following weekend. Of course the next weekend is Rainshadow Running's Angel Staircase race, which is my favorite James puts on. If I am still standing, I may not be able to resist doing the 60k, but we'll have to see. I may spend the next week or seven sprawled on a rock beside the river.

Joking aside, this whole race calendar is yet another reminder of how lucky I am. If someone would have told me ten years ago that I'd be running on the La Sportiva team; traveling around the west to race; have a successful massage business in the mountains; and have an awesome dog and husband, I definitely would not believe it. Well, I might believe the awesome dog part.  The founder of the massage school I went to cautioned us as we wrote our business plans: "be careful what your write, as it's likely to happen." I looked over said business plan a couple weeks ago and sure enough, nearly everything I listed for my five year goals is now my reality. I'm not sure how much I believe in the idea of the universe conspiring to make things happen, but it does seem quite amazing what can happen if you keep certain goals in mind and remain open to both letting and making things happen. I'm getting a little woo-woo now, so I best get to making food for tomorrow's run that is my most current and short-term goal. Fueling for all this is a whole other post.

If anyone has any favorite coffee shops, jewelry or (other cool stuff) shops in San Francisco, Manitou Springs (or Colorado Springs), or Park City that should not be missed, please let me know! Finally, if you're interested in following the scoring of the Mountain cup, the results are posted here after each race.

Fall Getaway

Some of the pristine singletrack Sun Mountain has to offer. Photo courtesy of Sun Mountain Lodge.

We're excited to announce that our brand-new Methow Endurance Fall Endurance Getaway is officially scheduled! Whether you're a cyclist or prefer feeling the ground under your feet, this weekend gives you the chance to play in the mountains, eat good food, and learn a thing or two about biking or running. Join us October 18-20 for a fun weekend exploring Sun Mountain while taking in the stunning fall colors. Browse around the event site for more information, but feel free to email us if you have questions.

More singletrack! Photo courtesy of Methow Valley Photography.