Jessi Stensland - Adventures in Endurance Performance

Recap to Remember 2009

Before I race off into 2010 I wanted to make sure to reflect on all that went down in 2009...

It's hard to say what I am most stoked about.  Every bit of it was rad, whether it was hard or easy.  It was nutz at times, but it was self-imposed.  [Well that's not exactly true.  I'm driven by something much greater than myself, and I feel like I'm just here following out a bigger plan, watching my own movie.]   I created and enjoyed every minute of it.  The year confirmed a lot and I learned a lot.  The more I learn, the more I know there is to learn.  About myself, my sports, my field, the world, etc.

WHAT STANDS OUT // The thing that stands out most is just how MUCH I did this year.  All my years used to be like this one, until about three years ago when I found myself wanting to do a whole lot of nothing - learn how to relax and chill out for once.  It served it's purpose, but now I'm back at it, and I'm glad.  I prefer to have my journal busting at the seams with stuff, daily.  Life's too short.

THE OUTDOORS // I'm stoked on my new found appreciation for the outdoors and all that comes with it: the feelings (mental and physical,) the people and the places.  Sure I've always trained outdoors, but this year was different.  Adventuring on and really seeing and exploring the trails, the mountains, and all the fun that comes with them was special.  They haven't changed, but I have...and I'm so glad they're still there for us all to enjoy.

THE MAKING OF MOVEMENTU // I've had any number of 'ideas' in my life...a few came to fruition and the rest taught me something about myself or the world and snowballed into other ideas.  The Olympic journey was my first transcendent commitment as an adult.  Interestingly enough, even since before my Olympic journey ended I've been curious as to what my next "THING" would be.  During my break from triathlon I was very aware that I had no THING and for about three years committed simply to living in the moment, knowing that at some point my heart and soul would be driven once again toward something big and defining.  The mission of MovementU was born during a walk on the beach at the end of July this year.  The idea was crafted into words in August during hours and hours in coffee shops in Boulder, CO.   I launched the website in the second week of September during a video shoot at Saris Cycling Group in Madison, WI.  After many more race weekends and travels including Ironman Hawaii with Active.com, the first ever MovementU was held on October 24th, with the help of my family, near my home town in central New Jersey.  I couldn't have asked for more.

This year was a great learning experience.  Thanks to the sound business advice from so many of my awesomely successful family and friends as well as feedback I've received from participants, I know I'm on the right path and will continue to evolve it, staying true to its mission:  to enhance the understanding of the body and its true performance potential.  One of the goals is to eliminate chronic  pain and injury (possible!!) with motivation through education.

Here's my snapshot of 2009...

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2009 By The Numbers

25,000 miles on the Prius / 86 Blog Posts / 72 Videos Created / 44 Flights

33 Appearances / 24 Races / 15 States / 14 Interviews / 10 Stitches / 2 Countries

1 New Mountain Bike / 1 New Business / 1 Day of Skiing

1 Fractured Orbital Bone / 1 Torn Supraspinatus

Zero Chronic Injuries

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Teammates + Family + Friends

Thank you so so much...

UNDER ARMOUR

Active.com / Fitness Anywhere / Core Performance / ITP Foundation

B + L Bikes / Intense Cycles / CycleOps / SportQuest

Xterra Wetsuits  / TP Therapy / Kinesys Sunscreen

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There was SUPERBOWL NFLX and launch of Under Armour RUN Shoes!

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Adventuring + Training

Moab, UT + Big Bear, CA + Girona, Spain + Boulder, CO

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The TRX for Multisport Strength DVD was released...

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Rad Races // On + Off-Road

• ITPMan Triathlon // 1st // Photos
• Sweet & Twisted Du // 1st // Report
• Renegade Off-Road Tri // 1st // Report
• TCSD Aquathlon // 1st // Report
• California Multisport Off-Road Du // 1st // Report
• Carlsbad Triathlon // 2nd // Report
• Mission Bay Triathlon // 2nd

Plus...

• Mt Baldy Run To The Top // 3rd
• Mountain States Cup XC MTB // 2nd - Cat 2 // Fruta, CO
• King of the Rockies Series XC MTB // 2nd - Sport // Winterpark, CO
• Encinitas Triathlon // Report
• XTERRA Boney Mountain 21km // 4th // Report
• XTERRA Black Mountain 15km // 4th // Report
• XTERRA Lake Las Vegas Triathlon // Report
• SkirtChaser 5k Denver
• 12 Hours of Temecula MTB - Temecula, CA // Report
• Muddy Buddy - Boulder, CO // Report

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There was video production...

• Ironman Hawaii // Active.com's Ironblog
• Amgen Tour of California // Day in the Life / Jelly Belly Pro Cycling
• LUNA Chix Summit // Highlight Video + more
• Interbike // Saris Cycling Group for the launch of SOLO
• Jasmine Commerce // Singer/Songwriter // EPK
• Highlighting the brand new, gamechanging ElliptiGO!

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and appearances all over the place...

• Under Armour Headquarters for Armour Days
• Core Performance Center
• Triathlon Club of San Diego
• LA Tri Club
• Triathlon Lab
• Tri La Vie
  
• Orange County Tri Club
• Inland Inferno Tri Club
• Active.com Headquarters for ActiveX
  
• Purchase College Women's Swimming + Masters Swimming/Triathlon
• PepsiCo World Headquarters
• Ohio University Women's Field Hockey / Soccer / Volleyball
• Cal State Fullerton Women's Soccer
• Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride

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Then MovementU launched!  The Fall Tour was a blast.

MovementU traveled to:

New Jersey // Sports University
Connecticut // Blue Streak Sports Training
San Diego // Athletes Edge
Orange County // Cutting Edge Athletics
Phoenix // Athletes' Performance
Dallas // Athletes' Performance
Austin // Competitive Training Center

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PLUS...

• Managed to see my niece about every 8 weeks of her life so far
• Family vacation in Boulder, CO + family visit to South Carolina
• Couchsurfing! // Most impromptu/memorable = Ophir, CO // Thank you:

• Mom + Dad, Kelly + JoeB, Brett + Kristen, Craig, Brandyn + Trevor, Jayne + Randy, Paul + Karen, Peter, Marie, Erwin, Kirk, Neil, Michael + Maja, Jun + June, Joe + Sarah, Danny, Jim, Dave + Christine, Paul + Sylvia, Georgette, Dean, Leilani + Erin @ Red Licorice, Dirk + Alicia, and my Prius :) ...who am I missing?

• Many miles, many coffee shops and many meaningful conversations with many meaningful people in my life on multiple roadtrips thru NV, UT, CO, NM, AZ, CA, TX
• The rest is captured somewhere on Twitter, Facebook and my own journal.

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All that, and I'm ready to do it all over again - only better.   See you on the road somewhere as the adventures in endurance performance continue!

2010 - HERE WE GO!!!

Holiday Gift Guide #1 // NEW Performance Products!

It was not hard to put together a holiday gift guide this year.  Want your best performance next year?  Grab and gift em while their HOT!!  My Under Armour shopping list will be coming next.  Until then here's Under Armour's own gift guide.

I've been waiting to be able to announce this one since I heard Mark talking about it months ago!  Mark Verstegen's new book, Core Performance Women, is ready to order.  Same fundamental principles of performance perfectly packaged for WOMEN.  Co-author Pete Williams writes,  "If you or a woman in your life is looking for a simple, integrated lifestyle program that includes Mindset, Movement, Nutrition and Recovery, this is it."

 

The SMRT-CORE GRID is a great new addition to the Trigger Point Therapy family.  It's a great tool for both recovery and functional training efforts.  In conjunction with the launch of the GRID this year, they have also released training DVDs instructing athletes on "SMRT-CORE self myofascial release therapy and core stability work all at the same time." Check out the SMRT-CORE GRID in action HERE.

I've had an advance copy of this new redesigned TRX Suspension Trainer and the difference is awesome.  The PRO pack comes with a ton of additional exercise content including Basic Training, an Endurance Circuit, Metabolic Blast routine AND completely recyclable packaging.  

Saluting SEALs: LT Dan Cnossen + LT Mike McGreevy

LT Dan Cnossen lost his legs last month, but certainly not his spirit:

"I've been thinking about all the things I'm going to do when I get my new legs. I've decided I'm just going to mess with people. I'm going to wear pants and shoes so nobody can tell that I've got prosthetics...and then I'm going to get them in all different lengths. One day, I'm gonna be 7 feet tall. The next day, I'm gonna show up and be 5'2". I'm trying to decide how tall I want to be, and I think 5 foot would be best because I'll have a lower center of gravity and will be way faster than anybody else. But then other days I'll want to be gigantic."

Thanks for making me laugh out loud Dan!  Looking forward to seeing you back in San Diego, whatever height you happen to be that day!!

Dan received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor.

His friends and family are rallying around him and we all got to feel the effects yesterday!  What an amazing time at an aquathlon held in support of Dan.  Hundreds of people flocked to La Jolla Shores for a 500m swim, a 5km run along the beach, lots of inspiration, smiles and shout outs to one amazing guy. 

Dan's hanging out at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD these days, but he was ever-present at the event yesterday.  It was all a testament to who he is and what he stands for and where he'll be going next.  It may not be the same, but in my experience, those who decide life can be great no matter what the challenge, make it happen.  And I'm sure Dan will!  Read more on his website HERE.

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And then there is TEAM GROOVE, going strong.  Another amazing example of our soldiers never being forgotten and continuing to inspire others.  TEAM GROOVE was created from the inspiration of Lt Mike McGreevy, a Navy SEAL, father and husband of a close family friend of mine.

A little about Mike and the Mike McGreevy Memorial Fund:

Mike was killed in action on June 28, 2005 in Afghanistan while he and seven other SEALS were attempting to rescue four fellow teammates under enemy fire on the ground. This fund is established to ensure that Mike and the traits that he stood for are remembered and honored in future generations. Mike McGreevy made a remarkable, positive impact on the world and the creators of this fund wish to assist individuals in living their lives with the same integrity that he did.

The purpose of the Mike McGreevy Memorial Scholarship Fund is to award an annual merit-based scholarship to two eligible recipients who exemplify Mike’s positive spirit and dedication to serving others.

About TEAM GROOVE:  "For those of you who don’t know, ‘Groove’ was Mike’s nickname in college because of his reputation for tearing up the dance floor on occasion! He was also a gifted runner and all-around athlete. Team Groove was formed as a way to honor Mike by bringing people together to do something positive for themselves and others."  

The next TEAM GROOVE event is the

Wicked 10K in Virginia Beach on Oct 31st! 

Read more about it HERE.

Love being surrounded by greatness!  Let's carry it on!

RACE RECAP // Muddy Buddy Boulder!

Been on a bit of a family vacation in Boulder, CO this week.  One of the highlights has been the battle of the Stensland Family at Muddy Buddy Boulder last weekend! If you don't yet know what Muddy Buddy is all about check out the website or view this video from last year's race.  It's an awesome event for everyone and anyone because either you want to get a great workout with friends/family, get M-U-D-D-Y and take a few hilarious photos OR you want to watch your loved ones do it.

My sister Kelly and I teamed up against my Dad and brother.  The guys got us by three minutes in the end and, of course, won't let us live it down.  Shall I mention that in the style of Lance's Leadville win this past weekend, Kelly and I rode a flat in the last couple miles of the bike.   We both admitted we went off the trail a bit to pass by people on the course and I bet that's where we picked up the thorn. Not sure it mattered much since it could still ride as fast as we could run...but...I'm just sayin'!  There's always next year. 

Couple things I learned in Muddy Buddy strategy. 

• Wear a costume!  Or funky socks or matching Mickey Mouse ears.  Or a frog suit!  Something to boost the smiles on the trail and fun in the photos.

• Use flat pedals without cages.  It was harder to try to get feet in the pedals every transition, than dealing with a little less power on the bike course (it wasn't about power anyway!)

• Bring gear to change a flat (if you are competent at it.) Not necessarily for the performance, but for the fun.  I know I'd have been able to change the flat in a couple minutes and still catch back up to Kelly while she was running that next leg. It wasn't much fun to worry about riding the flat while wanting to enjoy the sights/sounds!

 

VIDEO // CYCLING // Chamois Cream: Yes or No?

"proper MAINTAINTANANCE of the perineal area."  NOTE:  If you haven't see DZ's DZ Nuts videos and want a laugh...click HERE.

VIDEO // CYCLING // The Morning Routine

I had a blast hanging with and filming the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team during the 2009 Tour of California.  This was one of my favorite videos.  It gives a great (and entertaining) behind-the-scenes insight into the morning routine of professional cyclists.  Although slightly unique to each team...there is still the basics of eating, packing up and not missing the bus.  For more of the same click HERE.

VIDEO // CYCLING // TdF Daily Winners. Jerseys?

In the spirit of the upcoming Tour de France, here's another video from my travels there in 2007.  This video shows how the stage winner and all other jersey wearers end up on the podium with their jerseys already printed with their team logo just minutes after the stage finishes. 

3 WEEKS IN GIRONA, SPAIN. HEAVEN.

I escaped reality for a bit, but I suppose this is my reality...being able to hop over for a couple weeks to Girona.  It's place I've been wanting to check out for a couple years now since so many friends are lucky enough to call it home for half of the year.  It really is a little slice of heaven, especially in the summer, and especially when it comes to cycling.  Having friends to live and hang there with certainly put my adventure over the top! 

From the main street, called the Rambla, to the cathedral, to running into friends just by walking around town, to riding right out the front door, even at 4pm and getting in a great ride, to checking out Garmin's HQ and service course, to visiting the Dali Museum, figuring out where to buy toilet paper and laundry detergent, deciding which pastry was my favorite of the week, finding all the fixin's to create an American breakfast of french toast, eggs and bacon with real maple syrup and cinnamon sugar and much much more (I'll spare you!)...I had a memorable time, to say the least.  I hope my travels allow me back there again soon.  Here are just a few photos.  More can be found on my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/gojessi...enjoy!!  Hope it inspires you to get there someday too!

Below is an all-american crew in Girona for the night, post-Gelato!  It's myself on the right, Allen Lim (2nd from left), Garmin's Team Physiologist Extraordinaire, Willow LaVenture, physical therapist from Boulder, on the left (how cool is her name!) and to my right is Stacy Sims, who was in town with the team helping create a new hydration system for the Tour. Very cool crew!!

A Lesson Learned // The Mind Is Mighty

While riding last Wednesday, after getting dropped by the group on the big, fast "Wednesday Ride" here in San Diego, I was wondering whether I could've tried even harder to stay with the group or if I had given everything I had at the time. I determined that I had and that thinking otherwise would be tricking myself into believing I was fitter than I actually was.  I told myself to suck it up and get to work so you can hang on longer next time!

This lead me to think about the following experience that has always stuck with me and has been a very valuable lesson learned since then.

NYC Tri 2002 - USA Triathlon National Championships

It was the best and worst timing.  My cousin was getting married in NJ on that Saturday.  The race was Sunday morning. Early.  Great for killing 2 birds on one plane ticket (that cliche doesn't work too well here but you get the point) but not so great for expecting much out of myself for the race the day after a long day in heels, so-so nutrition and a super late night.

Saturday morning I drove into NY from NJ for the 1 mile swim race in the Hudson on the same course as the race would be.  Hopped on my bike trainer for a few minutes after the race, right near my car parked on the city street.  Picked up my race packet and got back into NJ with just enough time to wash the Hudson off of me and getting girly by noon, happy and confident with my race prep.

The wedding was amazing, of course.  I stayed in the moment.  Didn't stress out about the next day or worry about cutting the night short.  It was a ONCE in a lifetime event after all...even IF the alarm clock was going off at 4am in the morning and even if it WAS a national championship.  That's not to say I wasn't thinking about it, but I'd like to think it didn't take away from my night.  No alcohol though, so I suppose I may have danced a little more (LOL - it certainly helps!)

Fast forward to race morning.  4am.  I'm not really feeling it.  Awesome thing was that my ENTIRE family got up to come watch too!!  I felt bad for THEM.  Pro started first.  8am I think? 

I was out of it during the morning.  My body and mind just felt numb.  I was going through the motions and I was NOT looking forward to the race for that reason.  Yesterday was entirely worth it, and in my mind I remember thinking that I wasn't willing to suffer for 2 hours for it.  I didn't HAVE to do the race.  I could always pull out. [NOTE: This was the only time I have ever thought this before a race, any race.]  I started the race still feeling like I was going through the motions.

Here's where the story really begins...

Not long into the swim, still feeling separated from it all, I felt like I was far behind in the swim.  Taking a quick look around I saw no one.  I remember thinking that I was in last place.  Right then I quit.  I didn't stop swimming I simply chilled out.  I was thinking no worries. I'm not gonna sweat it. I'm not going to suffer just because.  There's no reason to.  It was a great weekend.  I just swam in easy.  I focused in on my family who was walking alongside the swim course.  I might've even waved to them!  I was so far behind it didn't matter. When I reached the end of the course, I took my time climbing up onto the ramp.  Smiling as I jogged off it since I could see my family waiting for me at the end. 

 

[NOTE:  I LOVE THAT I HAVE THIS PHOTO!  I'm chilled out.  The athlete behind is in full national championship race mode.  What a dichotomy!] They were cheering their brains out and I just ran straight to them, instead of making the right hand turn to run toward the transition area.  "I'm done," I said non-chalantly.  It was my dad who said, "What?!" I started explaining to him what I was thinking and at one point, probably when I mentioned I was sure I'd been in last place, he said, "There's lots of girls behind you. Look!" I turned around and saw athletes still in the water and running up the ramp.  I couldn't believe it.  I'm not sure if I thought about it one more second, but I do know I ended up jumping back in the race and running toward transition.  Don't know what I expected, don't remember feeling good or bad or thinking at all, I just continued.

This is when it gets good.

I was FLYING on the bike.  We all ended up in one big chase pack at some point behind Sheila Taormina and Barb Lindquist (I think?) and then Karen Smyers and I (I think) jammed at the front of the pack and bridged the gap, so we all came into transition together! That really seems hard to believe as I write this now, not only because of how I felt just a few minutes before that, but simply, I never, ever in my career ever did that again, come in off the bike with Barb and Sheila that is!  But I know it happened...because of the following...

I must've had a good position coming into transition.  I usually had one of the faster transitions in the bunch, but again I FLEW.  Didn't miss a beat, and before I knew it, I was running out of transition in first place.  WELL in first place.  I was laughing inside.  Was this really happening?  The coolest part of the race, aside from that, was a bit later, running now in the middle of 72nd street midday in NYC, shoulder to shoulder with Gina Kehr, following the lead vehicles.  I remember thinking, then saying out loud to her, "How cool is THIS."  It really was.  ESPECIALLY knowing 'where' I'd come from that morning.

I ended up 6th on the day.  I faded at the end.  Physically, but not mentally.

Mentally I'd gained something HUGE that day.  I have Dad to thank for that.  He knows by now that I was always a tough cookie when it came to taking advice from him in my sport(s). That time however, it worked and it left an indelible mark.

I'm amazed to this day that I truly believed that I physically SAW myself in last place that day.  My mind was so powerful!  I was stunned to see athletes behind me at that moment after the swim.

Since then I always make sure to do a double or triple take. I ask myself a couple questions as to whether what I'm thinking and feeling is physical or mental, for whatever challenge I have.   I assess the situation and then make a decision.   I surprise myself a lot! It's coming in handy in mountain biking for example.  So often I'll be thinking, "There's no way I'm getting over that" and then find myself going over it before I even finish that complete sentence.  My mind tries, but it's never gotten away with that again. I make sure I use it's 'power' for good!

I love when lessons learned are good for life in general...

One Helluva Month // Big Bear Broken Face

From coaching hundreds of kids at the Superbowl NFL Experience with Under Armour, to shooting and editing my first tv commercial quality brand messaging videos for Saris Cycling Group, to venturing out to do a full moon snowshoe hike up at Big Bear Mountain with Team Sole only to stick around long enough to manage to break my face backcountry skiing for the first time the next day, to being embedded with the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team during the entire epic Amgen Tour of California producing behind the scenes videos of it all...

...it was one helluva memorable month!

My Big Bear Broken Face story goes like this:

Drove up Sunday evening to join a group led by Paul Romero and Kathy Lundgren of Team Sole, both world class adventure racers and ski/snowboarders, for a hardcore full-moon backcountry snowshoe hike.  Immediately the epic-ness of the trip started.  It was snowing, pretty hard, so there wasn't much of a moon, and there were no trails to be found.  Truly all trailblazing in soft awesome powder in the middle of nowhere with people I'd only just met and hardly knew what they looked like.  Shared a hot toddy somewhere on the mountain and then regrouped for a home cooked meal back at their house which they graciously offered up to me, since it was a three hour drive from San Diego. 

Well it snowed so hard overnight that there was no getting down the mountain, in my Prius that is, the whole next day, which meant lots of play time to be had...and I knew it would be rad, because of Paul and Karen, but I had no idea how much so.  I must mention that Paul's son is Jordan Romero.  Amazing amazing 12-year old who is attempting to climb the Seven Summits of the World:  the highest peaks on each of the 7 continents.  He has summitted 5 so far including 20320' Denali most recently.

In short that day went like this:

Eat. Shovel the driveway. Shovel the road. Core workout on snowshoes with the shovels on our backs up and down the street lunging every which way.  40 minute snowshoe workout in the woods behind their house, with hill repeats and then some giggling as we leaped downhill in the deepest wide open powder i'd ever seen.  More shoveling...it was snowing that much.  Breakfast.  From their house we snowshoed 30 minutes or so up to the ski slopes (couldn't drive, too much snow.) Rented skis.  Skied for a couple hours, non-stop since there were no lines on the lifts, in lots of fresh powder (it was still snowing.)  Skied through trees between the ski slopes like I'd never done before (took me a couple of runs and a few fun crashes to work out my weight distribution in powder, which is much different than without.  Eventually I got the hang of it and had more and more fun.)  When the lifts closed, we grabbed our backpacks which had our snowshoes and boots and headed off to ski home backcountry to their house all of about 1km away.  That's when it got nuts. 

Since the trails were all snowed over we missed a turn and got into some really sketchy, too-many-trees-and-rocks-and-boulders-to-ski-in-a-continuous-path kind of stuff.  At some point before we realized we had to turn around and hike back up, I took a step that didn't go as planned and fell downward face first (sailor dive style) no hands (it must've happened too fast for them to react probably because i had the pack on and my feet were rooted to the ground in the skis) into a big boulder whose tip was jutting out of the thigh high snow.  Had helmet and goggles on, but hit square on my cheekbone.  I was catapulted up and over the boulder and landed below in in the snow.  Ouch.     My bone seemed intact but my face was split open and swelled up immediately.  Paul pulled me up and since I seemed to be ok (which I was, amazingly enough) we continued down the mountain for a bit, but then took off skis and hiked back up to find the trail.  We found it, and made our way back home hours later than planned, finishing that leg of the trip in some pretty gnarly backcountry stuff but in dark.   I snowplowed my way down in the tracks my friend had just made, didn't crash again which was a blessing. Got home, cleaned up the face. Went to eat an amazing Nepalese meal at the Himalayan.  Waited to get back to San Diego the next day to get my face looked at by a plastic surgeon to spare myself from a botch job of stitches at the ER, praying that 24hrs wasn't going to make a big difference.  Luckily I gave my friend, Active.com CEO, Dave Alberga a heads up as to what happened as I was driving home and he connected me with someone at Active whose brother, Dr. Karam, is a stellar facial plastic surgeon, just miles from my home.  THANK YOU!  When I walked in Dr. Karam said, "Is it broken?" and I answered, "No." He said, "How do you know?" I said, "Hmmm, you're right, I don't know!"  And luckily he prescribed a CT scan to confirm and it was, but only hairline fractures.  Looking back at photos I realized how obvious it was that it was broken!  I never really felt any pain either so that helped.  I don't think I had a concussion but someone pointed out the fact that if I never felt pain, that's a sign that I probably had one.  Either way, I was SUPER lucky. (More like blessed.  I know who my angels are.  Thanks you guys and gals!!!) It was stitched up beautifully and healed so quickly!  Looked like a bruiser all during the Tour of California let me tell ya.  All good though.

 

Learned that I'm able to push my limits to find my limits.  Pretty cool.  I'd rather risk it than never know, ya know? 

Also learned that the face heals amazingly fast...with the help of great nutrition and high metabolism I'm sure. Thank goodness. That first picture is the day of my stitches and the second is 10 days later.  Got them out  by Garmin Team doc Shannon morning of Stage 4. Easy peasy. 

The adventure continues, but now its going to be about proper performance training for a while...off-road, i'll be back :)