week2

January 09, 2024

If you’re an adventure athlete, you’ve no doubt heard (or been the subject of) at least one story of a lost or overdue hiker, cyclist, etc. out in the wilderness. You’re a liar if you say that the idea of that happening to you doesn’t scare you shitless.

When I was in high school, I participated in a 3-day running relay in Northern Michigan (linked below in our bucket list races) where a fellow high school athlete went inadvertently went off course, a few hours before the summer sunset, and ended up spending the night up in a tree, covered in mud to protect herself from the relentless mosquitos, in attire that was right for the day, but terribly wrong for the chilly night - shorts and a sports bra. Not only did the DNR, Michigan State Police and local sheriff offices get involved in the overnight search, but so did the 1200 other relay participants. This story ends happily - that girl walked herself out of the woods, unharmed, when the sun came up the next day.

She did everything right upon getting lost; even though the odds were stacked against her with having no cell phone, warm/dry clothing, or drinking water. Not all who wander and get lost are as lucky. We are incredibly fortunate to live in a world where technology has been created to reduce the risk for lost outdoor enthusiasts. If you’d like to read about a hiking couple that leverages the emergency features that exist in the new iPhone 14 to both make it off the CDT alive - you can do so HERE.

In this week’s email:

  • Another BTC Defector: Safe to say, BTC is no longer top dog in elite running.

  • Ballin’ (cycling?) on a Budget: If you’re like us, the athletic apparel budget has shrunk a bit in 2024. These shorts are budget friendly AND comfy - indoor ride tested by us.

  • Data Nerds: Garmin released a ton of analytics for 2023. If you’re a nerd like us, you can read about it here.

👇Listen to a Cadence-recommended Playlist: Cardio is IN. So is having a power hour playlist to listen to while you get it done. We can’t promise a Runner’s High, but we can promise a good time.

Funny Tweet of the Week:

So - uh - who’s going to tell him he’s off base here?

Race Results of the Week

Tidbits

iPhone Emergency Satellite How-To Guide: If you own a iPhone 14 or 15, take the time to read through this article of how to activate and use the Emergency Satellite features that exist on your phone - free of charge. Even if you don’t have cell service, this allows you to communicate with emergency services via text messaging (which works from connecting to satellites).

✅Use Technology for Good: If you regularly find yourself in the backcountry, or riding lonely country roads, a Garmin InReach is an invaluable tool for survival and should it come down to it; your rescuers the best shot at finding you.

✅Bowerman Track Club takes another hit: Courtney Frerichs, long-time supporter/member of BTC announced her official departure last week. Now, she opens up about why she left and what she has on the horizon in her running career.

✅Garmin State of the Union: Garmin released a “State of the Union” for endurance athletes, based on data aggregated from their activity tracking app. If you’re part of the 16% that was treadmill running; you can’t sit with us, sorry.

✅MTB ASMR: We’re a sucker for these epic MTB videos because there’s no way you’d catch our “retired” selves attempting any of this shit. But we can dream - can’t we?

🏃Bucket List Recs

Big training week behind ya and want to add something to your bucket list? Need something to kick your butt into high gear? Check out our endurance bucket list recs below and sign up for something you’ll probably regret when you’re doing a 20 mile training run in August in the Midwest.

  • Michigan Outback Relay: If you find yourself in the Midwest next summer; find 9 of your closest running buds and tackle this 300-mile, 3-day running relay across Northern Michigan.

  • Watermoo: Keeping in theme with Michigan; this one is in the little town of Dexter (southern Michigan). Anything with “a road that is no longer a road and a river crossing” in the course description gets our blood pumping.

  • Gravel Bike Tour - Big Island, Hawaii: Hawaii is for more than Poke and snorkeling. See another side of the island that many tourists don’t even bother to check out - and quite literally, get off the beaten path.

Sad News: Give Emma Bates some love as she announces her withdraw from the Olympic Trials.

✨Do you know of a unique endurance story, brand or personality that would be a great feature in Cadence Weekly? Submit your idea HERE. ✨

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