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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (July 8, 2015)
12A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 8, 2015 Polk County Sports Ironman: Meyer overcomes obstacles “I began praying like crazy that the next station had water,” Meyer said. Luckily, the next station did have water. And, it wasn’t long before Meyer took off for the final part of her journey — the run. Continued from Page 10A “I got into triathlons be- cause I like running a lot but I decided I needed to find something that isn’t so rough on the body and I can con- tinue to do throughout life,” Meyer, a 2001 Dallas High graduate said. “I wasn’t ready to give up running complete- ly, so swimming, biking and running sounded good.” Meyer was proud of her accomplishment and hooked on the training lifestyle. It wasn’t long before peo- ple began asking her if she would attempt a full Iron- man. “For the longest time, I said no,” Meyer said. “After about five months, I decided if I wanted to do (a full Iron- man), now was my chance. I understood the training schedule. I had a good base. So, I signed up one day after work.” Then, the hard par t began. She’s So There Training Meyer, who now lives in Austin, Texas, spent the pre- vious six months training for the Ironman. Her daily schedule in- cluded waking up at 4:30 a.m. and working out before and after work. Weekends saw five- to eight-hour long bike rides and up to 21-mile runs. As important as her phys- ical training was learning how to eat before, after and during her workouts. “You have to eat to have the energy to train and learn how to eat while PHOTO COURTESY OF MELISSA MEYER/for the Itemizer-Observer Melissa Meyer celebrates reaching the end of the Ironman in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho on June 28. you’re out there,” Meyer said. “You can’t do a race that lasts 17 hours without food training.” Yet, for all the difficulty the physical training pre- sented, that wasn’t the biggest challenge she faced. “I think saying no to friends (was the hardest part),” Meyer said. “Saying no to a dinner because it would go too late and I needed to get home so I could train well the next day. Saying no was hard.” Half a year later, and race day arrived. This time, there was one more obstacle in her way — the heat, which reached 106 degrees and 140 degrees on the pave- ment, Meyer said. Facing the Struggle M e y e r ’s s w i m w e n t smoothly as she transitioned onto her bike. “First 70 miles, I’m doing great,” Meyer said. She entered the most dif- ficult stretch of the bike ride located between miles 70 and 90. With little fan support and the hilliest stretch of the entire ride, Meyer’s confidence started to fade. “The hills are never-end- ing at this point,” Meyer said. “People are literally dropping like flies on the bike. Some are convulsing. Others can’t make a three CYCLING Cycle Oregon to visit Polk County during ride Bikers from around the country to arrive in Polk County By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer Cycle Oregon POLK COUNTY — Thou- sands of cyclists are about to hit the road in and around Polk County. Cycle Oregon will hold its weekend ride, dubbed Camp Cycle Oregonnado- good, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The group will set up camp at Western Oregon University, where cyclists will have access support to keep their bikes running smoothly. “Polk County has excel- lent bicycle rides, including the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, plus many small towns and open spaces that represents Oregon’s rich history,” Executive Director Alison Graves said. The weekend ride will offer a total of six possible • Cycle Oregon will set up camp at Western Oregon University for its annual weekend ride Friday through Sunday. • Cycle Oregon aims to show people different areas of the state as well as support cycling advo- cacy throughout the state. • Cycle Oregon gives grants to support cycling projects throughout the state. • For more informa- tion: www.cycleoreg- on.com. courses over two days that range from 21 to 74 miles long, ensuring riders of all abilities will have a good ex- perience. Cycle Oregon has two days of rides planned that will give cyclists a glimpse of the area. Saturday will take riders through the Willamette Valley to Buena V ista County Park, Marion, Scio and the Ankeny Wildlife Refuge. Sunday will see cyclists take a trip through Polk County to Dallas and Falls City as they ride toward the foothills of the Oregon Coast range. This weekend’s ride sold out of spots, a common oc- currence for the weekend rides, Graves said. Organizers hope that the ride shows off the area’s nat- ural beauty to people from around the United States and beyond while learning about a region’s culture. “We see how communi- ties are maintaining their small town connections and exploring different econom- ic strategies,” Graves said. But Cycle Oregon does more than bring tourists to the state. The group also offers fi- nancial support to commu- nities through its communi- ty and signature grant pro- grams. The grant programs are aimed at preserving and supporting community de- velopment projects. Graves said $62,500 has been invested over the years in Polk and Marion counties. As cyclists prepare to hit the road, Graves said she hopes both the riders and the towns they visit have a worthwhile experience. “We have found through the years that one of the things that both riders and community members enjoy the most is meeting people from different places,” Graves said. word sentence and are being pulled off the course. Ambulances are going non- stop. I'm not going to lie, I was a little scared at this point.” Meyer arrived at a med- ical tent at mile 85 only to find the tent had run out of water. After receiving some Gatorade and spending a few moments in the shade under the tent, Meyer had no choice but to push on to the next station. When Meyer began her 26.2-mile run, one thought kept her pushing — she was going to be an Ironman. But, 24 to 25 miles in, and Meyer was struggling. It was then she heard a young girl shout, “Girl, you’re so there!” In that moment, some- thing switched on for Meyer. “Everything came flood- ing over me and I started,” Meyer said. “… That was my tipping point. I couldn’t be- lieve that after six months of this, I was so there. I stopped crying and got super excit- ed.” Meyer used her newfound excitement to race toward the finish, her family felt a rush of relief. “Her (timing) chip failed to register at mile 21.2 of the run,” Melissa’s mother Lu Ann Meyer said. “Our entire family was convinced something was very wrong. You can imagine our excite- ment when we spotted her coming down the home stretch.” As Meyer celebrated, it became clear finishing the Ironman was more than just a race. It was an experience she’ll never forget. “The Ironman experience was incredible,” Meyer said. SPORTS BRIEFS CYS to host youth football signups INDEPENDENCE — Central Youth Sports (CYS) will hold football registration Aug. 10-14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Panther Stadium. Signups will take place at the concession stand. There will also be an opportunity for registration on Aug. 15 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. CYS youth football is open to students in grades K-6. Cost is $125 per child. Rogue Revolution Ride coming INDEPENDENCE — Space is still available for the 2015 Rogue Revolution Ride on July 19. The 50-mile bike ride begins at Rogue Hop Farms in Independence and travels through a covered bridge, by multiple wineries and Monmouth and Independence. There will be mechanical support and two rest areas that will offer snacks and refreshments. An after party featuring music from Ty Curtis will be thrown for all participants. The ride begins at 9 a.m. The event is an Oregon Bicycle Racing Association-sanctioned event, requiring membership to participate. One-day OBRA mem- berships are $2 during online registration. Cost is $40 online, which closes on July 17. Late registration will be available on July 19 for $50. A portion of the proceeds will ben- efit the Arthritis Foundation. For more information: www.riderogue.com. Signups for basketball camp open DALLAS — Registration is open for the Dragon Basketball Camp July 13-15. Dallas girls coach Dave Brautigam and boys coach Trent Schwartz and the coaching staffs will instruct participants on a broad range of topics. The camp will include focusing on ball handling, shooting, post and guard breakdown moves, defensive positioning and more. The camp runs from 2 to 6 p.m. each day at the Dallas High School gym and is open for students entering grades four through 12. The gym will be open at 12:30 p.m. Cost is $50 per person. Registration forms can be found online at www.ci.- dallas.or.us/index.aspx?NID=425. For more information: David Brautigam, david.brautigam@dalla- sor.gov or Trent Schwartz, trent.schwartz@dsd2.org. Serve: Players will offer tennis camp Continued from Page 10A “We’re excited to get to compete,” Christensen said. “If we do well, we’ll get to take this one more step, which would be absolutely exciting. To be honest, I think we continue to get bet- ter.” While they experience success on the court, Chris- tensen and Cole aren’t just content in having fun. They’re looking to pass their passion on to a new generation of players. — While Christensen and Cole look to quench their competitive thirst, they share another common goal — helping others learn about tennis. For Christensen, that call- ing has been every bit as strong as her desire to keep playing. Christensen ran a youth tennis program for Kids, Inc. for 25 years and served as an assistant coach for Dallas High’s boys tennis team dur- ing the spring. “I think tennis is a great sport for kids,” Christensen said. Christensen and Cole will offer a kids tennis camp Aug. 10-15 to help youth players regardless of skill level. The camp costs $30 plus two new cans of tennis balls, and is open to stu- dents in grades 1-12 (Con- tact Christensen at 503- 507-9303 for more informa- tion). Christensen and Cole are keen on getting players of any age started. Christensen, Cole, Bibler and a host of others meet each Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Roger Jordan Community Park to play. Christensen said the public is always invited to join them, whether you’re a seasoned veteran or picking up a racket for the first time. “We rotate people in,” Christensen said. “Anyone can come play with us. It makes it easy for people who may not know many people who play tennis.” Just be ready to receive a few friendly tips. “I have a real big problem wanting to coach everyone I play with,” Christensen said with a laugh. Christensen and Cole have seen firsthand the power of tennis to not only stay in shape but create new friendships on and off the court. It’s why sharing that joy with as many people as they can has become their most important goal going forward. “It’s such a great sport,” Christensen said. “That’s why I love to get people in- volved because it’s a forever sport. It’s something you can play your entire life and have fun doing it.” LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Alice Bibler (right) and Petra Cole are two of the numerous players who meet each Wednesday at 6 p.m. to play tennis at Roger Jordan Community Park.