A little more than 8 years ago, I found myself absolutely exhausted in my daily life. I always felt like I was in need of a nap, regardless of whether or not it was a training day. At the time, I was in the midst of a lengthy career in the biotech industry as a desk-bound researcher who was also a road warrior with a full weekly travel schedule. Between my flights to and from Denver, Raleigh, and other cities across North America, I was also trying to maintain a robust training schedule that sometimes even included renting a bike for a local ride in whatever city I was visiting for work.
For those of you who don't follow the mountain bike racing scene closely, Anne is one of the top North American enduro riders. She's also a scientist with a PhD in studying nanoparticles in the environment who currently works at an environmental toxicology consulting firm. Quite the combination. There's far more to her than just being a super-smart mountain biker, however. Anne likes to commit 100% to whatever she does -- no holding back. If she can challenge preconceived notions in the process, it's even better. I've recently gotten to know Anne and decided an interview was in order to give everyone a better picture of what makes this unique individual tick.
Big weekends -- our mini vacations sneaking off to some nearby local to mountain bike, road ride, run, or hike -- are what motivate many of us to get through the work week. By Monday morning we're often considering our next adventure. Lately I had gotten a little too busy with work and had difficulty coordinating with friends. I felt that summer was slipping away, so this past weekend I was on a mission do something memorable even if it meant a solo adventure.
Researchers at the Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon have shown that training in hot conditions improves aerobic capacity — even when subsequently performing at a cooler temperature.
