PRE RACE

As I shared on the blog back in January, one of my goals for the year was to get a PR in my fourth Eugene Half Marathon. My previous times had improved each year (1:39:40, 1:__:__, 1:37:43), so I decided to aim for a 1:37:00 time for the 13.1 miles.

I'm insanely susceptible to overuse injuries, so I picked a training plan with only three days of running each week. The cross-training on the other days would switch things up and help me stay healthy. The 10-week plan called for three specific weekly workouts: intervals (to build speed), a tempo run (to increase lactic threshold), and a long run (to develop endurance). The pace for each of these workouts was determined using formulas based on my goal race  pace. 

For all ten weeks, I ran with purpose. Rather than letting my mood, the weather, etc. dictate how fast or how far I ran, I followed the plan. The result? I got faster and didn’t get hurt. Things were looking good. So good, in fact, that my dad somehow convinced me that I should go for an even BIGGER PR. 

I love my dad for a million reasons, but we have a strange bond over the particular brand of crazy that encompasses obsession over training plans, race strategies, and pushing yourself for no other reason than personal satisfaction. Throughout the training plan, he’d call me on tough days to check in. During peak week, he started putting crazy ideas into my head:

Dad: “You did an eight-mile tempo at 7:07/mile? Sweet! What’s your goal race pace?”

Me: “7:22/mile.”

Dad: “You can go faster than that. Don’t you think you could maintain 7:07 for another five miles?”

Me: “Um, I don’t know. I was pretty exhausted. That’s a LOT faster than I was planning on going for 13 miles.”

Dad: “But you’ll be coming down from altitude, you’ll be rested, you’ll have adrenaline from the race. I think you should go for it.”

Once the crazy train started rolling, I couldn’t get it out of my head. Was he right? Should I just go for it? Or would I bonk early by starting out way too fast?

THE RACE

Flash forward to race day. I woke up excited, but nervous. I still wasn’t 100% sure what my strategy was until I got to Hayward Field that morning. Despite my nerves, I swallowed my doubts and an energy GU and sidled up next to the 3:05 marathon (1:32:30 half marathon) pacing group. The pacers are sponsored by Clif Bar, and they’re studs. If you can stick with them, you’ll meet your goal.

From the corral behind the starting line, we waited for the gun. If I could stay with the pacing group, we’d be averaging 7:05/mile, which would keep me way ahead of my goal. I’d also have to push it, considering I’d be running 15 or so seconds faster per mile than I trained for. “Crazy,” I though to myself. BANG. We were off.

Since I hadn’t warmed up, the pace felt fast. Still, I stayed with the group, easing right into the swarm of people hoping to hang with the fastest pacing group on the course. I got a nice boost of confidence every time I looked down at my watch. With no music and no people to talk to, my mind was just kind of on autopilot. Just run, run, run, run, run. Keep breathing. Stay relaxed. Stay with the group. Run, run, run, run, run.

Every so often, the monotonous pavement pounding was broken by groups of spectators cheering for people in the group. I’m pretty sure a good portion of these cheers were from Derek and my parents. I saw them about a million times during the race as they sprinted down sidewalks, through the woods, and across bridges to catch me in as many spots as possible (they’re awesome). I still don’t know how they managed to be in so many places. It seemed like they were running faster than I was.

As I reached mile 10, I was really struggling to keep up with the group. It was still in sight, but I wasn’t with them. I had missed every single water stop since mile five, and I felt pretty fuzzy and bonk-y. Knowing that the upcoming aid station was the last water stop for the half-marathon course, I slowed to a jog with my hand out, looking for a volunteer with water at the ready. Nothing. Ugh.

Bummer. I could tell I was getting dehydrated, but feeling pressure to at least keep the pacing group in sight, I didn't want to stop to wait. Instead, I pulled out a GU and hoped it would give me enough of a boost to clear the mental fog that was settling in. Unfortunately, I dropped it. Double ugh. But, with only three miles to go, you really can't spend time wallowing. I pushed frustration aside and tried to focus my energy on giving it my all for the last few miles.

Around 10.5 miles, the half and full marathon groups split. This final stretch is most difficult part of the race for me. Wave goodbye to your support group; the pacers stay with the full-marathoners. It's the Eugene Half Marathon no-man's land. Luckily for me, I saw Derek around mile 12, just after crossing the Autzen footbridge over the river. He had a big smile on his face and told me how awesome I was doing. He ran with me for about 100 yards, giving me a nice boost for final stretch through campus.

Feeling nauseous but motivated, I picked up the pace as I approached the gates to historic Hayward Field. I really cranked it and pushed for a final sprint down the track. As I crossed the finish line, I could hear my mom cheer and my dad yell, “Yeah!”, with the kind of vigor that must’ve been accompanied by a big fist pump. I was pumped. 01:33:43.

POST RACE

I’m really happy with my PR, and even happier about the way it all played out. I really learned that if you want something big to happen, you have to take a risk. I could have stuck to an easier pace and got a lesser PR and been totally happy. But it wouldn't have been my best. I also easily could have bonked early by risking a fast pace, but I didn’t. 

The race also reinforced my craziness. Despite the race being super successful and completely crushing my goal, within an hour of finishing I was already nitpicking my strategy and figuring out where I could’ve picked up time. What if I could have had the water and GU I needed? What if I had listened to music during those last three lonely miles?

I don’t think I’ll ever grow out of this kind of crazy, but I can put it on hold for a few months. My body needs a mental and physical break from that kind of training. I’m looking forward to more unstructured exercise, like trail runs along the river with Tonka, bike rides with Derek, and family hiking trips.

But I know myself pretty well now. Just give it a few months. By the fall, I’m sure I will have gone crazy again.

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The Cobblestone Relay is essentially the xc-skiing equivalent of a “fun run”. It’s a 9k nordic sprint relay on a 1k loop that starts on the golf course and winds over the cobblestones between little buildings in Tahoe City. Each three-person team does nine total loops, alternating a skier each time. As a random bearded guy we met put it, “No one even knows who’s in front or what lap people are on. It’s great, but it’s a mess.” So, no pressure. It’s just for fun.

I'd never done an xc-ski race before. I love trying new things, but I prefer to prepare for them a bit. My problem is that I have a tendency to overprepare. It takes me forever to pack for trips, and I overtrain for half marathons to the point of injury. That being said, these little random signups are good for me. Sure, preparation sets us up for success. But the whole point of adventure is not knowing exactly what’s going to happen. How many of your favorite memories are times when everything went 100% as planned anyways?

Still, my stomach felt a little iffy as we walked up to the starting area just past the cobblestone curve. I was feeling pretty snazzy in my Mazama Bar shirt and running tights until we noticed the clearly elite high school xc-ski teams in shiny race uniforms. It became pretty evident that we were about to get rolled.

What we're looking at here is three sprint intervals in a sport that I had never raced in. Nevertheless, I tried to put my nervous energy to good use. When Derek came whipping into the transition area and tagged my pole, I frantically skated out and made the turn onto the snow-covered Cobblestone path. After making my way over the random jump in the middle of the course, navigating through slushy snow, and working overtime to pass a lady in awesome flashy pants, I finished my first lap and tagged my dad.

Throughout the race, I got passed by plenty of skinny semi-pros, and my form got consistently worse no matter how frenetically I planted my poles. Judging by our final placement, it definitely wasn’t Team Mazama Bar’s strongest competition. But, we got out there, gave it our best, and ended up with an awesome memory (and GoPro footage. We were definitely the only team out there thinking that it would be badass enough to film.)

Yes, I love planning and preparing for things (just look at my stacks of to-do lists and detailed training schedules). But when it comes down to it, I’d much rather be the type of person who gets out there and completely flops than someone who's too scared to take the first step. In the end, you’re still lapping everyone standing on the sidelines. 

Details

Athlete: Ollie Burruss

Sport: Nordic skiing and mountain/trail running

Place: Bend, Oregon

All About Ollie

Ollie’s primary sport is nordic skiing, but he also dominates mountain and trail running. In both sports, he’s especially intimidating on uphill stretches. When Ollie’s not out on the snow, he’s probably working his day job at 1859 Oregon’s Magazine, watching the Celtics game, or waxing his skis. In the offseason, look for him roller-skiing around Bend with his teammates.

Why He Loves Mazama Bars:

One of the most important parts of my training is recovery. Mazama Bars, with their calorie-rich ingredients, make replacing calories burned during workouts both easy and delicious. The fact that they're actually made from real food is icing on the cake. They are without a doubt the best energy bars I've ever eaten." 

Recent Results 

Nordic Skiing

-2013 Grand Nordeen, 2nd

-2013 Sunnyside Qualifier 10k, 1st

-2012 Boulder Mountain Tour, 8th

-USAA Green Acres SuperTour Pursuit, 10th

-2012 American Birkebeiner, 20th

-Sovereign Lakes Nor-Am 15k, 13th

Mountain/Trail Running

-Sunrise to Summit 2011, 2nd

-Mt. Ashland Hill Climb Run 2011, 8th

-Mt. Ashland Hill Climb Run 2012, 8th

Since it's easy to let our goals get buried by everything else going on, I’m putting myself out there and listing some of my personal goals for the new year. Keep me accountable, guys. 

1. GET FASTER

For the fourth year in a row, I’m signed up for the Eugene 1/2 Marathon. Last year I ran the 13.1 miles in 1:37:43. This year I’m shooting for 1:37:00.

2. TRAVEL MORE

Derek and I have had a few trips that we’ve been “planning” for the past few years but slacking on actually taking. This is the year we actually go on at least four adventurous trips.

3. DO A TRIATHLON

I try to push myself to try something new every year. Last year, I did both a 200-mile bike ride and a cycling criterium for the first time. This year, I’ll add swimming to the mix and give the triathlon a go.

4. SPEAK GERMAN

Why? I have no idea. I still remember most of my high-school Spanish, but I’ve always wanted to learn German. I’m kicking things into gear this year to sprechen Deutsche.

5. GO ALL OUT WITH MAZAMA BAR

This one’s a little vague, but I have big goals for Mazama Bar. It’s easy to get comfortable and stop pushing forward, but we’re far from where we want Mazama Bar to be. We're all in, so we’ll get there. 

Expect big and exciting things from Mazama Bar this year. Interested in helping us get there? Email me about our upcoming affiliate/ambassador program. 

Live big this year!

Want to follow our progress in 2013? Check out Mazama Bar on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For perks and promos, join our awesome Power Up Newsletter, too!

As we close up our first year, we’re celebrating every moment. Being a new company in a very competitive field isn’t easy, but we’re always encouraged when we hear that people are as pumped up as we are about our energy bars. In fact, we're often tempted to just start screaming “HEY! Mazama Bars are in BACKPACKER!!!” from the rooftops.

If you haven't seen Backpacker’s comments, here you go:

Mazama Bar Hazelnut Mocha Bar

“Fuel chilly alpine starts with this coffee-flavored, all-natural meal-replacement bar. “At 410 calories, it’s high-powered, and the hefty dose of protein [10g], fiber [6g], and fat [21g] kept me full for hours,” says one tester, adding “if it freezes solid, you can still bite into it.” The subtle coffee flavor makes the Hazelnut Mocha bar a natural fit for morning, but testers also loved the Chocolate Banana and Wild Berry flavors.”

Our passion is making it easier and more enjoyable to get outside, and we’re super motivated to make 2013 amazing. Thanks for all your support. You have no idea how much we appreciate it.

We’re all familiar with the popular winter activities: snowshoeing, downhill skiing/snowboarding, ice skating, sledding. But winter is a great time to break out of the routine and try something new and adventurous.

Get outside and swap your warm weather workouts for one of these hardcore winter sports.

1. Ski/Alpine Touring

If you think skis are just for going down mountains, think again. Like hiking, alpine touring gets you up the mountain and away from crowds. But ski touring allows you to make ascents and traverses that are more difficult in the summer. AND, once you get to the summit, you’re rewarded with an epic ski down untracked powder. 

-why it rocks: fresh powder & epic views without life lines
-cross-training for: backpacking & hiking
-muscles worked: quads, hamstrings, calves, triceps

Alpine touring (AT) setups use a special binding that allows you to release your heal and make steps on an incline. Attach climbing skins to the bottom of the skis, and you can hike up the mountain in your skis without slipping back down. At the top, just rip the skins off, lock the heal down, and ski back down the mountain normally. They even make split-boards for snowboarders.

Ski touring is a phenomenal workout. If you’re not burning on the way up the mountain, you’ll definitely feel it with every turn on the way down. You’ll be surprised how hot you can get in cold weather. There’s nothing better than working for your turns with nothing around you but high peaks and untracked powder.

Want to step it up? Extend your trip and stay overnight in backcountry chalets.

2. Ice Climbing

Ice climbing is completely bad-ass. If rock climbing is your thing, you might enjoy taking your sport to the winter walls. Adventure junkies love the challenge of getting out in remote areas and taking on technical frozen obstacle courses. These hardcore climbers use crampons and ice axes to ascend rugged ice walls.

-why it rocks: it's hardcore - enough said
-cross-training for: rock-climbing
-muscles worked: calves, back, forearms, shoulders

The climber kicks their legs so the front point of the crampons makes contact with the ice, then swings the axe above their head and into the ice. Relying on these contact points (sometimes the axe only goes in a centimeter or so into the ice!), the climber pulls themselves up “step by step.” The lead climber is responsible for placing ice screws that help protect the route for the whole group.

Ice climbing uses similar muscles as rock climbing, so your upper and lower body will get a good workout. If you’re looking for cardio, a quick glance down while you’re dangling by the tip of an ice ax should get your heart rate up pretty quickly.

Want to step it up? Climb a cascading frozen waterfall.

3. XC Skate Skiing

Say bye to knit sweaters, slow paces, and anything else you associate with cross-country skiing. Skate xc-skiing is faster, more aerobic, and more exciting than classic xc-skiing. Decked out in neon performance fabrics, skate skiers operate at a frenetic pace that blows the classic technique out of the water.

-why it rocks: epic workout & neon clothes
-cross-training for: running & cycling
-muscles worked: glutes, quads, hamstrings, bicepts, triceps, deltoids

Skate skiing exactly how it sounds. The skier transfers weight from ski to ski and glides at an angle, planting poles with both arms on each glide to keep momentum. The actions are similar to ice skating. Skate-skiing is best on groomed trails to maintain good speed and form. 

Skate skiing is an insane full-body workout. Since it’s highly aerobic, it’s a great way to stay in top shape. The lateral gliding movements also work completely different muscles than running and cycling, which helps correct muscle imbalances. 

Want to step it up? Join a nordic race at your local ski area.

Break out of your winter exercise rut and try one of these awesome sports. Just make sure to get instruction or a guide. Due to the awesomeness of these activities, there are also inherent risks. Avalanches, crevasses, freezing water, and extreme weather aren’t fun to get stuck in. Make sure you check conditions, have the correct equipment, and stick to the buddy system. 

All of these awesome sports burn a ton of energy, so make sure you stay hydrated and power up with quality nutrition.

We love being outside, and when you live in the Pacific Northwest, sometimes that means dealing with less than perfect weather. That was definitely the case on this rainy Saturday in Olympia, Washington. Team Mazama Bar got outside and spent the day playing in an all-day soccer tournament called Socctoberfest. The round-robin style tournament consists of 50 minute games, held on half-size grass fields. Games are played with seven players to each side.

The short fields and quick passes make for fast-paced games. There’s an hour break in between each game, which is just enough time to get cold and hungry, but not quite enough time to leave to get something to eat. Good thing we came loaded with the best energy bars around!  We spent time in between games spreading the word about Mazama Bar and handing out samples of all three tasty flavors. It was awesome seeing everyone scarfing down Mazama Bars to power up for each game!

Mazama Bars were also perfect for this tournament because competitive soccer burns about 650 calories an hour. With five 50-minute games, that’s over 2,500 calories! Adding in normal meals that passed during the day, we definitely needed to make sure we were consuming enough to keep playing hard. Our team stayed energized by eating Mazama Bars, and we ended up getting second place overall in the tournament!

We had a great time in Oly! Good exercise, a little mud, and plenty of soccer. Power up and get outside every weekend - it makes the whole week better!

The trailhead at Todd Lake is located a few miles past Mt. Bachelor, just outside Bend. From here you can either park and start straight on the trail, or you can keep driving and rough it a few more miles on “one of the worst dirt roads in the state.” This road cuts a few miles off the trip, but we elected to skip the drive and just enjoy a few extra miles of hiking. For complete directions, check out the Register Guard's article (here).

The trail winds through forest at the start, gradually gaining elevation and offering peeks of Todd Lake and Green Lakes down below. After a few miles, we were out of the trees and into a gorgeous meadow with Broken Top as our background. We found an awesome little spot for a Mazama Bar lunch and tried to keep track of Tonka, our crazy dog. It’s off-leash season, and with all her running back and forth, she probably ran twice as far as we hiked.

Anyway, following directions from the article, we grabbed our packs and headed directly towards Broken Top and up to the secret lake. It was gorgeous! The lake sits at the bottom of rocky crags, with steep gravelly slopes on all other sides. Because the silty green lake is shadowed by Broken Top directly above it, big chunks of ice still float in the water. There’s also an awesome view of a glacier holding fast to Broken Top above the lake.

From here, we continued along the lakeshore up the “Broken Saddle”. The ridge to the right leads to a sweet panoramic view of the Cascades. From here we were also able to see the remaining smoke plumes and destruction from the Pole Creek Fire outside Sisters.

It was getting late, so we headed back down and found an awesome spot to pitch our tents for the night. As the sun began to set and cast its alpenglow on the surrounding mountains, things started to feel like fall again. I still think that one of the greatest feelings is setting up camp after hiking all day and getting to enjoy your surroundings. 

Bundled up with good company, gorgeous views, and a glass of wine (you can bring these kind of things when you’re only going for one night), it was the perfect way to close out the summer. Bring on the cold weather!

I took some of these pictures, but most of the awesome ones were taken by our buddy Jeremiah. He's awesome.

Soy is Everywhere

From a production standpoint, soy is so prevalent in our food supply simply because it’s cheap. It’s easy to produce and process, so it’s very common to see it in food products. It plays a part in the entire food cycle, often used in animal feed and then as a filler in the meat itself. A few different reports have suggested that soy derived products make up between 60-80% of processed food products in grocery stores (whoa!). Because it’s affordable, manufacturers sometimes use soy to boost protein content for a more marketable nutrition facts panel. 

But you know what? We don’t need to over-supplement with processed proteins. If you live a healthy lifestyle and stick to a balanced diet, your body is probably going to get the stuff it needs. In China and Japan, daily soy isoflavone consumption averages about 10mg per person, derived mostly from naturally fermented soy. Americans, on the other hand, consume a daily average 400-600mg of soy isoflavones per person, coming mostly from highly processed soy. That’s not balanced.

Good or Bad?

I hesitate to bring health claims into the mix, because these days you can find a study to back up just about anything. But there’s plenty of evidence supporting soy’s disruptive effect on thyroid function, hormone levels, and absorption of certain minerals. While soy does tout many health benefits, they are more strongly linked to naturally fermented soy products than the highly processed GMO soy that is found in so many foods in the US.

Our Stance on Soy

Now, I’m in no way a judgmental food purist.  Heck, the organic dark chocolate in our bars even has a teensy bit of soy lecithin in it, but I’m not going to freak out about it. I’m a strong believer in enjoying everything in moderation. I’m not banning soy from my life, but I’m also not going to add more of something that we all clearly get more than enough of. 

You know what we don’t get enough of? Whole grains, heart-healthy nuts and seeds, and fruit. Mazama Bars are full of all those natural, healthy, delicious, controversy-free foods, so you can grab a bar and get on with your awesome life without worrying.

NOTE: I’m not a nutritionist or doctor of any kind, so please don’t replace your specialist’s advice with my own. These are my own opinions from personal experience and a bit of research.

The Mountain

The Middle Sister is located in Central Oregon just outside the town of Sisters. At 10,047 feet, it’s the just slightly smallest of the Three Sisters.  The Middle Sister is an extinct stratovolcano nested between its aptly-named counterparts, South Sister and North Sister. It’s a great hike because, in the right weather, it’s not overly technical. Still, many people make it a two-day adventure, and we were summiting in one. We had a big day ahead of us.

The Hike

After a quick carbo-load (read: sugar high) at Sisters Bakery around 5:00am, we headed off and left the Pole Creek Trailhead just before dawn. There’s something awesome about heading out into the wilderness before most people are even awake! 

At about 7 miles, we reached a gorgeous lake nestled in the middle of the Three Sisters. If you’re not up for hiking up to the summit, or want to turn it into an overnighter, this would be a sweet place to camp.Of course, we brought a good stash of Mazama Bars for the trip. You need lots of calories for a long day like this, and energy bars with a good calorie/weight ratio are the perfect solution. After eating and hydrating, we started up the last three miles to the summit. 

From the lake, the trail takes to a snowfield. Since we're hiking in late summer, there's not too much snow. In the winter, you can put on skins and climb up on AT skis then ski all the way to the bottom. How awesome would that be?? After hopping off the snowfield, the "trail" turns into a steep lava rock pile ascent - everything from big boulders to loose slippery shale. Five points for finding the second person in the lava rock picture below.

After laboring (Get it? Because it was Labor Day? Get it?) upward for 10 miles, we stood on top of the Middle Sister and took in the gorgeous views of the Cascades. It was beautiful! After a little bit of lunch, relaxing in the sun, and giving a few Mazama Bars to the one other guy we saw at the top, we started our descent. We took a different route down, winding between the Middle and North Sisters, then down the Collier Glacier.

Snowfields often have streams running underneath them from alpine melt, and this one was no different. As the water melts away the snow, the snow bridge gets thinner and thinner. We took a brief (ok, it was longer than we'd like to admit) break at the stream to toss rocks onto the snow bridge and see if we could get big chunks to fall. We're still kids at heart. Click here to check out a little snippet on our YouTube Channel.

It’s the simple things, right? Anyway, we ended the day around 5:00pm back at the trailhead then headed off to enjoy some much deserved relaxation. The total count was 18 miles and 5,400 vertical feet. Definitely an awesome day!

Bigger? Check. Better? Yep!

Meal Replacement

When you reach for something to eat, you expect it fulfill something that your body needs. But have you ever tried to eat an energy bar for lunch, only to be hungry just a bit later? Many granola/cereal/energy bars out there are targeted to dieters, offering tiny low-fat snacks that are packed with nasty artificial ingredients and only 100-200 relatively empty calories. That’s not going to keep you full. Even if you’re dieting, replacing a full meal with a puny bar like that isn’t enough. When you deprive yourself of too many calories, your body enters “starvation mode” and slows metabolism - great for actual disaster situations, but not so great for day-to-day health.

Mazama Bars have about 400 well-balanced calories, which make them convenient portion control for a healthy meal on the go. The calories come from all-natural healthy ingredients like oats, nuts, dried fruits, and seeds. A balanced mix of nutrients leaves you satisfied. 

Adventure Fuel

The second reason we made Mazama Bars bigger is because all-day adventure burns a lot of calories. The average person burns more than 400 calories in just one hour of hiking or downhill skiing, and adding a backpack to either of those activities burns even more. Over the course of a whole day, that energy expenditure adds up. While it’s not necessary to replace all the calories you burn during exercise, you do need give your body enough to keep pushing. Getting super shaky and lightheaded in the backcountry because you underestimated your caloric needs isn’t a fun situation.

Energy bars are a convenient way to manage blood sugar and caloric needs so you don’t hit the wall. Mazama Bars’ high caloric density (and quality ingredients) means you can bring fewer bars and carry less trash around on your trip afterwards. Mazama Bars were made to keep you happy during your adventures.

That’s that. Mazama Bars are bigger to keep you satisfied, whether it’s in the office or out in the backcountry. Their amazing taste is an awesome bonus!  Stock up on your favorite flavors so you're all set for whatever adventures come your way.

NOTE: I’m not a nutritionist or doctor of any kind, so please don’t replace your specialist’s advice with my own. These are my own opinions from personal experience and a bit of research.

• 1. On a family hike… bears prefer Mazama Bars - bring an extra just in case
• 2. In the air… you know the snack cart is never coming back
• 3. In the car when you need a quick breakfast
• 4. At the turn… don’t blame us when you have to pick up the tab for your hole-in-one
• 5. On the way to your next class or meeting
• 6. At the game… nobody needs that much fake cheese
• 7. At an outdoor concert when you’re busy rocking out
• 8. At your kid’s practices/games/tournaments… when did they turn into all-weekend events?
• 9. On the chairlift to score a few extra runs at lunchtime
• 10. On the water… don’t believe anyone who says they’ll “catch” dinner

There are plenty more great places to eat a Mazama Bar, but this should get you started. Have a great week!

Here at Mazama Bar, we work hard to make the best energy bars around. But that’s not what we’re really all about. We’re all about getting out and enjoying life, celebrating the little things, and pushing ourselves to do better. Work hard all day? Break things up with a bike ride. Rough week? Sit outside and have a beer. Long hike, sore muscles, and lots of blisters? Relax and enjoy the scenery. Work hard, play hard.

My dad is the epitome of this motto. I look up to him not only because he’s accomplished so much, but because he plays harder than anyone I know. On any given weekend, my dad is likely competing in a bike race, summiting one of the Cascades, or taking my mom and their dog out on some kind of adventure. He’s a get up and go kind of guy, and he always has been.

My favorite childhood memories with my dad are filled with active days spent outside. Growing up, he coached my brother and my sports teams from kindergarten through middle school. I remember hiking through National Parks, eating Skittles on the chairlift, and sitting on my dad’s shoulders as he ran stairs in Seattle. Sure, there was chaos. We flipped the raft, ran out of water on the trail, and lost the backpacking wine in the river (he might still be bummed about that one). But to this day, the adventures he plans are always the highlights of my year.

All of those experiences have taught me to love an active life and appreciate the outdoors. It’s important to work hard, but if you don’t get to play, what’s the point? My energy and motivation for starting Mazama Bar goes way back to these family adventures and the lessons I learned on them. I’m so thankful to have a dad who still plans amazing family trips, competes in races with me, and never stops playing.

Dad, you’re awesome. Thanks for instilling in me that same crazy drive that you have. You give everyone around you the motivation to be better and live more. Thanks for teaching me to appreciate the outdoors, stay active, and push myself. You’re my biggest role model, and I’m blessed to have you in my life. Thanks for teaching me to work hard and play hard. Oh, and thanks for testing all those energy bars I make. I love you!

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

I’ll spare you all the details and just give you the highlights from the past month:

Race Domination

Derek and I have done plenty of events in the past, but these ones were special. First of all, we did awesome (powered by Mazama Bars, of course). Second, we finally got to show off our fancy new shirts! I ran the Eugene Half Marathon (PR! Woo hoo!) while Derek and family handed out a few Mazama Bars to finishers.

At the end of May, Team Mazama took to Bend for the Pole Pedal Paddle. For those of you who don’t know, the PPP is a multi-sport event that starts at the top of Mt. Bachelor and finishes at a big open-air amphitheater in downtown Bend. With perfect weather and an awesome team, we took first in our division and earned the coveted PPP mugs.

First Sales

It’s been a long road getting to this point, but we’re pumped that Mazama Bars are officially for sale now. With the help of our family and friends’ word of mouth, we had a successful launch. It was a great feeling getting our first official orders out the door.

Media

Slowly but surely, the word about Mazama Bar is spreading. Just weeks after our launch, Forbes.com blogger Carmine Gallo featured Mazama Bar as one of “tomorrow’s greatest innovators.” Our bars were also featured and reviewed on Tales of a Mountain Mama, which is a great blog for all the outdoorsy moms out there.

The first month has been a whirlwind, but we’re excited to see what the next few months will bring. We’re working on getting into some local retail locations, so where do you want to see Mazama Bar? Let us or them know!