Don McLaughlin

Article in Central Oregonian

2008-03-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

A huge thanks to Lon Austin, Sports Writer, and the Central Oregonian Newspaper (http://www.centraloregonian.com/) for a feature article on me in Tuesday, April 25th, newspaper. For 2008 I will be riding for the Fire Velos, Sunnyside Sports, and Champion Nutrition. Fire Velos is a Firefighter Cycling Club that supports Charity Organizations such as the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and many others. Sunnyside Sports in Bend, OR, is the Bike Shop that wrenches on my bicycles and helps me with any of my bike needs. Check them out! The staff and shop are stellar. They will take care of you. Thank You Brook and Champion Nutrition! This is my 3rd year with Champion. Their supplements are the best! They have given me all that I need for nutrition and more. Try them at http://www.champion-nutrition.com/. Without their products I would not be able to continue at a competitive level doing what I do! This is going to be a great year of racing.

Getting Ready

2008-03-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

I've been out almost every day training with lots of base mileage and now starting hill repeats as well as quick tempo rides. My goal for 2008 is to win the Oregon State XC Series. It is an 8 race series around Oregon. This will be a new challenge because I have not raced any of the courses nor have I raced in Oregon. I have also been an endurance rider for the last 4 years so I have to pick up the pace! This will be fun and exciting. I have as good of a chance as anyone. I always remember "Winners do what losers don't want to do." With that I better go out and train now!

Winter Training with my Daughter

2008-03-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

We finally had a nice week for riding so my daughter and I went out together for a bike ride. We toured the local neighborhoods here in Prineville and found some dirt in the Ironhorse land development site. My daughter took her 1st jump ever and cleared it! It was awesome and now she's hooked! Looks like another racer in the family.

My best training partner

2007-12-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

More winter training and it has been cold. My best training partner is Jess my dog. She is always willing to go. Thanks to God for good dogs!

Winter Training

2007-12-11T18:18:00.000-08:00

I've been really ramping up my winter cross-training along with my physical therapy. A lot of light weights, running stadium stairs, cycling on the trainer, and trail running. There are many great trails in Central Oregon, right out my back door.

Physical Therapy

2007-12-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

Post Surgery Update

2007-10-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a great picture of why you should never do drugs! After surgery, my lovely wife brought me home. I was never destined to be still and silent, but that is what I did for a week. Things are looking better, but the road to recovery is challenging and difficult. The positives are being home with my family for an extended amount of time. My wife has been incredibly awesome and patient. I will start physical therapy by the middle of October. I've already started lower body strengthening and conditioning for next season and to keep my spirits high! See you on the trails soon!

Major Setback

2007-09-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 25, 2007

It was a beautiful August morning and I decided to go out for some much needed fun time of riding. It all began great, but ended in an acute rupture of my Pectoral Muscle. I received surgery on the 30th and am recovering. I am a bit disappointed, but these things happen in life for reasons unknown. I have to say for as many times as I've pushed the limits hard I have been fortunate!

Epic Ride

2007-08-02T20:23:00.000-07:00

Champion Nutrition, a new carbon fiber Specialized from Bear Valley Bikes, and Financial Support from Tom's Famous Family Restaurants made this ride Epic. I traveled to the top of Grizzly Mountain in Central Oregon.

Moved to Central Oregon!

2007-08-02T20:18:00.000-07:00

My family and I made a hard, but very rewarding decision to move back home to Central Oregon. This is where we both grew up and all our family lives here. We will miss our friends in So Cal very much!

Two-time 24 Hours of Adrenalin Champions

2007-08-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

Once again, Big Bear Adventure Racing won the 5 person Co-ed division of the 24 Hours of Adrenalin in Hurkey Creek, CA. Now the 2006 and 2007 Champions of the most competitive division in the series. This year was a huge team effort due to stiff competition. I lead the fastest lap and most laps for our team for the second year in a row!

Fellow Teammates

2007-08-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

2nd Southridge Race

2007-08-02T19:20:00.001-07:00

A frigid and windy day lead to a disappointing 6th place finish. Still, any day is a great day riding!

1st race of 2007

2007-08-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

I was back on the podium for a 5th place finish in the Southridge Winter Series.

Pioneer Town in the Spring

2007-08-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

Masters World Championships

2007-08-02T18:49:00.001-07:00

Dean Swank (50-55), Steve Kinney (40-45), Derek Hermon (35-40), and myself (30-35) went to Kamloops B.C. representing the United States at the Masters World Championships as part of the U.S. National Team in August 2006. It was an incredible experience where I was honored to represent our Country. The course was definitely World Class with 1000ft of elevation per 5 mile lap.

National Mountain Bike Series 2006

2007-08-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

2006 was an incredible year. I went from injuring myself and wondering if I would walk again to racing on the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) circuit for Marathon mountain biking. Marathon mountain bike races are usually 100k or 64 miles.

NMBS Marathon Race #1 Nova Desert Classic Fountain Hills, AZ 10th Place

NMBS Marathon Race #2 Southridge Fontana, CA 3rd Place

NMBS Marathon Race #3 Deer Valley Resort Park City, UT 6th Place

NMBS U.S. National Championship Sonoma, CA 8th Place

NMBS Marathon Race #4 Brian Head Brian Head, UT 3rd place

At the end of the year when it was all said and done I finished an overall 2nd in the National Mountain Bike Series for the Year 2006.

Trail Repair 1EO1

2007-08-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

The winter of 2005-06 severely damaged one of the most popular trails in Big Bear Lake, CA. That lead to Big Bear Adventure Racing adopting 1EO1, Pineknot Trail. With local volunteers and the U.S. Forest Service we repaired several portions of the trail for the community to enjoy.

Winter Crosstraining

2007-08-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

Several times in '06 I tested my achilles out on long hikes. Each time I made some sort of improvement. This was one of those times navigating a canyon in Big Bear.

Winter training in Big Bear Lake, CA 2006

2007-08-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

Derek Hermon (right), Steve Kinney (center), and Me (left).

2006 24 Hours of Adrenalin Champions!

2007-08-01T15:42:00.000-07:00

Team Big Bear Adventure Racing dominated the Hurkey Creek Spring Fling 2006. Part of the 24 Hours of Adrenalin Race series which travels worldwide, Hurkey Creek proved no match for BBAR. We participated in the most competitive category the 5 person co-ed and won! I lead the team with the fastest lap and most laps completed.

Nova Desert Classic 2006

2007-08-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

This is my first National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) Endurance Race. These races are to be 100k or 64 miles in distance. With new sponsors, I traveled the U.S. and raced the NMBS Endurance Race Series. My 1st race was tough with 3 flats, but a top ten finish and a quest to be #1 in the series.

Three Peaks Challenge 2005

2007-08-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

Climb Three Peaks in 24 hours, yes 24 hours! Start with Mount Baldy, next to San Gorgonio, and finish on San Jacinto.

2004 and 2005 Race Seasons

2007-08-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

The years 2004 and 2005 proved to be years of great tests, trials, and victories. In 2003, I completed my first mountain bike race in Big Bear Lake, CA, which is also where I resided. It was a great accomplishment because the Michelob Light Fall Classic is the longest Beginner Mountain Bike Race at 18 miles. I placed on the podium with a 3rd place finish! After a full winter of training and making new friends, Derek Hermon, owner, racer, and team manager of Bear Valley Bikes asked me to compete in an Adventure Race. I accepted the offer and started training in the disciplines of trail running and kayaking as well as mountain biking. We needed a 3rd member of the team and it needed to be a female so we were lucky enough to find Heather Salzer of Big Bear Lake, CA. She just so happened to be a very experienced racer who had raced as a Pro in several races including Eco Challenge Fiji. Heather, with her great spirit, mental toughness, and athleticism lead us to a 2nd Place victory in our first race together. This lead to an overall 2nd Place series finish in the West Coast Adventure Race Series. These races were 24 Hour races and it was a three race series with both Pro and Amateur Teams.

Unfortunately in the Month of July I had a complete rupture of my achilles tendon. I was at work, where I am a Fireman, and I took off to sprint when it ruptured. I tried to remain positive. The recovery time was 5 to 6 Months depending on how you heal. Three months into rehab it ruptured again! This time it was in a different location, but on the same leg. I was devastated. Not only was I concerned about my new found love for endurance sports, but more importantly for my career as a fireman and my family. During this time, because of our great success earlier in the year, Heather and I got together and talked about making a adventure race team or club. This helped me to stay motivated during the injury time. We came up with two other teammates, Ted Devito and David Burks. Teddy was a young, extremely fast, talented racer who had already raced as a Pro. David, was and older, mature, extremely fit athlete who just wanted to test his mind and body. In 2005 we formed Big Bear Adventure Racing. This was a sponsored and competitive Adventure Race Team. So After two surgeries, seven months on crutches, and four months of active rehab I went back to work in June of 2005. I also went back to riding easy on both my road and mountain bikes. I felt good and completed my first race post injury in the fall at the Michelob Light Fall Classic. This time I entered the 40 Mile endurance race and once again got on the podium with a 3rd place finish. I was stoked! I was back!

In the late fall of 2005 I completed my first adventure race since my injury down in Punta Banda, Mexico where we finished 6th. It was a 24 hour race that was torture on my achilles. The Race was incredibly difficult and many teams dropped out because of the treacherous course and terrain. We finished and I was proud to endure and not quit. This proved very important for my 2006 Season!

My New Blog!

2007-07-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

I am creating a blog for all my family, friends, and sponsors to view and enjoy. Upcoming posts will include '04, '05, '06, and '07 race results and rides!