Cristal Garrison
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Personal Summary
I'm married to an exceptional man; my best friend, AR teammate and coworker, Michael Garrison.
I am also the proud parent of my beautiful daughter KayLeigh, who is a senior at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School and is planning to attend Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL this Fall.
Life is full of obstacles and injury, interspersed with breath taking moments and hearty laughter. Same goes for Adventure Racing it just happens at warp speed.
- Professional Experience
- 2005-Present Bookkeeper/AP/AR Manager for Indianapolis, IN specialty plastics manufacturer
- 2004 NREMT and Indiana Certification for EMT-B.
- 1995-2004 Calibration Technician for a Bloomington, IN medical device manufacturer.
- Athletic Summary
- Adventure Racing
- 2008 - Planet Adventure Sprint Redux
- 2008 - No Skirts Allowed AR – race director
- 2008 - Indy AR - race support/volunteer
- 2008 - PA Urban Sprint - Second Place
- 2008 – Odyssey Wild, Wonderful 24 hr – New River Gorge, WV (4th overall)
- 2007 - No Skirts Allowed AR – race director
- 2007 - Planet Adventure Urban Sprint
- 2007 - Mission Adventure Race
- 2007 - Eagle Creek Sprint Triathlon
- 2007 - Indianapolis Adventure Race
- 2007 - Planet Adventure 24 co-director
- 2006 - Buff Betty - Chattanooga, TN
- 2006 – Salomon/Moosejaw 30-Hr Adventure Rage – Cadillac, MI (8th overall)
- 2006 – Planet Adventure Sprint – Brown County, IN (2nd co-ed, 5th overall)
- 2006 – 2006 Planet Adventure Urban Sprint (2nd place co-ed, 5th overall)
- 2006 – Planet Adventure 24-Hr Challenge – Leavenworth, IN (10th co-ed, 17th overall)
- 2006 – ICO 12 Hour Rogaine - Brownstown, IN (4th overall)
- 2005 – Indianapolis Adventure Race (2nd Division, 3rd Overall)
- 2005 – Buff Betty Women’s Adventure Race – OH (8th Overall)
- 2004 – Circle City Sprint – Indianapolis (10th division)
- 2004 – Planet Adventure Sprint – Clark State Forest, IN (1st Division, 2nd Overall)
- 2004 – Planet Adventure 24 Hr Challenge – Owen-Putman Counties, IN (15th Overall)
- 2003 – Midwest Fury – French Lick, IN (1st overall)
- 2003 – Indianapolis Adventure Race – Long Course (10th Overall)
- 2003 – Circle City Sprint – Indianapolis
- 2002 – Kentucky/Jeep Adventure Race – KY
- Running & Other Athletic Interests
- 2009 - Bop to the Top
- 2008 - HMBA Century Ride - Indianapolis - Bloomington, IN
- 2008 - Midwest Women's MTB Clinic & Expo
- 2008 - Head for the Cure 5k
- 2008 - DNR-BOW Orienteering Clinic - ICO representative
- 2008 - Susan G. Komen 5k
- 2008 - ICO Paddle-O - first place
- 2005 – Conquer the Crossroads 12 hour Rogaine (1st Overall)
- 2004 - 2005 Indianapolis mini marathon
- 2004 – Indianapolis Metrogaine (3 hour)
- 2004 – Conquer the Crossroads 12 hour Rogaine (3rd Division, 7th overall)
- 2003 – Tecumseh Trail Marathon
- 2003 – River to River Stage Run (Illinois)
- 2002 - 2003 Monroe Co., IN/YMCA Fall Run 5K & 10K
- 1996 - 2004 Bloomington, IN/YMCA Corporate Challenge; Cycling, Track & Field, Overall Fitness Challenge.
- 1994 - 2002 Bloomington, IN Parks & Recreation League Softball and tournaments.
- Any physical activity outdoors; I am interested in, climbing, hiking, running, cycling, camping, skiing, etc.
- Plans for 2009
- To participate and enjoy Adventure Races of increasing length on a regular basis and ultimately expedition length races.
Archives
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
They leave for 3S3M soon!
And I am about as bummed as I can be that I won't be going with them. Oh well, guess I will just have to look forward to it next year. I wish I had a helmet camera for Mike to wear while he is riding this weekend. Hmmm... Maybe I'll make sure we have one for next year.
Swimming yesterday was absolutely fabulous, I anticipate today's effort will be equally rewarding (laden with sarcasm). I am determined to stick with it though. Planning on adding some strength training to the workout Friday, so we'll see how it goes. The question is how will it translate to the bike...it's as if I hadn't taken that power cycling class. Ok, maybe that is a bit harsh.
I have considered trying the Nebo Ridge, Thursday night group ride on my new bike. I say considered, since Mike say's "NO" and he's probably right. May 12th cannot get here soon enough, I really want to ride my new bike (background music: Queen's Bike Race)! I can't wait to get outside for a long bike ride on a nice sunny day.
Getting the Bicycling newsletters and such doesn't help matters either. Just when I am thinking it's no big deal, someone or something has to remind me of what I really want to do and can't; ride a bike (or run).
Hopefully the guys will have a great time in Chattanooga. May the sun shine brightly and the wind be lightly at thier backs. Secretly, I am wondering how many of them will be getting off their bikes on Burkhaulter Gap and not telling anyone? :P Good luck and have fun; Mike, James, Shawn, Michael, Ryan, Paul, and Doug (sorry if I forgot to mention anyone).
posted by Cristal at
4:34 PM
0 Comments
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Dances with Dirt and a Stress Fracture
I may not be running this year as I had planned but I still intend to be part of the team for Dances with Dirt in Gnaw Bone. After meeting with the ladies last night I am actually looking forward to it. I had invisioned going to the event feeling sorry for myself, with a feeling of being in the way, but the ladies were kind enough to give me some things to do last night at our team dinner meeting and I am pretty jazzed (even with the big boot on)!
The No Skirts Allowed AR team will be plowing those trails with pink tutu's, on a mission to recruit other women to join the wonderful world of Adventure Racing.
Mike will be taking my share of the trails, since the doctor didn't say the big boot was all terrain. He may yet be able to talk his way out of wearing a tutu, but don't count on it.
Now comes the detailed planning and team management-how exciting (maybe I can become the Johan Bruyneel of team trail running)..?
posted by Cristal at
11:02 AM
0 Comments
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Time off...
my feet wasn't something I had on my calendar for this week. Unfortunately now it is something I have to make a priority for the next four weeks.
I had been dealing with some foot pain since the December Bear Creek O-meet, and my self diagnoses and treatments weren't doing the trick. So, I finally wised up and went to the doctor. Dr. Mark Runkle; who by the way is very cool and seemed to understand my desire to train and participate in events. He said that I had a stress fracture in the third metatarsal of my right foot. I must admit that was a complete shock and not something I had really considered (even though Mike had mentioned something about a more serious injury possibility). Now it will be a minimum of four weeks before I can get back to my normal activity. Maybe I shouldn't have gone with Kim and Michael last Sunday for an am run...oops!
I just have to say that this really sucks! If you are feeling any persistent pain go see the doctor now! Otherwise, like me, you could be looking at missing events that you've already registered for (PA Srint, o-meets, 3State/3Mountain, and Dances with Dirt). :(
It seems that the more training and races that I do the more discomfort and pain I feel that I can push through. I guess in the back of my mind I new this may have been something more than the normal muscle aches and pains, or sprains, that one always deals with when training or racing. Being completely honest, I didn't want to go to the doctor and find out it was really nothing and that I was being a big baby (boy wouldn't that be embarrassing), but I surely didn't want him to tell me I couldn't run or ride for the next four weeks.
Well, I guess I will be doing a lot more of that thing I loath; swimming. I definitely plan on strengthening my upper body, specifically my paddling muscles. I plan to be ready for PA24 and so far the guys are still in, we plan on doing the "Old School" course!
I have to admit that walking around in this BIG, ugly, boot irritates me to no end, but my foot does feel better for it. I will be glad when I have told everyone I know so that I don't have to keep recounting the injury story, as embarrassing and frustrating as that is.
Now that I have vented and whined to all and sundry, I will look to happier things....like swimming after work on Monday. :]
I had been dealing with some foot pain since the December Bear Creek O-meet, and my self diagnoses and treatments weren't doing the trick. So, I finally wised up and went to the doctor. Dr. Mark Runkle; who by the way is very cool and seemed to understand my desire to train and participate in events. He said that I had a stress fracture in the third metatarsal of my right foot. I must admit that was a complete shock and not something I had really considered (even though Mike had mentioned something about a more serious injury possibility). Now it will be a minimum of four weeks before I can get back to my normal activity. Maybe I shouldn't have gone with Kim and Michael last Sunday for an am run...oops!
I just have to say that this really sucks! If you are feeling any persistent pain go see the doctor now! Otherwise, like me, you could be looking at missing events that you've already registered for (PA Srint, o-meets, 3State/3Mountain, and Dances with Dirt). :(
It seems that the more training and races that I do the more discomfort and pain I feel that I can push through. I guess in the back of my mind I new this may have been something more than the normal muscle aches and pains, or sprains, that one always deals with when training or racing. Being completely honest, I didn't want to go to the doctor and find out it was really nothing and that I was being a big baby (boy wouldn't that be embarrassing), but I surely didn't want him to tell me I couldn't run or ride for the next four weeks.
Well, I guess I will be doing a lot more of that thing I loath; swimming. I definitely plan on strengthening my upper body, specifically my paddling muscles. I plan to be ready for PA24 and so far the guys are still in, we plan on doing the "Old School" course!
I have to admit that walking around in this BIG, ugly, boot irritates me to no end, but my foot does feel better for it. I will be glad when I have told everyone I know so that I don't have to keep recounting the injury story, as embarrassing and frustrating as that is.
Now that I have vented and whined to all and sundry, I will look to happier things....like swimming after work on Monday. :]
posted by Cristal at
6:46 PM
0 Comments
Monday, April 13, 2009
Afterward
A road trip with my Rootstock teammates to the LBL Challenge was really great fun. Getting to race with teammates I hadn't before and meeting some unexpected challenges during the race really gave me a fever for the rest of the racing season. I can't wait for the next event! Good thing the next event is the PA Sprint this coming Saturday.
It is really odd how, no matter how well you did or didn't do in a race, afterward you feel a little depressed. It is such a high when you are out on a course pushing yourself a little harder than the last time, or doing something you've never done before. My teammates and I were pondering why we do this (during the paddle of the LBL race); I figure not only does it help us appreciate the times after a hard effort, but it allows us to do things we may have never done otherwise. It also helps reveal things about ourselves that we didn't previously acknowledge.
After looking back a week later I am truly greatful that I have the ability to participate in adventure races, to test myself in a way that only AR can, and to share those experiences with others. It creates times that one never forgets.
posted by Cristal at
9:02 AM
0 Comments
Monday, April 6, 2009
The LBL adventure begins with obtaining our second room key.
Yes...he is in fact cutting our room key in that photo! The ladies got the short straw and had to ask the front desk for another key. Little did we know that it would be made before our very eyes. Why can't they do that for you at a Marriott or Hilton..?
I just love the little adventures before the race even begins!
More blogging on the race to come, when I have the next opportunity.
posted by Cristal at
12:13 PM
0 Comments
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Power Cycling with Michael Sapper
No, it wasn't early morning tv programming, it really was a class that Michael decided to share with friends. Man that title sounds like one of those fitness shows though, doesn't it! :)
If my legs could sigh, they would be doing so right now. My last class before the start of the AR season was yesterday and I tested out at an average watts of 201 (up from my first class average of 187). I have no frame of reference since it was my first class and I am new to the whole power training thing, but I am totally happy with my results. I am definitely stronger and am eager to sign up for another round of classes come fall/winter.
Thanks for kicking our butts twice a week Michael. Great job to "The Doug" for being the most improved! Now I just hope that it was enough to get me through 24 hours at LBL!
posted by Cristal at
4:29 PM
0 Comments