Touchstone Blog Archive
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Markham Connolly: Cycling to Success
For the past twenty years, Markham Connolly has worked in the climbing industry. From guiding in Telluride Colorado, starting a climbing program while teaching at an international school in Indonesia, to building climbing walls in Colorado and California, Markham has worked intensively with outdoor education. In August of 1999, he left Colorado, moving to the Bay Area to help develop and manage Berkeley Ironworks. Two years later, he began his current position as Director of Operations.
I got addicted to road cycling. I moved from Telluride, where access to climbing was easy. When I moved to the Bay Area, where outdoor climbing isn't as accessible, I started looking for alternative outdoor activities. I decided to have a go at endurance sports, something I never had done before. I grew up playing team sports and had a passion for skiing and climbing for many years, but I wanted to see what I had in me to compete in individual endurance sports. I first started trail running with the purpose to do a trail marathon. I finished eighth in a trail running marathon that had over 5,000 feet of elevation. It was hard and somewhat fun but I wasn't super excited about doing another one. Then I thought I'd try an off-road triathlon. I did one of those Xterra triathlons. I hated it. Again, I was looking for another activity until I discovered road cycling. I was in search of a new mountain bike for my wife's birthday. She was a huge mountain biker in Colorado and I thought it would be something we could do together. My idea was to do some mountain bike races, but she did a 180 on me and wanted to get road bikes. She'll never forget the look I had on my face of wondering why in the hell would we want road bikes. Once I got on a road bike, it was all over.
The Connolly family.
My wife, Joelle, and I have been married for nine years. We met in Telluride, skied together, mountain biked together, started climbing together, and then we moved to the Bay Area together. We have two children. My daughter Isabelle is four years old and my son Joe will be one this month. Joelle is an art consultant that curates and manages collections for private collectors and corporations.
When Joe was born I started to taper off the cycling and change to family guy. I took a 15 month hiatus but I’m starting to get back on the bike again. I’m just training. Race season is over and my goal is to not get dropped when riding with my teammates, but I have some serious pounds to lose first. Who knows but I'm sure I'll be talked into doing some races with my buddies. (Shhhh...don't tell my wife). I definitely want to get back in shape and maintain a balance between cycling, family and work. I need to find that happy medium where I can do it all.
Isabelle on the day she learned how to ride a bike!
Isabelle's learning how to ride a bike. She’s been riding a thing called a skuut- a wooden bike without pedals that teaches a kid how to balance. She can coast without her feet and then when she wants to go faster she runs her feet, Flintstone style. She’s seen me come home with road rash and stitches from crashing my bike. It hurts but you get used to it. It’s part of the whole thing. She learned how to ride a pedal bike without training wheels over the labor day weekend. She took some diggers and had some scrapes. She got up and shook it off and kept on pedaling. She is now a true cyclist. Her mom took her on a mountain bike ride at the Albany Bulb while taking the dog for a run. Hmmmm...... road or mountain.
Markham speeding down the road.
As director of operations, I am there to support and work with all the gym managers to make sure safety standards are high and keep safety policies in check, to ensure that our staff follow our philosophy on how to treat our members and day users (not as easy as you think since we are not a policy driven company), to create new programs that are current with the times and bring diversity to the gym, something I really enjoy doing. Our goal as a business is to create new cultures and communities within our gyms like Crossfit, Spinning, Boxing, the cycling team. Yes, we sponsor a women's elite cycling team as well as men's teams. Hopefully with the swimming pool and boxing program at Concord, we will bring in a new group of folks that will create a new culture. Another important objective of Touchstone is to make our gyms accessible for kids and adults from less privileged backgrounds. We work with a lot of community groups around all our gyms. We want everyone to have a chance to experience the extraordinary world of rock climbing.
I got addicted to road cycling. I moved from Telluride, where access to climbing was easy. When I moved to the Bay Area, where outdoor climbing isn't as accessible, I started looking for alternative outdoor activities. I decided to have a go at endurance sports, something I never had done before. I grew up playing team sports and had a passion for skiing and climbing for many years, but I wanted to see what I had in me to compete in individual endurance sports. I first started trail running with the purpose to do a trail marathon. I finished eighth in a trail running marathon that had over 5,000 feet of elevation. It was hard and somewhat fun but I wasn't super excited about doing another one. Then I thought I'd try an off-road triathlon. I did one of those Xterra triathlons. I hated it. Again, I was looking for another activity until I discovered road cycling. I was in search of a new mountain bike for my wife's birthday. She was a huge mountain biker in Colorado and I thought it would be something we could do together. My idea was to do some mountain bike races, but she did a 180 on me and wanted to get road bikes. She'll never forget the look I had on my face of wondering why in the hell would we want road bikes. Once I got on a road bike, it was all over.
The Connolly family.
My wife, Joelle, and I have been married for nine years. We met in Telluride, skied together, mountain biked together, started climbing together, and then we moved to the Bay Area together. We have two children. My daughter Isabelle is four years old and my son Joe will be one this month. Joelle is an art consultant that curates and manages collections for private collectors and corporations.
When Joe was born I started to taper off the cycling and change to family guy. I took a 15 month hiatus but I’m starting to get back on the bike again. I’m just training. Race season is over and my goal is to not get dropped when riding with my teammates, but I have some serious pounds to lose first. Who knows but I'm sure I'll be talked into doing some races with my buddies. (Shhhh...don't tell my wife). I definitely want to get back in shape and maintain a balance between cycling, family and work. I need to find that happy medium where I can do it all.
Isabelle on the day she learned how to ride a bike!
Isabelle's learning how to ride a bike. She’s been riding a thing called a skuut- a wooden bike without pedals that teaches a kid how to balance. She can coast without her feet and then when she wants to go faster she runs her feet, Flintstone style. She’s seen me come home with road rash and stitches from crashing my bike. It hurts but you get used to it. It’s part of the whole thing. She learned how to ride a pedal bike without training wheels over the labor day weekend. She took some diggers and had some scrapes. She got up and shook it off and kept on pedaling. She is now a true cyclist. Her mom took her on a mountain bike ride at the Albany Bulb while taking the dog for a run. Hmmmm...... road or mountain.
Markham speeding down the road.
As director of operations, I am there to support and work with all the gym managers to make sure safety standards are high and keep safety policies in check, to ensure that our staff follow our philosophy on how to treat our members and day users (not as easy as you think since we are not a policy driven company), to create new programs that are current with the times and bring diversity to the gym, something I really enjoy doing. Our goal as a business is to create new cultures and communities within our gyms like Crossfit, Spinning, Boxing, the cycling team. Yes, we sponsor a women's elite cycling team as well as men's teams. Hopefully with the swimming pool and boxing program at Concord, we will bring in a new group of folks that will create a new culture. Another important objective of Touchstone is to make our gyms accessible for kids and adults from less privileged backgrounds. We work with a lot of community groups around all our gyms. We want everyone to have a chance to experience the extraordinary world of rock climbing.
Labels: Markham Connolly, Touchstone Cycling
¶ Sunday, September 12, 2010 1 Comments
Monday, July 16, 2007
We Are Competitive
This past weekend was full of competitions for Touchstone Climbing.
On Friday night, Berkeley Ironworks hosted the 3rd stage in the Touchstone Roped Series. This was the biggest turnout yet for a TRS event with over 128 climbers turning in scorecards. You can check out the complete results here. The next TRS event will be on August 10th at Mission Cliffs.
On Saturday, the Touchstone Cycling teams took to the hills. Well, one very large hill to be exact. Eleven Touchstone team members competed in the 3rd annual Mount Diablo Hill Climb. Touchstone Climbing was a co-sponsor of this event and our Director of Operations, Markham Connolly, built a very impressive start ramp for the event. The Touchstone Women's Elite team had a strong showing by placing 3 riders in the top 10.
And finally as noted last week, Mark Melvin, founder and CEO of Touchstone Climbing, competed in the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run in Colorado. Mark finished the 100 mile run in 37 hours 56 minutes, an hour or two before nightfall the second night. He placed 44th out of 98 finishers and 134 starters.
On Friday night, Berkeley Ironworks hosted the 3rd stage in the Touchstone Roped Series. This was the biggest turnout yet for a TRS event with over 128 climbers turning in scorecards. You can check out the complete results here. The next TRS event will be on August 10th at Mission Cliffs.
On Saturday, the Touchstone Cycling teams took to the hills. Well, one very large hill to be exact. Eleven Touchstone team members competed in the 3rd annual Mount Diablo Hill Climb. Touchstone Climbing was a co-sponsor of this event and our Director of Operations, Markham Connolly, built a very impressive start ramp for the event. The Touchstone Women's Elite team had a strong showing by placing 3 riders in the top 10.
And finally as noted last week, Mark Melvin, founder and CEO of Touchstone Climbing, competed in the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run in Colorado. Mark finished the 100 mile run in 37 hours 56 minutes, an hour or two before nightfall the second night. He placed 44th out of 98 finishers and 134 starters.Labels: Berkeley Ironworks, climbing, comps, cycling, Mark Melvin, Markham Connolly, touchstone, Touchstone Roped Series
¶ Monday, July 16, 2007 0 Comments
Friday, January 5, 2007
Thrills and Chills
Winter brings a special kind of climbing challenge: ice. We’re not talking here about avoiding it, we’re talking about climbing it. Imagine ascending a frozen waterfall and you’ve got the idea. And one of the best places to do it is in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.
Since 1995 the Ouray Ice Park in the Uncompahgre Gorge has offered free ice climbing, and this year it opened on Dec. 16. Or if you want to wait until after the new year, January brings the park’s annual Ouray Ice Festival, which is also its main fund-raising event. The festival features exhibition climbing, free clinics, seminars, slide shows, and gear demos.
Routes are never a problem as the park has a couple of miles of piping and can send water down the face of any rock that needs fresh ice. "With cold temperatures it really takes only two or three days,” says Erin Eddy, president of Ouray Ice Park Inc.
In some ways climbing ice follows the same rules as climbing rock.
“I think safety is the first thing,” Eddy says. “Know your knots. Know your limitations. Get competent instruction if you need it.”
But ice climbing also takes some special equipment such as ice tools and crampons. “You can write a $1,000 check pretty easily,” says Eddy, but the equipment can last for years.
For a taste of the ice fest, check out the series of videos at http://climbing.onsight-media.com.
But there are back-country routes in the region as well, and plenty of private guides to take you there. Bridal Veil Falls and Ingram Falls are within sight of the town of Telluride. The town of Ames has it’s own Ames Falls to climb, along with some smaller ones. Markham Connolly, director of operations for Touchstone, lived in Telluride for 10 years and call Bridal Veil and Ames the two classics. Bridal Veil is the largest waterfall in Colorado. Ingram rarely freezes into a single waterfall from top to bottom, however.
“When I did it, we had to do it in two stages,” he says. Because those two and Ames are all close to one another, some people try to do all three in a single day. “But that’s pretty ambitious,” Connolly says.
For people just getting into ice, Ouray may be a better bet. “It’s safe, easy -- just like climbing in a gym, but it’s outside,” Connolly says.
If you do head out into untended territory, Eddy recommends getting a guide. That’s avalanche country out there, and you want to be with someone who knows the terrain. Within the ice park, though, the environment is easier and friendlier, and all the bolts are already in place.
As Telluride and Ouray are only a 45-minute drive apart, you may have time to try both.
Winter brings a special kind of climbing challenge: ice. We’re not talking here about avoiding it, we’re talking about climbing it. Imagine ascending a frozen waterfall and you’ve got the idea. And one of the best places to do it is in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.Since 1995 the Ouray Ice Park in the Uncompahgre Gorge has offered free ice climbing, and this year it opened on Dec. 16. Or if you want to wait until after the new year, January brings the park’s annual Ouray Ice Festival, which is also its main fund-raising event. The festival features exhibition climbing, free clinics, seminars, slide shows, and gear demos.
Routes are never a problem as the park has a couple of miles of piping and can send water down the face of any rock that needs fresh ice. "With cold temperatures it really takes only two or three days,” says Erin Eddy, president of Ouray Ice Park Inc.
In some ways climbing ice follows the same rules as climbing rock.
“I think safety is the first thing,” Eddy says. “Know your knots. Know your limitations. Get competent instruction if you need it.”
But ice climbing also takes some special equipment such as ice tools and crampons. “You can write a $1,000 check pretty easily,” says Eddy, but the equipment can last for years.
For a taste of the ice fest, check out the series of videos at http://climbing.onsight-media.com.
But there are back-country routes in the region as well, and plenty of private guides to take you there. Bridal Veil Falls and Ingram Falls are within sight of the town of Telluride. The town of Ames has it’s own Ames Falls to climb, along with some smaller ones. Markham Connolly, director of operations for Touchstone, lived in Telluride for 10 years and call Bridal Veil and Ames the two classics. Bridal Veil is the largest waterfall in Colorado. Ingram rarely freezes into a single waterfall from top to bottom, however.
“When I did it, we had to do it in two stages,” he says. Because those two and Ames are all close to one another, some people try to do all three in a single day. “But that’s pretty ambitious,” Connolly says.
For people just getting into ice, Ouray may be a better bet. “It’s safe, easy -- just like climbing in a gym, but it’s outside,” Connolly says.
If you do head out into untended territory, Eddy recommends getting a guide. That’s avalanche country out there, and you want to be with someone who knows the terrain. Within the ice park, though, the environment is easier and friendlier, and all the bolts are already in place.
As Telluride and Ouray are only a 45-minute drive apart, you may have time to try both.
Labels: climbing, hot spots, Markham Connolly
¶ Friday, January 05, 2007 0 Comments
Monday, May 29, 2006
And now....the Men.
Touchstone Men’s Masters Cycling Team hit the pavement hard with the rubber side down for a great start in its first season. The team showed its diversity and prowess in the Spring classics by finishing in the top 10 in almost every race. Our criterium and flats riders Dave Chen, Scott Herring, and Sean Odom placed in the top 10 at Snelling Road Race, Rondee Van Brisbeen, and Wente Criterium. Our climbers Markham Connolly and Craig Steinmaus cranked up the hills at the Orosi Road Race to place 3rd and 5th respectively. Craig went on to win the Masters 40+ Cat 5 Road Race at the prestigious Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. He continued to place in the top 10 at California’s Paris-Roubaix, Copperopolis Road Race and Wente Road Race. The team is taking a break to ramp again for the late summer season except for one Touchstone racer, John Ormsby. His goal is to complete 20 races by the end of May and 40 by the end of the race season in October. You go, John!!! For team bios, race reports, and photos please visit the teams web page.
Touchstone Men’s Masters Cycling Team hit the pavement hard with the rubber side down for a great start in its first season. The team showed its diversity and prowess in the Spring classics by finishing in the top 10 in almost every race. Our criterium and flats riders Dave Chen, Scott Herring, and Sean Odom placed in the top 10 at Snelling Road Race, Rondee Van Brisbeen, and Wente Criterium. Our climbers Markham Connolly and Craig Steinmaus cranked up the hills at the Orosi Road Race to place 3rd and 5th respectively. Craig went on to win the Masters 40+ Cat 5 Road Race at the prestigious Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. He continued to place in the top 10 at California’s Paris-Roubaix, Copperopolis Road Race and Wente Road Race. The team is taking a break to ramp again for the late summer season except for one Touchstone racer, John Ormsby. His goal is to complete 20 races by the end of May and 40 by the end of the race season in October. You go, John!!! For team bios, race reports, and photos please visit the teams web page.Labels: cycling, Markham Connolly
¶ Monday, May 29, 2006 0 Comments
Thursday, May 4, 2006
New Daddy
We are pleased to announce the birth of Isabelle Grace Connolly. On Sunday, April 30th at 12:22pm, Markham & Joelle became the proud parents of a healthy baby girl. Markham is the director of operations at Touchstone and the founder of the Touchstone Bike Club. Everyone here at Touchstone wishes them all the best.
And please forgive Markham if he appears a little tired over the next few months, as he gets comfortable with being a dad.
We are pleased to announce the birth of Isabelle Grace Connolly. On Sunday, April 30th at 12:22pm, Markham & Joelle became the proud parents of a healthy baby girl. Markham is the director of operations at Touchstone and the founder of the Touchstone Bike Club. Everyone here at Touchstone wishes them all the best.And please forgive Markham if he appears a little tired over the next few months, as he gets comfortable with being a dad.
Labels: Berkeley Ironworks, cycling, Markham Connolly, touchstone, Touchstone Bike Club
¶ Thursday, May 04, 2006 0 Comments
Monday, April 3, 2006
Champs Ride Again
Touchstone is proud to announce the start of the second season of the Touchstone Climbing Women’s Elite Cat 1/2 bicycle team. Last year the team came in second for the Best All Around Team in the Northern California and Nevada region, the most competitive region in the United States. Three of our women placed in the top 10 in the Best All Around Rider category, including our spinning and boxing instructor, Pat Ross. We congratulate the 2005 women’s team and look forward to a successful 2006 season. To keep up to date on the team’s results and stories please visit the Touchstone Bike Page and click Women’s Elite Team to their website.
In addition to the Women’s Elite Cat 1/2 team Touchstone is proud to announce the new Men’s Masters Cat 4/5 team. They already have started the 2006 season with a bang with six top 10 finishes. The team includes members Dave Chen, Craig Steinmaus, Berkeley Ironworks spinning instructor Mark Nielson, and Touchstone’s Operations Director, Markham Connolly. To see the team bios, photos, and race reports please visit the Touchstone Bike Page and click on Men’s Masters Team.
Touchstone is proud to announce the start of the second season of the Touchstone Climbing Women’s Elite Cat 1/2 bicycle team. Last year the team came in second for the Best All Around Team in the Northern California and Nevada region, the most competitive region in the United States. Three of our women placed in the top 10 in the Best All Around Rider category, including our spinning and boxing instructor, Pat Ross. We congratulate the 2005 women’s team and look forward to a successful 2006 season. To keep up to date on the team’s results and stories please visit the Touchstone Bike Page and click Women’s Elite Team to their website.In addition to the Women’s Elite Cat 1/2 team Touchstone is proud to announce the new Men’s Masters Cat 4/5 team. They already have started the 2006 season with a bang with six top 10 finishes. The team includes members Dave Chen, Craig Steinmaus, Berkeley Ironworks spinning instructor Mark Nielson, and Touchstone’s Operations Director, Markham Connolly. To see the team bios, photos, and race reports please visit the Touchstone Bike Page and click on Men’s Masters Team.
Labels: cycling, Markham Connolly
¶ Monday, April 03, 2006 0 Comments
