XTERRA Mountain Champs
Race Equipment,
Setup & Nutrition
1st Endurance Visor
The XTERRA Mountain Champs is always a brutal one and higher
altitude, non-stop climbing and some punishing downhills. After some last minute prep thanks to SRM and
Pro Cycling to get my bike dialed in all was set to go.
Live Broadcast Interview With Good Morning Vail before XTERRA Mountain Champs
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| Suzie Snyder and I setting up T2 early, the run course goes half way up the mountain behind us. |
At 7500 feet I approach the swim at bit differently, with a brisk 67 degree water temp it was a 2XU X:3 Wetsuit day, from the gun I
started hard for about 10 or so strokes to get into some clear water then
settle into a nice steady rhythm and pace.
There was a decent group that continued going hard and opened a
30-second gap on me at one point in the swim.
I didn’t panic and over the two laps of the lake and a few of the
athletes popped off of the front group.
After exiting the water and jumping on my bike I was only 5 seconds down
from the front group and began to gradually close the gap down Mauricio who
what out front.
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| Somewhere on the long climb up Beaver Creek, SRM just saying more power! |
With a 2000 foot ascend ahead I settled into a good steady
rhythm with Ben Hoffman and slowly chipped away at the gap, about 3miles in
Josiah, who has really improved his swim over the course of the year, cruised
on by, I picked up the pace to stay with him and use him to help close the gap
to Mauricio.
Everything was clicking
well for him and I was just a touch off form and could only stay with him for a
very short period of time.
Mauricio tried
as well but Josiah steamrolled up the climb leaving us in his wake.
At 4 miles Ben and I caught Mauricio as we
continued to climb a mile-paved section before starting the last dirt ascent
before the start of the downhill.
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| Mauricio, myself and Ben headed up the switchbacks before the paved road ascent. |
I was
working on getting my First Endurance EFS in as much as possible but something
I ate or drank to much before the race had caused my stomach to cramp and even
when it felt better every time I put a small amount of liquid in my stomach
would cramp up. Ben put in a small
effort on the paved section that I couldn’t follow and new comer Ryan Petry
went after him has well. Mauricio was on
my wheel like gum and we soldiered on up to the peak of the course at 9300
feet. I knew that I could open up a gap
on Mauricio and close the gap to Ben and Ryan on the downhills and more
technical sections of the course, I closed to with in 30 seconds of Ben and
Ryan but they battled up ahead and as we traversed the Village to Village trail
across the mountain.
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| At the crossover on Village to Village trail. |
I tried to take in my hydration but my stomach was
not cooperating and they continued to put small amounts of time in to me on the
flatter sections while I closed on the downhill and technical sections. As I started the run they had a little less
than a minute on me.
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| SRM Powerfile of XTERRA Mountain Champs, lots of climbing very little descent. |
The run is tough no matter how strong you are, there is
almost 1500 feet of climbing over 5.5miles and it is done over the course of
two long climbs.
I started out pretty
well and felt like I was ticking along okay, how ever I am not sure if the lack
of hydration or calories or if my legs were just not there I started to fade
just after the first aid station and my stomach was not any better even when I
tried to sip on a small amount of water.
Just before the start of the downhill from the first climb Mauricio
passed and I did what I could to keep the legs turning over but I was slowing
to a shuffle.
Once on the next I
steadily hear the footsteps coming from behind as Alex Modestou and Ryan Ignatz
passed on the way up an interminable dirt road climb.
I was hoping that I would be able to open up
the legs on the descent down to the finish but was not moving well enough as
Chris Ganter flew by and I struggled in to the finish in 8
th.
It was well off what I was aiming for and
what I am capable of.
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| Getting aero for next weekend thanks to Paul Mitchell and the Stylists from the Colorado Springs School. |
No rest though another chance to show off all the work I have
been putting in as I am headed to Calgary for the 70.3 race this weekend.
