XTERRA Argentina

On the eve of XTERRA Chile I figured I should get this out there.

Race Details:

Bike: Pro Cycling Epic with SRM XX1 156Q Crank

     Antiflat Protection: 90ml of Effetto Mariposa Caffelatex, 22.5psi Front, 24.5psi Rear, 2.2 Fast Trak 

     Helmet: Rudy Project Windmax

     Glasses: Rudy Project Tralyx 

Run: Colorado Running Company X-Talon 212

     Glasses: Rudy Project Tralyx

Race Nutrition: +First Endurance Triathlon Nutrition Plan

     Pre-Race: 24oz Bottle of 1 serving of EFS Pro Lemon, 20 oz bottle of water

                      3 Capsules of PreRace

     Bike: 2 - 24oz bottles with 5 scoops EFS Pro Lemon in each,

               3 servings of Vanilla EFS Liquid Shot

     Run: 1 servings of Vanilla EFS Liquid Shot and on course hydration.

     Post Race: Cappuccino Ultragen

XTERRA Argentina

It has been way to long since I have updated the blog so here is to hoping I am starting on a right foot this year, I think I say this every year in some form.  I ended 2016 with a big trip to Australia and the ITU Cross Triathlon World Champs and then going on holiday in New Zealand, 2017 is the opposite with a big trip to start the year with a three-week trip to XTERRA’s in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica.  I had been to South America one other time with a trip to XTERRA Brazil a while ago and was excited to see a couple new countries before returning to Costa Rica.

One of the best parts about racing XTERRA’s is they will take you to places that you would not really think to go and experience and that is certainly the case with the race in Argentina just out side of San Juan at Dique del Ullum.  It is a unique landscape at a man made lake with the foothills of the Andes on one side and the race venue is in a barren desert with hills and ravines all over.  Being in South America in March it is the tail end of their summer and the temperatures were still very warm and the lake was warm as well for a nice non-wetsuit swim.  I started well but could not catch the feet of Jean-Phillepe or Julian Buffe.  The first open water swim of the year always feels long to those of us that do not have the opportunity do it in the off season, but the crew at XTERRA Argentina set a perfect and accurate course.  I worked to stay as smooth and efficient as possible and not let JP and Buffe get to much time.  I lost about 45 secons and exited the water in 3^rd with Gonzolo Tellechea just behind.

The bike is two laps and very reminiscent of the old XTERRA Vegas course but a lot more fun.  After a loose gravel ride around the edge of the lake we reached the trails that are short punchy climbs then twisting descents down the ravines, with pumping rhythm sections.  The legs struggled to fire smoothly and I need it with all the moon dust and loose gravel and sand, Gonzolo was floating across everything and I was fighting to keep the bike going and you can’t fight the bike and try to power through in these conditions.  After he got away I was in a back and forth battle with Julian for most of the ride.  There is a brutal steady climb a dry riverbed in loose sand and gravel that really zaps the legs and I continued to struggle just feeling like I was sinking to the bottom while others were floating on top.  The climb does earning a fun twisty descent with sets of whoops and but on the first lap I could not get in to a good flow.   On the second lap Maxi Morales floated by on the loose gravel and sand.  I did get into a good grove and found the flow of the trail and managed to really break free on the last section and earned a little gap heading in to the run over Julian.

The temperatures were climbing and there is no respite from the sun on the barren course, I grabbed small icy bottle of EFS as I started the run to keep hydrated and cool from the inside out.  The run is very hard and a lot of it is a sort of choose your own adventure as there was rarely a defined trail.  Trudging up a dry riverbed that seems to never end, there are a mix of red bags and the red XTERRA arrows lining the course giving a guideline of where to go.  I kept my head up trying pick the shortest line but trying to find the hardest packed earth as I went from one bag to the next.  After a dismal stagger up the river bed I finally reach the peak, I used every bit of traction my Inov-8 X-Talon 212 provided on the steep dusty rolling hills along the top before and heading down another dry loose gravelly river bed spotting one red bag to the next while avoiding long spine cacti.  I was never sure where I was until the last kilometer of the run and it was a very welcome sight.  I was grateful that I did not have to battle anyone coming up from behind and crossed the line in 4th.

XTERRA Dominican Republic

Race Details:

Bike: Pro Cycling Epic with SRAM XX1 156Q SRM Crank

     Antiflat Protection: 90ml of Effetto Mariposa Caffelatex, 21.5psi Front, 24psi Rear, 2.2 Fast Trak 

     Helmet: Rudy Project Windmax Helmet

     Glasses: Rudy Project Tralyx 

Run: Colorado Running Company X-Talon 212

     Glasses: Rudy Project Tralyx

Race Nutrition: +First Endurance Triathlon Nutrition Plan

     Pre-Race: 24oz of EFS Pro mix of Lemon and Cumber Flavors, 20 oz bottle of water

                      3 Capsules of PreRace

     Bike: 2 - 24oz bottles with 1.5 packets of EFS Pro Lemon in each,

               3 servings of Vanilla EFS Liquid Shot

     Run: 1 servings of Vanilla EFS Liquid Shot and on course hydration.

     Post Race: 1 Serving of Cappuccino Ultragen

XTERRA Dominican Republic

When I saw the new races on the XTERRA Pan American circuit, Dominican Republic really stood out as one that I wanted to do and I can’t recommend enough that you go and race as well.  For a first year race it was well run at a spectacular venue of the Casa Bonita Tropical Eco-Lodge.  The staff and management did everything they could to provide the best experience possible for the racers and I know it will only continue to get better the more the race goes on.

As a first year race we didn’t know what to expect going in but the XTERRA DR crew did a fantastic job using what they had at their disposal for the course, most importantly they have the vision and desire to continue to keep adding more trails and keep improving the race experience.

No pictures do the waves justice, but this does show how rocky the beach is.

The race is a beast, with the ocean swim you never know what you will get and on race day it was better for surfing than for swimming that is for sure, as guys were tearing up the waves 200m down the beach from the swim start.  It swells were huge and I was very grateful that we were not having to swim through to many breaking waves.  The start was brutal on a rocky beach as the waves tossed rocks around and you just had to commit and get in to the water.  Once you were past the beach break it was not smooth sailing though as there was probably a 15 foot difference between the bottom and top of the swell so it was very tricky to sight the buoy and the currents made it very difficult as well.  I tried a couple times to surge and get ahead but I was only putting out more effort with no noticeable gain.  I stayed tucked in the front group and did what was necessary to not loose the group.

Once out of the water I got a good sense of who was around me; and it was two local guys, and Rom Akerson.  We hit the bike and my plan was to work with Rom and try to stay out front as long as possible.  That plan went quickly out the window with the surprise of Josiah going by 400m into the bike; he swam well and was only just off of our feet.  It was a quick change in mindset and the only thought was getting on his wheel.  The 3 of us rode together to a steep staircase that is ride able 

We rode the staircase in the pre-ride but not in the race
it is steep and there is no slowing down.

but for the safety of the entire field of competitors the right call was made that we would have to dismount and run/walk down the steps.  There was a grass siding that I knew the bike shoes would get better traction on and planned on running down that, Josiah had the same idea and was a bit more fearless about it and managed to open a gap running down, leaving Rom and I chasing.  We managed to close the gap a little bit since Josiah had to stop to open up a gate but then we reached the hill he really started to open things up.  The hill is brutally steep, you gain about 1000ft in less than 2 miles, everyone is really crawling along up the hill, and many had to walk.  One saving grace was the cloud cover otherwise it would have been even tougher with the sun beating down as you were going 3-4 mph up hill.  To make things a bit tougher there was after a short downhill section it was then a steep hike-a-bike to zap the legs a bit more before you finally go to head downhill.

Rom dropped me chasing Josiah and tried to keep him in sight and worked to stay ahead of Kieran McPherson, as I knew I needed time on him heading into the run.  The couple river crossings on the bike were great to help stay cool.  The good and bad thing about the course is that is two loops, you get great encouragement from everyone coming back through near transition but at the same time you have to go up the hill again.  The second time is always a bit tougher but I mentally used the short sprint athletes that had started later as little carrots to catch as I was riding, I felt like I rode the climb stronger and hit the downhill hard.  About half way down I saw Josiah stopped with a flat, he asked for Co2 

but unfortunately on the first lap my Caffélatex Espresso (a Co2 and sealant that I carry to fix flats) had shaken loose and I didn’t have it any thing else with me.  I was lucky not to flat after I lost that, flats and mechanicals are part of racing and it can happen to anyone you just have to make the best of it and in my case I had to use that to try to gap Josiah so he wouldn’t run my down.

The reward after the climb, you can see the Caffelatex Espresso right when I lost it below my right foot (leftside)

I came in to transition a few minutes down on Rom and didn’t know how quickly Josiah would have gotten going I just pushed on.  The run course is the “easy” part if you want to call it that, though there is not much climbing it is still a gradual climb for 5k and it grinds a way at you before coming back in.  I focused on staying hydrated and was very happy that the run was well shaded in the trees, there were a few times I still considered jumping in the crystal clear cool water of the river that we run besides.   I managed to keep things together well and held my position and finished 2^nd behind Rom.

SRM Powerfile and elevation file from XTERRA Dominican Republic (not sure why the elevation isn't symmetrical)

The post race party at the finish line with the wood fired pizza oven and barbecue was great to get refreshed.  The awards were back up at Casa Bonita were we got to sit and relax at the infinity pool for the awards.  This is truly a brilliant place for a racecation.

5-Ryan Ignatz, 3 Kieran McPherson, 1 Rom Akerson, 2 Me, 3 Josiah Middaugh