XTERRA Mountain Champs

XTERRA Mountain Champs

Race Equipment, Setup & Nutrition

Clothing-2XU Custom Compression Long Distance Tri Shorts and Singlet

Swim - 2XU Race Goggles, 2XU X:3 Wetsuit

Bike - Pro Cycling SW Epic, Rotor 3D+ SRM w/38-27 Q-Rings

           Effetto Mariposa Sealant in Fast Trak 2.2 Tires, Front 23psi, Rear 28psi.

           Rudy Project Windmax Helmet

           Rudy Project Noyz Fluo Sunglasses

Run - Colorado Running Company Inov-8 Trailroc 245

          1^st Endurance Visor

Nutrition - First Endurance Off-Road Nutrition Plan

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

XTERRA East

XTERRA East Champs

Race Equipment, Setup & Nutrition

Clothing-2XU Custom Compression Long Distance Tri Shorts and Singlet

Swim - 2XU Race Goggles, 2XU Swim Skin

Bike - Pro Cycling SW Epic, Rotor 3D+ SRM w/38-27 Q-Rings

           Effetto Mariposa Sealant in Fast Trak 2.2 Tires, tire pressure unsure, too high though.

           Rudy Project Windmax Helmet

           Rudy Project Noyz Fluo Sunglasses

Run - Colorado Running Company Inov-8 Trailroc 245

          1^st Endurance Visor

Nutrition - First Endurance Off-Road Nutrition Plan

XTERRA East Champs in Richmond has been a hard one for me to crack in the past and really put everything together.  It is a fantastic race with a unique feel as it takes place in downtown Richmond, though at many places on the course you would think you are in a great forest.

Thankfully we were not dealing with a tropical storm passing over this year to set the river at flood stage and canceling the swim we still had some good storms pass through the area in the days leading up to the race to put the river at is highest point while I have been competing here and adding a very dynamic element to the race with the currents in the James River.  We had all done our research studying the river and with the swift current started much further upstream than normal to not be fighting but using the current getting to the first buoy.

It was a fanatic start as with only 150m to the first turn buoy it would still be crowded as an order would not be set yet.  The mayhem continued on a upstream leg to the next buoy as we all tried to swim close to an island to get out of the current to reach the next buoy.  Josiah pulled a very cheeky move and scouted a sand bar a bit further to the right and sprinted up the buoy before diving back in.  As we headed to the next buoy the jostling continued and I was not happy with my position being crowded and bumping around with everyone so I saw over Josiah’s legs and on the subsequent stroke grabbed his shoulder and pulled him straight behind me, sorry Jo it gets a bit rough at times at the front can’t count how many times I have had that happen to me.   I managed to find free space after that and started to settle in as we headed on to Belle Isle.  After the quick run across and diving back in is where the real battle against the current began, a few of us understood that there was a buoy in the middle that we needed to stay up stream of, not all of us got that message apparently.  The current was very strong and it was a battle to stay upstream of the buoy and added a dynamic to the race, with the currents people were all over the place and there was no pack like in other swims.  I tried to close the gap down that Dan and Craig had opened but in the end started the bike about 25 seconds down from them.

With Conrad on my feet out of the swim I had one objective and that was to be on his wheel when he caught up on the bike.  I was in good position till he too pulled a cheeky move and rode the sidewalk across the bridge slightly cutting the distance as the bridge curved around to the trails similar to running on the inside lanes of a track.  Just missing his wheel as we hit the single track I did sneak by Mauricio and hoped to open up a good gap on him before the run.  Unfortunately I was not riding my best technically and struggled to ride smoothly.  Mauricio did a fantastic job staying within striking distance and when it was about strength instead of technical ability he would claw his way closer.   Brad Weiss rode strong and passed me but he helped Mauricio claw his way closer and after a couple mistakes on my part in the raucous rock garden having to reset my chain he moved back ahead of me.  I tried to settle down and ride smooth but it just wasn’t happening today.  Josiah passed bay just before starting the Northbank bringing Karsten Madsen with him.  Karsten was riding strong as well and on another mistake on my part passed by and I was just trying to keep him in striking distance.  I rode a bit better on the second lap but was tentative trying not to make mistakes that would lead to me putting a foot down.  I held my position and managed to close the gap down on the second lap and left transition right with Karsten and Mauricio.

The goal with any run is to limit losses to Mauricio and I took off trying to use him as a carrot up ahead.  It worked for about two miles till he was out of sight at the Mayan staircase.  I continued to push and the legs kept a good rhythm but after picking my way through the dry river bed and feeling my position was secure I definitely backed things off and cruised in to finish 7^th.  It was a tough one to take as my fitness and ability are better than what I did.  There are always off days you just never want them to actually happen. I have put together a lot of really good races this year and now get a chance to put together some solid training heading in to Mountain Champs.