1st of 30: Xterra Tahoe City 09 - Tahoe City CA

First post of the year & another win here at Xterra Tahoe City. 1st in age group by a mere 9 seconds, 2nd place amature & 4th overall. See this newspaper link that was well written by Sylas Wright of the Sierra Sun: clickity-click

2008 Preamble

Yes, there is a 2008! In fact it’s been going on full blast & leaving my blog in the dust! So much time has passed since my last post of the Xterra World Champs at the end of October 2007 that I’ve forgotten how to blog, almost.

As of the end of June I’ve already done 6 Xterra races: 3 Regional Championship Races (I call these BIG XTerra races) & 3 Points Series Races (called little Xterra races of course).

So the big question is: where to start? Easy: at the end & work my way back to the beginning of my season. My race reports will initially be ordered by the date I blog it & eventually I’ll reorder it according to race dates like in past seasons. I’ll be updating links & facts as I get blogging again. Enough, off to the races!

1st of 24: Xterra Tahoe City 08 - Tahoe City CA

(all photos courtesy of Big Blue Adventure & Gene Murrieta unless otherwise noted)

Follow this link to some outstanding race video by Big Blue & Damian Gonzalez. After the link, just scroll down to "XTERRA Tahoe City Race Video."

Overall 4th of 134 with a total time of 2:50.24.

I can't disagree with the fact that best result ever will be my first post of the 2008 season. Yes, this is my first, FIRST PLACE!!! This is a local race & all prior races this season were serving a podium peak performance for this race. From the beginning of this season I was bound & determined to redeem myself for my horrendous performace here last year (6th).

The big question of the week was: "Is the race going to be cancelled?" With over 800 small & large fires burning in California at the time & the typical west-to-east winds blowing so much smoke into the Tahoe basin that at times it was impossible to see much further than a mile. In the weeks leading up to the race I was getting calls & emails from fellow racers about the air quality at Lake Tahoe. In reality the air quality was changing every few hours from bad to worse & then would get better, which remained the cycle leading up to the race. After the Western States Endurance 100 Race was cancelled I begain looking for other Xterra races so as not to waste my peak form & be able to try for a top performance elsewhere. The morning prior to the race I was looking at the swim & the race director pulled up with his trailer we chatted about the air, which was good at the time so: race on. Later that day at registration the air was bad, but there was no mention of cancellation. Finally I came to some conclusions on fire smoke that were published in the Sierra Sun local newspaper along w/ some of my post-race thoughts (online news link)

(excerpt from Sierra Sun newspaper article by Emma Garrard)

RACE REPORT:

Disciplines Full/Long Xterra Race (maps & profiles)

Swim: 1200 meters
Bike: 22 miles
Run: 6 miles

Morning air conditions were less smokey than the day prior, so whew, race on. I was feeling calm while getting going in the morning, arriving at transition & warming up. There were no hitches other than finding out only cups of water would be handed out for aid during the bike. This was actually troublesome as, although this was a "little" Xterra, the race is full distance and in fact is as long or longer than most Championship races where full water bottles are handed out durning the bike race at key locations. Easy decision though: bring my own water bottle, which will be heavy to drag up the "granny gear" climb out of transition but well worth the hydration during the 22 mile mtb course.

THE SWIM (22.28 3rd): A very shallow start that goes out for quite a ways isn't necessarily bad for me as it modifies ones stroke to require more power & less technique than the typical deep water course.

(photo courtesy of Crosbie Ronning)

I found some fast feet & kept on them. It made me go harder than I wanted, but I think it's what I've needed as my swims to date had been slower than I expected. It's also quite rocky so I decided to swim as long as I could until my nose scraped the bottom before standing up.

Transition Run 1/2 mile takes about 5 minutes for me as I'm a bit wobbly right after the swim.

(above photo courtesy of Crosbie Ronning)

Transition (T1) from Swim to Bike: This was the worst part of my race. All but my first race this season have been so bloody hot that I have no practice taking off my wetsuit during a race. I wasn't patient enough to get it down low enough, so I ended up on my butt struggling with cold hands to get the legs off, finally off, but oops, forgot my hydration pack with most my race food in it when I took off on my bike. Definitly a grade "D" T1.

THE BIKE (1:38.33 1st): I love mountain biking, so much so that I don't realize the high intensity effort I'm putting out, which typically leaves me beat for the run. Not this time, for the most part, I forced myself to stay within my pace. This climb is really steep & rocky, & though the pic doesn't do it justice, it takes threshold to max effort to climb it correctly.

The bike turned out to be a pivotal part of my race. Other than the killer steep climb out of TI, the bike course is made for me with mostly power flats a few brief power climbs, so as I kept my pace I started reaching & then passed the overall winner of the tri. This was towards the end of the 1st of 2 laps. I was going harder as I passed & it flashed through my mind to watch out for the sharp gravel corner coming up. Too late, as soon as I thought about it, I was going down. While straightening my bars I was passed back. Got going pretty quickly & figured that was my one & only strike. I went back to MY pace.

(photo courtesy of Crosbie Ronning)

In reflection this little spill kept me from overdoing it on the bike, which, like in some other races this year would have "blown me up" on the run.

T2 Transition from Bike to Run went well. I saw my full hydration pack sitting there & wished I had time for a drink as I was thirsty & drained from very little replenishment during the bike.

THE RUN (49.22 5th): In general this run course is a long climb up from the lake, a short flattish loop on top, then a long downhill to the finish.

(photo courtesy of Crosbie Ronning)

Strategy for me: just keep running up the hill no matter what, go harder on the flats then run like I can downhill & keep increasing the turnover & speed. I spotted my nemesis, who has been coming in behind me at the last 2 Championship races by a minute or two, at the top of the run through the trees. He's a much better uphill runner than me, but after that I can hang on the flats & am faster downhill. After the race he said he also saw me flash through the trees at the top & then he never saw me again. Perfect. I just tried to increase my speed all the way through the finish line.

(buddy Phil keeping an eye on me while I got fixed up in the med tent. Photo courtesy of Crosbie Ronning)

(photo courtesy of Crosbie Ronning)

All in all I couldn't be happier with my performance. Aside from all the key training & scheduling Coach Cody put together for me, the key factor in being in my best condition for this race was Coach Cody encouraging me to do the East Championships at Richmond two weeks prior to the Tahoe City race. This is what pushed me over the top to my first victory! Yeah!!!

12th of 57: XTERRA World Championships - Makena Maui HI

As I was sick for most of the month prior to this race, I didn't take it as seriously as I have in the past: more like a vacation with a little race thrown in to keep in shape. I felt good about my performance & I'll let the pictures to the talking.

Competitor Start List

From Xterra website: The XTERRA World Championship is the culmination of a national and international series of more than 100 qualifying events. In the United States, more than 50 races pave the way to the World Championship. Events around the world bring athletes from the XTERRA Global Tour to compete at the world level. For the past eleven years, this race has put athletes to the ultimate test of endurance and skill. The Maui course is notorious for its unforgiving terrain and stifling heat. Race day conditions can turn even the most seasoned pros into a pile of mush. The battle of human potential -vs- Mother Nature draws thousands to this spectacular venue every October.

Race Course
1.5k swim / 30k mountain bike / 11k trail run

Pre-riding of the course is not permitted. Violators will be disqualified. The course is privately-owned land made accessible exclusively for this race. A practice course will be made available to registered competitors. Please check the athlete info tab at the top of this page for information.
SWIM: The open ocean swim is two laps of a 750-meter triangular course starting on Makena Beach, with a 50-meter beach run between laps.
BIKE: There will be one transition area for both the bike and run located at the Maui Prince Hotel. We'll incorporate most of the old course in our plan. The classic Maui Volcano course is still with us after 10 years. Anyone who rode in 1996 will recognize most of it. Same course as 2006 for those returning from last year. Hot, dusty, short and steep, long and relentless and then "the plunge".
RUN: Last year's course proved tough and rugged. It will remain the same for 2007 so expect an easy first mile (if you like climbing) and nothing but rough terrain, lava rocks, uneven surfaces, then more up and down and plenty of sand to simply burn your legs to death.

Mountain Bike Course Elevation Gain Table

4th of 29: XTERRA National Championship-Lake Tahoe NV

The best part of this race is that it's so close to home, which means my family & close friends show up to cheer me on. The town in general seems to want me to do well too. Needless to say, it really helps when I'm digging deep for energy! Another part of the fun is the newspaper coverage I received. It was super with the front of the sports page plastered with a huge picture of me racing my bike around a enormous granite wall on the Flume Trail. There was also a swim pic of me exiting the water at a Vashon Island WA Xterra. Very cool! Thanks for all the support & pics to Chloe & Ben, Jen, John & David, Grable & Phil, Rachel & Anny.




.93 Mile Swim (includes 3min run to transition): 30.54

Although I woke up with a scratchy throat on Saturday, which only got worse by Sunday morning & had gear shifting problems (could not use rear big cogs 2 or 3), I had the Fastest Bike Split in my division: 1:51.34. The trail conditions were cold, with slippery patches of snow & ice from the snowstorm a day earlier. I nearly crashed my mountain bike on the Flume when making fast turn by granite wall- I cut it too close & scraped off my bar end. Yes that was the same granite wall from the newspaper picture!

21.7 Mile Mountain Bike: 1:51.34



6.1 Mile Trail Run: 46.05

My third place podium position was stolen from me in the last ¼ mile of the run when I was passed by the South West Regional Champ & before I processed what happened he put a 40 yd gap on me. I started to reel him in but there just wasn’t enough run course left before the finish. I gave it my all & barreled into the crowd at the finish. I ended up finishing 4 seconds behind him.


Overall: 43rd of 314 (including pros)
Age Group 40-44: 4th of 26
Total Time: 3:08.33

Here are the top ten finishers from my 40-44 group:

------------------------------------Swim-------Bike--------Run------Total
1--Scott Zavack---LOS GATOS,CA-----:27:17----01:54:10----:43:12----3:04:39
2--Bruce Gennari--BRENTWOOD,TN-----:24:40----01:57:33----:43:17----3:05:30
3--Geoff Jones----SAN FRANCISCO,CA-:29:16----01:53:28----:45:45----3:08:29
4--Eric Ronning---INCLINE VLG,NV---:30:54----01:51:34----:46:05----3:08:33
5--Peter Hanson---MINNEAPOLIS,MN---:29:33----01:58:31----:44:45----3:12:49
6--Jeff Landauer--ROSEVILLE,CA-----:33:12----01:52:57----:47:16----3:13:25
7--Bruce Rogers---BEND,OR----------:33:39----01:54:56----:45:46----3:14:21
8--Eric Edgerton--AZTEC,NM---------:30:24----02:00:57----:48:34----3:19:55
9--Tom St.Clair---TUMWATER,WA------:30:46----02:14:37----:40:39----3:26:02
10-TODD Gottfried-VALENCIA,CA------:38:26----02:02:29----:45:28----3:26:23

I’m happy with my performance. More rest than usual leading up to the race helped. I finished with the same time as last year 3:08.33, however, the run course was longer than last year. My big advantage ended up being on the bike, which I’m so pleased with. It almost makes me feel better about losing 3rd place by 4 seconds.

If you read this far, you probably know that after the race my sickness hit me like a ton of bricks. I've been sick for a week now with no training in sight. World Champs in Maui will be just for fun & not for speed.

My 2006 Results AG 35-39: 6th of 32
Swim: 29.26
Bike: 1:57:02
Run: 42.21
Finish: 3:08:49

Join me for a fun filled morning of Premiere Championship Off-Road Triathlon Racing.

RACE START: 9:00am sharp on Sunday, September 30th at Hyatt Beach, Incline Village Nevada.

From the National Championship Website:

The XTERRA USA Championship is the culmination of a series of more than 50 qualifying events across the US that award points to the top athletes in XTERRA's eight regions. The XTERRA USA Championship is open to qualified amateur athletes from the US. Non-qualfied athletes can race on the famed championship course by signing up for the XTERRA Nevada race, which takes place the day before nationals.
USA Championship Race Course: 1.5K SWIM / 32K MOUNTAIN BIKE / 10K TRAIL RUN

The SWIM: The Big Kahuna's cannon blast signals the start of the swim in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe. XTERRA competitors hit the water for a 1.5K swim: two laps of a 750-meter course are followed by a quick sprint to a grassy area for T1. (WETSUITS MAY BE REQUIRED! According to USA Triathlon regulations, wetsuits must be worn if water temperature falls below 57 degrees. Wetsuit policy will be posted in the XTERRA Expo the day prior to the race.)

The MOUNTAIN BIKE: (Cut-off time is strictly enforced. Competitors will be pulled from the bike/run transition at 1:30pm) The second leg is a grand, single-loop 32K mountain bike for both XTERRA and XTERRA Nevada competitors. Following a short, paved section through Incline Village, competitors reach the trail heads at the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park where the real race begins.

Sixteen hundred vertical feet of climbing welcomes competitors on Tunnel Creek Road. Riders ascend three miles to the Flume Trail, one of the most scenic mountain bike trails in the world. The Flume is known for its grand views of Lake Tahoe's azure blue waters and mountain peaks to the south and west.
Riders who get distracted by the view might end up casualties of this 4.4-mile section of single track, which includes two mandantory dismounts to cross rocky outcrops. After The Flume, a short challengeing ascent leads to Marlette Lake and the start of another leg-burning climb.
Reaching the south end of the lake, riders switch to granny gear and head up Hobart Road. There are a few sandy sections along the way. Next is a short, big-gear roll and a left turn onto Tahoe Rim Trail for 6.6 miles of Tahoe's finest single track.

Just past the Twin Lakes, turn left to Tunnel Creek Road for a fast and furious descent across all kinds of terrain: sandy sections, riparian areas with great traction, high-speed lanes and a few water bar whoopdies. This section will either showcase riders' descending skills or throw them over the handlebars.
At the end of Tunnel Creek Road things flatten out as you return back on Lakeshore Drive to Village Green and T2.

The TRAIL RUN : The final leg is a 10K trail run for championship competitors. The course starts out of transition along a wide soccer field. Championship competitors do two laps of this 5K course.
This run course has more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie novel. Just when you think you have a rhythm, mother nature will put a fallen tree or a boulder or four different creek gully crossings and two log crossing smack in your way.
The course is tight and runs among giant pines with numerous switchbacks where you'll be able to see what your competition is up to.
Half-way through you'll come back to the main compound where the crowd will cheer you on. First time around we'll give you a bracelet: the second time around, show it to me and we'll send you home to the finish. And you'll be happy to see it.