If you want to feel like a badass sign up for an Xterra
event!!!
This was my first time racing a full triathlon “off
road”. I was extremely nervous going
into the event- nervous about falling, about getting hurt, about being in the
way, about getting lost, pretty much I worried about everything. Before I signed up for the event I was even
worried, so much so that I didn’t actually sign me up for the event. Patrick spoke to the race director and got me
registered, then just told me I was signed up to race. I guess he got tired of me freaking out.
Now I was signed up but I was not sure what to do about
it. I was coming off of a Iron distance
race where the run was all trail, so that part I knew I could do (I just had to
tell myself a few times), plus I love trail running. The swim was all good, a lake is a lake. It
was the bike I was worried about. I have
been mountain biking and recently (last few years) go out a few times a year to
ride the trails at the nearby college.
Out there I can pull over to get out of people’s way. Out there I know how to get home (most of the
time). Out there I know when the trail
is less traveled. This was going to be a
new experience.
I originally had plans to ride my mountain bike- my Trek
from 1999, purchased for me by my parents as a graduation gift to take to
college. The Trek had no shocks and can
be a rough ride, but I like my bike.
However, we came across another mountain bike with a few more features-
SHOCKS- to it; so my Trek took a backseat.
I was able to ride the bike course a few weeks before the
race. It was a nice course but narrow in
a number of places. This began my asking
of everyone “what do I do when the fast people want to pass?” The answer was always the same, “They’ll find
a way”. While I understood the idea that
they will get past me the factor of how was still running through my mind. I spoke with a tri friend and coach about
the event given that he had done other Xterra events. He told me the people would be different
there. They would wait till a safe spot
then make their move to pass. They would
let me know they were behind me and they would call a direction to pass. He also told me a bit of advice that I will
keep in mind in a variety of races, “It is the other racer’s fault they are
behind you, they should have been a better swimmer.” With a mass swim start this race held true to
this point.
The days between signing up and race day passed
quickly. This race would mark the start
to the Fall Tri Season for me- hence why not getting hurt was a huge
focus.
When we got to the race site it was not the normal frantic
noise. Patrick got the kayak out for
water support and I headed to the pavilion to do body marking, then off to
transition. Since Patrick wasn’t racing
and was instead given a job it was a little strange in the morning going to
transition alone. Everything was very
laid back. Number on the bike, number on
the athlete= Welcome to transition, set up anywhere. I grabbed an outside spot about midway, set
up my gear, and headed to the water.
The lake is not a swimming lake and has not been for years
due to wildlife. Today that would change
as 150 athletes take to the water. We
got to swim in advance of the start, proving that the only thing “good” about
this water was going to be that it was fresh water. The water temp was 85 degrees, and I think
that was on the low side. It felt like a
bathtub. It was not cooling or
refreshing, but it was fresh and without jellyfish.
The mass start was something new for me as well, especially
in such a narrow area. When a race does
waves you are looking at 40-50 people this was triple that. I knew I was fast enough to be out front, but
I also knew I didn’t want to fight, so I moved to the outside thinking not as
many would want to be there. I was
wrong, as the final 10 second countdown started it seemed people poured in
beside me. Let me also take this moment
to remind you that Xterra is like another triathlon, meaning there are only a
few females, about a 1:4 ratio. The horn
went off and suddenly I was being elbowed and pushed down by men twice my
size. It took me a moment to process the
situation then my brain flipped the switch; “get out, get away, go.” There was only one way out of the situation,
forward. Being smaller than the guys I
was able to dart and weave between them and elbow out some room. By about half way to the first buoy space was
opening up; of course a few guys were still pushing people around. I passed the first buoy and the lake opened
up to me. I was able to breathe. In the triangle placement is difficult to
figure out sometimes but I knew I was in a good place. Unfortunately this meant my mind slipped to
planning the bike and planning for narrow passing. About that time I saw Patrick on the kayak and
all worry left me- I am safe here, I am safe now, and if anything happens
Patrick is here. I came out of the water
early in the pack. It was a short paved
run to the transition area- one rock got me.
In transition it was the same routine- shoes, helmet,
sunglasses, oh yeah camelpak (that was new).
Out with the bike and down a short paved road to the trail. Once on the trail the fun began. I had ridden the trail once before so I knew
a little of what to expect. I took a few
deep breaths at the beginning as other athletes began to come around me. They all called their pass. They mostly yelled out positive remarks. They gave as much room to me as they could
and I did the same for them. Once I
didn’t feel like I was stopping the bike course in its tracks I let myself
enjoy the adventure. I curved around
trees, rushed through mud, and went a little squirrely in the sand. It may not seem super fast but I reached a
max speed of 18mph on the bike going down a gravel/ grass hill; of course,
uphill was a different story. The course
was two loops around and by the second loop I was feeling a little more at home
out on the course (of course most of those faster on the bike had already
passed me, but I did get to still pass a few people).
 |
| Leaving T2 |
Towards the end of the bike course I worried a little about
the running portion, which was quickly approaching. I was concerned over my lower back hurting
from riding in a different position than normal and from the bumps along the
way. But there was T2 in front of me and
no matter how I thought it was going to feel I was about to find out the
truth.
Over my mud covered legs I slipped on my braces- a little
grit is good for you. I headed out,
thankful to have my camelpak. The first
mile seemed to take forever. I kept
thinking, “How am I not on the other side of the lake yet?” or “I could swim
around the lake faster.” Both ideas led
me to telling myself one thing, “Focus and run”. So I ran and walked and ran and walked, on
and on. I was starting to feel really proud
of myself- sure I was for the most part alone out there, sure I was a little
slow, sure I was hurting a little, but I was almost done with my first off road
triathlon…. SLAM….the ground came fast at me as I tripped over a root. REALLY!!!!!
NOW!!!! 
Upon seeing the levee I was ready to be done and ready to
run it out. The day had gotten hot and
the sun beat down as I came out of the woods into the open area. Patrick was at the finish line yelling for me
to hurry up. There were no elbows out,
just head up, legs and arms going, one final push across the line. 
For my first time I was happy to have survived. Patrick noticed my dirt covered side about 5
minutes after my finish, but there were no broken bones and no scrapes-
YAY!!!
A bonus to the day was taking 3rd place in my age
group (because 2 of the top three ladies were form my age group, but remember
it is all about who shows up on race day).
This was a great event and I look forward to a few more,
just maybe not so close to an Ironman event!!
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