XTERRA SE Regional in Alabama was a good race. If compared-- the Waco TX regional was a sightseeing trip- and Pelham was a blur.
I'd left my helmet at home on my trip to Waco...I think my brain was in it. This time I brought both-my helmet and brain. And, I’ve made an interesting discovery: 90degrees and 85% humidity don't seem to affect an older female who routinely experiences hot flashes. Who knew that they were a good training tool!
I made the 9.5-hour drive to just past Birmingham, AL after work on Friday and was asleep in a hotel in Pelham by 1AM. I slept in until 9AM and headed out to pre-ride the 20-mile bike course, and take a refreshing dip in the lake; if you call 80-degree water refreshing. In the evening, I dined on crab cakes and sweet potatoes, then lights out early.
8:30AM and 80 degrees already. We are a race field of 128. For the swim, I lined up right behind the pro -Conrad Stolz, since I knew he’s be moving out fast and I’d have a clear path in his wake. The two 750 meter laps were uneventful-I even found some toes to follow for the first lap- then outswam my pacer on the 2nd.
Transition was speedy –no sox. I had no idea where my competition was, but stuck to my plan of riding the mountain bike segment all out-like it was only a bike race. I caught the first gal from my age group within 5 minutes and the second one not that much later. She allowed me to pass and I rode VERY aggressively for the next few minutes to be sure I was out of her sight in the trees. From then on, I had a blast. My new Fisher 29er SuperFly 100 bike is a joy to ride. Holy Cow, does it climb! And it gets me places before I’m ready to be there. So I’m learning to anticipate my turns and obstacles that much farther ahead. Good thing my distance vision is still good and I don’t need reading glasses to ride the bike!
I had no idea how much gap I had going into T2. I slipped out of my shoes while riding the last road section and since the dismount line was down a slight slope- I swung off at a run and I actually sprinted to my TA. For a fraction of a second on that run, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to keep up with my bike! It’s pretty funny when you’re so surprised with yourself. I heard my thoughts go “Wow, that was cool”.
Since I never saw my competition leave transition ahead of me in Waco because I was struggling with sox, here, I decided to go without. My shoes were buried in a pile of baby power and I slipped them on, grabbed my visor and Hammer Endurolytes and flew, leaving plumes of white smoke in my wake. I’ve since learned that slathering vasoline inside my shoes may have been a better idea. I’d worn my race belt from the beginning of the race-in the swim under my speed suit, and flipped around my back on the bike.
The run course that XTERRA laid out is dastardly. After the first 2.5 miles of Farmdale-Shroals-like running, there are 5 major climbs in the last 3 miles, combined with the plunging downhill on the other side. The climbs turned into power walks. The only saving grace is that both the bike and run are on Oak Mountain with plenty of oaky shade. It is really a beautiful state park, with an abundance of sights, activities and races. Visit there if you can. They host a 50K run in March, other road and offroad triathlons and mtn bike races. So, yea, my toes ended up blistered, but I didn’t realize it until after the race…truly mind over matter.
I knew that I’d won my age- and earned the trip to XTERRA Worlds on Maui as I crossed the finish line in 3:13:27. That was sweet. But sweeter still was a more personal achievement. I was able to sustain my effort and focus the whole race. I’d been missing that this year. Just over 10 minutes later- 2nd in my age finished.
I headed back to my hotel quickly to take advantage of late check out, air-conditioning, and a decent shower. I hit the road and was in my bed at home by 11:30PM. The next morning checking the results – I discovered that the only non-pro woman to finish ahead of me was half my age. I was 2nd amateur female. Sweet. That gal oughta’ go pro. She outdistanced me by 18 minutes and did beat one of the pro women. (And yea, my friend Shonny V. won the pro womens race.)
Now for staying kinda local for awhile. I feel like I’ve been living that Johnny Cash song …”I’ve been every where, man”….N’awlins, Waco, Kansas City, Birmingham…
And next year- SPAIN….Off-road triathlon has been recognized by the ITU – and so just like the ITU World ‘Road’ Tri Champs that is hosted around the world, there is a Cross Triathlon World Champs with the first one being in Extremadura Spain April 30, 2011. Four qualifying races will take 5 athletes per age group for TeamUSA. (still, all on the athletes own dime). So I qualified at Waco…
and am now looking for dimes.
