raceAthlete.com

Thank God for bike helmets by Tri-Geek Dreams

The Tri-Geek Kahuna feels like someone from the "Sopranos" took a baseball bat to his body. And he has the bruises to prove it.

Yesterday afternoon, he finally decided to limp out to his car and clean out the all the crap he took with him to Temecula. That's when he came across his bike helmet. He still hadn't figured out exactly how he landed after his plunge off the mountain, but the helmet could give him a clue, couldn't it? After all, he had seen "CSI."

Actually, it didn't take much investigation. The front left side of the helmet had a huge dent. If not for the helmet, the Kahuna would be dead.

It was kind of sobering for the Kahuna to hold that helmet in his hand, knowing that it saved his life. It almost brought back ugly memories about how hard he hit the rock, the explosion of sound, the stars.

The Kahuna will be getting a new helmet, but he'll keep the old one as a souvenir to remind him how lucky he was.

The Tri-Geek Kahuna wasn't very good at going up the steep Temecula hills on his mountain bike -- in fact, he had to jump off and push his bike up many of them during his scouting ride of the 15k loop that he would circle twice at the next day's Xterra race.

But now, he reached the ridgeline high above Vail Lake and it was time to bomb down the hill.

It was only his fourth time on a mountain bike, and he still couldn't get over the roller coaster-like thrill of zooming down the single tracks. Late in the afternoon, the Kahuna was the last rider on the course. Somehow, that made it all the more thrilling.

Up ahead, nothing seemed unusual. The Kahuna couldn't see the sharp left-hand turn in the trail. He kept going at full-speed until it was too late.

He didn't have time to even hit his brakes or attempt a turn. He flew straight off the trail, off a boulder and through the air. Just like that, he was living a nightmare. Everything went into slow motion. Below him, a bed of rocks and boulders. There would be no soft landing. He closed his eyes.

That big lump on the Kahuna's shin doesn't belong there.

The day started well. The Kahuna had driven out to Temecula a few hours earlier to pick up his packet for his first Xterra race, to listen to some pros offer advice at various seminars and to scout the bike course.

As he walked into the expo area, he heard someone behind him asked, "Are you the Kahuna?" It's fun to be semi-famous.

"Why, yes I am!"

Turns out, Amelia was a "Get Your Geek On!" podcast fan who had decided to give the sport of triathlon a try after listening to the Kahuna, Iron Wil and SimplyStu. She was super nice.

Next, world champion Melanie McQuaid spotted the Kahuna and pedaled over to him on her mountain bike.

"Kahuna," she said. "I want you to meet my boyfriend, Ross."

It's nice when the world champion refers to you as "Kahuna."

Then there was the "Art of Xterra" seminar where four pros, including Melanie, gave their secrets about how to have a good race.

Their talk was all good, but the Kahuna kept staring at the super-steep hill behind them. The first ascent on the 30K looked impossibly steep. Most riders were pushing their bikes up the mile-long portion of the trail, while the pros talked about never going to the granny gear while on the course.

After a quick interview with Melanie and Amelia for the "Get Your Geek On!" podcast, the Kahuna decided to check out the bike trail.

The trail to the top of the mountain.

It was a humbling experience, like driving in the Indy 500 after just learning to drive. The Kahuna had no business being out there. He just didn't have enough hours on the mountain bike.

Still, he was THE KAHUNA! So he continued on, the whole time trying to figure out how the hell he was going to get around this course -- twice -- during the race. He also had new admiration for the Xterra athletes whose mountain biking ability was huge and really unfathomable until you're barreling down a single track trail, the mountain on one side and a cliff on the other.

***

The Kahuna knew he was going to be hurt. He just didn't know how. A broken collarbone? Smashed in teeth? A split-opened head?

His flight through the air seemed to last forever. And then, finally, he hit. BAM! His helmet hit the rocks first, creating a loud explosion in the Kahuna's head. He saw stars and wondered if he would die.

Now it was quiet. The Kahuna laid face down on the rocks. He didn't want to move until he figured out how badly he was hurt. His head pounded. He was able to move his arms and legs. After a minute or so, he pushed his back off him and turned over. A purplish contusion in shape and size of an avocado had formed on his left shin. Pain shot through his left hip. His left shoulder, too.

He was shaking and in shock. It occurred to him that he was halfway around the 15K loop with likely no other riders coming along the way this late in the day. He pulled his bike and himself back up to the trail.

The bike's chain had some off and the right ride of the bike's handlebars broken in half. If he was careful, he could make it back his car.

For the next 45 minutes, he walked up and down any hill of consequence as his body started to freeze up. Shooting pains in his neck. Growing tightness in his back. Increased soreness in his shoulder, hip and shin. He was never more happy to see his car than that day.

One of the Kahuna's bruises (please ignore the unfortunate placement of the cactus in the photo; the Kahuna isn't feeling well enough to take another pic).

Between his broken body and broken bike, Sunday's race was off. The Kahuna didn't deserve to be in it anyway. He had committed a grave sin by disrespecting the discipline. Nature has a way with dealing with the weak.

Today, less than 24 hours after the accident, the Kahuna feels both embarrassed and fortunate. Embarrassed because he should have known better (yes, it occurred to him that some of you had warned him that this would happen). Fortunate because he came away from the crash with only a bruised face, shoulder, hip, shin, and ego; a sore neck; and massive headache. No broken bones, no stitches, no Ironman Florida-ending injuries.

He'll live to do triathlon another day.

Do you want to read more by Kahuna? Just visit his blog by clicking HERE.

Thank God for bike helmets by Tri-Geek Dreams

The Tri-Geek Kahuna feels like someone from the "Sopranos" took a baseball bat to his body. And he has the bruises to prove it.

Yesterday afternoon, he finally decided to limp out to his car and clean out the all the crap he took with him to Temecula. That's when he came across his bike helmet. He still hadn't figured out exactly how he landed after his plunge off the mountain, but the helmet could give him a clue, couldn't it? After all, he had seen "CSI."

Actually, it didn't take much investigation. The front left side of the helmet had a huge dent. If not for the helmet, the Kahuna would be dead.

It was kind of sobering for the Kahuna to hold that helmet in his hand, knowing that it saved his life. It almost brought back ugly memories about how hard he hit the rock, the explosion of sound, the stars.

The Kahuna will be getting a new helmet, but he'll keep the old one as a souvenir to remind him how lucky he was.

The Tri-Geek Kahuna wasn't very good at going up the steep Temecula hills on his mountain bike -- in fact, he had to jump off and push his bike up many of them during his scouting ride of the 15k loop that he would circle twice at the next day's Xterra race.

But now, he reached the ridgeline high above Vail Lake and it was time to bomb down the hill.

It was only his fourth time on a mountain bike, and he still couldn't get over the roller coaster-like thrill of zooming down the single tracks. Late in the afternoon, the Kahuna was the last rider on the course. Somehow, that made it all the more thrilling.

Up ahead, nothing seemed unusual. The Kahuna couldn't see the sharp left-hand turn in the trail. He kept going at full-speed until it was too late.

He didn't have time to even hit his brakes or attempt a turn. He flew straight off the trail, off a boulder and through the air. Just like that, he was living a nightmare. Everything went into slow motion. Below him, a bed of rocks and boulders. There would be no soft landing. He closed his eyes.

That big lump on the Kahuna's shin doesn't belong there.

The day started well. The Kahuna had driven out to Temecula a few hours earlier to pick up his packet for his first Xterra race, to listen to some pros offer advice at various seminars and to scout the bike course.

As he walked into the expo area, he heard someone behind him asked, "Are you the Kahuna?" It's fun to be semi-famous.

"Why, yes I am!"

Turns out, Amelia was a "Get Your Geek On!" podcast fan who had decided to give the sport of triathlon a try after listening to the Kahuna, Iron Wil and SimplyStu. She was super nice.

Next, world champion Melanie McQuaid spotted the Kahuna and pedaled over to him on her mountain bike.

"Kahuna," she said. "I want you to meet my boyfriend, Ross."

It's nice when the world champion refers to you as "Kahuna."

Then there was the "Art of Xterra" seminar where four pros, including Melanie, gave their secrets about how to have a good race.

Their talk was all good, but the Kahuna kept staring at the super-steep hill behind them. The first ascent on the 30K looked impossibly steep. Most riders were pushing their bikes up the mile-long portion of the trail, while the pros talked about never going to the granny gear while on the course.

After a quick interview with Melanie and Amelia for the "Get Your Geek On!" podcast, the Kahuna decided to check out the bike trail.

The trail to the top of the mountain.

It was a humbling experience, like driving in the Indy 500 after just learning to drive. The Kahuna had no business being out there. He just didn't have enough hours on the mountain bike.

Still, he was THE KAHUNA! So he continued on, the whole time trying to figure out how the hell he was going to get around this course -- twice -- during the race. He also had new admiration for the Xterra athletes whose mountain biking ability was huge and really unfathomable until you're barreling down a single track trail, the mountain on one side and a cliff on the other.

***

The Kahuna knew he was going to be hurt. He just didn't know how. A broken collarbone? Smashed in teeth? A split-opened head?

His flight through the air seemed to last forever. And then, finally, he hit. BAM! His helmet hit the rocks first, creating a loud explosion in the Kahuna's head. He saw stars and wondered if he would die.

Now it was quiet. The Kahuna laid face down on the rocks. He didn't want to move until he figured out how badly he was hurt. His head pounded. He was able to move his arms and legs. After a minute or so, he pushed his back off him and turned over. A purplish contusion in shape and size of an avocado had formed on his left shin. Pain shot through his left hip. His left shoulder, too.

He was shaking and in shock. It occurred to him that he was halfway around the 15K loop with likely no other riders coming along the way this late in the day. He pulled his bike and himself back up to the trail.

The bike's chain had some off and the right ride of the bike's handlebars broken in half. If he was careful, he could make it back his car.

For the next 45 minutes, he walked up and down any hill of consequence as his body started to freeze up. Shooting pains in his neck. Growing tightness in his back. Increased soreness in his shoulder, hip and shin. He was never more happy to see his car than that day.

One of the Kahuna's bruises (please ignore the unfortunate placement of the cactus in the photo; the Kahuna isn't feeling well enough to take another pic).

Between his broken body and broken bike, Sunday's race was off. The Kahuna didn't deserve to be in it anyway. He had committed a grave sin by disrespecting the discipline. Nature has a way with dealing with the weak.

Today, less than 24 hours after the accident, the Kahuna feels both embarrassed and fortunate. Embarrassed because he should have known better (yes, it occurred to him that some of you had warned him that this would happen). Fortunate because he came away from the crash with only a bruised face, shoulder, hip, shin, and ego; a sore neck; and massive headache. No broken bones, no stitches, no Ironman Florida-ending injuries.

He'll live to do triathlon another day.

Do you want to read more by Kahuna? Just visit his blog by clicking HERE.

Thank God for bike helmets by Tri-Geek Dreams

The Tri-Geek Kahuna feels like someone from the "Sopranos" took a baseball bat to his body. And he has the bruises to prove it.

Yesterday afternoon, he finally decided to limp out to his car and clean out the all the crap he took with him to Temecula. That's when he came across his bike helmet. He still hadn't figured out exactly how he landed after his plunge off the mountain, but the helmet could give him a clue, couldn't it? After all, he had seen "CSI."

Actually, it didn't take much investigation. The front left side of the helmet had a huge dent. If not for the helmet, the Kahuna would be dead.

It was kind of sobering for the Kahuna to hold that helmet in his hand, knowing that it saved his life. It almost brought back ugly memories about how hard he hit the rock, the explosion of sound, the stars.

The Kahuna will be getting a new helmet, but he'll keep the old one as a souvenir to remind him how lucky he was.

The Tri-Geek Kahuna wasn't very good at going up the steep Temecula hills on his mountain bike -- in fact, he had to jump off and push his bike up many of them during his scouting ride of the 15k loop that he would circle twice at the next day's Xterra race.

But now, he reached the ridgeline high above Vail Lake and it was time to bomb down the hill.

It was only his fourth time on a mountain bike, and he still couldn't get over the roller coaster-like thrill of zooming down the single tracks. Late in the afternoon, the Kahuna was the last rider on the course. Somehow, that made it all the more thrilling.

Up ahead, nothing seemed unusual. The Kahuna couldn't see the sharp left-hand turn in the trail. He kept going at full-speed until it was too late.

He didn't have time to even hit his brakes or attempt a turn. He flew straight off the trail, off a boulder and through the air. Just like that, he was living a nightmare. Everything went into slow motion. Below him, a bed of rocks and boulders. There would be no soft landing. He closed his eyes.

That big lump on the Kahuna's shin doesn't belong there.

The day started well. The Kahuna had driven out to Temecula a few hours earlier to pick up his packet for his first Xterra race, to listen to some pros offer advice at various seminars and to scout the bike course.

As he walked into the expo area, he heard someone behind him asked, "Are you the Kahuna?" It's fun to be semi-famous.

"Why, yes I am!"

Turns out, Amelia was a "Get Your Geek On!" podcast fan who had decided to give the sport of triathlon a try after listening to the Kahuna, Iron Wil and SimplyStu. She was super nice.

Next, world champion Melanie McQuaid spotted the Kahuna and pedaled over to him on her mountain bike.

"Kahuna," she said. "I want you to meet my boyfriend, Ross."

It's nice when the world champion refers to you as "Kahuna."

Then there was the "Art of Xterra" seminar where four pros, including Melanie, gave their secrets about how to have a good race.

Their talk was all good, but the Kahuna kept staring at the super-steep hill behind them. The first ascent on the 30K looked impossibly steep. Most riders were pushing their bikes up the mile-long portion of the trail, while the pros talked about never going to the granny gear while on the course.

After a quick interview with Melanie and Amelia for the "Get Your Geek On!" podcast, the Kahuna decided to check out the bike trail.

The trail to the top of the mountain.

It was a humbling experience, like driving in the Indy 500 after just learning to drive. The Kahuna had no business being out there. He just didn't have enough hours on the mountain bike.

Still, he was THE KAHUNA! So he continued on, the whole time trying to figure out how the hell he was going to get around this course -- twice -- during the race. He also had new admiration for the Xterra athletes whose mountain biking ability was huge and really unfathomable until you're barreling down a single track trail, the mountain on one side and a cliff on the other.

***

The Kahuna knew he was going to be hurt. He just didn't know how. A broken collarbone? Smashed in teeth? A split-opened head?

His flight through the air seemed to last forever. And then, finally, he hit. BAM! His helmet hit the rocks first, creating a loud explosion in the Kahuna's head. He saw stars and wondered if he would die.

Now it was quiet. The Kahuna laid face down on the rocks. He didn't want to move until he figured out how badly he was hurt. His head pounded. He was able to move his arms and legs. After a minute or so, he pushed his back off him and turned over. A purplish contusion in shape and size of an avocado had formed on his left shin. Pain shot through his left hip. His left shoulder, too.

He was shaking and in shock. It occurred to him that he was halfway around the 15K loop with likely no other riders coming along the way this late in the day. He pulled his bike and himself back up to the trail.

The bike's chain had some off and the right ride of the bike's handlebars broken in half. If he was careful, he could make it back his car.

For the next 45 minutes, he walked up and down any hill of consequence as his body started to freeze up. Shooting pains in his neck. Growing tightness in his back. Increased soreness in his shoulder, hip and shin. He was never more happy to see his car than that day.

One of the Kahuna's bruises (please ignore the unfortunate placement of the cactus in the photo; the Kahuna isn't feeling well enough to take another pic).

Between his broken body and broken bike, Sunday's race was off. The Kahuna didn't deserve to be in it anyway. He had committed a grave sin by disrespecting the discipline. Nature has a way with dealing with the weak.

Today, less than 24 hours after the accident, the Kahuna feels both embarrassed and fortunate. Embarrassed because he should have known better (yes, it occurred to him that some of you had warned him that this would happen). Fortunate because he came away from the crash with only a bruised face, shoulder, hip, shin, and ego; a sore neck; and massive headache. No broken bones, no stitches, no Ironman Florida-ending injuries.

He'll live to do triathlon another day.

Do you want to read more by Kahuna? Just visit his blog by clicking HERE.

Xterra Xtreme by 3 Sports

Rule #1 (My rule)
I never write about my races until after I finish them. It's just a quirk of mine-kinda like "you don't wear the race t-shirt at your race!" Jinxes it every time. My superstition. But I have seen it far too often. The local athlete that gets press for planning on doing "X" in "Y" amount of time...and then becomes a DNF full of excuses. I don't want to be that way.

Oh, I can still have excuses as to why my (pick one- swim, transition, bike, run) was so damn slow. But at least I will have finished, and maybe I wasn't last...at least this time.
So here it is...
Xterra No. 6, Triathlon No. 90
Individual Women Competitors- <25% of the field. Women over 50? 4.

Mostly "yung'ins"- crazed 20-30 year old males, with mountain bike experience like nobody's business. This time I need to get psyched. I have completed this course twice in previous years. I know what I am up against. It ain't gonna be easy!

It's the downhills that get me every time. When you begin your mountain biking career in your 50s...well, it's just not as easy. I am a climber. But if you can't just let the bike fly downhill, you can never make up the time going back up.

I really wanted a Garmin on this course to see what the elevation gain/loss was. Here is a small idea of the climb in the first mile.

But I am getting ahead of myself here. Some pre-race photos of me and John (IM AZ Motorcycle guy, who let me ride with him to get some great bike shots during the race.) The other guy (Mark) is over 50 also. This was their first time doing an Xterra tri.

We say our goodbyes and good lucks, and we head over to the shuttle to get to the lake and my husband heads out for his ride.

We clamber down some rocks into 62 degree water for an "in the water start"- hug the cliffs of this beautiful canyon for 1000 meters or so, then angle out to the large buoy and into the beach. Swim time- 26:30. I feel good about that. But it's gonna be a slow transition, I just know it...and it's added into the swim, of course.

All my stuff was in a large plastic bag as we had racked our bikes the night before. I made it a point to sit down, clean the sand off my feet and put socks on as I remember the blisters caused last year by sand rubbing around in my cycling/running shoes. Put on my camel back, shoes, gloves, sweatband, sunglasses (augghh, I can't see! There's sand all over my glasses!) Gels in my pockets, bottle of "Amino Vital" in my cage- OK - helmet fastened, I think I am ready now! Six minutes later....my god woman, were you having a damn picnic during transition???

There are a few hills in this course that are just not ridable. At least for many or most of us. I would love to see a pro cut a line up one of these babies. Pushing my bike up the second one was almost next to impossible. I had taken a mouthful of GU at the bottom of the hill, and was breathing so hard through my mouth I couldn't swallow it! Can you say "anaerobic"?

The area we rode in is not closed to motorized vehicles, unfortuanately. So I stuck out my tongue and called the ATV and MX riders "wimps" as they sped by me. At least I felt better.

I was feeling good. Nutrition plan was working. I am bad about taking in enough calories during a race, so really have to think about it. This Amino Vital stuff is the magic elixor for me! That and Gu and plenty of "SmartWater"- with electrolytes.

It's windy now, and it's over 80 degrees. But it's a dry heat, and I am acclimated. Actually cool for the desert.

Bike over. Over two hours for 26K. Blah! Most finished this in 1:25-1:40. It's those damn downhills, I tell ya! :-) I'll work on it.
The volunteers were wonderful at the transition area. They took my bike and handed me my run stuff.

And I'm off!

The first mile of the run is a mini-version of climbling out of the Grand Canyon on Bright Angel trail. I kept my gloves on as I know there were some boulders to climb coming up. Watch your footing, and don't try to take in TOO much of the scenery, as a wrong step could mean rolling down a hill, most likely into something very prickly.

Sandy trail, good for the old bones. Many loose rocks which can seem to jump out in front of you so I feel like I am a running drunk, dodging and weaving. Up a half-dozen steps to the road, and to the finish. I see my husband sitting on a stone wall and ask him if my hair looks all right. :-) Around the corner to the finish.

3:32. Faster than last year. Not last...but almost. 1st in my age group out of two. I "earned" 75 Xterra points towards going to Nationals in Tahoe. The 55-59 year old women beat me. By a good margin. Hopefully I will keep improving and be just like them someday. When I grow up.

Do you want to read more from FE-LADY? Just visit her at her blog by clicking HERE.

Xterra Xtreme by 3 Sports

Rule #1 (My rule)
I never write about my races until after I finish them. It's just a quirk of mine-kinda like "you don't wear the race t-shirt at your race!" Jinxes it every time. My superstition. But I have seen it far too often. The local athlete that gets press for planning on doing "X" in "Y" amount of time...and then becomes a DNF full of excuses. I don't want to be that way.

Oh, I can still have excuses as to why my (pick one- swim, transition, bike, run) was so damn slow. But at least I will have finished, and maybe I wasn't last...at least this time.
So here it is...
Xterra No. 6, Triathlon No. 90
Individual Women Competitors- <25% of the field. Women over 50? 4.

Mostly "yung'ins"- crazed 20-30 year old males, with mountain bike experience like nobody's business. This time I need to get psyched. I have completed this course twice in previous years. I know what I am up against. It ain't gonna be easy!

It's the downhills that get me every time. When you begin your mountain biking career in your 50s...well, it's just not as easy. I am a climber. But if you can't just let the bike fly downhill, you can never make up the time going back up.

I really wanted a Garmin on this course to see what the elevation gain/loss was. Here is a small idea of the climb in the first mile.

But I am getting ahead of myself here. Some pre-race photos of me and John (IM AZ Motorcycle guy, who let me ride with him to get some great bike shots during the race.) The other guy (Mark) is over 50 also. This was their first time doing an Xterra tri.

We say our goodbyes and good lucks, and we head over to the shuttle to get to the lake and my husband heads out for his ride.

We clamber down some rocks into 62 degree water for an "in the water start"- hug the cliffs of this beautiful canyon for 1000 meters or so, then angle out to the large buoy and into the beach. Swim time- 26:30. I feel good about that. But it's gonna be a slow transition, I just know it...and it's added into the swim, of course.

All my stuff was in a large plastic bag as we had racked our bikes the night before. I made it a point to sit down, clean the sand off my feet and put socks on as I remember the blisters caused last year by sand rubbing around in my cycling/running shoes. Put on my camel back, shoes, gloves, sweatband, sunglasses (augghh, I can't see! There's sand all over my glasses!) Gels in my pockets, bottle of "Amino Vital" in my cage- OK - helmet fastened, I think I am ready now! Six minutes later....my god woman, were you having a damn picnic during transition???

There are a few hills in this course that are just not ridable. At least for many or most of us. I would love to see a pro cut a line up one of these babies. Pushing my bike up the second one was almost next to impossible. I had taken a mouthful of GU at the bottom of the hill, and was breathing so hard through my mouth I couldn't swallow it! Can you say "anaerobic"?

The area we rode in is not closed to motorized vehicles, unfortuanately. So I stuck out my tongue and called the ATV and MX riders "wimps" as they sped by me. At least I felt better.

I was feeling good. Nutrition plan was working. I am bad about taking in enough calories during a race, so really have to think about it. This Amino Vital stuff is the magic elixor for me! That and Gu and plenty of "SmartWater"- with electrolytes.

It's windy now, and it's over 80 degrees. But it's a dry heat, and I am acclimated. Actually cool for the desert.

Bike over. Over two hours for 26K. Blah! Most finished this in 1:25-1:40. It's those damn downhills, I tell ya! :-) I'll work on it.
The volunteers were wonderful at the transition area. They took my bike and handed me my run stuff.

And I'm off!

The first mile of the run is a mini-version of climbling out of the Grand Canyon on Bright Angel trail. I kept my gloves on as I know there were some boulders to climb coming up. Watch your footing, and don't try to take in TOO much of the scenery, as a wrong step could mean rolling down a hill, most likely into something very prickly.

Sandy trail, good for the old bones. Many loose rocks which can seem to jump out in front of you so I feel like I am a running drunk, dodging and weaving. Up a half-dozen steps to the road, and to the finish. I see my husband sitting on a stone wall and ask him if my hair looks all right. :-) Around the corner to the finish.

3:32. Faster than last year. Not last...but almost. 1st in my age group out of two. I "earned" 75 Xterra points towards going to Nationals in Tahoe. The 55-59 year old women beat me. By a good margin. Hopefully I will keep improving and be just like them someday. When I grow up.

Do you want to read more from FE-LADY? Just visit her at her blog by clicking HERE.

Xterra Xtreme by 3 Sports

Rule #1 (My rule)
I never write about my races until after I finish them. It's just a quirk of mine-kinda like "you don't wear the race t-shirt at your race!" Jinxes it every time. My superstition. But I have seen it far too often. The local athlete that gets press for planning on doing "X" in "Y" amount of time...and then becomes a DNF full of excuses. I don't want to be that way.

Oh, I can still have excuses as to why my (pick one- swim, transition, bike, run) was so damn slow. But at least I will have finished, and maybe I wasn't last...at least this time.
So here it is...
Xterra No. 6, Triathlon No. 90
Individual Women Competitors- <25% of the field. Women over 50? 4.

Mostly "yung'ins"- crazed 20-30 year old males, with mountain bike experience like nobody's business. This time I need to get psyched. I have completed this course twice in previous years. I know what I am up against. It ain't gonna be easy!

It's the downhills that get me every time. When you begin your mountain biking career in your 50s...well, it's just not as easy. I am a climber. But if you can't just let the bike fly downhill, you can never make up the time going back up.

I really wanted a Garmin on this course to see what the elevation gain/loss was. Here is a small idea of the climb in the first mile.

But I am getting ahead of myself here. Some pre-race photos of me and John (IM AZ Motorcycle guy, who let me ride with him to get some great bike shots during the race.) The other guy (Mark) is over 50 also. This was their first time doing an Xterra tri.

We say our goodbyes and good lucks, and we head over to the shuttle to get to the lake and my husband heads out for his ride.

We clamber down some rocks into 62 degree water for an "in the water start"- hug the cliffs of this beautiful canyon for 1000 meters or so, then angle out to the large buoy and into the beach. Swim time- 26:30. I feel good about that. But it's gonna be a slow transition, I just know it...and it's added into the swim, of course.

All my stuff was in a large plastic bag as we had racked our bikes the night before. I made it a point to sit down, clean the sand off my feet and put socks on as I remember the blisters caused last year by sand rubbing around in my cycling/running shoes. Put on my camel back, shoes, gloves, sweatband, sunglasses (augghh, I can't see! There's sand all over my glasses!) Gels in my pockets, bottle of "Amino Vital" in my cage- OK - helmet fastened, I think I am ready now! Six minutes later....my god woman, were you having a damn picnic during transition???

There are a few hills in this course that are just not ridable. At least for many or most of us. I would love to see a pro cut a line up one of these babies. Pushing my bike up the second one was almost next to impossible. I had taken a mouthful of GU at the bottom of the hill, and was breathing so hard through my mouth I couldn't swallow it! Can you say "anaerobic"?

The area we rode in is not closed to motorized vehicles, unfortuanately. So I stuck out my tongue and called the ATV and MX riders "wimps" as they sped by me. At least I felt better.

I was feeling good. Nutrition plan was working. I am bad about taking in enough calories during a race, so really have to think about it. This Amino Vital stuff is the magic elixor for me! That and Gu and plenty of "SmartWater"- with electrolytes.

It's windy now, and it's over 80 degrees. But it's a dry heat, and I am acclimated. Actually cool for the desert.

Bike over. Over two hours for 26K. Blah! Most finished this in 1:25-1:40. It's those damn downhills, I tell ya! :-) I'll work on it.
The volunteers were wonderful at the transition area. They took my bike and handed me my run stuff.

And I'm off!

The first mile of the run is a mini-version of climbling out of the Grand Canyon on Bright Angel trail. I kept my gloves on as I know there were some boulders to climb coming up. Watch your footing, and don't try to take in TOO much of the scenery, as a wrong step could mean rolling down a hill, most likely into something very prickly.

Sandy trail, good for the old bones. Many loose rocks which can seem to jump out in front of you so I feel like I am a running drunk, dodging and weaving. Up a half-dozen steps to the road, and to the finish. I see my husband sitting on a stone wall and ask him if my hair looks all right. :-) Around the corner to the finish.

3:32. Faster than last year. Not last...but almost. 1st in my age group out of two. I "earned" 75 Xterra points towards going to Nationals in Tahoe. The 55-59 year old women beat me. By a good margin. Hopefully I will keep improving and be just like them someday. When I grow up.

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