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Showing posts with label xterra maui. Show all posts
Showing posts with label xterra maui. Show all posts
Monday, October 1, 2018
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
A Change of Focus......2018 is coming!
The 2017 season has come to an end and it all worked out pretty damn good......won a few running races, won a few MTB races, did my first 100m MTB race, qualified and raced at XTERRA World Championships in Maui....all in all it went to plan. 24 races in total - 5 triathlons, 7 running races and 12 MTB/Road races.
So with that the goals for 2018 have changed from previous years and now it's all about the bike, the mountain bike. I'll still run a little to cross-train and to race with Sarah at trail runs and I'll still splash in the pool occasionally to enable a few Xterra Triathlon's in 2018 but the main objective is to really see what happens when I focus on the bike. As a triathlete you never really focus on any one sport and as a result you become sort of ok at three things but not good anything. That meant I was training 10hrs (or so) a week chopped up with 5-6hrs riding and the rest swimming and running. Now the plan is to ride 9-10hrs with additional strength training in the gym....almost doubling the time spent on the bike.
With that being planned the goal races somewhat varied and layered. The ultimate goal is to race the Andalucia Bike Race in early 2019, a 6 day MTB stage race in Cordoba, Spain which is really why 2018 is a "base" year to get prepared to race that. In the meantime it will be about transitioning over to the bike as a focus and the following races for 2018:
1. Monster Cross - Feb 2018: Early season 50mile MTB race to see how the winter training has developed.
2. Tour de Pocahontas - March 2018: An entry into MTB stage racing with three stages over a weekend on the same trails as Monster Cross.
3. USAC Marathon MTB Nationals - May 2018: The USA Cycling Marathon MTB National Championships in Arkansas over 50mile course. This will be one of our destination races for 2018.
4. 6 Hours at Woodstock - June 2018: A great local race that I jumped into in 2017 with minimal endurance training so will be a good gauge on progress.
5. Shenandoah 100 MTB - Sept 2018: Another race I jumped into last year with minimal preparation but had a blast on great trails. This will be the kick-off to the specific training block aimed at Andalucia Bike Race.
Other races will be added but the main races are the five above with USAC Nationals and Shenandoah being the "A" races....for Nationals just aiming to be as good as I can be and then for Shenandoah to improve from my time in 2017.
In the meantime it's training time....inside and out!
So with that the goals for 2018 have changed from previous years and now it's all about the bike, the mountain bike. I'll still run a little to cross-train and to race with Sarah at trail runs and I'll still splash in the pool occasionally to enable a few Xterra Triathlon's in 2018 but the main objective is to really see what happens when I focus on the bike. As a triathlete you never really focus on any one sport and as a result you become sort of ok at three things but not good anything. That meant I was training 10hrs (or so) a week chopped up with 5-6hrs riding and the rest swimming and running. Now the plan is to ride 9-10hrs with additional strength training in the gym....almost doubling the time spent on the bike.
With that being planned the goal races somewhat varied and layered. The ultimate goal is to race the Andalucia Bike Race in early 2019, a 6 day MTB stage race in Cordoba, Spain which is really why 2018 is a "base" year to get prepared to race that. In the meantime it will be about transitioning over to the bike as a focus and the following races for 2018:
1. Monster Cross - Feb 2018: Early season 50mile MTB race to see how the winter training has developed.
2. Tour de Pocahontas - March 2018: An entry into MTB stage racing with three stages over a weekend on the same trails as Monster Cross.
3. USAC Marathon MTB Nationals - May 2018: The USA Cycling Marathon MTB National Championships in Arkansas over 50mile course. This will be one of our destination races for 2018.
4. 6 Hours at Woodstock - June 2018: A great local race that I jumped into in 2017 with minimal endurance training so will be a good gauge on progress.
5. Shenandoah 100 MTB - Sept 2018: Another race I jumped into last year with minimal preparation but had a blast on great trails. This will be the kick-off to the specific training block aimed at Andalucia Bike Race.
Other races will be added but the main races are the five above with USAC Nationals and Shenandoah being the "A" races....for Nationals just aiming to be as good as I can be and then for Shenandoah to improve from my time in 2017.
In the meantime it's training time....inside and out!
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Xterra World Championships 2017.....Race Report
It's funny how perspectives change over the years.....two years ago at the 2015 Xterra World Championships it was first year in Xterra and I was sort of just pleased to be there and taking it all in. I was pleased with my race.....fast forward two years and I had larger goals and put more expectations on myself.
Leading into the race I had trained well, was feeling fit and knew that if I had a good day a top 15 position and something around 3hrs 15mins (on a dry course) was in the realm of possibility. I had learned the hard way in 2015 about flying for 12 hours and trying to pre-ride the course so changed the approach this year. I was helped that some major rains in the days before us arriving had made a bog of the course and that meant the course was closed on Thursday. With the heat and winds, the course reopened on Friday and I barely had to wipe the bike down....race day was going to be a dry and dusty course!
The rain and winds had also brought a huge swell meaning that the shore break was ripping the first few days we were there and subsided a little by race day.....it was still pretty cool to have to fight out the past the break on race day.
The swim went well and I was out in just over 26mins, much the same as 2015. Yet again I didn't see any turtles during the swim, perhaps they were deterred by the swell! The run to T1 is all up hill and is quite long as far as transitions go. It was at this point that I actually felt quite fatigued and more so than normal. In hindsight it probably came from the battling of the swell and waves more than anything else.
It was onto the bike and the goal to go as hard as felt comfortable knowing a) the elevation gain on the course but also b) the upcoming run. It that respect I nailed the bike....did I have the time I wanted? No, a few minutes slower but it was faster than 2015 by 5 mins and I was at an average of 148bpm for the duration. Nutrition was spot on with Gu Energy Roctane drink mix and gels and bottles of on-course water. The bike set-up with the Alchemy Oros and Maxxis tires (Ardent Race on the front and Ikon for the rear) was perfect and I wouldn't change anything there....for reference I rode a 32t Elliptical Chainring with an 11-42 rear cassette. Course conditions were spot on and had dried well after the rains.
Based on the swim and bike, I had to have a great run to get close to 3hrs 15mins....and straight out of T2 I knew that wasn't going to happen. The call down the engine room came back with a resounding "negative Captain" and unfortunately the Maui run course isn't something that you can gradually work your way into. It's uphill for the first 3 miles and not a gradual hill at that......it was a death march for the entire 10km.
The final 300m along the beach were not pretty......
So here's the how the perspectives change over the years....in comparison I was 2mins 30secs slower than 2015 and in 2015 I was pleased with my race, in 2017 not so much. However, my main goal was to go and give it everything knowing that sometimes you have to take risks to achieve things....I went hard on the bike and it ended up being to my detriment on the run. But I knew I had to do that to get close to that top 15 position and the risk was bombing the run and that lead me to a 34th position. On the bright side I was still at the World Championships, something that not many people can say and ended up top 25% in the World!
As from most races you learn things for next time.....and there will be a next time but perhaps a few years from now (Maui is far away and not cheap to travel to!) when I'm 45 (I might get the itch much sooner!). So what would I change for next time:
1. Travel to the race sooner.....the time change really screwed with my body clock. I was waking up everyday at 300am after poor sleep and it wasn't until after the race some 5-6 days later that I got onto Hawaii time. I would go a week beforehand.
2. Ride harder for longer - Although I can race at close to threshold for two hours on the bike, I need to do it more often on the MTB. In hindsight I didn't do that nearly enough....
3. Find more hills - we aren't blessed with many hills where we live so searching out the hilly routes far and near is essential on the bike and run. It's so critical for the Maui course
4.Make more of an effort to run outside - as many know about 95% of my running is on the treadmill at work during the lunch hour....it is fundamentally different to running outside and also limits my runs to 45mins or less!
5. This comes after every race.....swim more!
All that aside.....the race was awesome, we had a great time at the race and afterwards in Maui and as I stated earlier we will definitely be back to take another crack at the course!
Mahalo for reading.....
Leading into the race I had trained well, was feeling fit and knew that if I had a good day a top 15 position and something around 3hrs 15mins (on a dry course) was in the realm of possibility. I had learned the hard way in 2015 about flying for 12 hours and trying to pre-ride the course so changed the approach this year. I was helped that some major rains in the days before us arriving had made a bog of the course and that meant the course was closed on Thursday. With the heat and winds, the course reopened on Friday and I barely had to wipe the bike down....race day was going to be a dry and dusty course!
The rain and winds had also brought a huge swell meaning that the shore break was ripping the first few days we were there and subsided a little by race day.....it was still pretty cool to have to fight out the past the break on race day.
The swim went well and I was out in just over 26mins, much the same as 2015. Yet again I didn't see any turtles during the swim, perhaps they were deterred by the swell! The run to T1 is all up hill and is quite long as far as transitions go. It was at this point that I actually felt quite fatigued and more so than normal. In hindsight it probably came from the battling of the swell and waves more than anything else.
It was onto the bike and the goal to go as hard as felt comfortable knowing a) the elevation gain on the course but also b) the upcoming run. It that respect I nailed the bike....did I have the time I wanted? No, a few minutes slower but it was faster than 2015 by 5 mins and I was at an average of 148bpm for the duration. Nutrition was spot on with Gu Energy Roctane drink mix and gels and bottles of on-course water. The bike set-up with the Alchemy Oros and Maxxis tires (Ardent Race on the front and Ikon for the rear) was perfect and I wouldn't change anything there....for reference I rode a 32t Elliptical Chainring with an 11-42 rear cassette. Course conditions were spot on and had dried well after the rains.
Based on the swim and bike, I had to have a great run to get close to 3hrs 15mins....and straight out of T2 I knew that wasn't going to happen. The call down the engine room came back with a resounding "negative Captain" and unfortunately the Maui run course isn't something that you can gradually work your way into. It's uphill for the first 3 miles and not a gradual hill at that......it was a death march for the entire 10km.
The final 300m along the beach were not pretty......
So here's the how the perspectives change over the years....in comparison I was 2mins 30secs slower than 2015 and in 2015 I was pleased with my race, in 2017 not so much. However, my main goal was to go and give it everything knowing that sometimes you have to take risks to achieve things....I went hard on the bike and it ended up being to my detriment on the run. But I knew I had to do that to get close to that top 15 position and the risk was bombing the run and that lead me to a 34th position. On the bright side I was still at the World Championships, something that not many people can say and ended up top 25% in the World!
As from most races you learn things for next time.....and there will be a next time but perhaps a few years from now (Maui is far away and not cheap to travel to!) when I'm 45 (I might get the itch much sooner!). So what would I change for next time:
1. Travel to the race sooner.....the time change really screwed with my body clock. I was waking up everyday at 300am after poor sleep and it wasn't until after the race some 5-6 days later that I got onto Hawaii time. I would go a week beforehand.
2. Ride harder for longer - Although I can race at close to threshold for two hours on the bike, I need to do it more often on the MTB. In hindsight I didn't do that nearly enough....
3. Find more hills - we aren't blessed with many hills where we live so searching out the hilly routes far and near is essential on the bike and run. It's so critical for the Maui course
4.Make more of an effort to run outside - as many know about 95% of my running is on the treadmill at work during the lunch hour....it is fundamentally different to running outside and also limits my runs to 45mins or less!
5. This comes after every race.....swim more!
All that aside.....the race was awesome, we had a great time at the race and afterwards in Maui and as I stated earlier we will definitely be back to take another crack at the course!
Mahalo for reading.....
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Xterra Maui 2017 - Day 2......
What a difference a day makes! After the sloppy conditions on Thursday, the heat and wind had done wonders on the bike course that I didn't even have to clean my bike after a pre-ride of the lower half of the course. By Sunday it should be hero dirt with plenty of grip.
The pre-ride was nice and easy just getting used the trails and generally chit-chatting with a group of the east coasters here on the island. The legs felt good and I can't wait for the race now....
Later in the afternoon we headed down to D.T. Fleming Beach to practice in the surf. Since the storms earlier in the week the surf has really been up, so much so that the Peahi (Jaws) big wave surf event was scheduled rapidly for this weekend (40-60-ft waves). Playing in the surf was fun but I am show many are nervous ahead of Sunday. Weather forecasts show that the swell will begin to clam down for race day morning.
The evening was spent at the pre-race dinner where the Xterra Warrior award gets given and the recognition of all the global races around the world.....way too many to put on the bucket list!
The pre-ride was nice and easy just getting used the trails and generally chit-chatting with a group of the east coasters here on the island. The legs felt good and I can't wait for the race now....
Later in the afternoon we headed down to D.T. Fleming Beach to practice in the surf. Since the storms earlier in the week the surf has really been up, so much so that the Peahi (Jaws) big wave surf event was scheduled rapidly for this weekend (40-60-ft waves). Playing in the surf was fun but I am show many are nervous ahead of Sunday. Weather forecasts show that the swell will begin to clam down for race day morning.
The evening was spent at the pre-race dinner where the Xterra Warrior award gets given and the recognition of all the global races around the world.....way too many to put on the bucket list!
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Nothing to See Here.....But a Win is a Win!
As we are into the final month of preparation before Xterra Worlds (did I mention that was Oct 29th?) it's all about training and making sure I don't get sick.....primarily making sure that I don't get sick. Unfortunately work may play a part in that as it looks like I might have 6 different flights before actually landing on the Valley Isle of Maui.
But I have been doing well with training and continued with the ethos of this season....consistency! Nothing too big or demanding, just solid weeks back to back to back and so on. I did jump into some races the last few weeks and these included:
1. Wolf Bouncer XC Race.....my first Pro/Cat 1 XC MTB race after upgrading late this season. It was short at just an hour but the key was to get a good race pace session in and it didn't dissappoint.....60mins at threshold and a 4th place finish!
2. Tri for the Chesapeake....was the next day and is a local sprint triathlon that Parvilla supports. It was actually my first "road" triathlon since 2014 and I went for the road bike as I don't have a tri bike at the moment. It worked out well as I felt good in the swim (without a wetsuit), nailed the bike and the trail was 5 miles so was able to take the over win by quite some way (about 15mins). Another good race pace session.
3. Hyattsville Cx....this was this past weekend and I raced the 1,2,3 race as it was the only time I could manage. It was a baptism of fire for the first cross race of the season and only time I have been on my cross bike all year. I was thinking that it might have been better to race my MTB. It was fun though and I can't wait to get back to 'cross after Maui.
Now to hone the fitness for October 29th......
But I have been doing well with training and continued with the ethos of this season....consistency! Nothing too big or demanding, just solid weeks back to back to back and so on. I did jump into some races the last few weeks and these included:
1. Wolf Bouncer XC Race.....my first Pro/Cat 1 XC MTB race after upgrading late this season. It was short at just an hour but the key was to get a good race pace session in and it didn't dissappoint.....60mins at threshold and a 4th place finish!
2. Tri for the Chesapeake....was the next day and is a local sprint triathlon that Parvilla supports. It was actually my first "road" triathlon since 2014 and I went for the road bike as I don't have a tri bike at the moment. It worked out well as I felt good in the swim (without a wetsuit), nailed the bike and the trail was 5 miles so was able to take the over win by quite some way (about 15mins). Another good race pace session.
3. Hyattsville Cx....this was this past weekend and I raced the 1,2,3 race as it was the only time I could manage. It was a baptism of fire for the first cross race of the season and only time I have been on my cross bike all year. I was thinking that it might have been better to race my MTB. It was fun though and I can't wait to get back to 'cross after Maui.
Now to hone the fitness for October 29th......
Monday, August 7, 2017
You're Not Racing?.....
That's the question I have been asked the last few weekends since Iron Hill....perhaps I have a raced a lot so far this year but it only works out to be 17 races. Anyways the answer has been no I am not, it's all about getting in the training now as a couple of big events are in the Fall and they are the goal races. First up is the Shenandoah 100 MTB race on Labor Day weekend and then it's the big Kahuna in Maui at the Xterra World's.
Train, train, train......the good news is that over the past month things have been progressing well and I can begin to feel the fitness increasing. This is especially true for the swim where a few solid weeks of consistency (not volume just consistency) makes such a big difference.
Train, train, train......the good news is that over the past month things have been progressing well and I can begin to feel the fitness increasing. This is especially true for the swim where a few solid weeks of consistency (not volume just consistency) makes such a big difference.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Time to get this up and running again! A season of two halves
2016 has certainly been a year of two halves as far as training and racing has been so it's good to be looking forward to the 2017 season. In the next week or so I'll get into more detail about the 2016 season and what we have planned for 2017.......the 2016 Xterra World Championships is this weekend so after a year away it time to get motivated for a return trip!
Monday, December 21, 2015
November 2015: Training Ramblings......Nothing to See Here
The month started on a big high at the Xterra World Championships in Maui and the race report for that can be found here. With the Summer and Fall being geared completely for the World's, the rest of the month was dedicated to not having to think about structured workouts or upcoming races.
The week after the race was spent relaxing and exploring Maui! It was amazing and quickly gets to the top of our list of vacation spots...we are already trying to figure out how and when we can go back.
So literally there is nothing to report from a training perspective, it was just riding along with some fun MTB and road rides. I did jump into the MABRA Cyclocross Championships at the end of the month at the always muddy Taneytown course and snagged a 5th place finish in the Master's 123 race. It must have been carry-over fitness from World's but it was certainly a shock to the system to race all out for 45mins after a few weeks of de-training.
What I am drinking this month:
1562 Roastery: Colombia Chalo Fernandez - Apple, Raw Almond, Red Wine!
November Total: 199miles/19hrs 32mins/1049 TSS
Swim: 4.96m/2hrs 33mins/ 125 TSS
Bike: 166m/13hrs 16mins/ 686 TSS
Run: 27.4m/3hrs 32mins/ 228 TSS
The week after the race was spent relaxing and exploring Maui! It was amazing and quickly gets to the top of our list of vacation spots...we are already trying to figure out how and when we can go back.
So literally there is nothing to report from a training perspective, it was just riding along with some fun MTB and road rides. I did jump into the MABRA Cyclocross Championships at the end of the month at the always muddy Taneytown course and snagged a 5th place finish in the Master's 123 race. It must have been carry-over fitness from World's but it was certainly a shock to the system to race all out for 45mins after a few weeks of de-training.
The best this so far about Fall/Winter? The weather has been awesome and riding at the Parvilla Cycles Annual Cranksgiving ride was done in shorts! Long may that continue.
What I am drinking this month:
1562 Roastery: Colombia Chalo Fernandez - Apple, Raw Almond, Red Wine!
November Total: 199miles/19hrs 32mins/1049 TSS
Swim: 4.96m/2hrs 33mins/ 125 TSS
Bike: 166m/13hrs 16mins/ 686 TSS
Run: 27.4m/3hrs 32mins/ 228 TSS
Friday, November 20, 2015
October 2015: Training Ramblings....The Final Prep for Xterra Worlds
Much of this is now obsolete as the run up to the Xterra World Championships was pretty much chronicled in previous posts. As such this post is really just a brief outline of the training numbers for the month for posterity's sake.
I did race a few cross races which were planned as high-intensity workouts that are tough to mimic in training and to give a little bit of additional motivation. Having races and goals on the calendar are always a good idea to ensure that you don't skimp on workouts or simply mail them. Always have a long-term goal and some closer near-term goals. Those cross races went well, a 35+ 123 race at a very muddy Hyattsville ended in a top ten finish and then two races at ABRT's own AACX race saw me get two 5th place finishes (and in the money!).
Prior to Worlds in Maui, the rocket ship arrived in the form of the Orbea Oiz mountain bike. Getting to partner with Orbea is awesome and not only gives me a huge boost for Xterra Worlds but also for the 2016 season of Xterra and endurance MTB races. Only getting to ride it a few times before Worlds was a little worrying but after the first ride those worries went away. The fit was dialed in by Stu at Parvilla Cycles and it was perfect! Now I wish I had had a full suspension bike the whole season :-)
And with that it was off to Xterra Worlds in Maui and you can read all about the build up to the race and the race itself in the posts.
What I am drinking this month:
Ritual Coffee Roasters: Hermes Calderón's Los Crestones, Costa Rica
The people of La Piedra de Rivas grow these Caturra and Catuaà variety trees on their various small farms, 1600-1800 meters above sea level, in the Chirripó mountain region. Previously, their coffee had been brought to a nearby mill and bought and sold at low, generic prices.
Feeling that they had better than generic coffee, they bonded together to open their own mill, Los Crestones, and appointed Hermes Calderón as the micromill manager, producing exceptional coffee ever since. When we last visited with Los Crestones, we were excited to see that the mill was running efficiently, the drying tables had been expanded, and the coffee this year is better than ever before!
Full of fruit, this coffee exhibits flavors of Seville orange, tropical mango, and cherry.
October Total: 463miles/44hrs 32mins/2665 TSS
Swim: 11.88m/5hrs 58mins/ 317 TSS
Bike: 351m/26hrs 26mins/ 1383 TSS
Run: 100m/12hrs 08mins/ 965 TSS
I did race a few cross races which were planned as high-intensity workouts that are tough to mimic in training and to give a little bit of additional motivation. Having races and goals on the calendar are always a good idea to ensure that you don't skimp on workouts or simply mail them. Always have a long-term goal and some closer near-term goals. Those cross races went well, a 35+ 123 race at a very muddy Hyattsville ended in a top ten finish and then two races at ABRT's own AACX race saw me get two 5th place finishes (and in the money!).
 |
| The podium at AACX 123 race |
Prior to Worlds in Maui, the rocket ship arrived in the form of the Orbea Oiz mountain bike. Getting to partner with Orbea is awesome and not only gives me a huge boost for Xterra Worlds but also for the 2016 season of Xterra and endurance MTB races. Only getting to ride it a few times before Worlds was a little worrying but after the first ride those worries went away. The fit was dialed in by Stu at Parvilla Cycles and it was perfect! Now I wish I had had a full suspension bike the whole season :-)
 |
| The inaugural Oiz ride! |
What I am drinking this month:
Ritual Coffee Roasters: Hermes Calderón's Los Crestones, Costa Rica
The people of La Piedra de Rivas grow these Caturra and Catuaà variety trees on their various small farms, 1600-1800 meters above sea level, in the Chirripó mountain region. Previously, their coffee had been brought to a nearby mill and bought and sold at low, generic prices.
Feeling that they had better than generic coffee, they bonded together to open their own mill, Los Crestones, and appointed Hermes Calderón as the micromill manager, producing exceptional coffee ever since. When we last visited with Los Crestones, we were excited to see that the mill was running efficiently, the drying tables had been expanded, and the coffee this year is better than ever before!
Full of fruit, this coffee exhibits flavors of Seville orange, tropical mango, and cherry.
October Total: 463miles/44hrs 32mins/2665 TSS
Swim: 11.88m/5hrs 58mins/ 317 TSS
Bike: 351m/26hrs 26mins/ 1383 TSS
Run: 100m/12hrs 08mins/ 965 TSS
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Xterra World Championships (Maui) 2015: Race Report.....Learning some lessons!
I was nervous.....I hadn't been this nervous before a race in a while. It was a combination of things but primarily the fact that the pre-ride on Thursday had gone so horribly bad that I was questioning everything. Was I fit enough? Was the heat and humidity going to destroy me? Had we come all the way to Maui for a terrible race experience?
Yes the pre-ride on Thursday had been bad, I had bonked 5 miles into a 20 mile ride and it took a lot out of me to get back to the condo. As Sarah can testify I had the "sunken face" look that I only get when bad things are about to happen and that normally features some form of unconsciousness! It took the rest of Thursday and most of Friday to get re-hydrated and the small cramps to go away, luckily I remained conscious. In hindsight knowing what the course and weather is like, riding the course in the heat of the day after a long day of travel was not a good idea. That is Lesson #1 for next time......yes, I said next time!
 |
| Trying to remember the rack location pre-race! |
I was also nervous as this was the bloody World Championships, not your local triathlon, this was 850 of the best Xterra racers in the World. Racers from 43 nations were all lined up along the beach, the race blessing had finished, the helicopter was flying overhead, this race was about to explode!
 |
| Taking it all in prior to the start |
At 9:05am the cannon fired and the men's wave detonated into the surf. Then the usual two things happened, firstly the nerves all went away and race mode was switched on and secondly I used the facilities in the open water. If those two things don't happen early in the swim then I know that something is wrong. So I was now calm now, at least inside I was, externally it was a fighting match until the first buoy at around 400 meters after which it settled down a bit. The M shape of the course meant that we exited the water after 750 meters (saw Sarah and Team Banks) and headed back in for the 2nd half of the M. A quick glance of the watch had me at 12 minutes so on course for around a 25 mins swim. The 2nd half of the swim was much cleaner in terms of contact and the water clarity. You could see all the way to the sandy bottom for the entire way, as much as I was hoping I didn't get to see any turtles. Apparently there were some around but not within my eye sight.
 |
| T1 - getting ready for the bike. |
The run to T1 was a sign of the course to come....uphill all the way for a couple of hundred meters. The swim was just over 25 minutes and gave me a little bit of confidence that I was ahead of the majority and would get a cleaner course esp. on the first few miles which are all limited in passing opportunities. For this race I decided to wear my hydration pack rather than rely on a single bottle and the two feed stations. I wanted to be able to drink when I wanted rather than when the course let me. It worked perfectly and I was able to carry 1.5 Liters of First Endurance EFS for the duration of the 20 mile bike course (with 3500ft of climbing) and collected water at the feed stations to dowse myself.
The key to my day on the bike was patience. Not to harp on about it but the Thursday ride had me wary and I needed to get to Razor Ridge in reasonable shape to have a good rest of the day. I purposely rode easy for the first few miles but to be honest the decision was partially made for me. Even with a decent swim the course was a little crowded to begin with and the risk vs reward factor on passing and riding hard on the singletrack was pretty minimal. As such I passed when I could and rode as even a pace as I could....steady but not necessarily all out race pace. The legs felt so much better and upon getting to the top of the first climb to Razor Ridge at mile 5 and then hitting the high point of the course at mile 7 it was time to hit the gas.
Descending from mile 7 at the top of the plantation was sooooo much fun! I knew the legs were good, the view was amazing, all I could do was smile and I couldn't stop smiling. It still makes me smile now.....here I was riding an amazing bike course (on an equally amazing Orbea) in Maui at the World Championships! You could see down the mountain seeing riders slowly coming up, riders zig-zagging down the plantation roads, the resort and Molokai in the background, it truly is a scene that will forever be etched in my memories of this race.
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| The view heading down from the West Maui Mountains |
Getting back into T2 just over the 2hr mark surprised Sarah and Team Banks (that's a good surprise though) and it was now onto the run course. Another 1300ft of climbing faced us over the 6.5mile course. Much of the climbing was in the first three miles and then it was a matter of letting gravity do the rest....perhaps a little bit simplified but you get the idea. Immediately I knew it was going to be a good running day.
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| Heading out onto the run....#parvillatruckerhat |
I crossed the line in 3hrs 28mins, the nerves gone and a satisfying result. 28th in age group and 189th out of 775 that toed the line (including pro's) for a top 25% finish. There were certainly some lesson's learned in the build-up and during the race that I can use for future Xterra races and hopefully a return to the World Championships in Maui. Knowing how the race plays out and what the course is like is so critical that I would definitely change the training plan and the race plan for a return trip......this isn't a trip we can do every year (even though we would like too) so it's a two-year plan. It would be good to head back as a young 40 year old in the 40-44 age group in 2017.
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| Post-race after getting lei'ed! |
If you want to see some great video of the race check out this two videos:
Official Xterra Worlds 2015 Highlights
Xterra Worlds 2015 Drone footage
Obviously races like the World Championships do not happen in a vacuum and it was season long goal with many people involved so a huge Mahalo to above all my very patient wife and chief supporter Sarah. Without her none of this would be possible! Team Banks are always there for me too, although I don't think they could pass up the trip to Hawaii! Also thank you to:
Parvilla Cycles - the best bike store I know :-)
Orbea - for putting the fastest bike underneath me
ABRT - for supporting me and pushing me on training rides
Pactimo - for the awesome kit and support of the Parvilla Tri Team
So now to start thinking about the 2016 season and race goals!
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Xterra Worlds 2015 Countdown: 1 day to go.....It's Time!
Saturday and just one day to go! An easy day on the books today started with Sarah and Dad running the Kapalua 10km trail race over the same course as the World Championship course. It was awesome to watch Sarah race as I hadn't done that before (She raced earlier this year at Richmond but I ran with her) and it is actually quite emotional to watch....I think the fact that it was at the World Championships added to the whole effect including the cannon start!
We knew it was a tough course including a 3 mile climb, obstacles and a final beach run totaling 1200ft of climbing in just 6 miles! Sarah did great though, beat Dad by a few minutes with a 1hr 27mins finishing time and importantly a smile as well! Dad ended up in 3rd in the 6X-6X age group (numbers x-ed to protect the innocent).
The rest of the day was spent chilling, hydrating and attending the pre-race briefing. Very uneventful to be honest and something needed to rest the body and mind ahead of what will be a demanding day both emotional and physically. The course is a doozy and has to be treated with a lot of respect. The course conditions as well as weather conditions can quickly turn the day into something horrid and the key for me is to really enjoy this experience while racing to my potential. If that means taking it easier during certain portions of the race then so be it.....just from watching the 5km and 10km trail race today there were plenty of people that didn't respect the conditions enough and paid for it.
We knew it was a tough course including a 3 mile climb, obstacles and a final beach run totaling 1200ft of climbing in just 6 miles! Sarah did great though, beat Dad by a few minutes with a 1hr 27mins finishing time and importantly a smile as well! Dad ended up in 3rd in the 6X-6X age group (numbers x-ed to protect the innocent).
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| The Old Geezers Podium! |
With that I'll sign off with the knowledge that I have done everything in my power to have a good day. You can bring out all the cliches that you want, like "The hay is in the Barn" and all that, and it really is. The bike is prepped and ready to rock, the legs have come round over the past couple of days, I can't do anymore. In the words of Bruce Buffer....."IT'S TIME"....
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Xterra Worlds 2015 Countdown: 2 days to go....Playing in the Surf
Friday: 2 days to go.....today was about getting more comfortable. After the long and hot ride of Thursday, I headed out earlier and hit the Lower Bowl of the bike course. The legs felt much better this morning although I still kept the effort level relatively low as it was in the low 80's and rising as the morning went on (it ended up in the mid 90's as we headed shopping later in the afternoon). Despite "only" riding the lower portion of the course it was 10 miles and 1500ft of climbing....there really isn't anywhere to hide on the bike course. The course is also drying out and as such getting quicker every day, with no rain forecast through race day it should be at its quickest on Sunday. My claim to fame for the day though was passing Xterra legend (and 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee) Conrad "Caveman" Stoltz on the course....granted he was leading a master class on the trails but I did pass him (literally like he was standing still, which he may have been at the time)!
We headed out to grab some groceries and after a leisurely lunch, headed down to D.T Fleming Beach to check out the swim location and practice the swim entry and exit. That may sound like a silly thing to say but the surf can be pretty big at the beach and so knowing how to dive under the waves heading out and surfing them back in can pay off come race day. Fortunately my childhood days of playing in the waves came back quickly and it was a fun session. I did swim out to the far buoy as well to stretch the arms and check out some of the sighting angles.
The beach was awesome and it is the first location I have been to where the lifeguard calls out to swimmers/surfers over the loud speaker and informs them of rip currents that they may be close to or actually in (and tells them which way to get out of it).
In the evening we all headed to the "Night of Champions" banquet to celebrate the race and more specifically the 20th year of the Xterra World Championships. Something that started with 116 racers in 1996 has now swelled to 900 racers and over 300 races globally. There were some great videos of all the global qualifying races in some very cool locations, who is up for Xterra Tahiti in 2016? They also showed video footage from every single Worlds race here on Maui going back to the inaugural 1996 "AquaTerra" as it was called that first year. The evening finished with the Hall of Fame induction of Conrad Stoltz, oddly he didn't mention my passing of him earlier in the day!
Tomorrow Sarah and Dad run the Xterra Kapalua 10km race over the same course as the Worlds on Sunday and for me it will just be a day of relaxing and hydrating with a short run and a brief bike to just give the Orbea Oiz a check over. Plus I get to be support Sarah for a day and give back to her what she has done so many times for me. Without her I really wouldn't be able to do any of the training and racing that I do......
We headed out to grab some groceries and after a leisurely lunch, headed down to D.T Fleming Beach to check out the swim location and practice the swim entry and exit. That may sound like a silly thing to say but the surf can be pretty big at the beach and so knowing how to dive under the waves heading out and surfing them back in can pay off come race day. Fortunately my childhood days of playing in the waves came back quickly and it was a fun session. I did swim out to the far buoy as well to stretch the arms and check out some of the sighting angles.
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| Xterra Worlds Swim Start from 2014! |
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| D.T Fleming Beach |
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| Race day exit from the beach |
In the evening we all headed to the "Night of Champions" banquet to celebrate the race and more specifically the 20th year of the Xterra World Championships. Something that started with 116 racers in 1996 has now swelled to 900 racers and over 300 races globally. There were some great videos of all the global qualifying races in some very cool locations, who is up for Xterra Tahiti in 2016? They also showed video footage from every single Worlds race here on Maui going back to the inaugural 1996 "AquaTerra" as it was called that first year. The evening finished with the Hall of Fame induction of Conrad Stoltz, oddly he didn't mention my passing of him earlier in the day!
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| It was a packed house at the "Night of Champions" banquet |
Tomorrow Sarah and Dad run the Xterra Kapalua 10km race over the same course as the Worlds on Sunday and for me it will just be a day of relaxing and hydrating with a short run and a brief bike to just give the Orbea Oiz a check over. Plus I get to be support Sarah for a day and give back to her what she has done so many times for me. Without her I really wouldn't be able to do any of the training and racing that I do......
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| Can't wait to see this finish line on Sunday! |
Friday, October 30, 2015
Xterra Worlds 2015 Countdown: 3 days to go.....More Climbing??
Thursday and 3 days to go. The first full day here in Maui and time to register and ride the bike course. Race registration was the same old process although they did have a cool explanation of each and every Xterra Worlds race as this is the 20th Edition. They had results, photos and memorabilia from each race starting back in 1996 with just over 100 racers....it is now at about 900 racers! We did get to see some bright flowers on the grounds though and the transition area is pretty spectacular!
The main task for the day was to ride the full bike course. It's a crucial part of the build-up as you learn about the course especially the more technical areas of the trail and enables you to dial in the bike with tire pressure etc. I headed out in the heat of the day at about 1:00pm with temps hovering at 85 degrees, not crazy hot but coming from the Fall in Maryland it felt hot and the wind had died down over night to just a slight breeze.
As expected the bike course was a tough one, part due to the nature of the course - 3400ft of climbing in 20miles including 5 mile climb straight out of the gate to Razor Ridge, the heat and the lack of power in the legs which I am hoping was the travel and lack of sleep from Wednesday. Technically there isn't much to worry about, it is simply the relentless climbs which are both long and steep....yes it is true that what goes up must come down but the physical exertion of going up far outweighs the time gained coming down. With not feeling great on the bike I took the ride as easy as I could but you get to a point where you need to lay down the power just to get up the climb. Take a look at the profile...from sea level to 1200ft in 5 miles.
To be honest I was pretty wiped after the ride so the rest of the afternoon was spent just re-hydrating and refueling. On race day it will certainly be a battle of pacing, hydration and nutrition as well as having good legs. Overcooking it too much in that first 5 miles will destroy your whole day. The Orbea Oiz however was great and with the somewhat primitive trails at times the full suspension Oiz was definitely the right bike for the course. It's performance was outstanding today and saves a ton of energy and exertion on a tough ride.....anywhere you can save energy will be critical on race day.
Has the pre-ride of the course today made me change my expectations? Perhaps a little but then again it will be the same for everyone. There were a number of people that were looking worse for wear on the side of the trail today and I had only one racer overtake me, so as bad as I felt, it was certainly worse for others. It's important to trust in the training and fitness with tomorrow being another day to ride after a good nights sleep. I'll take in the lower bowl tomorrow which is approximately 8-9 miles (the first 3 miles and last 6 miles) and will get out earlier in the morning which will be closer to race conditions.
On a slight side note, we did have Maui Coffee Company coffee this morning, grown locally on West Maui.....When in Rome and all that!
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| Transition on the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton resort |
The main task for the day was to ride the full bike course. It's a crucial part of the build-up as you learn about the course especially the more technical areas of the trail and enables you to dial in the bike with tire pressure etc. I headed out in the heat of the day at about 1:00pm with temps hovering at 85 degrees, not crazy hot but coming from the Fall in Maryland it felt hot and the wind had died down over night to just a slight breeze.
As expected the bike course was a tough one, part due to the nature of the course - 3400ft of climbing in 20miles including 5 mile climb straight out of the gate to Razor Ridge, the heat and the lack of power in the legs which I am hoping was the travel and lack of sleep from Wednesday. Technically there isn't much to worry about, it is simply the relentless climbs which are both long and steep....yes it is true that what goes up must come down but the physical exertion of going up far outweighs the time gained coming down. With not feeling great on the bike I took the ride as easy as I could but you get to a point where you need to lay down the power just to get up the climb. Take a look at the profile...from sea level to 1200ft in 5 miles.
To be honest I was pretty wiped after the ride so the rest of the afternoon was spent just re-hydrating and refueling. On race day it will certainly be a battle of pacing, hydration and nutrition as well as having good legs. Overcooking it too much in that first 5 miles will destroy your whole day. The Orbea Oiz however was great and with the somewhat primitive trails at times the full suspension Oiz was definitely the right bike for the course. It's performance was outstanding today and saves a ton of energy and exertion on a tough ride.....anywhere you can save energy will be critical on race day.
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| The top of Razor Ridge at 1200ft |
On a slight side note, we did have Maui Coffee Company coffee this morning, grown locally on West Maui.....When in Rome and all that!
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Xterra Worlds 2015 Countdown: 4 days to go.....Travel Day!
Wednesday and 4 days to go! We finally travel and get to Maui. A nice early 345am wake-up call, a short ride to BWI, pay extortionate prices for luggage and the bike and we even had time for the Silver Diner.
Vacations are fun, the travel to get to your destination is never much fun! We headed to Phoenix for the first leg and then on a packed flight to Maui....yes a bunch of triathletes were on board but a heck of a load of kids to disrupt the sound of the Antman movie on the tiny above the head screens. It felt like transatlantic flights in the 80's! And boy Maui is a long ways away!
We finally landed at 200pm local time headed to baggage and waited along with all the other nervous triathletes in the hope that one of the big back boxes would a) be ours b) have a bike in it and c) have a unbroken bike in it. We went three for three and the Orbea Oiz was still in one piece after TSA had their way. Next up was cramming all the luggage and bike boxes onto the car rental shuttle and then being offered the "special offer" of a convertible Jeep Wrangler (apparently that is what you have to drive in Maui). Upon refusal we then got upgraded for free to a very Presidential blacked out SUV....that's how we roll and critically more than large enough for the bike! You might sense a theme that travel day is all about getting the bike to the destination in one piece.
Race headquarters is on the Kapalua resort on the west side of Maui and we are staying within the resort at a condo so for the next 5 days we are really close to all the Xterra shenanigans. Driving north from the airport was spectacular, along the coast and some great looking beaches. Going through Lahaina, I looked out for the cast of the short lived "Living Lahaina" which for some reason I remember from MTV. We did see plenty of shave ice and surf shops though....
The resort here looks fantastic and a great setting for Xterra Worlds! Over the next few days I'll get out onto the trails to check out the bike course and at least some of the run course. Once we arrived, it wasn't long until sun down so after putting the bike together (phew it was all good!) and a quick grocery trip, Sarah and I headed out for a short shake-out run. It gradually got dark so apart from seeing the race village and heading down to the beach it was on the resort roads.
Oh I almost forgot....my parents arrived late in the day, we just about stayed awake to welcome them!. They are here for the race and then we go our separate ways as they tour the Hawaiian Islands for the next three weeks. Dad is also racing the trail 10km with Sarah on Saturday so start placing your bets on the winner!
Vacations are fun, the travel to get to your destination is never much fun! We headed to Phoenix for the first leg and then on a packed flight to Maui....yes a bunch of triathletes were on board but a heck of a load of kids to disrupt the sound of the Antman movie on the tiny above the head screens. It felt like transatlantic flights in the 80's! And boy Maui is a long ways away!
We finally landed at 200pm local time headed to baggage and waited along with all the other nervous triathletes in the hope that one of the big back boxes would a) be ours b) have a bike in it and c) have a unbroken bike in it. We went three for three and the Orbea Oiz was still in one piece after TSA had their way. Next up was cramming all the luggage and bike boxes onto the car rental shuttle and then being offered the "special offer" of a convertible Jeep Wrangler (apparently that is what you have to drive in Maui). Upon refusal we then got upgraded for free to a very Presidential blacked out SUV....that's how we roll and critically more than large enough for the bike! You might sense a theme that travel day is all about getting the bike to the destination in one piece.
Race headquarters is on the Kapalua resort on the west side of Maui and we are staying within the resort at a condo so for the next 5 days we are really close to all the Xterra shenanigans. Driving north from the airport was spectacular, along the coast and some great looking beaches. Going through Lahaina, I looked out for the cast of the short lived "Living Lahaina" which for some reason I remember from MTV. We did see plenty of shave ice and surf shops though....
The resort here looks fantastic and a great setting for Xterra Worlds! Over the next few days I'll get out onto the trails to check out the bike course and at least some of the run course. Once we arrived, it wasn't long until sun down so after putting the bike together (phew it was all good!) and a quick grocery trip, Sarah and I headed out for a short shake-out run. It gradually got dark so apart from seeing the race village and heading down to the beach it was on the resort roads.
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| The Bike overlooking Molokai! |
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| The view from the condo...... |
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Xterra Worlds 2015 Countdown: 6 days to go......
Monday: 6 days to go and 1 day to go until we fly out to Maui for Xterra Worlds! Nothing crazy to write about and less time to do so as it's all about trying to get work finished up before 10 days out of the office. It always seems like you have to work more before you go on vacation than you actually spend on vacation!
Anyway, training wise it was an easy treadmill run at lunch and then a flaying of the arms in the pool in the evening. Nice and easy to stretch the body out. The plan was to pack the bike in the evening but I came to realization that the bike bag is a little too small for the 29'er so will have to take the regular bike box instead. Oh well, $150 each way it is then...don't get me started on airline fees for bikes. Unfortunately we are flying with American Airlines rather than our preferred Southwest and the baggage fees are kind of extortionate!
I was going to write about my expectations for the race but will have to do that in the next few days....
Anyway, training wise it was an easy treadmill run at lunch and then a flaying of the arms in the pool in the evening. Nice and easy to stretch the body out. The plan was to pack the bike in the evening but I came to realization that the bike bag is a little too small for the 29'er so will have to take the regular bike box instead. Oh well, $150 each way it is then...don't get me started on airline fees for bikes. Unfortunately we are flying with American Airlines rather than our preferred Southwest and the baggage fees are kind of extortionate!
I was going to write about my expectations for the race but will have to do that in the next few days....
If anyone is (as you should be!) interested in the live timing and feed for XTERRA Worlds (Maui) next Sunday (November 1), here is the info:
"You can join the discussion by following us on facebook, twitter and instagram @xterraoffroad. #xterramaui and #xterra20 are the official hashtags for all things XTERRA Worlds as we celebrate twenty years of off-road racing on Maui.
Enjoy our live finish camera on race day at www.xterramaui.com, beginning about 11:15am Hawaii time (1:15pm PST, 4:15pm EST, 11:15pm Europe and Monday, November 2 - 8:15am Sydney/6:15am Tokyo)
"JTL Timing will have live, unofficial race times for all competitors throughout the event."
Click BELOW for the link to live results. Sign up to receive text updates BELOW. And, don’t forget to visit the XTERRA website – a great source for event information everywhere on the XTERRA Planet.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Xterra Worlds 2015 Countdown: 7 days to go.....
With 7 days to go all the preparation is done...well mostly, at least the logistics are all ready! We fly out on Wednesday and are staying on the same resort as the race so an easy location to see the course prior to race day on Sunday November 1. Hopefully over the next week I'll update daily about the preparations, the course, my expectations and Maui!
On the 7th day until race day I headed out later in the day for a couple of easy hours on the trails at Rosaryville State Park. It was a little rainy this morning so I gained some more sleep and had a belgian waffle breakfast with Sarah.....a good start to the day!
Ideally I would have liked to head to the Fountainhead trails as they are more technical and it would have been more of a solid day to test out the new race bike....the Orbea Oiz M-Team edition. Unfortunately the rainy conditions meant that Fountainhead shut so the slick and leafy trails of Rosaryville were the best option. In the end it turned out to be a fun couple of hours as it gave me a chance to ride the bike in less than ideal conditions.
I'm so fortunate that Orbea wanted to help out and sponsor me for the Xterra Worlds that I now have an absolute rocket ship underneath me. It really is a whole flight of steps greater than my aluminium hardtail that I have been riding all year. After just a couple of rides I can tell that it will be such an advantage on race day and makes me wish I had it all summer long....I'll look forward even more so to the 2016 races!
The rest of the day was very casual, begun the packing for Maui, a few small chores, the pre-race haircut......7 days to go!
On the 7th day until race day I headed out later in the day for a couple of easy hours on the trails at Rosaryville State Park. It was a little rainy this morning so I gained some more sleep and had a belgian waffle breakfast with Sarah.....a good start to the day!
Ideally I would have liked to head to the Fountainhead trails as they are more technical and it would have been more of a solid day to test out the new race bike....the Orbea Oiz M-Team edition. Unfortunately the rainy conditions meant that Fountainhead shut so the slick and leafy trails of Rosaryville were the best option. In the end it turned out to be a fun couple of hours as it gave me a chance to ride the bike in less than ideal conditions.
I'm so fortunate that Orbea wanted to help out and sponsor me for the Xterra Worlds that I now have an absolute rocket ship underneath me. It really is a whole flight of steps greater than my aluminium hardtail that I have been riding all year. After just a couple of rides I can tell that it will be such an advantage on race day and makes me wish I had it all summer long....I'll look forward even more so to the 2016 races!
The rest of the day was very casual, begun the packing for Maui, a few small chores, the pre-race haircut......7 days to go!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Heading to Xterra 2015 World Championships!
A goal heading into the 2015 season was to try and qualify for the Xterra World Championships that takes place in Maui on November 1st. Having only started Xterra's this season it would be a pretty lofty goal seeing that qualifying spots are only available in the US at the four Regional Championships, which for me meant heading to Richmond in June.
You can read my race report from the Xterra East Championships but you'll know that I finished 4th, one spot outside the automatic qualifying spaces for my age group. As such I had to keep my fingers crossed and hope that one of the top three would not accept the slot and have it roll down for me. This is where Xterra is much more civilized than Ironman. At Ironman you have to accept your qualifying slot right then and there at the race, no chance to think about the cost, logistics etc just pay your $750 and you are in. Xterra gives you some time, two weeks in fact to accept the slot online. It meant that for the two weeks after the race I was checking the race participant list to see if any of the top three had registered.
As time got closer to the end of the two weeks, two of the three slots had been taken and with just one remaining I was getting hopeful....if you are going to accept the slot you would think that you would do it sooner rather than later. Come the end of the two weeks there was one remaining spot and so I then had to wait for the email of the official roll-down, that's how it worked right? I didn't actually know so just hoped it would work like that. Fortunately it did work like that and few days after the two week timeframe I received my invitation to accept an Xterra World Championship berth....how quickly can you say yes?
So we will head out to Maui for the race and now the hard work starts to be in the best shape possible to race against the World's best (as a result I will not be heading to Xterra Nationals due to costs and travel schedules). I am under no illusions as the field is stacked and I am still new to this Xterra thing. I'll need to evaluate some goals as I look ahead to the race and perhaps use it as a barometer for future races at Worlds (not that you can head to Maui every year, wouldn't that be nice?)
It's 14 weeks till race day.....I'm off to go mountain bike! More about the race in future posts.
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| Xterra Worlds Finish Line |
You can read my race report from the Xterra East Championships but you'll know that I finished 4th, one spot outside the automatic qualifying spaces for my age group. As such I had to keep my fingers crossed and hope that one of the top three would not accept the slot and have it roll down for me. This is where Xterra is much more civilized than Ironman. At Ironman you have to accept your qualifying slot right then and there at the race, no chance to think about the cost, logistics etc just pay your $750 and you are in. Xterra gives you some time, two weeks in fact to accept the slot online. It meant that for the two weeks after the race I was checking the race participant list to see if any of the top three had registered.
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| Xterra Worlds in 2014! |
As time got closer to the end of the two weeks, two of the three slots had been taken and with just one remaining I was getting hopeful....if you are going to accept the slot you would think that you would do it sooner rather than later. Come the end of the two weeks there was one remaining spot and so I then had to wait for the email of the official roll-down, that's how it worked right? I didn't actually know so just hoped it would work like that. Fortunately it did work like that and few days after the two week timeframe I received my invitation to accept an Xterra World Championship berth....how quickly can you say yes?
So we will head out to Maui for the race and now the hard work starts to be in the best shape possible to race against the World's best (as a result I will not be heading to Xterra Nationals due to costs and travel schedules). I am under no illusions as the field is stacked and I am still new to this Xterra thing. I'll need to evaluate some goals as I look ahead to the race and perhaps use it as a barometer for future races at Worlds (not that you can head to Maui every year, wouldn't that be nice?)
It's 14 weeks till race day.....I'm off to go mountain bike! More about the race in future posts.
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