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Xterra East Champs..... Still Improving

Posted by: Mark "Cabin" Leishman
Monday 23rd June 08
427 reads

I have a wee problem. This XTERRA thing is kind of a big deal over here in the States. Which means things just keep getting more competitive. And results tougher to come by. So when yesterday, on Richmonds gnarly urban assualt course also known as XTERRA East, I improved my own performance by nearly 10mins over last year (when I was 13th)..... it was only good enough for 11th.

So that US Pro tour top 10 still eludes me. Just.

Richmond is simply a cool race. Cool enough it really is worth flying halfway across the world for. The short 1000m swim has to be seen to be believed. Held in the James river, its a water borne obstacle course. Shallow enough in places to lead to numerous beached whale impersonations, yet such a rock and debris strewn bottom to make dolphin diving (or even running) not really an option either. Richmond is probably the only triathlon you can expect to come out of the swim cut and bruised.

This leads to an amazing MTB course. Tight twisty and demanding singletrack. With staircases, railway crossings, culverts, storm water drains. You name it. Followed by a fast 11km including everything from roads, to single track, stairs, old river beds and even ladders. Like I said, its gnarly. And you'd better bring your A game.

Unfortunately, I was sick after last week, and pretty much did nothing all week. So I was a little unsure. But I've learned to trust my ability and the training that has come before, so was on a mission for that top 10. Sadly, I messed up the 'swim' a little. With a seperate pro start it was a great opportunity to get that elusive tow on the strongest swimmers feet. But after a bad choice in starting technique in the waist deep water I lost those feet in oh, about 10m.

I salvaged something at least, but was dissapointed to still give up 3min to the front, and came out one of the last of the 24 pro men. This was certainly a missed opportunity. Out onto the bike course and time to go to work. There were a few exciting moments as I made error after error in the first 20min. even managing to ride off the side of a 6ft high concrete 'bridge' that i've never even thought twice about in the past. Amazingly, I got away with that without major damage, and eventually got things moving, picking my way back through the field. Moving well, but cautious to save a little for the run.

In a reply from last week Ryan Ignatz and I rode the last third together after I finally caught him, and worked together to transition. After a 6th fastest bike split I was a little dismayed to learn we'd only made it up to 11th. Frustrated I chased Ryan out onto the run, and wasmoving well. I soon lost contact with Ryan which wasn't too surprising, as he proceeded to post the fastest run of the day. I foccussed on turnover an d kept things going, pushing all the way and closing with a 39min 11km trail run almost 4min than I did last year.

11th. 7min off the win, and less than three from the podium. In fact, 5-8 were within about 40sec of each other. As I said, this field has some depth these days!

So I'm pretty encouraged looking to Maui. I'm now in the mix in these races. I'm putting myself in solid positions and giving myself a shot at a top result. The only dissapointment is that its time to go home. Whilst the XTERRA crew have invited us to race the next two pro tour events (Utah in August, and Tahoe in October), and a top ten pro series result is a realistic target; the credit cards aren't too happy with me at the moment!

So it's back home to work, to winter, and a focussed buildup to the World Champs. Training won't be easy, but the carrot of World Championships dangling should provide motivation enough.

Sourced from RSS Feed: http://cabinracing.blog.com/atom/
Link to original article: http://cabinracing.blog.com/3224608/

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