The bike course was the roughest course i have ridden in the USA and it wasn't even a mtb race! The mtbers need to harden up and take some lessons from Xterra. This course was sick. Hopefully we get some images from the official photographers that show the insanity, i will def post them here if i find some!
This is a pic of the sky on the way home... luckily the weather was good to us during the race. Water temp was great and there were sunny skies all morning.
"one minute!" ... the anxious pro field are lined up behind the start buoy and everyone sinks into the water. Suddenly i start feeling nauseous, what is happening? I feel like i am moving backwards and the gun hasn't even gone off. Then i cracked up laughing - everyone is doing doggy paddle trying to sneak in an extra few metres and get a good "line" for the first buoy. It was so pathetic seeing all of the "pro's" pushing the boundary. Only about 10 strokes and 5 kicks in the head later (from the swimmers ahead) did i stop laughing under the water! The swim was in a Square and was 2 laps of a tiny pond which was great for the spectators, especially when i swam into the quay in front of the restauarant. Yes, i have a natural tendency to wander, (not like dog, like Nemo with one eye). Speaking of dogs, check out the collar on this specimen I found in Steamworks, the local Durango hangout... I had to get my pic taken.
Please pay special attention to the hairstyle under her right arm.... PRICELESS ! I wonder if her dad has a mullet?
Sorry, i got sidetracked - it happens... back to the race. Ja, so the bike leg was awesome and I managed to muscle into 12th position by the end of the leg (and ahead of all 10 women who outswam me !).
Beginning the run, I was a bit overeager and passed another chap - 11th position wasn't to be... the 'flat' run course turned brutal. Horse kak on the trail and a couple of steep kicks in the terrain managed to put the hurt into this mtber and i limped home in 14th position. Outside the prize money this time, but just wait - one day i am gonna learn how to swim !
For the official results, go to http://www.xterraplanet.com/race/results_05/keystone_05overall.html
