Xterra Guam, redemption

This morning started like every other race morning, I woke up before my alarm, had oatmeal, a little coffee, got in my Tri suite and headed over to transition with Al. I was hoping that the bike would hold, for one race, wondering if all the required sacrifices made to the Xterra Gods would be enough.  Since no Harlem Xterra theme has been done yet , we  were all recruited for the video in transition before the start of the race.  Stay tuned for the results, I will post the link as soon as it is up.  After the dancing it was time to head in the water for a quick swim, where I ended colliding with Dave Torre from Guam causing him a slight cut on his forehead, I felt so bad, the race hadn't even started! Guam is a water start and once the gun went off, I was able to find a pair of feet and draft for the 2 laps, I would exit from the water in 27 min.  It was now time to head to the bike course.  One mile into the bike, on the road section, I hit a bump and one of my seat rail snap, putting my saddle at an angle.  I decided to keep going and not even looking at was wrong, I though to my self, really?  The first 6 km is a road climb and slowly but surely I passed some people.  I would get pass by 2 people on the bike but would catch on to one of them eventually.  The course was well marked and I was able to ride just about everything, except a slick coral up hill.  They added a section this year, riding by 2 WWII tanks, which mean that it added a 5 km overall to the distance.  My bike would survived although by the end my gears were starting to make some noise, I'd book the bike course in 1:53, a bit slower than last year but considering the add on, I was riding strong despite the seat issue.  It was now time for the run, my legs felt sluggish and I'm sure that the canter of my seat did not help.  The run in Guam starts on the road bu quickly ends up going down water falls, that's right, and then through two river sections.  Once out it wad through a bamboo forest, than back on the road with a final turn and running on the coast line.  I managed to give myself a good scrape and woud book the course in 3:16 , good for 21 overall, second in my age group.  I would find out that the guy who beat me in my age was a former Danish Olympic them swimmer and had recorded the fastest age grouper time.  So here we are, another March of Xterra over, it's almost time to go home.  I hope to be back next year, the sun and the racing is good for the soul.  I highly recommend people to come and enjoy theses races, they are something special.  Good friends Ben Allen and Jacqui Slack would win the pros.  Al had a great time and won his age group.  Hope you enjoy the journey, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Less Han 24 hours to go, Xterra Guam

In less than 24 hours, I will be on the starting line with about 157 other Xterra racers.  It's been a difficult journey this time around as my bike as not been cooperating, broken handle bar and now heading tomorrow with a bent derailleur hanger, too soft to be straighten, no spare with me ( I have 2 but not for the right bike) and none on the island.  The bike shop here did awesome and make the gear worked.  I now hope the the carbon handle bar sacrifice to the Gods of Xterra will e sufficient for tomorrow.  The bike course is also dried up and with no rain in the forecast, if should be a pretty fun bike course.  So here we are, the end of the march of Xterra is near, time for a light workout and get ready for the race, time to forge on, race hard and see what happens.  Guam is such a great place, I really recommend that you consider race here and if you can, do the triple crown.  Stayed tune for the post race report, and if you wonder, I have number #52, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Xterra Guam, Navy edition

My Friend Al and traveling companion is a retired Navy commander so we are lucky to be staying at the Navy lodge.  Today we went on base for an open water swim and what a sight.  We were able to swim along the reef and be treated by schools of fish, coral and the likes.  This beach on the Navy vase was awesome.  Looks like the sun is out and hopefully the bike course had dried from some of the rain we had over night.  Now if the dry weather can stick around.  After the ride its time to pick up our race packets and go to the pre race briefing.  48 hours to go, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

P.S. GO NAVY

Guam, when mud attacks!

After so delays getting over to Guam from Saipan, thanks to United airline, Al and I decided to go pre ride the bike course.  We met, Ben Jacqui and Cameron who had just rode a small section, too much mud they said.  We headed out with a couple others thinking we could get out of the muddy section.  Well that was a mistake, 2 hours and 45 min later, bike covered in red clay, we made it back.  The mud was so thick at times it would fully lock my wheels.  Say the least we all hope it dries off, if not, this will be a bike a run more than anything else!  Today I'm off to explore the run course, which mean I will be going down water falls and run or swim through a river.  Wish me luck!  Happy trails

Carpe Diem

It's not always about the bike

I raced in the Tagaman today, being a road Tri I needed to used a road bike, couldn't bring my carbon steed, airline makes traveling with one bike expansive, you can imagine two, so my TT bike had to stay at the stable.  With the help of Local racer Paul I got my hands on a giant, half aluminum, half carbon.  Add some clip TT bars loaned by Derek and installed by Al, pro Ben Allen and I at the last minute yesterday.  To top it all off I decided to race pro, why not.  I decided to wear my Canadian red kit today,  trying to represent Canada and hoping that my Fiancée former colours as an Olympian would bring me good luck as I was still desapointed about my previous week DNF.  It was another early morning with a 6:15 race start in the water.  After setting my transition I went and swim in the water.  The ocean was at low tide and there were spots where it was quicker to walk than to swim.  The pro field was getting its own start, not that it would make a huge deal for yours truly, swimming is not my forte.  As the gun went off, some swimmer went straight in the water where as other ran on the beach to get in direct line with the first buoy.  I liked that ideas so I went along for the ride.  It was a 3 laps swim, I would book the 2000 m in about 34 min, not a bad time for me.  The bike is usually one of my strong suite but with a borrowed bike and little practice time, I wasn't so sure how it would turn out.  It's a good thing this course didn't have too many major hill, as I found out half way at the big climb, the gear ratio was not too friendly, I could barley go up the hill!  The way back was fast, with a tail wind and a gradual descent, I was able to grab some nice speed.  I'd book the 60 km in about 1:48.  After a quick transition, it was time to head on the running course, a flat 15 km awaited, in the warm weather and over looking the blue ocean.  With a tail wind for the first part, things were going pretty well, sub 8 min. Miles on the first 2.5 miles or so.  After that I settled and finished the run in about 1:15 for. Total of 3:40.  This was a fun race, despite racing on borrowed bike and all.  I hope this race will server as a stepping stone for Xterra Guam next week, I will  be back on the mountain bike and hope to have a good race as it appears that my age group has one of the most participant.  Kudos to Al Moore who finished strong as well as Ben and Jacqui, both winning the pro division.  After all, it's not always about the bike.  Happy Trails!

Carpe Die

Tagaman, 17 hours to go

Another week has come and by and race day is almost upon us.  It has been raining on and off today but I was still able to ride and run with Al as we are both taking on the Tagaman race tomorrow morning.  The Tagaman is a road Tri consisting of 2000 m swim, 60 km road bike and a 15 km run.  The gun goes off at 6:15 which makes me wonder how the heck am I going to be able to see the turn buoy when the sun is not up for another 15 min ?! I was fortunate to have a road bike loaned to me for the race so we should see what happens.  Stay tuned for the race recap tomorrow, and for my westccoast friends, hops you're not drowning in the Pineapple Express.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Hash run in Saipan

Yesterday was another beautiful day here, headed out for a ride with Al, still trying to figure out the road bikes so we took our mountain bike.  We rode to Bird Island view point and the Grotto and then back to the hotel.  I forged on for the Tank to Tank swim and had a solid one.  In the evening, we were invited to a Hash run.  The Hash run is a group of people who meet at a specific point.  Then the " hare" or course marker will leave 10 min ahead and will mark the trail with flour, sometimes sending you in wrong directions depending of the markings.  Add the fact that is complete darkness and that you have a flash light and that you are running in rugged country, that makes it interesting.  It was a cool run and at the end, a few beers and Gatorade awaits.  Today is a day off, picking up a carbon road bike that is being loaned to me for the race.  The weather has been nice but I have seen more rain than the previous years.  That said, it's still 30 degree plus.  The weekend is almost upon us which mean its almost race time.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Week 2 in Saipan

The weekend has gone and by and another week of training is upon us.  Went and did the cool tank to tank swim yesterday as well as a 40 min run.  GL, Allison and Cathy departed early this morning leaving Al and I on the Island.  I got a replacement handle bar and today we went for a 43 km ride.  I should take delivery of my road bike today so with Al master skills as a bike fitter, I should be good for a longer ride tomorrow on the new bike.  We are invited with all the off Island competitor to a Mexican dinner tonight so it should be fun to see everyone.  The weather has been on and off with a fair amount of rain but it looks like the rest of the week should be good.  The people here are so friendly and so nice, I highly recommend everyone to come to Saipan and race Xterra!  More to come later this week.

Happy trail!

Carpe Diem

When it rains.....

Woke this morning, feeling good.  The hotel was a short distance from the start of the race, quick rack and was back in my room for breaks.  The usual pre race meal, 2 packets of apple cinnamon oat meal and I was good.  You could see rain could on the mountain, rain.... Really! As the gun went off, the current was fairly strong to the first turn, by the second turn, I needed to have a 50 degree angle just to stay in line.  After a rough swim, I was out of the water, bit slower than I though with a 33 min but I think the course was a bit long, the watch said 1.76 km.  up on the bike and it was raining, I was settling into a rhythm after the climb and was just heading into the single track when the improbable happened.  As I took a turn and went over concrete, I leaned into my left side and my carbon handle bar shattered in half.  That was it for me, race over.  DNF, first time in 3 years of Xterra racing and nothing I could do about.  Very desapointed, roll back down the hill and rack my bike.  I was shortly met by David from New Caledonia, his bike had failed him.  Allison also met us and ad derailleur issues.  We were allowed to run the run course and that was it for me.  2 more races including one more Xterra in Guam.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

#60 in your program

In about 12 hours I will be string my transition in the dark, awaiting the sunrise to get in the water.  This will be my third race in Saipan, it's where it all started for me at Xterra.  On the menu, 1500 m ocean swim, 32 km of mountain bike and a spectacular 10 km run through the jungle and old war caves.  18 pros on the starting lineup. It's always a small field here, about 60 racers for the full course, but people are so nice and friendly which make this place such a cool place to race.  It is far from home but it is worth it.  We shall see what tomorrow has in store.  Stay tuned for the post race report and I hope you will follow me.  Hapy trail!

Carpe Diem

Bike course, the back side

Today was another day on the bike course, decided to do the back side since we didn't do it yesterday.  After climbing the beloved Tapschau, it was time to the descent, with a mix of blade grass, lava rock, mud and wet coral rock ( it rain for 20 min!). The mud and wet coral is a dangerous combination and if it doesn't dry off on race day, one will have to be careful.  It's almost race day as we are a day ahead of North America. Tomorrow will be a short bike, short run and a swim.  The swim will be at the tank to tank which is pretty cool, where you get to swim to old Sherman tanks who got stuck during WWII.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Hafa Adai

Well day 2 in the lush island of Saipan, rode most of the bike course today with Al and Allison.  Ran across a few old friend, pro Ben Allen, Jacqui Slack were also on the bike course. As well we ran across Renata as she was doing the run course.  The bike course in Saipan is hilly, technical at times and can be challenging.  We plan to ride the last little part of the course tomorrow, it is apparently very muddy and slippery so will have to see. After a bit of relaxing in the pool it was time for a 20 min open water swim.  The water was rough at time but it was nice to be back in the ocean.  I got some sun today and combined with the jet lag, I think it will be another early night.  Stay tuned for more of the action this week.  Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

March of Xterra part Deux

Well I'm half way through my flying waiting in Tokyo for my next flight to Saipan.  Looking forwarsd to some sun, training, racing and seeing old friends.  Wish my lovely fiancée was on this trip with me.  Stay tuned for all the action and the scouting report for the first of 3 races in the pacific. Happy trails!

Carpe Diem