Triple crown is over, race report from Xterra Saipan

This was my second year racing in Saipan and it holds a special place for me. It was site of my first Xterra, this is where I qualified for the world championship, I swam in a tsunami and met the Moores and the Browns. An early start again to beat the heat, I was lucky to bum a ride from no one else than top triathlete Renata Bucher. With an arrival in transition at 5:20 for a 6:30 start, there were no lights out just yet. I felt tired, I'm fighting a cold( who gets a cold in the tropics) but I was determined to have a good race, this being the last one of the triple crown. The current was strong this morning and I would soon find out that at the second turn boye, it seemed that I would go backwards at times! I was out of the water and off to the bike portion,which features 2800 feet of elevation gain and some technical descents. I manage to fall and bruise my palm on a non technical section, don't ask me how, but what is done is done. I forged on and got to transition 3 min slower than last year and headed out on the run. The run is fun, technical and grueling at the same time. Some steep climbs but then some very harsh rocky decent. You even go through a cave that was used during the second World War. Once you exit the jungle, it's a beach run to the finish. I would cross the line in 3:27:41, good enough for a third place in my age group and a personal best by almost 7 minutes from last year. This past three weeks have been pretty cool, I have met some awesome people in Guam, Philippines and got to see Al, Allison and Cathy in Saipan. I got to train with some pros, I biked and run in places that most people will probably ever have a chance. I escape injuries for the most part and I have to say, Jason and the crew got my bike so dialed in from Westwood Cycle Maple Ridge that I didn't have any major issues apart from my pedals. I hope you enjoyed the journey, I know I sure did. It's now time for me to hit the lazy river at the PIC and enjoy the rest of my vacation. If you wonder whats next? Xterra Las Vegas April 14, until then, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

The day before the storm....

Last stop of the triple crown, Xterra Saipan, the crown jewel of Xterra. I woke this morning to rain, I thought the many sacrifices to the god of racing such as my iPod in the wash, pedals, crash, heart monitor breaking were enough to keep the course dry! The sun is blackout so it should dry some of it, I hope. After 2 weeks of racing, the pro field is so close that I can see a show down happening on both the male and female side of things. In the age groupers I know a battle is about to take place in my age group with Pete and Cam from Guam who bested me in that race as well as Sublemente, local from Saipan who beat me by 3 min last year. So the stage is set, and at 6:30 tomorrow morning, the gun will go off race like no others. Stay tune for the post race report, until then happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Death Valley, a Saipan run course

Another early morning as I was off to run the course of Xterra Saipan, called by some of us "Death Valley". A mix of pros and age grouper headed out, staging one car at the start of the trail, the other one at the end so we didn't need to run the beach. Our little international crew had Switzerland, Germany, US, Guam and Canada in the mix. The Saipan course is cool and with Guam, is my favorite of all Xterra. At one point we are going down an old creek bed and then enter a cave used by Japaneese forces during WWII, how cool is that. During the race they even place candles in it! This was my last hard workout for the week. Tomorrow will be a light workout in the morning and then that will be it. Happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Saipan, the crown jewels of Xterra

Saipan, for those of you who are not familiar with, was the stage of some furious battles during WWII. The movie windtalker depicts some of it if I recall. This morning I was out to go pre ride the bike course with a couple of pros. Now people might think, why would I do that? Two reasons: one, I learn a lot watching them ride, two, not many sports do you have the chance to do so. The Saipan course is a challenging one, 2800 feet of elavation, close to 40 km in length. Add the relentless heat, technical descents and some monster climbs and there you have it. A quick stop at a market for a cold power aid and we kept on going. After the ride we met more of the racers and local for the tank to tank swim. How cool is it when you get to swim to old WWII tanks, still in the water! It's now time to relax before I got to Taco night, which will be a gathering of racers and some one house for tacos. My friend Allison and her dad Al are doing the race as well this year. For Allison, it will be her first kick at the can for a full Xterra, as for Al he raced here last year and he will also join me in Alabama for the ITU world cross as an age grouper for the US. Tomorrow will be a look at the technical part of the run, which is pretty cool, you go through a cave during the race. Until tomorrow, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Post Xterra Philippines

It had to sunk in, it was such a cool atmosphere in Cebu yesterday, the crowds were awesome, to be cheered on like that for most of the race was something I will always remember. It was also my first top podium as an age grouper in my Xterra racing, something I won't soon forget. My bike is packed and another 12 hours of traveling is awaiting me to make my way back to Saipan, sadly a lot of that is lay overs at the airport. Looks like some of the tribe is traveling on some of the same flight than me so at least il know a few people. Saipan is hailed as the crown jewel of Xterra and holds a special place for me as it was where I made my formal debut as an Xterra racer and qualified for the world championship last year. In addition I will be racing with my good friend Allison and her dad Al Moore. Stay tuned for the post from Saipan, until then, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Second stop of Xterra triple crown, Xterra Philippines

24 hours earlier..... I decided to ride one of the technical section not far from the start, steep, lava rocks, you get the picture. I'm not wearing gloves, it's a light ride. First time down no problem, coupled with the 2 yesterday I'm feeking pretty good, let's do it another time just for food measure, that was a bad idea, I crashes, and road rash both knees, destroy my hands. I'm not a happy camper. 24 hours later.....

I'm still feeling not happy about the crash from yesterday, I know I'm a better rider than that, my confidence is not great for this race. I wince and the thought of salt water on my open wounds. Early breakfast at 415 and then off on the bus at 5 am, the race site is about 35 min by bus. To boots, since I washed my IPOD, I don't have any music for the ride. I arrive at transition and de decided to make the best of it, I'm in the Philippines after all. I set my transition, head to body marking, wish a good race to some of the I got to meet, very quickly as I don't want to disturb their routine. It's time to head in the water, I jump in, it's actually not too bad, my spirit rise, maybe il have a good swim today. The gun goes off t 7 am sharp, swimming is always my nemesis, I scout a set of feet, who ever they are they have a Guam race kit, which means they swim in the ocean more often, I decide to hang on. The ocean is for sure choppier than Guam, I will end up booking the swim just under 30 min, I'm happy with that. Quick transition and off to the bike course, 36 km, 2 loops including the nasty down hill where I crashed. The neat thing about this race is that the streets are packed with people and it's awesome. The bike course is a series of dirt, road with steep climbs and technical bits. At the end of the first loop, I decide that I will dismount and run the down hill where I crash. On the second loop, one guy decide to draft me, which I don't mind until he bump into me and them passes me. He looks like he could be in my age group but is going fast and I decide to save some energy for the run. I would book the bike portion under 2 hours, I'm happy with that. Of to the 10 km run, a mystery as I wasn't able to pre run it. Again, the road is line with people, some neat section where you run on small trails as well as bamboo bridges, and the local wildlife, which could very well be served for dinner next! The heat is bearing down on me but I'm still moving along, a short beach run, coupled with wat running and then it's the road to the finish. I have no clue where I stand in my age group at this time. As I approach the chute, I see the finish line being raised, I'm thinking, that's nice they are doing that for everyone, I gues I didn't know but I was the first to come through for my age group with a total time of 3:12:42 a good 4 min or so from the second place. I have to admit, this race was awesome, great organization, tones of goodies and now some hardware to bring home. I'm off to Saipan tomorrow for my last stop in the triple crown serie. Make no mistake, this will be a though race with great racers in my age group including some of the guys from Guam as well as a local from Saipan who bested me last year. It's now time for beers, I think I have earned it. Until the next post, happy trails!

Carpe Diem

Scouting Report: bike coursevXterra Philippines

Picked up my packet this morning at the beautiful Crimson Resort, I wish I was stating there but it's a bit to expansive for me. I will be sporting # 299 for this race. From the Crimson our bikes were loaded in a transport truck and a bus was awaiting to takeus to the race site, which is a good 50 min away! I was lucky again today to pre ride the course with a bunch of pro such as Renata Bucher, Olivier Marceau to only name a few. The course is not marked so we had a local guiding us. First, the course is different from last year, as I gather from Renata who did the race. It's a mix of open road, dirt and grass. Some short steep climbs as well as a few technical rocky bits. Overall I think it will still be a very fast course for the pros. The overall mileage is around 35 km, split in 2 loops. Haven't had a chance to see the run course but my understanding is that it's not too technical. The heat though will be punishing and hydration will be the key for this race. Tomorrow will be a light workout for me and then we are racking the bikes. We are having pre race dinner in town hosted by the Governor. Stay tuned for the race reporton Sunday, until then, happy trails!

Carpe Diem