XTERRA Deuces Wild recap...

Oh wow. So much good stuff this weekend. I had signed up for the Deuces Wildacouple months back and have since (if you read the rest of my blog, you totally know) been injured a couple times. But, the weekend was full of tons of good things (and a few that could have been better).

My mom and I left Flagstaff at 3:30 friday afternoon. I was given the priviledge of sharing my sports testimony at the FCA Endurance Prayer/Worship Service that evening before the races kicked off on Saturday. We had a small turnout but I couldn't have been happier with who did show up. So blessed. We grabbed dinner at Sonic (I know, terrible) before heading back to the hotel. It is unusual that we spend a night in a hotel and it isn't race morning the next AM. But, my dad got a run in in the morning, I got to enjoy a hotel buffet breakfast (easily my favorite meal of the day) and we had a nice day visiting old friends in Pinetop. I was very glad that we were able to miss the large crowds of the Saturday races which consisted of an Olympic, a Half-Iron, an Aquabike and kids Duathlon. However, we did have to fight people at the raffle dinner. My one complaint of the weekend is that trisports.com really needs to organize that better. More seating, better sound system, more fluidity with serving dinner and handing out prizes. Honestly, I could have done better in my sleep. But, overall it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Saturday night rolled around and I got a better night's sleep than usual before a race. A good night sleep on race night is not close to what a normal good night would look like, don't mistake that. 4am was our wake-up call. I hopped in the shower, downed some water and oatmeal for breakfast and we were in the car by 5:10 heading to the race site. I knew it was going to be hot that day and was extra cautious of my fluids intake which accounted for the 6 trips to the toilet between 4 and 7am. The water was nice, I was still confused about the bike and run course but figured I would go along with whatever happened.

I came into this race expecting little. I had been injured, the pool had been closed for three weeks in May, my fitness wasn't at all where I wanted it to be. It took all day Saturday to finally prepare myself for a race that wasn't going to be my best. I just wanted to have fun and, as the saying goes, whatever happens, happens.

I personally thoughtthe swim course looked long, but I haven't done a swim that short (800m) in a couple of years. So, what did I know. Gun goes off. The usual flailing of body parts in front of me and the cliche washing machine routine commences as the Men's wave headed out to sea. The first of three bouys came up fast. I was stoked to know that we were flying through this course and as far as I could see, I was towards the front. Then the lack of training hits me and my arms feel dead with 500meters left to go. I gut it out and pump with the little left that I have for the dock. My wetsuit comes off mucch easier than in Vegas a month prior (check out that race recap for more detail into wetsuit conundrums). I utilized the wetsuit strippers for the first time in any race. I figured with all the issues I had in Vegas I might as well let someone else do the work for me. They were fabulous. My mom said I was the 20th out of the water and sure enough, the results say I had the 20th fastest swim. 15:20 for 800m, slower than I wanted.

My transition felt pretty ok. I wasn't really rushing because I was maxing already, I could feel it in my breathing and stomach. I was still out in 1:50 which I attribute to the long run out and up the incline to the road.The fastest T1 was 1:27 which isn't horribly fast either.

Out on the bike, I felt like I went out with a large crew. At least 3 or 4 other guys that I can remember. I was assuming because of the clumping of individuals that I was back in 20th or 30th place. Not the case. I started trucking and found my rythmn after a good 2-3 miles and locked onto one guy. I t was super rolly and mostly doubletrack trails which made it easy for passing and still interesting with sandy and rocky sections thrown in for good measure. Plus, we had about 5 logs that needed to be climbed over and a wooden fence. About 5 miles or so into the course comes the long, lung-busting climb. I passed 4(?) people on that climb because they were walking and I decided to granny gear (not quite, but almost) the whole way. One guy absolutely flew past me and I knew I would not see him again. I finally reached the top in time for some bombing downhills and more trees to climb over. The rest of the race favored the fast and smooth riders. I had latched on to the guy who I had earlier locked on to and one other guy riding a single speed. Everyone else had been dropped and we paced eachother most of teh rest of the way. We came to a fast fireroad and the single speed guy didn't have the gearing to keep up with myself and the other guy who had gears. I wanted to keep the pressure on because I knew that the guys behind me were trying to catch up and I was riding scared. We rolled into T2 in 9th and 10th place!!! Yeah I didn't know what place until after the big hill and I got a bit of renewed energy for the rest of the race knowing I could get that top-10 spot. I finished the bike with the 13th fastest split overall in 1:08.48

T2 was fast. I have always had some sort of innate ability at transition, especially T2. I hardly ever practice them but they always seem to go fast and this was no different. I rolled in and out in 54 seconds which ended up as the fastest T2 overall by 4 seconds!!!

The run was just survival as it always is. I rolled out of T2 in 9th place, 10th place was right behind me and 11th place was probably a minute down. The run course was less than spectacular but it did the job. It was super rolly and hot. The aid stations were life savers (Thanks volunteers!!) and I could see my competition as it was generally an out and back course with a 180degree turn around. 10th place guy overcame me at the 1st mile marker. He was gone and I wouldn't catch him. I was just focusing on giving everyone I saw some encouragement and hoping for the best. The best I could give was the 20th fastest run split overall in 39:57.

I finished the race in 10th place and second in my age group. I was shooting for 2:10 overall and ended up with 2:06.51. I was so blessed by God's work that day. My fitness levels did not have me finishing that fast. Good competition and favorable conditions gave me a boost and I could not be happier!