Saturday was my second Xterra triathlon. It was held at Grafton Lakes State Park about 30 minutes east of Albany, NY. I got to the race early... got my transition spot setup and headed out to scout some of the run course. The run looked relatively flat 
thumb
and pretty technical thumb. I was feeling pretty good about the day.
Then came the pre-race athlete meeting. That was less than stellar, prompting mass confusion about the course, especially the swim (which you'd think would be the easiest part to explain). After a few explanations, athletes were able to get the gist of what we needed to do, and we headed over to the starting area.
We started with a 200yd-ish run along the beach, which was interesting in a wetsuit, but it was a good way to thin people out a bit before getting into the water. The swim consisted of two 500meter loops separated by a short run on the beach. Odd, but it actually worked out pretty well.
I was out of the water in 20 minutes.
Wetsuit off, swim cap/goggle off... jersey on, backpack on, socks/shoes on... and I was off on the bike.
The course was really fast compared to the other Xterra race I had done - primary double track, but there was enough rocky technical riding to still be able to call it mountain biking. I passed several people with flats and a 2 people with damaged r/derailleurs. I tried to pace myself on the climbs (slow and steady), so while I passed a handful of people on the climbs, I was also passed by a handful of people. But on the descents I made up a lot of ground thanks to my invincibility complex. I made it a point to drink as much as I could (hydration is almost always my downfall during races). Midway through the bike, my biggest problem was that I forgot my gloves, and the sweat on my palms made the grips really slick, which didn't help me during the rocky sections. But even so, I was feeling pretty good about things.
15 miles done... Time check at T2: 1:29. I was killing it!
Backpack off, run belt on, shoes changed, rice crispy treat eaten and I was off for the run.
The run was pretty technical, but not brutally so. Lots of roots and rocks, but I like that stuff so I was able to get into a good rhythm right away which almost never happens. I felt good early and it lasted. 2k into the run I was holding a good pace, had good footwork, and still feeling pretty strong. Drinking 1.5l during the bike was paying off. At 3k I started to feel my legs getting heavy and stumbled a couple of times from not picking my feet up high enough. I walked a few hundred yards, and took the opportunity to suck down a couple of gel packets. The boost of caffeine was just what I needed and I was able to finish strong.
I crossed the finish line in 2:10.
It was an awesome course, and while the organization/running of the event didn't impress me, it was sufficient for a good experience. I'll be doing this race again next year for sure.
thumb and pretty technical thumb. I was feeling pretty good about the day.Then came the pre-race athlete meeting. That was less than stellar, prompting mass confusion about the course, especially the swim (which you'd think would be the easiest part to explain). After a few explanations, athletes were able to get the gist of what we needed to do, and we headed over to the starting area.
We started with a 200yd-ish run along the beach, which was interesting in a wetsuit, but it was a good way to thin people out a bit before getting into the water. The swim consisted of two 500meter loops separated by a short run on the beach. Odd, but it actually worked out pretty well.
I was out of the water in 20 minutes.
Wetsuit off, swim cap/goggle off... jersey on, backpack on, socks/shoes on... and I was off on the bike.
The course was really fast compared to the other Xterra race I had done - primary double track, but there was enough rocky technical riding to still be able to call it mountain biking. I passed several people with flats and a 2 people with damaged r/derailleurs. I tried to pace myself on the climbs (slow and steady), so while I passed a handful of people on the climbs, I was also passed by a handful of people. But on the descents I made up a lot of ground thanks to my invincibility complex. I made it a point to drink as much as I could (hydration is almost always my downfall during races). Midway through the bike, my biggest problem was that I forgot my gloves, and the sweat on my palms made the grips really slick, which didn't help me during the rocky sections. But even so, I was feeling pretty good about things.
15 miles done... Time check at T2: 1:29. I was killing it!
Backpack off, run belt on, shoes changed, rice crispy treat eaten and I was off for the run.
The run was pretty technical, but not brutally so. Lots of roots and rocks, but I like that stuff so I was able to get into a good rhythm right away which almost never happens. I felt good early and it lasted. 2k into the run I was holding a good pace, had good footwork, and still feeling pretty strong. Drinking 1.5l during the bike was paying off. At 3k I started to feel my legs getting heavy and stumbled a couple of times from not picking my feet up high enough. I walked a few hundred yards, and took the opportunity to suck down a couple of gel packets. The boost of caffeine was just what I needed and I was able to finish strong.
I crossed the finish line in 2:10.
It was an awesome course, and while the organization/running of the event didn't impress me, it was sufficient for a good experience. I'll be doing this race again next year for sure.
