Swam pretty well. A little slower than normal, but I have not been swimming much and even though I hate to say it, I noticed the altitude a little with my breathing.

Swim more in training! I have been a pool slacker.

Had a decent transition. First time using a bucket... nice to sit on in transition. Had extra things to do that I never have before because of the Xterra. There was also a good run with the bike to the mount area.

Felt pretty good about my swim as the transition area was still pretty filled up with bikes.

Time was slower than normal, but I had to put on my bike gloves and just did not feel in a rush at this one.

I also had a little trouble clipping in at first but then I had my old shoes on with spd pedals.

Ok... The bike... where do I start!!!

Started off riding pretty decently and there was a slight sprinkle falling and a nice headwind. The sprinkle stopped shortly after and the wind wasn't as prevalent.

I passed a few people and began moving along pretty well. We climbed a little at first then went hauling down a steep hill. I got the bike up to about 34mph flying down this hill and felt good to avoid all the rocks on the way down.

Then we biked through a tunnel and since I had sunglasses on, I could hardly see anything. We then went through a parking lot and over a curb onto another dirt road. This road was rocky but was very manageable and had humps that were made to keep cars from driving down the road. These humps became fun jumps.
I was catching some good air as I hauled down them. Gradually getting closer to the 2 guys I had my sights set on passing. We kept jumping and twisting and turning down this road when all the sudden they stop... I was thinking ahh.. they were going to turn left an we are going right and this will be a easy pass. Well, this was not the case! The three of us realized that there were no markers pointing in either direction. FUCKING SHIT! AHHHHH Echoed through the forest.

So now I had to climb back out of there. My left hand felt like it was on fire. Gripping the handle bars on all of those jumps and downhills had taken a bit of a toll. I would try to relax my hand and all the flat spots that came from there on out.

So finally after getting back on course we entered the Rodeo Chedeski fire area and the path was pretty much single file, rocky, and soft sooty dirt. because I was now behind all of the BOPers I couldn't get around and had to walk behind them as they walked their bikes up this sooty rocky long tedious hill. Here and there I would get around a couple and then would mount up on the bike but I would soon be right behind some more walking up the hill. I even had a squirly front wheel in the soft sooty dirt and went down cutting my leg.

After finally making to the top, there was a flat area. I rode along and passed 2 more riders and then the descent started. There were some scary rocky descents where you had to make quick turns right at the bottom of each steep hill. Then going over a little hill you would go right down another. I kept my speed cautious, yet let it go down some of the hills.

I finally saw another rider ahead, in fact 2 riders. There was a spot where you had to carry your bike over about 10 charcoal burned logs. My legs got covered with charcoal but I got right around those 2 riders.

Just after that I hit the hard packed dirt road and I was flying! I passed a few more riders before coming back to a long steep downhill. This hill was so steep I you would be on your heels walking down it... more like climbing down it. At the bottom there was a volunteer yelling that you have to make a 90 degree turn and they had logs setup so if you went out of control you were going to crash bad... Well proudly I made it down and then rejoined the trail just before the tunnel that alas takes you back to the promise land... a.k.a. transition.

Stay on the course! Hand dexterity would help some too. My hands aren't weak by any means but Gripping on all those jumps and downhills set my left hand of fire. (right hand was on the rear break so it was more relaxed)

Decent transition but the time was longer than it should be. Perhaps from my sadness of returning my bike to a T2 full of bikes. It was just seem really different!

Faster... should have been around a minute.

So I started out the run. I took off like a flash. It was weird to be running by BOPers still while they were walk/jogging. This wasn't a multiple lap course! Whats going on! LOL

Just after you get on the trail you start descending down and I almost rolled my ankle. I kept charging down though and ran across the bottom of the valley. I passed Elaine there and said hello and as I looked forward I saw this big sign "DEUCES WILD ELIMIATOR!" Well, I ran right up the eliminator... granted it was really steep and kind of long so I was moving slowly but I passed 4 more people going up it! Then the run went along a small plateau to the "MINI ELIMINATOR." I laughed and chuckled as this hill would not eliminate me either!

The run the went on a gradual uphill to the turn around. The catch was that you really didn't get to run back down too much gradual downhill as you would go a little and then turn over to where they had you wade through a section of the lake that got up to waist deep. I splashed water in the air yelling "ahh refreshing." Then there was a hill to run up.

After the hill, a trail led us around the lake to the transition area where they sent you down a path to run up some stairs that lead to the finish line.

Well that all goes back to the wrong turn on the bike. Would have been nicer to have people to chase down rather than just pass.

They gave you a popsicle. The ladies seemed to like this popsicle. LOL

I then went over and sat down by my dogs. I got swarmed with all the love and then gathered my gear and put it at my truck. Got some barbeque chicken and watched a little of the awards ceremony.


We'll just leave this one alone. LOL

I am still happy with the race and had a lot of fun. Xterra is a animal that I will work on taming!


Good race. Enjoyed it and they had a large raffle where I won a "stick" massager. There were a lot of good people that I know or kind of know there and it was just a fun crazy race!

Anybody going to join me in racing this next year?