Less is not always better than more! Extra water in a fast flowing James River as a result of torrential rains from two recent storms meant it was too dangerous for the swim segment of the Xterra East Championships. So the race turned into a duathlon – short run, regular bike, regular run. I’m no stranger to duathlons, being a second place finisher in the world championships at the age of 19. But having no swim at an Xterra champs was a little discombobulating!
Not that it mattered in the end as it was another victory, making it three for three in Xterra Championships in 2013. I led for most of the first of two laps on the technical bike course before Shonny Vanlandingham zipped on by and I just tried to keep her close for lap two.
I am really happy how I have managed to elevate my mountain bike skills in the past 18 months. Lots of trail riding in training in almost perfect year-round San Diego weather is the key.
I cruised passed Shonny a mile or so into the run, posting an average run speed around 6.3 minutes per mile for most of the race, and winning by a couple of minutes. I felt really good and it was a great confidence builder on a course I have never conquered before mainly because of the technical bike section.
While that may be three in a row in 2013, I would now like to race in a warm, dry and dusty environment please, after back-to-back championships – Alabama and Richmond – that had rainy and slippery conditions! The weather gods please take note!
