Xterra Charlottesville, Aug. 17, 2008

With a lot on my mind, I had not thought much about this race. We had pre-registered a few weeks in advance so we went down to race even though we were not too ready for it. I was glad since this is my favorite venue for the xterra races.

Unfortunately, the race begins way too early so we had to get up at 4:30 a.m. We got to the race sight before the sun even got up, another sign it was way too early. Shawn and I got premium spots on the far racks, they were filling up fast, by the time the last athletes arrived there was only room along the fence. This race must have doubled in size from last year.

They changed up the swim wave starts and I ended up in the first wave. This was fine because last year I was in the last wave and people from the first wave had already made it around and lapped us before we even got to start. So I had clean water this year for an entire lap, and did not run into people until about half way through the second lap. The swim went easy, surprisingly since I have not swum in about a month, two guys took off from the start and I hung back. I was third out without a problem, first female, with the pro Alisha Lion not too far back.

Transition went well, got everything on, but I made a huge mistake. I forgot to find out where the exit was and ran my bike pretty much all the way around the perimeter before I got out. I saw Alisha in transition and new she would be coming along very soon.

The bike was awesome. It has a lot of twists and turns, roots and rocks. The trails are similar to our own, but much rootier and rockier. The first half flew by, a lot of it was fun downhills. Alisha passed me early on, but then I never saw another female until 8 miles in. I had clean trails that entire time. I must have put enough time on the men on the swim that they were pretty far behind. But it all came crashing down in the last four miles of the race, they all caught up at once and I had to continually pull over to allow streams of five men pass. It got very frustrating after feeling so free and fast for the first half.

Some fun firsts happened on the bike:
1. I did my first ever jump in a race. I am not sure what came over me and why I did it. I just think I was having so much fun riding it was like an everyday ride and I wanted to feel some air.

2. I rode the biggest log pile of my life. I remember coming up to it and hesitating, thinking I am not sure what is on the other side, but then just went for it. I think I might be ready for some middle run log pile action.

The other cool thing that was running through my head at this point, this specific log pile, was that two years ago at that point it was me, one other man and the sweep. We were out there together just trying to survive. I remember getting off my bike there thinking there is no way, and the guy reacting, saying that we had made it this far lets live and walk over. Also having the sweep there is a memory I will never forget. I told him good job, and he was like...ummm, no I am just out here to make sure everyone gets in. Shawn was not racing and I had been out there so long that he starting walking the trail backwards to make sure I was ok. This made me realize how far I have come in two years as I rode successfully over these logs in third place.

The run came and was not too bad, though I only took one gu on the bike and had decided I would rely on the cliff blocks on the run. Out of transition I grabbed the opened bag upside down and they all fell out except for one. I ate the one immediately and later on choked down a gu after two gags from the water tent. I ran steady, walked some hills. A couple girls passed me and towards the end I came up on a guy who was cramping. I stopped for about 30 seconds to give him the rest of my water I was carrying. He downed it. Then I started back up the final hill, about a quarter mile to the finish. At the very end a girl passed me who was in my division. I did know this, let her pass and then when she got about ten feet ahead I could see the finish line so I kicked it in as fast as possible. I sprinted and thanks to all the track practices I have done this year was able to beat this girl. Shawn was there at the finish, I had not heard him cheering.

I would love to get back there to just ride the trails one day. They are a lot of fun. I think I was like fifth overall female, third in my age-group and 79th total. We left before the official results came out, I had a nap before we drove home. I was most sore from my Wii playing, though my legs felt that final sprint in.