So i signed up for an Xterra race on a lark and only a few weeks out. My season was coming to an end but who can resist a swim in Tahoe and maybe one of the most beautiful bike rides ever, search the flume trail if you need to see what i mean. All that is nice but not how it played out form me on the cold oct day in the sierras did i say cold. So the weather here in N NV has been wonderful warm sunny all that jazz that is until yesterday. The first snow storm of the year rolled in and it got cold and wet.
Race day
So i got to the lake at about 630 it was 35 and the lake had about 4-5 foot swells it windy and lightly raining. Check in and do all that jazz race meeting at 830 but before that swim gets canceled, i was a little sad but i was cold, really cold so not being wet would be good. So it will be a Du (never have done one or trained for one) so here goes nothing. Well the announcement is made it will just be a .75 mile run so no big deal just to split the field a little. Got through it like i said no big deal, then came the bike. Oh the bike. Did i say it was cold. So after the run i took off my scull cap beacuse i was really warm. This would prove to be a bad idea. So i head out tri-shorts, 3 season gloves, arm warmers, and thank god i had socks on. So i start the ride, for any not in the know about the Nevada bike course it is epic to put it lightly. First 3 miles you go up 1600 ft ouch but not that bad but it was cold but nothing from what i was about to go through. You hit the flume and it is on the windward side of the mountain wind blowing about 10mph and gusting to about 20mph so with the low temp about 20 or so i was getting cold. Well you just keep climbing and climbing and you get above tree line and into the clouds i had about 30ft viability. This is when it got super cold in fact it snowed on me in my cycling jersey with just arm warmers and thin socks. I lost feeling to my toes, ears, and hands. I dont know what happened but at time i could not see stright and i think the cold really got to me. This was the coldest i have ever been and i have been a skier for years. Well long story short i finally got to go down hill and made the cut off. The run was a flat 5k trail run i was so cold and my legs were rubber and in pain. I have never had a race this bad.
What i learned
1. Well if i am going to do xterra again i will train better for the race it self, i did not respect this race and it almost cost me.
2. Road biking does not fully translate to mtb.
3. Tahoe can be cold get tights, carry a jacket.

It was fun now that i am home and warm, i am glad that i did it and despite the cold i will most likely do it again. It snowed 3 inches last year but i dont think it was as windy so hey you take what you get. I am so happy i finished and now some time off before i jump into full training for Oceanside.
Cheers