THE STARS COME OUT FOR NATIONALS
The culmination of the XTERRA U.S. Trail Run Series and the XTERRA America Tour off-road triathlon circuit are just a few weeks away with Trail Run Nationals in Bend, OR on September 27, and the XTERRA USA Championship off-road triathlon in Lake Tahoe, Nevada on October 5. Both races are attracting some of the best trail runners and multisport athletes on the planet to take part in the challenges...

FIRST STOP, BEND
From near and far, for fun or fame, the XTR Nationals half-marathon “Xduro” has attracted an eclectic group of runners representing 20+ states. They are college students, doctors, teachers and firefighters – all united by a love for the outdoors, the search for a great place to run away from cars and busy city streets, and the sense of peace, exploration, and discovery that running trails provides.

Bend is the perfect spot for such pursuits, and a breeding ground for great outdoor athletes. Some of the big names from Bend racing in the championship include Max King (who just won a six-day 125 mile race through the Rockies), ultra-runner extraordinaire Kami Semick, two-time Dirty Half winner and world-class Steeplechase competitor Lisa Nye, and speedster Damon Kluck.

Some heavy competition is headed their way in the form of three guys from the 2008 U.S. Mountain Running Team (Richard Bolt, Joseph Gray, Simon Gutierrez), triathlon turned trail running legend Heather Fuhr (97 Ironman World Champ, Triathlete Hall-of-Famer), two-time USATF Masters Mountain Runner of the Year Lisa Goldsmith, 17 XTERRA Trail Run Series champs from Chicago, SoCal, Georgia, Utah, Oregon, and Philly, and a trio of defending XTERRA Trail Run National Champs in Kevin Tuck (pictured), Michelle Racicot, and Robin Linfield. Plus, with registration open until the night before the race there’s no telling what ringers will show up on the start line.

NEXT STOP, NEVADA
While the XTERRA USA Championship off-road triathlon provides the ultimate proving ground for amateur athletes from around the country (46 states represented last year) as the final race in the 58-race America Tour it’s the heavy hitters in the pro ranks that draw most of the attention.

Conrad “The Caveman” Stoltz is the headliner, looking for another win in Tahoe, his 6th XTERRA U.S. Pro Series title, and the $19,000 paycheck it would generate. He’ll be up against his extraordinarily fast fellow countryman – 11 years younger and from the same hometown in Stellenbosch, South Africa – Dan Hugo. A handful of experienced and proven Americans with Richmond winner Josiah Middaugh, 2006 U.S. Champ Seth Wealing, and the fastest American at last year’s World Champs Brian Smith. Don’t forget about Aussie star Chris Legh who regularly turns in the fastest run at these events, and consistent Mountain venue killer Mike Vine from Canada.

The women’s field is even stronger. Three-time World Champ Melanie McQuaid from Canada is the frontrunner, but American Shonny Vanlandingham (pictured) – NORBA’s most successful rider ever - has made huge strides with her swim and run skills to complement that lethal bike speed. Plus New Zealand’s Jenny Smith always races well in Tahoe and came off the bike in first last year, a pair of young guns in Marion Summerer from Germany (a two-time amateur world champ turned pro) and Lesley Paterson from Scotland (2nd at Southeast Champs in Alabama), and the top three females in the XTERRA European Tour – Anna Baylis-Scheiderbauer (AUS), Carina Wasle (AUT), and Renata Bucher (SUI). Mix-in Olympic triathlete Fabiola Corona from Mexico, the late-season wonder Danelle Kabush and ITU star turned XTERRA regular Christine Jeffrey (both from Canada) and steady Americans Jenny Tobin and Amber Monforte and there’s no margin for error come race day.

TENTATIVE PRO START LIST BY COUNTRY - Pro Men
USA - Jimmy Archer, Matthrew Balzer, Ryan DeCook, Craig Evans, Damian Gonzalez, Ryan Ignatz, Will Kelsay, Josiah Middaugh, Branden Rakita, Brian Smith, Jeff Smith, Cody Waite, Seth Wealing
AUSTRALIA - Chris Legh, Andrew Noble
CANADA - Mike Champigny, Mike Vine
COSTA RICA - Rom Akerson
SOUTH AFRICA - Conrad Stoltz, Dan Hugo
UNITED KINGDOM - Sam Gardner, Jim McConnell
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USA - Candy Angle, Erin Ford, Linda Gallo, Emma Garrard, Lisa Isom, Kristy Lanier, Amber Monforte, Sara Tarkington, Jenny Tobin, Shonny Vanlandingham
AUSTRALIA - Anna Baylis-Scheiderbauer
AUSTRIA - Carina Wasle
CANADA - Christine Jeffrey, Danelle Kabush, Melanie McQuaid
GERMANY - Marion Summerer
MEXICO - Fabiola Corona
NEW ZEALAND - Jenny Smith
SCOTLAND (UK) - Lesley Paterson
SWITZERLAND - Renata Bucher