The Xterra at Rocky Gap State Park, Maryland hosted by Ex2Adventures was today, July 12th. I had a great race and one of my favorite Offroad Triathlon. After a .75 mile lake swim, 14 mile mountain bike and 5 mile trail run, I came across the finish line at 2:28:07. I placed 8th of 39 in my age group. I was pushing hard for a top five finish but it was just a little out of reach today.
The race started with a short run down the beach to jump in and swim. I was not sure how I felt about the beach run but it helped thin the group out and made for a better swim with less elbows and kicking feet to watch out for.
I jumped on the Trek Fuel feeling great and ready to hammer out 14 fast miles of mountain biking made up 2 loops. The course plays to my strengths with 2 steep, loose rocky climbs. The Fuel 9.8 is an amazing climber. All I have to do is spin the pedals and hold on, up, up, we go. The two lap course has you go up Evitt’s Revenge. Each time when the Trek and I rounded the corner, the trail had 6 to 8 racers, hike-a-biker, pushing their bikes up the hill. I dropped the Fuel into the low gear and found a steady spin to carry me up. It is a good feeling to ride passed everyone, maybe a little mountain biker pride to ride to the top. Once to the top it was time to dive bomb the loose rocky downhill. I had having several flats during training rides. I set the Trek’s Bontrager wheels up to run tubeless using their rim strip and valves with Stan’s sealant at 32 psi. This saved me on the downhill and the bike would rail the corners with no slipping.the downhill and the bike would rail the corners with no slipping.
A quick transition from bike to run I was off for a 5 mile trail run and maintained an 8:19 per mile pace. With less than a mile from the finish line I gave it everything and made the final push.
I was able to shave 15 minutes off from last year’s time and improve my finishing position.
2009 Finish: 2:28:07 Age group: 8 of 392008 Finish: 2:43:57 Age group: 13 of 39
  Xterra mountain bike course map