XTERRA World Championships Race Report

Thanks for Inov-8's continued support during the 2009 triathlon season. I had my best finish yet and fastest time at the XTERRA World Championships October 25 at Makena in Maui, Hawaii. The 11k run is perhaps one of the most difficult in XTERRA racing due to the heat and challenging terrain, nothing that my Inov-8 shoes couldn't handle.

It was my fourth time competing in the XTERRA World Championships and I hoped again for a faster time and maybe a few places closer to the podium than before.

Coming from near freezing temperatures in Park City, I arrived in Maui six days before the race, if not to prepare for the race but to get just a few more days of warm weather before winter really hits.

A shark attack the day we got to Maui’s south coast meant many of the local beaches were closed the day we arrived on the island and had us franticly driving up and down the coast trying to find somewhere we could take that initial first dip in salt water after a long day of traveling—even if it did mean becoming a tasty shark snack.

By the time race day rolled around, I was feeling pretty relaxed, my bike was ready, brand new UST Maxxis Crossmarks with extra Stans on my Blue Ryno, my best shot a preventing a flat on the unforgiving lava course.

I had had plenty of ocean swims, complete with sea turtles, and a slight tan as a result--which would at least make me look better during the race.

AND I had not contracted H1N1—yet. Perhaps the biggest feat of my last round of training.

The race featured more competition than ever—Triathlete all-star Julie Dibens, 3x XTERRA World Champ Melanie McQuaid, and mountain bike stars Shonny Vanlandingham and Marie-Helen Premont were just a few of the women in the race.

The cannon fired just after 9am and some 550 athletes rushed into the pleasantly non-wetsuit water off of Makena Beach.

I was feeling great during the two lap, 1500-meter swim with a grueling soft sand beach run in the middle, must be all that extra oxygen at sea level and salt water buoyancy.

Unaware of where I was in the race and unable to find someone to draft off of, I focused on my stroke and trying to swim in a straightest line possible.

I exited the water where I heard cheers from friends and family and into transition where I got some helpful tips from triathlon coach Jim Vance.

I headed out on the bike course in hopes I could get through it without too much traffic. No preriding on the course means heading out onto the bike course blind.

Soon the strong mountain bikers started passing, Renata Bucher, Shonny Vanlandingham, Carina Wasle .

I managed to stay with Carina for a while. We passed a bunch of media, which meant I wasn’t doing too badly as the media van only waits for the top competitors.

There’s no shortage of uphills on the 20-mile bike course (some 3000 feet in fact). Not riding the course beforehand, coupled with lots or riders on the course opting to hike meant I was often left with no other choice but to hike-a-bike.

The course was apparently less rocky than usual, but also seemed very dusty making some of the descents sketchy as I could not see my line.

I was starting to see the inevitable flats, mostly guys, until I saw my competitor and friend Renata Bucher on the side of the trail struggling to fix her puncture.

“Do you need anything,” I yelled as I approached.

“No I’m fine,” she responded.

I felt super bad for her, she had come into the race more prepared than ever and after placing 4th last year, was really hoping for a spot on the podium. It would be tough to get that back now.

I still have a hard time remembering the course, hot temperatures, lots of riders all around make it a blur.

I got a second wind as I ascended Ned’s Climb, the last steep climb before the highest point of the course, which always comes sooner than expected. I try to get ahead on this section before the infamous “Plunge.”

Really not that bad or technical, but high speed so crashing would be painful. Perhaps more of a risk than the rocks are the other riders. Picking the best line means often crossing the double track, but it’s hard to tell where the other riders are around you.

I always get a little fooled by the high point of the course, it still takes a lot of work to get down the volcano and perhaps the hardest part of the course, known as ‘The Boneyard’ is next. This is a flatter section of the course but it’s so rough where there never seems to be a good line.

Soon I was heading downhill again and toward T2.

At this point I was able to see what was going on at the front of the women’s race as they headed out on the run course. Julie Dibens, followed by Melanie McQuaid and a quick-paced Lesley Patterson.

I transitioned as quickly as possible in hopes to catch some women on the run—and not get caught by some strong runners behind me.

Rebecca Dussault was not far ahead and I heard a split I was in 11th place.

In the rush, I dropped my much-needed visor for the exposed run and made the split decision not to back track to get it in transition, as the weather had been cloudy—until now.

As I headed out on the run the clouds cleared and I squinted in the direct mid-day sun of to try to see the next water station and where I could cool off.

I was definitely feeling the heat—more so than I’d hoped.

The first two miles of the seven-mile run are mostly uphill followed by a rocky downhill and onto ‘Big Beach.’

After testing several shoes on the varied terrain opted to wear the Inov-8 Roclite 260s because I liked the cushioning for the rough, rocky downhill and the tread worked well on the sand and wet pebbles and lava rock.

Before hitting Big Beach I recieved another split from Jim Vance there was a bunch of other women in striking distance.

Racers have the option of running through the soft deep sand at the top of the beach or running closer to the ocean where the sand is harder but you’ll end up running further. I opted for the harder sand, and a chance to get my feet wet in the ocean.

Skim boarders waited patiently to catch their next wave as sweaty triathletes ran by.

The beach really takes it’s toll on competitors, as we neared the end of the beach a runner in front of me started ‘swerving’ and as I ran by fell on me! My reflexes held up a hand to push him back up.

I was now heading through spooky forest with just over a mile to go. This section has lots of trees to jump over and duck under and can give you a ringer if you miss-judge, trust me I know.

If the first beach wasn’t enough, we now had a second smaller beach to run across followed by a sketchy rock section close to the water.

Just when I felt the huge relief of knowing the race was ‘almost over’ enough for a 3rd wind I caught sight of another racer, Marie, what I thought was 10th place. I wanted speed up but running at speed was treacherous on this section.

I heard a few more cheers and grass under my feet allowed me to pick up the pace. Memories of an almost exact situation from last year when I was unable to close the gap and finished a second behind I did not want to repeat. Plus, passing the racer meant a top 10 finish.

More memories of cross country running races where a strong kick was always necessary.

With about 200 meters to go I dug out that old faithful kick from some five years ago, made the pass and didn’t let up until I crossed the line.

emma-maui-finishWhat I thought put me in the top 10, but unfortunately I was in 12th and moved up to 11th place, so I was slightly disappointed. However, It was a good finish, an improvement in both time and place from 2008.

Both the men’s and women’s races were exciting ones. In the women’s race, Julie Dibens took the lead on the bike and held it well on the run. Lesley Patterson made up moved up to second after the run and Melanie McQuaid placed third.

In the men’s race, Conrad Stoltz came off the bike followed by Josiah Middaugh but could not hold their 1-2 positions on the run. A surprise win and stellar by Enako Llanos to take first followed by Nico LeBrun and Michael Weiss.

Big thanks to my family, friends and sponsors for their support this season. I look forward to some time off before preparing for the 2010 season that will come soon with winter triathlon.