XTERRA Buffalo Creek - Triathlon

Actual swim time was 33:30 or 1:58/100. Water level was way low so the bottom was pretty silty and shallow. Race started and I actually walked for about ten yards before it got deep enough to swim. First 100 yards was very silty/murky but then the lake deepened and it was fine. First few hundred were good but then my shoulders got a bit sore. Had a few people swimming across me on the way out. Watched with fascination a guy swimming directly towards shore who nearly made it. Finished pretty strong and jogged the 250 yards to transition.

Having a crap swim is making triathlon frustrating. I constantly start races in the hole and have to fight through the field to make up time. Not such a big deal in road tri but tougher in XTERRA. Until I can figure out what causes my shoulder pain (which I have yet to), this is the reality of tri for me.

Not bad. Took time to put on socks because of the distances involved.

condition my feet to go sockless more often.

Started off feeling decent and my HR wasn't too bad from the swim a la Beaver Creek. 8000 feet is apparently easier than 9000 feet. The nice thing was that it was flat going out and then a long downhill to the trail system, which allowed my HR to normalize before any hard efforts on the bike were required. Took the downhill fast but didn't take any risks. Entered the trail system and ran into a section that I didn't get to ride in my pre-ride. This actually turned out to have the only technical sections so I wish I had. Good effort throughout the ride and continually passed people and was never passed. My goal was to push the bike harder than Beaver Creek and I think I did this. Ended up riding with another guy from my AG for most of the second half of the course. He'd kill me on the descents and I'd catch up later. Finally dropped him on the last long climb back to transition. Left knee started to bug me towards the end of the ride a la Beaver Creek. Need to get this figured out as it's very random.

Bike continues to improve though I need to figure out how to specifically train the mtb.

Fairly fast here though I should have dismounted a la road tri.

Started off feeling pretty good but then my legs felt a bit flat on the first climb out from transition. Power walked one section, got my breath back, and then felt great for the rest. Stomach felt good and no side cramps this time. Once I got through the single track/tight stuff, I started to open it up more on the service road. Passed lots of people and was never passed. Finished strong.

A little bit of a mental thing on the run as I had heard it was short but I didn't know how short, if any, it was. A local had told me before the race he thought it was four miles to hike around the lake. So in my head I didn't know if it was 4, 4.5, 5? This kind of messed with my pace a bit. I think it was pretty close to 5 in the end; wish I had my GPS for it!

Walked around and stretched. Had some active release done on my left quad/knee and rolled it a bit. Grabbed some food and waited for Ocky and Matt to come in.


Experience. Need to figure out how to train more specifically for XTERRA. These age groupers are ridiculously fast. My age groups rankings were a little more in line compared to my road tri results but I still can't crack the top ten. Next year is IM so we'll see what I can do in 2015.


Absolutely beautiful venue. This was my favorite XTERRA race thus far. The water level was low for the swim but it worked. Bike course was challenging with a variety of terrain. And the run was amazing with having to cross a small river, hop over downed trees, and navigate a steep log staircase. I plan on racing again.