Xterra World Championships - TriathlonOther

My first lap was much faster than my second, largely because I went straight at the buoys on the first lap. I was kicked, punched, battered, beaned, and knocked on that first lap, so I decided to swing wide on the second. I should have stayed in the fight, because the Ultimate Swimming Smack Down is probably faster than swimming along the sidelines.

Swim in the middle of the fight on the second lap.

No showers, so it's off on the mountain bike covered in salt water. That, combined with a basic gut level of terror, makes for a desire to stay in transition as long as one can.

I can certainly move more quickly through transition, but I wanted to get this one right and not forget anything... like my camel back.

Are you kidding me? This is the craziest bike race track that I've ever seen. The lava is sort of hidden under loose dirt and grass, broken bikes are strewn everywhere, people fly off their bikes left and right. I was very pleased to ride the entire course without a single munch, something I could rarely accomplish while training in Colorado. There is a lot of bike pushing on this course, as it climbs up some very ferocious hills, and I have no idea how these guys fly down the hills without breaking their faces, but it's nothing short of a great, great time. This course really is a "must-do" on the world circuit of triathlons.

Toward the rear of this race, where I was, the event becomes more challenging because the bike aid stations were out of water. All that they had was Gatorade. I was very pleased to have a 1.5 liter camelback, because the course really demands a ton of hydration. I finished the camelback half way through the bike, and had to refill it with Gatorade, which I finished before the run. Anyone considering this race needs to be seriously aware of the hydration issues, that's for sure.

With more experience, I might be able to descend quicker on this course, but the penalty for failure is pretty severe; a body battered and torn by lava. So, maybe focusing on climbing would be better...

I was so happy to have survived the bike ride that I could have cried. So, I just hopped into my shoes and looked forward to what I thought would be a little fun run.

Probably wouldn't underestimate what was coming up; the run!

This run turned out to be something of a nightmare. The heat was blistering, and the hills were seriously steep. The run along the soft sand Makena beach was simply unbelievably difficult at this point in the race. The only part that was reasonable was the pavement for the first mile.

With one mile to go, I was getting to the end of the Spooky Forest, when I came upon what looked like two large trees that I had to go under. The two were marked with course arrows, so I ducked under the first, stayed low for the second, and when I came up to start running again; "THWACK" I was knocked flat on my back by a third tree that I didn't see.

I struggled to get up and started running, when I noticed the left lens of my sunglasses starting to flow over with blood. I took off my glasses and hat, and the blood splurted out of a gash in my head. I had just passed a tough looking customer in my age group, and wanted to stay ahead of him, so I just kept jamming.

I was on a beach, struggling, with blood splurting out of my head and dirt everywhere. It became really difficult to go forward, and I started to worry that I might collapse and wouldn't finish. So, I just hunkered down and ran. Hard.

I came around to the finish line and could really only see out of my right eye. I saw the beautiful bikini girls who give racers their leighs sort of moving to get away from the bloody guy coming across the line. Despite protests that I was fine, I was put into a wheelchair and taken to the med tent. There, the good doctors put seven stitches in the wound over my eye and eventually I was released to get my "survivor" medal.

I was done. I'm really happy. I've raced the Ironman and XTerra World Championships.

And next year I hope to return to Maui....

The next day I went back to look at the tree that smacked me, and I saw all sorts of hair in it; blonde, brunette, short, long.... Next year I might just go out a few weeks in advance with a chain saw and pay that sucker back a bit!

I warmed down on my back in the Med Tent, enjoying the feeling of the needle and thread sewing me back together. After that, I spent an incredible four days touring the islands and having the time of my life!


Lack of experience. Caution. And a tree in the way.


This may be the most fun that I've ever had in triathlon. Great people. Amazing venue. Tough to take the time aspect seriously, since I had no prior XTerra experience. So, it was all just for fun and a t-shirt and a medal. I'l never forget this one, and I have the scars to remind me!