The swim started out great! I was bilateral breathing well, but was still having trouble sighting. Once when I went to take a breathe, I noticed the guy beside me was standing up. I quickly stood up and walked through the water as fast as I could for 25M or so. After that things got interesting for me! I had a guy to my left that was new to open water swimming and sighting. He would bounce off of me and hit someone else then bounce off them and come back to me. I felt like a bumper in a pinball machine. After the turn, I started to lose focus and then sighting was getting screwed up. I then started to side crawl to refocus and get my breathing back under control. It worked and I finished like I started with the freestyle!

Practice more OWS and sighting. Not eat the bananna at 7:30am. I was burpping the bananna during the swim!

Had to give the swim cap up getting out of the water. They were recording the numbers to double check the body count! I slipped into my pre TA shoes and MTB Gloves and started up the 300yd hill/climb to the TA. Used the run up the hill time to put on the gloves!!! I had no problem in the TA. Helmet, camelback and mtb socks and shoes.

Nothing!!

I was set for the MTB since we had done 2 prerides. I started out good. Their was a young gun blowing by me in the begining when you drop in to the single track. I told him to watch out for the first turn. As you can guess, over the bars he went!! He said that he was OK. I found my legs after 3/4 of a mile or so. I was happy with my pace on the whole course. I made it through the first rock garden which did a lot for my confidence. I ejected half way through the 2nd one and walked through the 3rd which was 75 yards long! I only wiped out 3 times and they were all minor front wheel wash outs. I joined the yellow sock club on the last 1/4 of the course. The snowmobile paths were smooth enough to allow it. I had to go really bad :-) On the last 400 yards, I got my feet out of my shoes and was ready to dismount at the transition. I used 2 Gu's on the bike.

MTB some more on harder trails! Learn some more about navigating the Rock Gardens. I've only been MTBing for 3 months!! I felt like I did AWESOME for my skill level on the MTB.

The rack almost tipped over when I went to put my bike on it. I was the first back on my rack. I felt great at this TA. My hydration was good off the bike. Put on my shoes and grabed my race belt and was off.

Get lace locks for shoes possibly!

Started out of the TA down a hill then up then up some more. The climb was really rocky the first 3/4 of a mile. Coming down off the hill was smooth. I took a water at the aid station at mile 1.2 and then had a GU. I did some walks up some of the hills on the last 2 miles or so. I could hear people cheering in the distance which helped me pick up my pace. I was sad at the gu wrappers I was seeing on the run. Please who litter SUCK!! Carry it with you! I came out of the woods towards the finish and saw my son and friends and family! What a boost for the last 200yds.

Possibly carried a little gel/ water flask for the last 1-2 miles I could have used it for a boost!

Got some gatorade,a bagel and some pretzels. Had a BIG hug from my son and relatives. Cheered on my buddy Jason and my wife. I was so proud of her!!! She broke her elbow 10 weeks ago MTBing training for this race with me. We are both new to MTBing. I took 3rd place in my AG and she took 2nd in her AG!! This was jason, my wife and my 1st Tri!! I am addicted for sure...


More OWS and longer bricks of bike to run!


This was a great inagural Xterra race! The first time Xterra has been to Ohio. The MTB course was right on the money. I would like to see chip timing next year and more pizza at the end. They ran out really fast! I will definately travel back to Ohio for this race next year. I would encourage all Xterra people or any one curious of off road tri's to look at this race next year!!!