I started on the outside looking for a bit of clean water. There were so many people in the first wave that I did not have any clean water to start with. I did not want to go out too hard so I hung back and waited a bit while swimming. I ended up passing a few people and had some bumps and such on the first loop. It felt a bit harder than it should have. By the second loop I was in cleaner water and was able to run at my own pace. The cleaner water was a relative term as the beginning was so churned up with mud that I could not see anything and it actually tasted a bit dirt-like. I had a bit of contact around the buoys but nothing major. My exertion seemed better on the second loop. I suspect the course was a bit long as I can swim in the pool without a wetsuit at less than race pace at a much faster clip than I ended up in the race based on 1000 yards.

I need to swim faster. Perhaps I need to get up front and swim harder and not get worried about people passing me. I think I may be swimming slower than I can because of my tendency to wait for an opening.

Was fairly good but I think I was going in slow motion.

move faster!

Well, where to begin. The bike started out well and I had a good run down the initial hill and started climbing up the two track. I passed a couple folks and was passed but was doing well from a pacing and exertion standpoint. We got to the singletrack and I ended up following someone who was going a bit slower than I wanted to. I could not find a good place to pass so I hung back and got a bit of a rest. We made it to the technical section where I had to walk the bike through as did everyone else. Just past there a ways was a steep section followed by a turn. I successfully downshifted to be ready for the climb and made it nicely to the top. Feeling good, I started to make the sharp left hand turn and found myself leaning too far inward. I pedaled furiously and proceeded to spin out that gear without the acceleration to make the turn. In what felt like slow motion my angle got steeper and steeper into the turn until somehow gravity got the best of me and the earth jumped up and hit me. I scraped up my left arm and my hip took a good hit. Mostly bruising my ego, I popped up, checked the parts and proceeded to ride away. The course continued along the single track and I traded places with a few folks, passed some people, and was passed by the fast ones. I made it through the ups and downs and made it to the nice long downhill but with my technical abilities in question, I held back a bit on the descent. I had a couple of moments where I washed out the front end and puckered up pretty good. I finally made it to the uphill in the singletrack again and I found myself behind someone who was going slower than I wanted to. I finally found a good place to pass and made a break for it. I cruised along and made it back to the two-track descent just befor the big hill. At the bottom of the big hill there is a right turn. Now, having bruised my left side and scraped my left arm, I must have subconsciously wanted to maintain symmetry. At the bottom I made the right hand turn and proceeded to carry more speed than the front tire could handle which threw me mercilessly to the earth. I again scraped my arm and bruised my hip but this time it was on the right side. I popped up, checked the parts and started off again. After that I cruised up the hill and managed to spin up the whole way. I ran out of water in my camelbak about mid way through the hill. I then spun on into the transition area and got ready for the run. I think my crashes cost me about 5 minutes tops aside from the confidence issues associated with having fallen down. I took 3 gels, one every 30 minues and drank 3 bottles (300 cal) of HEED from my camelbak. That totals 600 cal in the 2 hours which worked well.

Hmmm... Lets see, I think if I dont fall down that would be an improvement. I also think I need to be more agressive on the passing of people when I want to ride faster. I guess that sums up as me improving my MTB technical skills!

This transition worked pretty well for me.

go faster!

I started out doing pretty well but with a high HR and percieved exertion. The course started up a hill which made it a bit hard to get into a good groove. I had to hike up a few steep sections as I could not keep running. I gradually passed a number of people on the run and started feeling better and better as it went along. My pace was pretty good for me considering the terrain and the technical aspects of it. I think the best part is I did not fall down!

I feel pretty good about the run. I think continuing to work on my run speed and strength will help me out.

Grabbed some water, hung out with Chris and talked to a couple friends. Walked around a bit.


MTB technical skills, mental pacing on the swim and bike sections and overall fitness.


Good race and my first Exterra. I would do it again and am planning on running the CB Exterra event later this month.