For the non-Xterra fans, this was an offroad Triathlon 1.5Km swim in Lake Tahoe, 32sh Km mountain bike, 10Km run.
Quick recap
5am
After spending having an awesome dinner and sharing the night with Nate, Erin and Tommy we all wake up at 5am... the plan was to leave the hotel at 6.15 but apparently everybody apart me seemed way too fast on getting ready and too anxious to get to the transition area. It is 5.40am and they all left me ... Dario and I are taking our "italian" time and try to get those 20+ minutes of extra lazy rest.
6.30am
Transition area full of the most amazing Mountain Bikes ... I try to get my stuff in place before the usual "nerv d*mp" time occurs.
I do find this sweet coffee place on the main street and when they see me enter for the 3rd time in 30 minutes.. they probably know I am not very much interested on their coffees but to that little magic black door in the back :-))
7.40am
Dario and I are almost ready to go. Wetsuit half the way on. The race organizer is telling us how could the water is and how important is to warm up in it...... DUDE... 49F-51F water temperature... this is the coldest water I have ever swam into. My feet freeze at first touch and I am really considering to not even start. Nate and Erin seem pretty concerned too but I can see from their face "this aint gonna stop me" :-)... Dario and I on the other side are in a state of tension mixed to hilarious-freezing humor...
8am the SWIM starts
It is a mass start ( less than 200 people ) but this time I dont feel like rushing in the first line and I decide to start a little later... BOOM people are rushing into the coldest water on earth while Dario and I keep talking and laughing... this must be the most relaxing start of my life. After 20-30secs we look back and YES we are the last ones... maybe we should jump.... GOOOOO.
8.16am first swim lap is gone
750mt are gone .... it took me that long to warm up but the initial "I am about to die" feel is finally gone and my mood is starting to kick in... from take it easy it is a fun event to let's if I can actually race this.
8.26am Swim done in my usual 26 minutes
Running barefoot (with dumb feet) to the transition area is surprisingly effortless and I am happy to hear I am 20th overall out of the water.
8.30am Starting the MTB ride
I took it easy during transition, put socks and most importantly gloves on. I am not comfortable on the Mountain Bike ( just 2 weeks of experience with it ) and too afraid of falling. The ride starts with a crazy climb the last for about 5 miles.... it is grueling but nonetheless I paid for this ... and like my father would say ( You bought the bike... now you got to pedal ) :-). I am pushing enough to pass 1-2 guys every mile and that keeps me going... I am almost on top of the hill now there are 2 loops of technical, muddy, rolling terrain... and here it comes... mud everywhere.. I cant see my number anymore... the race is becoming frantic, fast, dirty and super dangerous... I feel so unstable on my 29er...Mile 10, Mile 15,....Mile 15.2... CATABOOM I am down ... lol thank God I fell on a huge mass of snow, I still need to learn how to jump or at least avoid big logs....
Back on my bike ... no scars, I actually feel pretty good, now I do not have to perform anymore... I got myself a little excuse in case the race goes bad :-).
Mile 20... from now on it is all down hill to the transition area.... dude....TR TR TR TR ... dude.... TR TR TR TR.... I am going so fast, rocks everywhere... I got to trust my bike or I will die... TR TR TR TR TR TR... I cant hear much.. just rocks jumping left and right and my bike magically flying down the mountain....yayyyy asphalt... last 500yds and I am ready to change in my running shoes.
10am the Run
I feel better than a week ago in Italy, legs are still strong after the bike and I can try to challenge myself on the running portion. As usual I start off too fast but the 3 miles vertical hill is devouring energy from all the athletes in the field... including me.... I can only settle in my climbing pace... umh nice It seems like I am passing people... .....I want this hill to be over... cmon push push.... push... and my legs seem reacting just fine.... push... I am on top... now flat and 3 miles down to the END...... the trail up here is gorgeous, I run in between snow, mud, rocks and plants of any type....... ole' I am passing another guy... I must be doing well.. I dont see many contenders in front of me.... going down now..... I feel like my legs are still ok.. this means I can push downhill and maybe catch up on some top finishers....
10.30am the last mile
I am running downhill at 5.20min/mile pace.... I love it... it hurts.... but it is a pace that all the other athletes cant sustain right now... I passed 8-9 guys so far and I got 2 more in front of me.... done ...... and done.... nice I see the end... cmon one last push...
2h45 minutes and change.
6th overall ... few minutes from my coach that finished 3rd and satisfied like never before.
What did I learn today..... Italy 70.3 did not go as well as it should have... I do have the fitness.... I might have just messed up the nutrition on that race... today I proved myself I can run strong.
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