RR - Xterra Last Stand

Yo Sake · May 25, 2011

Xterra Last Stand, Ft. Custer MI
0.5mile Swim, 12.5mile Bike, and 4mile Run
 
~ Short Version~
1:57:39, 1st AG. 7th FOA (out of 21). 75thOA out of 141 (Last year: 2:07:30, almost 10min faster!!!)
Swim: 13:32 (72nd/141)
T1: 2:02
Bike: 1:03:28 (6th FOA, 77th /141) – 9 min improvements over the last year!!!!
T2: 1:26
Run: 37:14 (80th /141)
 
~ Long Version~
<Swim> I stunk big time. A lack of OW swim practices this year really showed up here - I had only 15min (with many stops) practice to date. I tried to keep nice and easy strokes with relaxed breathing while fighting against other bodies, but obviously failed. My chest was all tight and full of air as I came out and tried to run uphill to T1. I wasn’t even top half among other female racers. The course was definitely shorter. 
 
<Bike> The blue & yellow trails in the Ft. Custer Rec Area are full of characters, such as “Granny’s Garden”, “Trenches”, “NASCAR track”, “Cardiac Arrest”, and “CPR”. It is not technically difficult and pretty fun and fast course. Last year I fell more than a few times and my body was covered with sand/mud and I remember having no clean spots on my shirts or hands to wipe my running nose. What a year of off-road riding experiences made – I had a blast. My new 29er was great on the cross country type of terrain, passing quite a few people (of course got passed by many too) and handled twisty turns well with no fear. I came up to more than handful riders’ tail wanting to pass. Well, that was a new experience to me and took me some nerves to go around them on a single track with a good yelling. Some close calls while doing that unfamiliar maneuverings. I still fell while trying to climb up the “Cardiac Arrest’. The darn logs were in a funny spot on sandy hill while I tried look for place to ride around the falling riders in front of me. And on another hill (might have been ‘CPR’), a female rider fell right in front of me and I had no choice to get off the bike and ended up pushing all the way to the top. Boy, I would love to come back and just ride these trails. Fun Fun Fun!! 6th fastest female, and 77th out of 141 OA. That is not too bad racing against experienced big boys. 
 
<Run> Because my improved MTB skilled allowed me to ride pretty hard for the entire course, my running legs were like Jello. Plus, my usual full-of-gas-in-my-stomach issue slowed me down to a shuffle. I kept chugging away, patiently waiting for the moment of the air release. 2.5miles into the run, a huge release came and I was free. I started running and I knew nobody would pass me now (note: being in the mid-pack in the off-road tri race, there were no 7min/mile runners behind me). I started picking up runners, not quite the 17 victims like last year, but I had about 5 to kill. Again, however, I ran out of the space to chase more. I could do only so much with only 1.5miles left. 
 
<After-thought> I was so thrilled with the 9min improvements on the bike course. And I know there are still lots of room for improvements. Knowing the course makes a sizable difference to the time, so I may join DH next year when he comes to this area for another race earlier in the season. The same old issue of swallowing air is there, and I just can’t seem to figure out how to fix it. I know it is a huge limiter to my running time. 
 
I was a bit disappointed there wasn’t much competition in the 45-49AG, which was there last year. I heard two good ones were injured….. I showed up in one piece and raced hard, so I am happy about that. With this first place finish, my chance of qualifying for the Nationals again is pretty good. I am excited about another Xterra in a month and more MTB races this summer. Woohooo!!

pcsronbo · May 25, 2011

Dang I'm jealous! That sounds like SO much fun!!
Congrats on the hardware, solid performance on the bike, stupid air issue on the run, and the swim - well, you know how to fix that ;-)

mrscoby78 · May 25, 2011

10 minutes?!?!?!? Woooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SpartyGirl · May 25, 2011

Woot!!
 
Way to go Yoshiko!!!!!

jenotter · May 25, 2011

Monster PR!!! Way to go! Sounds like a really fun race. The bike course sounds really fun...I love the names. I know you've talked about the air issue on the run...I'm sorry it got you during the race, but glad it went away at least for the end. Nice job overall!!!

Tri-Tammy · May 25, 2011

Wasn't this the race you were worried about coming in last? <img alt="wink.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130633882389614" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">
You killed it and it sounds like you had fun doing it!!!! Great job!!!!!!!

jroden · May 25, 2011

great job, sounds like the new bike is working well for you. I had always heard that the 29ers were best for the taller riders, but suspect that may be nonsense, in your case it seems to be.
 
 
great work, nice to see you improve at something after so many years

MBannon · May 25, 2011

You're making me really want to switch over from traditional triathlons to offroad...stop! I still have goals to meet first!!

Yo Sake · May 25, 2011

Thanks all. It was so much fun. You really REALLY should try off-road race. So hard to find a race these days where beer is served afterwards. 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by pcsronbo <a href="/forum/thread/73970/rr-xterra-last-stand#post_2000728"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> 
Dang I'm jealous! That sounds like SO much fun!!
 

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You are doing Xterra again this year after your big race right? One in IN in Aug (Dino something)? Depending upon my point standings at that point, I may go to the race if I have a chance to become Regional Champ.
 
 
 
 
Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Tri-Tammy <a href="/forum/thread/73970/rr-xterra-last-stand#post_2000793"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> Wasn't this the race you were worried about coming in last? <img alt="wink.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130633882389614" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;">
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Not sure which one you were referring to, but the only race I would be worried about being dead last is the Nationals. That is in Sept if I decide to go again.
 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by jroden <a href="/forum/thread/73970/rr-xterra-last-stand#post_2000816"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> great job, sounds like the new bike is working well for you. I had always heard that the 29ers were best for the taller riders, but suspect that may be nonsense, in your case it seems to be.
 
 
great work, nice to see you improve at something after so many years
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I don't seem to have any issues so far. I was talking to 6ft+ guy after the race and he brought his 26 this year because he absolutely hated riding 29er on this particular course last year. Yes there are lots of twisty turns so if you are really looking to ride faster, 26 may be more nimble but there are enough xc terrain you can make up for with 29er.
This is my 2nd year at off-road racing so as long as I and trees maintain a good relationship, my techniques will improve and get faster. I still coast quite a bit after hard climbing, and that is often where physically stronger riders pull away from me. And that I need to work harder to get better at it. 

 
<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by MBannon <a href="/forum/thread/73970/rr-xterra-last-stand#post_2000823"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> You're making me really want to switch over from traditional triathlons to offroad...stop! I still have goals to meet first!!
 
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Your goals will not go anywhere <img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"> You know you will LOVE it. Honestly, I have never really enjoy riding on the road. But off-road....I can't get enough of it. 

 
 <div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by pcsronbo <a href="/forum/thread/73970/rr-xterra-last-stand#post_2000728"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> Dang I'm jealous! That sounds like SO much fun!!
Congrats on the hardware, solid performance on the bike, stupid air issue on the run, and the swim - well, you know how to fix that ;-)
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Yo Sake · May 29, 2011

Here are some photos. The bike does look kinda big for me.
 
<a href="http://www2.brightroom.com/81418/121" target="_blank">http://www2.brightroom.com/81418/121</a>

Alaska Mike · May 29, 2011

Nice job Yoshiko! You look bad-ass on that bike!
 
Mike

niemsco · May 29, 2011

Congrats Yoshiko, it sounds like great fun! I saw Nationals the other day on TV, the 2010 race, I was looking for you, but didn't see you. Nice riding.

RR - Xterra Last Stand

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