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<p>Xterra Torn Shirt, Howell MI</p>
<p>0.5mile swim, 15mile MTB, 6mile Trail Run</p>
<p> </p>
<p><Short version> 2:51:35 (7min05sec faster than last year) 1st 45-49F</p>
<p> </p>
<p><Long version> Second off-road tri race this year, and also second time at this race. The event organizer added a 'half Torn shirt' to create more novice/beginner friendlier atmosphere. Including Duathlons, the total finishers: 148 (117 Male/31 F). Totally boys' playground. Due to 11days of no biking because of the overseas trip, plus the last 3 days of the trip I got food poisoning in China and got so sick, I felt quite weak until mid-week last week. Also it seemed I got back a sense of 'fear for speed' as if I just started riding off-road at the beginning of the season. Nonethess, I was excited - I was ready to ride hard.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>~Swim~ 17:18. They changed the course this year from two loops to one long one. Looking at the time, I bet it was longer. The last year was 14:40. I still got beaten by the two guys whom I often swim with in a pool and I am faster than. I have been saying this for more than a few years now. This just doesn't sit well with me <span id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105014"><img alt="mad.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105013" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/mad.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span>. Tried not to swallow too much air but I surely did. Again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>~Bike ~ The course consists of two loops, long Murray Lake trail then short Murray Lake trail including some gravel hilly road. Last year, I was so dead at the end of the first loop and totally done mentally on the second loop. I just rode the second loop the other day and knew what to expect/how long it would take, I was mentally prepared how to hit the first 10miles or so. Hard, of course. I got passed by quite many boys on the gravel roller, but once I got on the single track. I did alright. I was mindful of controlling the speed well before the corners so I could keep pedaling on the corners and coming out of it quickly. But one of the downhill corners somewhere half way of the first loop, I misjudged the speed/tightness of the corners, I hit a tree and flipped over in a wrong way. Something stubbed my back really hard and I couldn't move for a while - it was a bit scary.. I could make some noise but just couldn't move. The guy right behind me who saw what I did stopped and stayed with me until I was ready to get back up. Once I started moving, I was ok. But it started hurting more and more as I kept riding. A few passed me during this time and all made some comments on the big rash on my back. I was still talking and smiling, so all was well. Came back to the gravel road and transition area only to get marked for the first loop, and went back to the woods for the second loop. Hearing some volunteers yelling to my back, 'you are bleeding~~~'. Yeah yeah, you should be used to this kind of stuff... this is nothing new at this kind of race...... I got second wind on the second loop which was significantly faster. I had about 3 guys on my rear but nobody wanted to pass when I asked. They asked me what happened to my back so we exchanged a few words as we rode hard to the T2. It was fun. Oh time; 1:24:07. Lightening 12.5minutes faster than last year <span id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105025"><img alt="icon_cheers.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105024" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="width:24px;height:24px;"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>~Run~ Changing to the running shoes was very painful, I just couldn't bend over well. And as I started putting one foot in front of the other, I realized my right knee was really sore... something must have hit that hard too when I crashed. And of course landing caused some pain to my left back. And this trail is pretty tough terrain. My first 3 miles or so was sooooo slow, well over 12min/mile. Not sure how much was from the pain, the difficult terrain, and my usual swallwed air causing nausea. One guy passed me as he was telling me the second half wouldn't be too bad. And he was right. I finally got rid of my swallowed air out of my system as the terrain got flatter around mile marker 3. I started chasing some of the guys who passed me during the first half. Particularly one guy, I was chasing him down inch by inch in the woods. Once we got to the gravel road, I knew I had him. Then three more guys. At least it was a good ending to the finish. 1:07:05 (last year 1:04:17).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So. I had a solid ride in spite of the spectacular crash. I paid the price on the run. Still I was happy about the way I raced. Time to learn to slow down a bit on the bike so I can run better....? Nah. I love riding as hard as I can. Looking ahead, I may travel to Indiana to do one more Xterra. I am probably in the second place in the Xterra point series Midwest region with this 1st place finish. If I want to win and get a very nice looking Regional Champion jersey, I need to do well at another race. Will see. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Last thought, which would have been better, wearing a longer top to protect my skin, or getting the longer top ripped? </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/89436/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="tornshirt.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17128" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17128/width/178/height/237" style="width:178px;height:237px;"></a></p>
<p><img alt="tornshirt2.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17129" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17129/width/302/height/369" style="; width: 302px; height: 369px"></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>0.5mile swim, 15mile MTB, 6mile Trail Run</p>
<p> </p>
<p><Short version> 2:51:35 (7min05sec faster than last year) 1st 45-49F</p>
<p> </p>
<p><Long version> Second off-road tri race this year, and also second time at this race. The event organizer added a 'half Torn shirt' to create more novice/beginner friendlier atmosphere. Including Duathlons, the total finishers: 148 (117 Male/31 F). Totally boys' playground. Due to 11days of no biking because of the overseas trip, plus the last 3 days of the trip I got food poisoning in China and got so sick, I felt quite weak until mid-week last week. Also it seemed I got back a sense of 'fear for speed' as if I just started riding off-road at the beginning of the season. Nonethess, I was excited - I was ready to ride hard.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>~Swim~ 17:18. They changed the course this year from two loops to one long one. Looking at the time, I bet it was longer. The last year was 14:40. I still got beaten by the two guys whom I often swim with in a pool and I am faster than. I have been saying this for more than a few years now. This just doesn't sit well with me <span id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105014"><img alt="mad.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105013" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/mad.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span>. Tried not to swallow too much air but I surely did. Again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>~Bike ~ The course consists of two loops, long Murray Lake trail then short Murray Lake trail including some gravel hilly road. Last year, I was so dead at the end of the first loop and totally done mentally on the second loop. I just rode the second loop the other day and knew what to expect/how long it would take, I was mentally prepared how to hit the first 10miles or so. Hard, of course. I got passed by quite many boys on the gravel roller, but once I got on the single track. I did alright. I was mindful of controlling the speed well before the corners so I could keep pedaling on the corners and coming out of it quickly. But one of the downhill corners somewhere half way of the first loop, I misjudged the speed/tightness of the corners, I hit a tree and flipped over in a wrong way. Something stubbed my back really hard and I couldn't move for a while - it was a bit scary.. I could make some noise but just couldn't move. The guy right behind me who saw what I did stopped and stayed with me until I was ready to get back up. Once I started moving, I was ok. But it started hurting more and more as I kept riding. A few passed me during this time and all made some comments on the big rash on my back. I was still talking and smiling, so all was well. Came back to the gravel road and transition area only to get marked for the first loop, and went back to the woods for the second loop. Hearing some volunteers yelling to my back, 'you are bleeding~~~'. Yeah yeah, you should be used to this kind of stuff... this is nothing new at this kind of race...... I got second wind on the second loop which was significantly faster. I had about 3 guys on my rear but nobody wanted to pass when I asked. They asked me what happened to my back so we exchanged a few words as we rode hard to the T2. It was fun. Oh time; 1:24:07. Lightening 12.5minutes faster than last year <span id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105025"><img alt="icon_cheers.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130862193105024" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="width:24px;height:24px;"></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>~Run~ Changing to the running shoes was very painful, I just couldn't bend over well. And as I started putting one foot in front of the other, I realized my right knee was really sore... something must have hit that hard too when I crashed. And of course landing caused some pain to my left back. And this trail is pretty tough terrain. My first 3 miles or so was sooooo slow, well over 12min/mile. Not sure how much was from the pain, the difficult terrain, and my usual swallwed air causing nausea. One guy passed me as he was telling me the second half wouldn't be too bad. And he was right. I finally got rid of my swallowed air out of my system as the terrain got flatter around mile marker 3. I started chasing some of the guys who passed me during the first half. Particularly one guy, I was chasing him down inch by inch in the woods. Once we got to the gravel road, I knew I had him. Then three more guys. At least it was a good ending to the finish. 1:07:05 (last year 1:04:17).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So. I had a solid ride in spite of the spectacular crash. I paid the price on the run. Still I was happy about the way I raced. Time to learn to slow down a bit on the bike so I can run better....? Nah. I love riding as hard as I can. Looking ahead, I may travel to Indiana to do one more Xterra. I am probably in the second place in the Xterra point series Midwest region with this 1st place finish. If I want to win and get a very nice looking Regional Champion jersey, I need to do well at another race. Will see. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Last thought, which would have been better, wearing a longer top to protect my skin, or getting the longer top ripped? </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/89436/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="tornshirt.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17128" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17128/width/178/height/237" style="width:178px;height:237px;"></a></p>
<p><img alt="tornshirt2.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17129" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17129/width/302/height/369" style="; width: 302px; height: 369px"></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</p>
