The Xterra Pacific Championships were in Santa Cruz this past Sunday and... well... I swam, I biked, and I ran, I finished. Took 6th and held onto my 3rd spot in the series but really there is not much exciting to say about my race so I'm thinking I will just do the abbreviated version.
The swim was rough and cold and three of us, Seth, Branden and myself lead out of the water. I was hoping that the conditions would give me a bigger lead than normal but it didn't. I held the lead on the bike until about half way when Lesley caught me. I hung with her for a bit then started my gradual backward progression through the field and headed into T2 in 7th. I ran strong, or as strong as I could and moved up into 6th. Some days just aren't your days and Sunday wasn't mine. Most of us came home from Spain with a wonderful cough and respiratory infection and were feeling pretty beat up. I chose to live in denial between the two races and put a good block of training in despite feeling like crap. In hindsight that probably hurt my race legs, but with so many races in a row and feeling the need to do some good training, right or wrong that is the decision I made. Hopefully that training will pay better dividends with a bit of rest in the races to come.
Moving on... My sister Karen came down from Sausalito to watch the race and be race Sherpa extraordinaire:) We packed up and headed up to the Bay area after the race and got to spend a couple of days hanging out and seeing the sights. The weather didn't cooperate Monday and Tuesday but we still got out to see the regular touristy stuff, the Golden Gate Bridge from Point Bonita, drove down the super cool Lombard street, then up to Coit tower, and past the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory. We finished up the day trip with a little shopping at the Sport Basement Factory store. Wednesday the weather cleared up and we headed out onto the bay for a couple hours of paddling, checking out the sunbathing harbor seals and crazy Sausalito floating homes.
I am now hanging out in the SF terminal waiting for my red-eye into Bama for the Xterra Southeast Champs. Super excited to get to spend the weekend in my previous winter training home and hanging with JR and the crew. Took the week pretty easy on the training front as well and hoping the legs will be a lot fresher this weekend.
Thanks to Nils Nilsen for the great race photographs. Check out the full
race gallery for more great photos!!
1 comment:
I know that feeling when some days just are not your days. Nice work. I think you are one of the few people who races more than I do :)
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