Ogden Utah -Xterra National Championships 9-17-2016

Morning was a cool 50 degrees’- but sun was out and weather map showed gradual warming. With the altitude, cold water- I opted to hang back at start- let stronger swimmers go, and not hyperventilate by starting to fast. With altitude- I was having issues getting a full breath as it was- so wanted to start slow and ease into swim-lake is at 4200 feet elevation.
I felt ok on swim- slow but steady- and avoided the kicking/punching with 350 swimmers going for a small buoy ½ a mile away (1-mile swim)

I got out of water and sprinted past several racers- then had a smoking fast transition. Hit the bike hard, was still in 50’s so with a wet thin tri suit on was shivering for first 2 miles down the road. I started passing people right away. We hit wheeler canyon and started the long climb to top of Snow Basin ski resort- just under 7000 feet

I passed people in groups, and pushed hard on the bike- the altitude felt like a bear squeezing my chest. After the canyon climb there were a few short flat sections, then the final climb to the peak- a never ending series of switchbacks. I continued to pass people, and as I neared the peak I passed another rider in my class-which I knew put me in second place. At this point my lungs were screaming, my legs were starting to cramp from 90 minutes of nonstop climbing and I knew I had 2 choices- back off the effort and take a safe second place- or continue on the pain train and try to catch 1st

I knew I was on the edge- and continuing at this pace might leave me walking on the run course. I kept pushing- and on the downhill got held up some by a few riders- but ended up finishing bike passing well over 100 riders. I made another fast transition- and headed out for the run. You leave the parking lot of snow basin- and go right up one of the ski slopes- its torture! My legs were really screaming now- begging me to slow and walk some -but I kept pushing, looking for the 60 on the back of every runner I passed, which designates 60 plus age group I was in. The final mile is all downhill, it’s a tight boulder covered trail where I took some big chances passing people. I pushed it all the way to the finish- never seeing 1st but never had a person pass me the whole day ( could just be because my swim was so bad!!)

Taking home, a National Championship would have been great but I had no regrets. I always give every race my all- but this race I pushed past my limits- and I had spent the last 18 months doing everything I could to have my best race- and it worked. Leaving with second place felt fine.

Ken