STR | SocalTrailRiders.org

92se-r

Anyone ever done this? Care to give me some thoughts on the race and what to expect? Thanks.

__________________

schleppp

PM Lukewiens, he should have some good info for you...

__________________
"It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster." Greg LeMond

lukewiens

this race is a bunch of fun...arguably one of the best off-road tri's in the west.

the swim will be two 750 meter laps in vail lake...that is if you choose to race the championship distance. the lake is nice and clean and the shores are soft and sandy. the water temp is always borderline with usat standards for wetsuits but they have always been allowed. it got a little choppy out there a couple of years ago, but for the most part the lake is pretty calm that time of year.

the bike is usually a two loop setup that incorporates the dam climb and dam descent. last year they added in the tunnel section along with the usual attempt up marine corp hill. however, this year i would expect some drastic changes. with all of the new single track being cut and the bull dozing that has been done in some areas, i would expect xterra to switch it up this year. since i will not be racing this year i may email them up to offer help with a new course design. the racers and chasers series is a great way to get used to the terrain out there.

the run will be rough. this run course is probably the toughest among the entire championship series. expect some super steep sustained climbs with crazy loose descents. this is the only run course where they have people watching in sections to call for first aid help. you will be on all fours scrambling up in some places and since most of it is on single track, passing opportunities will be limited. forget about consistency and pacing....and hope that you have nailed your nutrition up to this point....otherwise you will pay.

it will get hot out there...no coverage, so bump up the sodium intake and keep the fluids coming. other then that...have fun, ride hard and stay out of the med tent. good luck!

__________________
"when you get hurt and all of your sacrifice adds up to nothing, are you willing to put it all on the line again?" - conrad stoltz

MY BLOG - EMTB Quest for 24 hours solo

Zippy

+1 to what Luke said.

It's usually hot, dry and breezy to very windy.
They've had the swim set up as a single loop depending on lake height.
I'd highly recommend pre-riding and running the course: I'm happy to help and I bet Luke wouldn't mind either. Pacing and nutrition is KEY, even with really fit athletes. Top age groupers will finish the course in 3 hours, while slower athletes may take up to 5 hours or mors. It's challenging to say the least. Practice your transitions, you can save lots of time there. Wear sunblock, but put it on after you get body marked or the ik rubs off.
Don't be afraid to try the "Sport" course if it's your first-ever race.
Don't feel bad if you wind up walking some parts of the run course: everyone does...
Good luck and above all, have fun!

__________________
Swim, bike, run.
www.zippyathlete.blogspot.com

bvader

I did it 2 years ago, and it was a blast and A$$ kicker in one . I am pretty sure I am going to do it this year again.

Took me 4 hours and change, I am a MOPer. Like Luke said for me the run was as much of a hike as it was a run.

Also the one at Snow Summit is really fun.

Feel free to PM me maybe we can go out and do a pre-ride / swim. I am going to start doing some swimming again soon, maybe in Big CDM, its good to swim in a lake or ocean before you do it in the race. Crazy thing there are no lane lines on the bottom of the lake

Permagrin

Is this part of the multiple races the weekend of May 17th? If so I'll be there for the Duathlon .

__________________
"One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning."
- James Russell Lowell

Zippy

Yes it is. Chances are the g/f and I will be camping there that weekend just for ease of race morning logistics: roll out of bed and go. If people want to swing by and say hello, I'll put up our space info when I reserve it .

__________________
Swim, bike, run.
www.zippyathlete.blogspot.com

92se-r

Thanks for all the information guys! That was a great help. I've been mainly focusing on the swim. Not really. I have no discipline when it comes to training. I'm not too worried about the transitions because I've done duathlons before. I'm jsut worried about the swim.

I'd be up for a pre-ride/pre-swim. Zippy, you up for one of these weekends showing me around on the bike? I'll drive.

__________________

Zippy

Absolutely. We can either get together before one of the Racers and Chasers races out there and do it as a warm up loop. Otherwise, I'll be pre-riding the course the weekend before the actual race once the Xterra peeps have solidified their course ideas. Don't slack off on the swimming. While you can't win a triathlon in the swim, a good swim leg can set you up for a really good race.

__________________
Swim, bike, run.
www.zippyathlete.blogspot.com

92se-r

I'll probably do one of the races out there in mid April.

__________________

Zippy

I'll have to see how my schedule turns out with midterms and such (Undergrad at UCSD). I'll try to make it the weekend of the 20th if I can.

__________________
Swim, bike, run.
www.zippyathlete.blogspot.com

Permagrin

The b/f and I were talking about doing the same thing. Are you doing the duathlon or the tri? I think they're on different days?

__________________
"One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning."
- James Russell Lowell

Zippy

Yeah. The duathlon is on Saturday and the two triathlons are on Sunday. The "Sport" distance goes first followed by the "Champinoship" distance. Get a camping spot soon because they fill up fast.

__________________
Swim, bike, run.
www.zippyathlete.blogspot.com

schleppp

Fixed it for you Luke!!

__________________
"It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster." Greg LeMond

Permagrin

Zippy - check your calendar. The xterra race schedule shows the 5k, 10k and Xduro 21k are on Sat the 17th and the Duathlon, the Sport & the West Championship are on Sunday the 18th. I know they had a few date changes and link issues before the registration opened up so just to be sure, in case anyone is looking to sign up, here's the final link w/ registration.

If we can't get a campsite I guess we'll have to suffer with a hotel .

http://www.xterraplanet.com/races/race_schedule.cfm

__________________
"One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning."
- James Russell Lowell

bvader

So I got a couple questions.

1) So when I did it before I could pick up my race packet on race day, I don't seem to see that I can do that on the site. Anyone know for sure if I can/can not this year?


2) Anyone want to ride the course and run the course (maybe one lap each) the weekend before Sat 5/10. I could use a guide ? Is it basically the same bike course as the last couple years? If not I could use a guide? Would be willing to buy lunch for (1 or 2) guide for bike and run?


BTW I am a MOPer for this race, sporadic training, decent base of riding, some long trail runs but not enough, just swam for the first time yesterday but pretty much ripped off 1K out-of the gate did 1.5 in ~30min (hoping for ~<27 on race day)
Doing Breathless Agony on 5/3 or some parts of it 2 weeks before... thinking about trading it in if anyone was going to some serious X-Training that day...as I ramble on.

lukewiens

1. yes you can

2. if you go out there the week before there will be tons of people pre riding....just follow the tracks

3. do breathless agony and then a transition run...that would be a pretty killer peak for the race

good luck!

__________________
"when you get hurt and all of your sacrifice adds up to nothing, are you willing to put it all on the line again?" - conrad stoltz

MY BLOG - EMTB Quest for 24 hours solo

Dizle

wow 1500 meter swim for the champion distance? almost a mile

lukewiens

on that course...the very least of your worries!

__________________
"when you get hurt and all of your sacrifice adds up to nothing, are you willing to put it all on the line again?" - conrad stoltz

MY BLOG - EMTB Quest for 24 hours solo

bvader

Amen brother...Amen

Is it the soft sand run this year? the year I did it it wasn't, it was still a stick bastard joke Hike/Run but I read that the normal run is al ot of sand? True?

And thanks lukewiens for the answers