Renegade Off-Road Triathalon at Bonelli

[jfromlv]

A couple months ago, I get a phone call from a friend who asks me if I'd be interested in racing on a relay team for a triathalon. Of course I agreed, my plans had fallen through for doing the Granny Gear 24 hour race in Temecula.

Since I live about 2 miles from Bonelli, I went out there last week, and rode the course. Course was super fast, not technical, and about 1/3 was paved. It was a 7.5 mile loop, and we were going to be doing 2 laps. Well, the rains came Friday, and Bonelli is a mess in the rain, but it does dry out pretty quickly. Yesterday afternoon, I went to check out the course to see how it held up, overall, it looked good.

Day of the race (this morning) rolls around, and I head out early to meet up with my teammates. We go over details, as far as transitions and stuff, then I just sit back to relax and prepare (mostly just people watching). This was my first tri event, and it's a little different crowd, to say the least. There were grown men strutting around in lycra shorts, the short ones nonetheless, with matching bare midriff lycra tops! So, the swimming leg took off first, and my buddy told me he was shooting to be one of the first 10 out of the water. It was a 1/2 mile swim, and he thought it would take him around 11 or 12 minutes. It was hard to see who was who in the water, and I'm lined up next to my bike, ready to go, and my buddy is first out of the water! Talk about pressure! The first mile and a half are on flat pavement, I look down on my computer, and I'm going 26mph! I make myself slow down, because I know I'm going to burn out at that pace. I get onto the dirt, and start to feel a rhythm. About 1/2 way through the first lap, I can see a guy gaining on me, I maintain my rhythm, and he catches me about 3/4 of the way through the first lap. When he catches me , I start making small talk, totally through off his rhythm, man I love this kind of nonsense! A second guy passes me shortly after, I decide to leave him alone. Start out on the second lap, hit the first climb, and I'm quickly passed by two more, uuuuggggghhh! I put my head down, and decided to not look around to see if anyone else is around me, just do what I know I can do. Started lapping a ton of people, got to the last mile or so, and I could tell I was gaining on the fourth guy who passed me. Got a little burst of energy, and hammered as hard as I could, all the way to the transition area, came in 1 second behind the fourth place guy.

Our runner took off, and quickly passed, to move into fourth, which is where our team ended up finishing. As much as I hate to admit it, 1st place was the guy with the lycra short-shorts, and bare midriff. Still, pretty fun, it felt good to place that well against some Elite class athletes.

[Pain Freak]

I love the tri's, but I have to admit I'm a little put off by the garb the top guys are wearing. I usually show up in some form of mountain bike gear. My ex-boss took third place overall at Palm Desert Tri yesterday and beat a lot of the pro's. They kept asking "Who is that guy?" he's only doing it for fun, but if head registered as a pro, he would of been 2500 dollars richer.

[jfromlv]

Yeah, I think I was the only one wearing baggies. I was talking to some of the guys after the race, none of them seemed too happy that I was a DH racer!LOL

[tkblazer]

dood J, should have let us brothas know you were gonna race man.... i would have loved to go out there and heckle some triathletes.... you think your super d racing helped out at all on this race?

[andino]

lol sounds like you had a blast! if only i had a buddy that could swim...then we could do a tri cuz i can bike and run lol

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

dood J, should have let us brothas know you were gonna race man.... i would have loved to go out there and heckle some triathletes.... you think your super d racing helped out at all on this race?

I don't know that Super D racing really helps with xc racing. Super D is a straight up sprint, no other way to put it, I still have not found a good way to warm up for Super D, every time I go out, my legs instantly feel like Jell-O. It's funny, because even though I race DH a majority of the time, about 75-80% of my riding is xc. On the Mon. night Incycle rides, there are some super fast guys that I try to hang with, so I'm used to pushing myself on the xc. Still, though, after a xc race, you're body is just hammered!

[tkblazer]

ahh ok, i wasn't sure if you were doing any other sort of training rides... i'm trying to get back into riding more xc and possibly racing xc in the future.

anyhow, congrats on the 4th place team finish man... those xc guys are no joke

[Sharky]

CONGRATS Jason... just sic the different types of racing you regularly do ....and do WELL !! (and speed demon bro Joe) Way to roll this weekend . I expect to see you do XC, Super D, DH AND 4X next Norba race in two weeks... You know you want to??? Oh and short track .
BTW you should have tried throwing the 2nd guy the evil eye or wish them luck like I do that'll take him down every time.

[BFloFoxRider.]

Originally Posted by Sharky

CONGRATS Jason... just sic the different types of racing you regularly do ....and do WELL !! (and speed demon bro Joe) Way to roll this weekend . I expect to see you do XC, Super D, DH AND 4X next Norba race in two weeks... You know you want to???

the funny thing is... he would have a goood chance at winning them all...

[jfromlv]

Thank you for the kind words, but I have yet to win a race! I just love to ride, and I guess I'm a bit of a racing whore!?

[dhshuttlemonkey]

I think the baggies slowed you down. If you would of worn a bib you would of placed third.

[tkblazer]

i'm trying to talk my friend into wearing just a bib at the next fontana DH race

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by Franky

I think the baggies slowed you down. If you would of worn a bib you would of placed third.

I bet that's just wishful thinking on your part, seeing me in a bib!

[Pain Freak]

Originally Posted by jfromlv

I bet that's just wishful thinking on your part, seeing me in a bib!

Aw, c'mon Jason! All the cool kids are doing it.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Originally Posted by jfromlv

I bet that's just wishful thinking on your part, seeing me in a bib!

[dirttorpeedo]

skinsewt jason,all the TOP pros are doing it.nice job tho!

[RidetheRAAM4]

There is another offr-road tri coming up at the end of may. Your buddies might have told you about it already. The xterra west championships. I as contemplating doing it, but it is right after finals so i wont be in my training for like atleast 2 weeks before the race so I think I am just going to spectate

[jfromlv]

Originally Posted by RidetheRAAM4

There is another offr-road tri coming up at the end of may. Your buddies might have told you about it already. The xterra west championships. I as contemplating doing it, but it is right after finals so i wont be in my training for like atleast 2 weeks before the race so I think I am just going to spectate

Yeah, that race was mentioned, but that would be racing four weeks in a row. Not good for the wallet, or the marriage!