Chapter 2 on Xterra Brazil

So that previous posted did need editing – sorry about that. A friend gave me grief for not finishing the race report and leaving him “hanging”, which I take as positive indication of good story trumping good editing… Here is the rest:

Crazy swim start

At 11km the forest single track started with some hiking on red mud that seemed created to cake over my cleat and prevent clipping in once remounting. That started a panic of cuss words and a wtf are you doing with Renegades in here question to self. It so happened to be the worst of sections and from there it settled down to expectations. The forest is not quite like Jonkershoek or even Hakerville outside Knysna – but of the kind that I wouldnt want to be left in at night. Wild stunning lush stuff, and possibly my highlight on the course.

Spinning the legs the day after

The rest was high powered Renegade friendly riding again. I am still indecisive on whether I chose the optimal tires, but they were amazing on the open roads. Coming off the bike I really wanted to run the first 4km of the run as best I could, which was a slight uphill drag. I had my 310XT on and would know what pace I was at, baring in mind that I wanted to bike with all I had and see where it left me.

Its unsettling running blind. Perhaps its a 2minute lead, perhaps more. I was possibly told in transition but just didnt understand. I was running as honestly as I could, which was more honest at the start than the end. By the time I reached the mud pit I was starting to fade and so presented my best facade past the media contingent that was hoping for a lost shoe or some mud theatrics. Alas. My tip toe was too skilled.

I’d not seen the last 3km of the run and just as well… Shonny had given me a run down and the course profile hinted at walking but other than that I was blissfully unaware of the slowdown to come. My Puma race flats are amazing at all but 45% descents on that red mud, and well, thats what it was. I grabbed at passing leaves and bamboo shoots with the hand speed of the great Ali in the hope of breaking my fall. I should have set my ass down, lifted my feet sky high, and hoped for a soft landing, but then I was in white? Anyhow, I’m being over dramatic about the descents, they had me smiling mostly, it was the ups I’m trying to forget.

Somehow Manzan closed 3minutes on the run which I hope was mostly on the last third of muddy traverse. I was groveling by then and on one walk, if you can call hands on knees robotic-like movement a walk, I glanced a 179bpm on the Garmin which for me is on the unnecessary side of lactic accumulation. Somehow, somewhere, my run split left much to be desired, and it might just mean getting up on Magnolia Road a few more times, a little more vartlek or just trimming my Bhuda belly.

I’d promised Bernardo, the man behind Xterra in Brazil, way back in 2006, that I would some day win his event. It felt good to do so.

Podium after my usual bed time...

Again I did the night trail run, which had a capped entrant count of 1500. Unbelievable. Shonny and I weaved our way through masses in their night run shirts and headlights until we found the party we were hoping to: Olivier Cozan and his lads accompanied by Manzan and Manoela. There was no moon and the stream of night lights when looking back were amazing once spread over 2-3km. I loved it, running midpack, shooting the breeze, supporting the lads, and hearing the cattle somewhere in the darkness.

Shonny, myself, Manzan, Olivier and his boys Louis and Pierre

After this were the awards, dinner and awkwardly parading a fashion line on a catwalk. Xterra by Ellus is small range done by a Brazilian brand much like GAP. A pretty amazing collaboration. And that ended a fantastic day which included winning a luxury Tag Heuer, numerous photos as the winning “gringo”, including one nervously holding a baby, and one potent caipirinha.