The twists and turns of our course in the Oak Mountain State Park allowed Ruth to capture some more footage than usual, and in all makes for a great clip from the Xterra Southeast Championships.

Xterra Alabama:
2nd place, 16sec behind winner Conrad Stoltz.
Swim:21:04
Mtb: 1:05:40
Run: 39:30
Total: 2:06:14

(Second rendezvous in the USA for 08)

Spent the day out at Oak Mountain Park going over the course, lounging under oak shade with the misses, attending a small Xterra media gig, and having a moment at the spot of my crash last year breaking my left scaphoid.

(The hump I crashed at last year - I had a moments silence here…)

Xterra West Championships
1.5km swim, 30km mtb, 10km trail run.
Time: 2:25:20
2nd - 2min18 behind winner Conrad Stoltz (blog)
 
(Conrad and I - 3km into the 30km mountain bike leg - photo by Rich Cruse)

Temecula cowboys, image added by Nikola
Sitting where I was a year back, at Brian’s over looking the Temecula Valley with a setting sun. Magic to catch up with Brian, Lauren and the kids. Great people who have stayed in touch and stayed supportive for the past year. One day back though, to the most spectacular [...]

Thanks for making it a memorable week… 

(Photo by Sandy Kennedy)

Running out through the forest thicket along the top forest contour road three quarter through the run leg, I could take a look to my right across bright contrasting white sand with black burnt trees and beyond to a carnival of colour that was the Duesouth Xterra presented by Nissan finish - more than a brilliant sight, it [...]

On some high… Had a great day today at the Xterra in Grabouw, leading out the swim, biking with Conrad and Felix for a while, getting away with Conrad, coming in solo, and staying away on the run for my first national title. Was also the first time anyone’s handed me a South African flag [...]

Tomorrow this time I’ll be at Grabouw doing some warm-up and pre race gear check’s before the start of Xterra SA 2008 at 11:30am at the Elgin Country Club. A major rendezvous for myself as the first of 7 Xterra’s on the global series I’ll race over the next three months.

I missed the premier myself, but have heard it is the best Xterra production from South Africa yet. Enjoy if ge the opportunity to.
DUESOUTH Xterra Shongweni – TV Transmission Times:

Tickets have been booked and excitement is building for a ten week trip to the USA and Europe which will include 6 Xterra Triathlons from mid May through early July.

(Xterra Temecula finish 2007 - 6th place)

A photo selection from the Xterra triathlon at Shongweni on the  10th of February 2008.
 

It all starts with a dream. A goal. You should have one. Whether an Olympic gold, or to complete your first Xterra Lite event, you need to be working towards something. Setting a goal gives training purpose and makes the entire drive make sense. If you’re not committed to something, anything, figure one right now!
[...]

A video clip showing some of the pre and post race laughs with Dylan and Fraser, which is the true chaos, as well as some race footage. Enjoy.

Filmed by Shy, and edited by my Sweetlove.

I got race number 369 scribbled on my arm and leg at registration this morning, and seems that must be my lucky one. I had a cracker second outing at Shongweni, to win my third local DueSouth Xterra, with Kent Horner in second, and Fraser Cartmell rounding out the podium of a picture perfect venue capped by stunning weather.   

(Running [...]

The third and final Duesouth Xterra before the South African Xterra finals at Grabouw, will be held at the Shongweni Reserve just outside of Durban on Sunday. Its the second Xterra at this venue that moulds nature and sport into one as none other. Fraser Cartmell, the Scotsman I’ve been training with, is my pick for [...]

All photo’s thanks to Bobby Behan - the life and soul of the night.  

(Conrad Stoltz, Master Ernie Gruhn, Bobby Behan, Tim Ziehl Mobiel)

This is just a clip to create a small vibe of the race over the weekend.

I ran home in 2h20 a wilted man in scorching heat after a tussle with Xterra icon Lieuwe Boonstra to take my second Xterra win at Buffelspoort Dam in Gauteng yesterday. The course and elements were testing to the extreme, with a rocky and rugged 25km ride before a sweltering 10km run with some ‘compulsory walk sections’ [...]