Race Report – Xterra Buffelspoort 2009

Dripping viscous beads of persperation after a leisurely warm up stroll while making my way down to the swim start I noted, for the first time, the Xterra Lite transition space at capacity. Representing many who’d be dabbling in some adventurous racing for the first time. But when asked who’d be doing their first Xterra before the full event start, 75% enthused with response. This was the wave of multisport interest. This was the new generation of triathlete. This was Xterra Buffelspoort – and all under a blazing sun.

There’s the tension, the expectation, the nervous movements, the usual joking and the inevitable creeping as the deep water start turned to frenzied dash for the first bouy. Somehow, I smoked some strokes and dipped under the first can with all trailing. Soon fading to Kent Horner’s feet as oxygen usage and intake weren’t balancing here at 1500m elevation. Mari Rabie was the third swim muskateer putting time into the chasers.

I realize for many, this is a monumental challenge. 1500m in water. Nearing the end of my second lap, I was passing some of these stragglers. I salute you. I’m quiched after a 50min swim, and that’s what these breaststroking/doggy paddling courage’s were in for. It can be done, with no swimming heritage at all. A few weeks of 2 swims per week, and a classy wetsuit (aka essential flotation device) and you’ll be in touching terra firma with a smile after two laps.

In a suffering daze of vertigo like disorientation I slipped out of my over heating wetsuit, buckled my Specialized 2D helmet, and started the chase across 27km of mountain bike riding across Magaliesberg heartland. I rode hard to close Kent, and even harder to get up the rode. Way above my paygrade in fact, at a level I couldn’t sustain 6 weeks into base phase.

Kent was riding well, and if not for my Epic’s rock handling abilities, I’d not have had the 2mins into T2. The course was challenging with loose double fist size rock bed descents pounding head to toe, long sandy corrugation rodes, and a few sketchy lines to avoid fresh cakes of cattle dung.

My highlight on the ride was seeing the couple kissing though. Far out. We all have our racing objectives, and I wouldn’t impose my own on anyone. They’re locked embrace just caught me off guard, snapped my focus in two, and had the mind wondering about work and pleasure and if the two still were the same for me? Even though they were on the Lite route, they’d still have many a romantic view and secluded corner to pass…

The athlete chasing a great event, a challenging experience, route surprises just seems to have a lust for life. There was much of the run where I was exchanging visual contact with this Xterra type athlete, and commend your smiles and appreciate your shouts of encouragement. I love to associate with the energy at these local Xterra’s.

But little energy made the shift from soul to legs, as waded through the river after dropping down adjacent to sheets of water cascading the dam wall – an impressive visual. I wasn’t running, just survival suffling in the stifling heat. Kent was in fine form, and caught me after one lap of the run. With no response to his pace, and Lieuwe Boonstra further back in third, I resolved to nursing the second lap. But by then the damage is done, and even slowing feels as painful. My fitness back was no now debt collecting after over spending on the aggressive ride.

For the first time since early on the ride, I got to see my two travel companions, two minutes apart. Mari Rabie has holding a small margin over Michelle Lombardi off the bike, but managed to take another minute over the 9km trail run and claimed top honours in 2h48. If only our pasta the night before had equal measure on my output…

(Mari Rabie and Michelle Lombardi)

(Woolies helped out)

Really enjoyed the dynamic of the two girls, staying the most hilarious rustic (the shady sense) mountain retreat. We made our way in style, in the very first of the Limited Edition Team Jeep Patriot’s to be released soon. 66 only, fully equipped with Thule racks, Garmin navigation, Jeep Apparel hampers, and finishings the liking of the active. I’ll have more on the concept and range soon. But big up to Alan for the wheels, and big apologies for the mud outside and in…

(Will hit a proper blog on this limited edition soon.)

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Categories: News

Tags: Jeep Patriot, Kent Horner, Mari Rabie, Michelle Lombardi, Multisport, Race Reports, Team Jeep Limited Edition Patriot, Xterra, Xterra Buffelspoort, Xterra Buffelspoort 2009, Xterra South Africa

This entry was posted on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 3:31 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.