Race Report: Xterra Estrada Real

So I dont really recommend two stages of the Giro, two days after Sani2c, leading into 24hours of cross continental travel as a perfect taper – but well recommended for the thrill of spontaneity.

(Winning the Xterra Mtb Cup)

I woke on Wednesday morning, having skyped with Xterra Brazil organisation the night before, agreeing they wanted to get me over, but no itinerary in my inbox meant I hit out a second stage of the Giro – one double as tough as the first. I’d ticked through some vartlek the night before, and was schooled properly for my lack of respect. By the time I got home at 3pm, fragile as blue and white china porcelain, the ticket sat waiting with a 6:20am CPT JHB start. Was really fun getting everything together in the space of hours. Most importantly a massage, finding a bike box, and getting Nici to cook a feast for the trip.

Travelling never goes to plan. The 5hour delay at Sao Paulo airport before, and 4hours of gridlock on a highway last night. And real time has me waiting for a flight out of Rio that is 1hour late already, and still not landed… Might be a longer layover in Sao Paolo than expected! But it was fun getting to see some of the country side, especially the first two hours out of Sao Lourenco was breathtaking. Vertical mountains with wall to wall carpeting. Forest so think you’d have to threaten me to enter in. Wish I had more time in Sao Lourenco, a city on the old coal trade route. Or gold. Now I’m unsure. But is current fame is water and tourism. People travel there for 15day treatments with various natural spring water. I did not get to smell the good one – good for sinuses and getting high!

The course was going to be really fast, I figured close to two hours, and ended up being under that. 1200m swim, 26km open road mtb, and a 9km run going up, more up, and then plunging back to town centre. Meant full gas from the gun. Or rather the belly flop. We started on the grass back that was neither good for running in or diving in. Would have been hilarious to watch.

There was one class swimmer, too classy for me, and think by the end I’d conceded 20-30sec which I was fine with. But when I’d not pinned him back by the 4km ascent summit, I was getting edgy. The first major descent had plenty ruts – and I let me Epic roam free. Airborne was better. By the bottom I could see a good lead, and tried to find rhythm along the valley floor.

This heard, maybe 30strong, lay in a shaded section of the road. I started whistling at first. Then shouting. But they did not even turn their heads my way. Eventually I locked up front and rear. This was not “bunny-hoppable”. I picked on the smallest more nervous calf, and nudged with my front wheel. Far out. But they would be there for the second and third guy too…

My roommate at The Colonial Hotel is the local icon – Alexander Manzan. He phenomenal running talent, and I’d not be able to let up till the finishing straight. In 2006, on my first visit to Brazil, Manzan caught and passed my slowing stride in the final kilometer. He is a class guy, and so enjoyed getting to know the person behind the reputation. We discussed politics and environmental issues while over dosing on Acai. His English is fluent after years of racing the ITU scene.

It was super fun racing back down into town, lead by a few motor bikes. The attention to fine detail throughout the weekend, was insane. The athlete experience could not be bettered.

With no idea of my lead I started out on the big cobbled roads beneath local eyes disapproving from balconies coloured with laundry. It was my first triathlon with my Garmin 310XT on my wrist. Waterproof GPS triathlon specific. One, it means I can offer my coach some valuable race specific information, and two, means I could see my pace real time, which really helped my confidence along. Seeing a 3:22/km – however brief, means the chasers cant be making too much time.

I got to a gate at a water station, which had Xterra bunting on either side. I stopped, the water table staff starting shooting, not a word made sense. I was meant to climb over the metal gate, into the coffee plantation, but honest, at the top of 4km climb, with a HR of 174bpm, it did not seem obvious. So funny. The down had some really cool running in it. Cambered hairpins down natural forest canopy, in and out of the coffee plantation, really different to anything I’ve done before.

Was stoked to come good for Bernardo and Adriano who’d risked getting me over last minute. But it was the crown coming good more than me. Brazilian culture seems so much more expressive and energetic. And animated. Really big reception finishing up. Being able to host a triathlon in a city centre is power. Being able to do so with an offroad event, a rare gem.

Manzan did follow me across the line – and for a season opening event showed fine form. He’ll be closer or ahead on the next battle than 3:25 winning margin.

The weekend was somewhat of a festival, and got swept up in the atmosphere for the night trail run. Nothing is per chance, even the timing of the surround sound music in the Xterra Village is planned. Standing on the night run start line, 90% of the 400 entrants were wearing their event shirt, and event headlamp. Made such a strong impression. Every event has a unique shirt, the triathlon, kids run, night run and mtb cup.

It was magic running along in the back, didnt break 6min/km very often, and stopped for a few photos. The most fun easy aerobic 6km one could tick. The marshals had the same little red headlight on, and were positioned perfectly through the park. Cant praise the attention to fine detail enough. The high point was the start line – something like a fitness nightclub. Runners were clapping, jiving, shouting out. Such a buzz.

(Surviving the night run – loved it)

Sunday morning was the Xterra  Mountain Bike Cup – identical to the triathlon in that it was the start to the series, and offered an equal prize purse to the triathlon. My ears perked when I heard the top guns were at another event of great importance. I knew I’d be hurting, but was well keen to test it out. A 45km route in the opposite direction of the triathlon course. So worst case scenario it would be a glorified tourist exploration.

There was a 5km neutral zone, at the start and end, which meant the first 5km was a peleton of noise and joking and what seemed like teasing. Couldnt understand a thing, but could feel their excitement and energy.

I could not follow up the first climb, it hurt too much. I needed more time to warm up, flush the toxins and loosen up the stiff muscles from the previous days down run. I slipped from 3rd wheel, to 4th, and then dropped in 5th. But on the descent the four leaders let up, and I got back on.

About 20km in, the road become a devils pot of corrugated mud and rock. I was the only one of a dual suspension setup. Considering I could not respond up the climbs, I figured to turn up the heat. After some tempo and a risky descent I had 15m and decided it was time. I felt neat through to 35km, turning over well and staying fluid. But the final 10km was too close to breaking point. The hardest part was convincing my emotions that I wanted the hurt. You need to be fully committed to go to that point, and I was tempted but fence sitting somewhat.

Unreal and further unexpected to double up. I was smashed though, and might have dug myself a small hole to get out of this weekend. Another brilliant reception at the finish.

(Triathlon podium)

Must go, plane boarding. Fun distraction. No time to edit text – forgive mistakes. Well done for surviving all that text. As you gathered, pretty excited here… Some weekend!