Race Report: Xterra South Africa 2008 at Grabouw

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 was where I had to get to to to win my first national title - Xterra South Africa Champion 2008.

(The view from the top, with Felix Schumann left, and Nico Pftizenmaier third on the right)

I woke long before the alarm, with more nervous energy than usual. I’d been pretty focused for the past few days and against character had things calmly organised and sorted, and all I had to do had been visualized. It was nippy in the car with Dylan driving there as buckets of rain pouring down made for dreary race conditions expectations. But on race morning, all needs to be turned to positive, and so for today,

rain would be a good thing.

(Cloudy skies)

Dylan had a theme song prepared, one going back years to time spent together and road trips up the South Coast for some training around Knysna and Plet - Insomnia by Faithless. If we played it once we played it ten times. Getting lost in its trans-like chorus beat.

(Conrad and I at race start with last minute fooling about)

After hanging in the car just tying to stay warm for as long as possible, I went for a short warm-up run, checked my transition setup, and got into my 2XU suit for some warm-up in the water. Rain drops were suspended, as we hit the water for two 750m laps in the characteristic tea black Eikenhof Dam. I had a cracking start, along side Conrad Stoltz, Felix Schumann, and Nico Pfitzenmaier - the three pre-race favourites. By turn one I had broken free and had some space to stroke it out.

I guessed it 15sec on the run out after lap one, to the sound of Ruth, family and friends going nuts. I think it might only have been 25sec lead into T1, but that bit of grace I needed as I hashed getting my feet into my shoes which I put into my cleats already, and also just struggled getting the gloves on while riding. By the time I was set and

ready to apply watts to the cranks,

 Stoltz and Schumann were on my wheel. Game on. Us three biked together for a few kilometres - an honour and privilege as always to ride besides Stoltz, especially this year as he is current World Xterra Champion. Legs were feeling good, and this bit of riding on my Specialized S-Works Epic felt below race pace and more tactical. It’s odd not knowing who run’s better, and I figured I’d at least prefer some daylight on Felix when starting the run. I pushed hard through a techincal section of single track, and Stoltz got stuck behind the German Felix Schumann. Only Stoltz bridged across to me, and us two worked together for a small while. At about 15km into the ride, Stoltz starting reaching for his foam canister after a rocky technical descent.

(Conrad Stoltz (conradstoltz.com) on his Specialized Stumpjumper 29′er)

Stoltz is such a class act, and watching him loosen his foam from his seat post while riding, so as to minimise stopage time, something I’d never even thought of, was another lesson from the Xterra King himself. I’ve learnt so much from him over the years, and will continue to I hope. I didnt really hang around much,

 and dared not look back.

Perhaps it was only a 20sec stop to seal the tire and Stoltz was right behind. I put the hammer down for all I could. Only a few kilometres on did I look round back down a straight, and couldnt see Stoltz or Schumann. Fuel to a fire, and edged on. I hashed the big technical rock garden for the day, by unclipping in reflex action - the only thing I couldnt afford to do. Eish. But how. I couldnt clip back in. The road pedal keeps swiveling round. I was freaking out inside and tried to stay calm. I must have lost 30sec in trying to clip back in, then getting off and running a bit, being wrong geared then, clipping the other side while stationery in the hope of the left foot being easier, but just couldnt do it.

I turned the cranks over in frustration

a while after that trying to regain composure and focus. I was still feeling good and moving well over the last few kilometres. Coming into the final forest section I could hear my support group recognise me and go wild. I couldnt lift my eays off the the twisty track, but it sounded like they were beside me for ages. Coming in solo was better than expectation, and I would use the daylight between me and whoever was trailing as much I could.

I felt twitchy running out, perhaps the colder conditions to blame. When dropping down into a river crossing I could feel the cramping temptations in my legs. But aerobically I was still feeling in control, and seemed the engin Gary Mandy, my coach I’m heading to in America this week, was holding up like trusty locamotive. When looking back at the contour while descending, I could see it was Felix trailing, but at what I guessed at least 1min30. I started to figure it coule be for real, and

just needed to get onto the white beach sand.

(200m left)

Its as special a venue and as special a crowd as possible to win my first national title at. Close friend and Xterra SA visionary, Michael Meyer, handed me a South African flag to run through the finish shoot with. Two German’s came in second and third, and if Stoltz wasnt going to fly the South African flag on podium’s top step, I’d be proud as ever to keep the local pride going. Stopped the clocks at 2:06.

(Done and dusted - with more relief than anything else)

Nico Pfitzenmaier impressed on Cape Epic fatigued legs running in third. The girls had Eszter too strong, swimming the fastest split, biking the fastest split, and running the fastest split. Jeannie Bomford was secon in as first South African, with Michelle Lombardi third, and Carla Germishuis fourth.

The day finished with a great night at the Duesouth Xterra Night of Champion’s celebrating with Ruth many close friends there. A great initiative from Xterra SA and a special way to end a season of racing in South Africa.

(A great video clip with my highlights of the day thanks to my Sweetlove)

All photo’s thanks so Nikola Tosic (nekada.com). For all his photo’s click here.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 20th, 2008 at 9:50 pm and is filed under Conrad Stoltz, Duesouth Xterra South Africa, Eszter Erdelyi, Felix Schumann, Jeannie Bomford, Michelle Lombardi, Multisport, News, Nico Pfitzenmaier, Xterra, Xterra Grabouw, Xterra Grabouw Results, Xterra SA Video Clip, Xterra South Africa. 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.