Xterra Alabama
4th
2:08:07 – 3min40 behind winner Conrad Stoltz
Photo by Chris Storie
Conrad Stoltz has lived in Bend, the small Oregon town where Steve Larsen was based; trained and dined with him and his family; worked a business relationship with Larsen; and had raced each other many times. It was an emotional dedication to a man leaving such a profound legacy so prematurely.
Burning up the swim was Craig’s game plan for his home course where he raced to a close 3rd last year. Having a swimmer push on in the water thins the field and I sat back in 4th behind Stoltz and Rakita. There’s a silence about the water and much thought on breathing, stroke, direction, whats to come – silence to raucous applause to silence / the short run after lap one, before more of the same.
The transition has become a game of seconds (that becomes a minute) I seem to loose. Starting the ride 20metres behind Stoltz magic is like starting it solo. Even if I could just follow his wheel for a 10min section I’d be benefiting greatly. I’ll go back to the drawing board and re-invent this critical race dynamic I keep getting wrong.
From 4th to 2nd with some smooth lines and good power riding I started feeling assertive and determined to fight for second. Like a carrying a tray of afternoon tea I delicately negotiated with blood rock’s drops and the section I broke my wrist on, as well as the section Chris Storie lay paralysed on during a pre-ride with me last year. But in the closing 3km of the ride Josiah Middaugh demoralising closed again, and running out of transition I heard Vine being announced into T2.
Wrongly I’d pressed on aggressively hoping for a running buffer. Instead I’d fully maxed out and lost the better part of three minutes to Stoltz magic and now started the run with Middaugh and Vine. More power, more skill? It will have to be both I guess.
The forest trail run on Oak Mountain is another stunner completing what is a near perfect Xterra course in my opinion. My hip was niggling, but had no result sheet effect in the end. A fine drizzle filtered by a constellation of oak leaves added to the vacuumed sensation of run – isolated and tranquil setting with war raging inside between will and discomfort.
The version of events was in the French accent of Nico Lebrun: “Thoos guys r djust too fust between dees fuggin treez.” We had a great laugh and exchanged frustration being totally outclassed by the top three.
Craig had helped me immensely in Michigan while we shared a homestay, driven me down to Nashville, housed my bottomless appetite, fetched dropped and collected equipment, drove me RV style to Bama, and showed me some fine lines. I was elated seeing Carig hang on to 6th. Big thanks to him, Holley, Hailley, and Tyler.
My homestay in Bermingham was with Justin and Iris who’ve been an amazing support since randomly meeting in Cahaba Cycles a year ago. Support that included a visit in Truckee to watch Xterra USA finals last year. I loved catching up with them, and being challenge by their way of life. I fear my response was to reflect the challenge back to them, and at times that was out of place. Big thanks Justin and Iris. Keep the veggies going.
Chris Storie – what a story – it was brilliant to see Chris alive and hear of mountaineering expeditions since my last visit. Chris severely damage C3 and C4 (I think) during a crash last year, spent days in ICU, and weeks in the hospital. Even now he still suffers from pain and lack of sensation resulting from nerve damage. I trust he’ll heal totally some day. That night was not just about reliving that morning’s events, but to celebrate life – which Chris thought was best done with beer, wine, Scotch and Whiskey… I’d never seen beer in a champagne style bottle and enjoyed my frosted glass of – The wine from Jacobs Creek in Oz was delicious and smooth – the 16 year matured Scotch was a revelation with its incredibly depth of flavours (had to compare it to another one Chris poured me) – and by then anything would have gone swingingly, but the Makers Bourbon and Coke topped it off as desert and the nail in the coffin…
