Beautiful Morning. airTemp about 80. Water temp 75. 100 XTERRA racers.
Borrowed a Trek 100 Fuel dual suspension bike from Libby, an XTERRA ambassador in FL. She had previously loaned it to another racer, Matt. I picked it up on Saturday from Matt and took it out for a test drive. I was very grateful for Libby to loan me her back up bike. The frame was smaller than mine and I couldn't adjust the seat post, but the bike allowed me to race XTERRA Miami while I was vacationing in the Keys. My strategy was to have fun, to take care on the bike trails and push it out when I can.
The swim: 2 loops of 500m with a quarter mile beach run. Keep right (counter clockwise) to all 4 buoys, cross a rope, & dodge the anchored boats. The water was great & very salty. Most "men" wore wetsuits (???). Some of the men admitted they were roasting in it. I think I was 5th or 6th woman out of the water. One of these swims, I would like to feel "fast"...uh, today wasn't that swim.
T1: could someone turn my "on" button on?
The bike: Very Techincal. no "XTERRA Climbs" here, more like a MASS race. Single track with twisties, turnies, switchbacks, log hopping, root paved, tight clearance, ramps, bridges, fences, coral rock covers, large coral rock obstacles (I think my leg was a magnet to these), thru the tropical forest, over the hills, on the path to grandmother's.... the trails had names: Dragon's Tail (that was one long tail), Delirium Gates (aka 'hell'), Kitchen Sink (yes, there was a sink), Gilligan's Island (SS Minnow was present as well), and Rocky Trail (you have the picture now). It was such a fun course and wish I could ride it more often. The locals had the upper leg here. Going into it blind is an obstacle in itself. It reminds me of Belmont in Philly & Rocky Point in Long Island. 10 miles of technical, it was relentless. There was one point toward the end, there was a stretch of about a 1/2 mile on a path. I told the girl behind me to lets take it in, so she drafts me....and then she yells up to me..."god, you're fast"....first time I heard that in a while! I think at that point I finally began to race. ...but one little part of a trail was left & the bike portion was over.
T2: I grabbed a bottle of gatorade in one hand, and a bottle of water in the other (no camelback & only one water bottle holder on the bike).
The Run: legs felt good & only one guy passed me on the run....I passed lots. 3 water...uh, em...River crossings on the run...I swam each of them. Lost my (rx Rudy Project) sunglasses in the first water crossing. And took to the trails with a good pace. It was when the run entered an open area (field) that it was hard to see follow the markings. This happen to me 3 times. The last one, I ended up in the PARKING LOT!...I hate stopping on any run ...I stopped and asked for directions to get back...I lost soo much time here. Found my way to the beach, the stretch to the finish line.
It was a fun XTERRA race, as usual! I placed 2nd in my division & had a GREAT time!
Libby's seat post broke. She rode more than half the course without a seat...that would be one of the hardest things to do on this bike course. She is GREATNESS. I asked her how she did it? She said her legs were screaming and so were her triceps. She still placed 1st in her division.
Matt was awarded the "XTERRA Spirit Award" for giving up his pack to a biker who dbl flatted. That is a very risky thing to do...but its totally XTERRA style to help another athlete who needs help (or is S.O.L).
So if you are a mountain biker on vacation or looking for trails in Miami, FL go to Oleta State Park. Its in a metro area, and N. Miami's beach is right around the corner! pretty cool spot with some gnarly trails.
I retreated back to Key Largo...to resume living the good life before heading back to PA.
