August 7th, 2011
http://www.xterrasnowvalley.com/
Kasia and I raced Xterra Snow Valley, which is located up at Snow Valley Ski Resort located near Big Bear Lake, east of Los Angeles. It is the closest Xterra race of the year to San Diego and the last of the three Xterra races we had planned for this summer. It was awesome and definitely one of the highlights of my summer so far. If you weren’t there you definitely missed out.
We raced this race back on August 5th, 2007. It was our first Xterra Triathlon. I remember that I had a hard time on the mountain bike and had to walk a lot of the hills in the run so I was really excited about coming back 4 years later and giving it another go.
We arrived at Snow Valley Saturday at 1PM and checked in. The staff was super cool and we were the first people to check in. We then took off on our Specialized Stumpjumper Mountain bikes from B&L Bike Shop of San Diego to pre-ride the course. Pre-riding the course at Xterra has become a ritual for me and Kasia. Normal triathlons we don’t pre-ride any courses since they are usually well marked but after making a wrong turn this year at Xterra West Championship I always pre-ride to make sure I know my way around the bike course. It’s also a way to get in some exercise and shed some pre race jitters prior to race day. During the pre-ride we noticed the course was different then 4 years ago. They took an out-and-back out of the course at the top of the ski resort and also added a new trail made by a bull dozer near mid mountain. The bike course was techincal. Not very much flat ground. You either are climbing or descending and the descents are steep on some loose dirt. Bike skills definitely help on this course.
We then packed up our gear and headed into Big Bear for the evening. Got into our motel and got everything ready then headed out to enjoy the rest of our day. Big Bear was busy with people enjoying the lovely So-Cal summer weather. A lot of people were out on the lake boating. It reminds me of a little baby Lake Tahoe but close to home. We found a pretty good Mexican restaurant for dinner Azteca Mexican Grill and had a normal pre-race Mexican dinner. After dinner we headed back to the motel and I got a haircut right before bed, thanks Kasia!! We were asleep by 9 with the alarm set for 6. Race started at 9AM so we didn’t need to be up before dawn.
Got up and ate breakfast then packed the car and headed down to Snow Valley. Got to the resort a little after 7 and got our T2 area set up at the bottom of the resort. I was surprised to see Natalie from KOZ at the race. She made it up to the race to do the timing. Since we had been racing Xterra’s and Ironman this year we have not been to any local KOZ races. It was good to see a familiar face.
We then had to ride our bikes up to the lake mid mountain for the swim and T1. I really liked having to ride up to T1 and the swim. It gave me a chance to warm up and loosen the legs up. I got to use my new Xterra Vector Pro X3 wetsuit in the swim. It is an awesome wetsuit that feels super soft, super flexible, and super buyout. It made for an amazing swim. I am super happy to be swimming in my new Xterra wetsuit this year.
The race started a little late at 9:10AM. It is a mass start but was nothing compared to Ironman Texas earlier this year. Before I knew it I was in clean water with very little people around me. Xterra races always make you get out of the water and then get back in so at this race we had to make two loops of the swim course exiting once and having to reenter. I remember my first time racing here I had issues with the swim due to altitude. I had none of that this year and felt great the entire swim. As I was swimming towards the exit I was getting excited to ride my Specialized Stumpjumper 29er all over the ski resort as fast as I could.
Got out of the swim and headed over to my bike. Turned my GoPro on and changed into my bike gear. After getting ready I was out on the bike course immediately climbing to the top. The top half of the mountain is not as hard to climb as the bottom so before I knew it I was at the top and excited to descend. I was sort of alone with a couple people behind me and some in front of me but I had the trail pretty much to myself. The course is mostly dirt roads with a make shift trail made by a bull dozer. There was a lot of loose sand and ruts on the course and some the descents were really steep. I saw a few other people walking their bikes down some of the more sketchy parts of the course.
It’s amazing how fast one can descend the mountain and how long it takes to climb back up. I was at the bottom of the resort before I knew it hearing the crowds cheering us on. All I had to do was climb the mountain one more time and descend, then it was run time. I felt good.
I hit the climb up and rode my pace up the mountain. It is steep in some parts and you have to put effort in or you will stop and fall over to the side as Kasia seems to do. It is so different than road riding and so much tougher. I remember it was a lot harder 4 years ago. It is amazing to say that at age 35 I am in the best shape of my life and I continue to get into better shape every year. All of the riding and trail running I have done this year has really helped my fitness. Also being 30 or so pounds lighter than I was last time really helps.
As I descended the mountain for the last time I prepped and got excited for the run. My goal on the run was to hit it hard and never stop running….even on the steep sections of the run.
Got into T2 and got transitioned pretty quickly. Then I started the run. Immediately you climb to the top of one of the bunny slopes. People were already walking but I felt really good and just held my pace. The course was a little different and shorter than last time. I talked with the race director after about this and he indicated that the fire crews had re-seeded some of the slopes and they were unable to race on them this year so he cut one of the biggest climbs out of the past course. As I ran past the slope I remember walking before I was a little happy and sad to not get to run it. I wanted to see if I could do it this year but I was also happy I didn’t have to.
Then I was at “El Diablo” hill and there was a guy there dressed up as a devil with a pitchfork. It is a steep short hill with loose sand. He was saying “welcome to hell”. I smiled and loved it. I stuck to my guns and continued to run even though everyone else was walking. As I crested the top I was super happy to have run up the entire hill. I knew the hard part was behind me. I then descended a hill and turned right back around and climbed back up to the top of El Diablo but via a more gradual gentle slope. A couple of people I was running with prior were no longer near me. The hills I have been running at lunch really paid off during this race. After descending I could see the finish line and continued to push it. The run totaled 3 miles and was over before I knew it.
They had some amazing watermelon and licorice at the finish line. Grabbed a couple pieces and waited for Kasia to finish the bike. She was there before I knew it and cheered her on. I then grabbed my gear and waited for her to finish. She finished about a half hour later and was super stoked to be done. She was a bit scared the night before due to the bike but she did her best and walked any section she felt uncomfortable with. She ended up getting first place in her age group. I also got first place in my Clydesdale age group (200 lbs +). I put 45 minutes on the second place big guy. It was amazing for both of us to get first place. It made for the best awards ceremony ever.
We packed up our gear and headed back to San Diego that afternoon. I cannot wait to race this again next summer and very bummed to be done racing Xterra races for the year. Next year they are moving the race to Saturday and the half marathon to Sunday; that way more triathletes can give it their all and still race the half marathon the next day.
Next summer who is down for some Xterra fun?
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