(You can skip the report and go directly to the 500 race pics on GOOGLE PLUS or on Facebook)
The 2012 edition of Xterra Appalachia was one of the wettest ever for the 65 participants (and hordes of fans ) who came from as far as New York and Georgia to pit themselves against the race course at Yellow Creek State Park. Racers comprised a mix of seasoned off-road triathletes, triathletes new to the terrors of mountain biking, and totally unsuspecting first-timers.
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| Transition area with racked bikes |
The swim started out pleasant enough with warm sunshine, blue skies, and dead calm water. Swimmers assembled on the beach for the running start, different from the water start of previous years.
I'd mooted the run start to Doug Crytzer, Race Director earlier, the conversation going something like this:
Grace: Hey it would make for a cool race start pic if it were a Run Start for the swim. (I had my waterproof shockproof Panasonic camera 'Ducky' and never pass up a chance to take cool pics of athletes in pain)
Doug: Ok. It's going to be a run start then.
Grace: ... (open mouthed.. wow really?)
Doug: I'm the Race Director - I can do whatever I like!
Nice... :D.
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| A very exciting swim start. (For tips on surviving swim starts read HERE) |
Despite the luxuriant growth of water weeds along the swim course, swimmers somehow came out without looking like swamp things adorned with vegetation. I was very happy with the swim start video capture with my waterproof Life-cased Iphone (clickable pic on right), and the 200 plus swim exit racer pics. I cheered the last swimmer out of the water - her heroic and inspiring 45 minute effort had me wholeheartedly rooting for her. I ran to the Mothership, switched out Ducky with my preferred camera (Bubs), grabbed my running pack, and jogged up to the Hydration Station where the bike and run routes intersected. |
| Hydration Specialists: Lara Cilo and Richard Riley. |
The fickle Rain Gods promptly turned on the deluge, so I had to run back to retrieve Ducky! Fortunately I didn't miss too many riders. Unfortunately, Ducky isn't very good at shooting fast moving objects, and gave me a bunch of blurry pics. Why Ducky, why??!
I am currently accepting donations of umbrella hats such as depicted in the clickable pic on right. An umbrella hat will greatly assist in protecting my favored camera Bubs and enable me to take decent photos of racers thus capturing precious memories of their suffering.
(Note: Mr Santa Claus, I have been a good girl and would really like to have an umbrella hat for Christmas. My favorite color is teal blue, but I think burgundy really sets off the blush on my cheeks so that would be okay for me also. Thank you very much. :p)
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| The bike course, on rolling double and single track with some rock gardens and creek crossings, wraps up with switchbacks through a gorgeous pine forest blanketed by ferns. By the way this racer looks like he is having a LOT of fun. |
The torrential downpours during the bike leg made for a slip-n-slidey ride, transforming the normally not-so-technical course into an xxx-treme hardcore one, for many of the less experienced riders. I've ridden part of the course at the Yellow Creek Monthly Grassroots Race Series (see report HERE for the monthly race benefiting Yellow Creek State Park), and DNFed. As it were, the gal who conquered the swim ended up pulled from the bike course (I really hope she returns next year to tame the rest of the course). Fortunately there were no major scrapes.
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| Looking impossibly fresh despite having just summited a big climb. Taken mid-way into the 4 mile run |
The Xterra Appalachia is the only off-road triathlon around here. It is superbly organized by the team at American Adventure Sports and enthusiastic volunteers. The race route is meticulously marked, the prizes are sweet, swim safety is excellent, racers get to refuel on pizza at the end of the race, part of the proceeds go to the Friends of Yellow Creek State Park, and the mini-triathlon held for the kids (FREE) just rocks. This is one race you cannot afford to miss, and you betcha I'll be there at the next one.
Check back next week for Part Two (video, behind-the-scenes stories, the greatest fans, and interviews with racers. Update 14 Aug 2012: Video is OUT!) or subscribe by email to receive the post in your inbox. I'd love to hear you - how did your race go, how was the swim, bike, run, hydration and food? Any suggestions for improvement?
By the way the official Results are out!
xo Gracie
Great write-up Grace :D, Although I would like to add that it was not quite the "wettest" conditions I've experienced for this race. A couple of years ago there was some serious rains just before the race started making all the trails a complete mud pit and they actually had to change some of the course due to flooding. On average I would say that it tends to rain for the Xterra Appalachia even if only a little... Overall Doug put on another great race! Thanks for the writeup and photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Spencer! Hopefully someone donates an umbrella hat to me for the next Xterra hehe. Glad your photos turned out good!
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