The first race of the season is always a bit stressful , coming out of base training, having done a lot of work, you feel anxious to race and to see how your training paid off but together with that there is a bit of nervousness if the speed, endurance and strength is improving and if you can put it all together so early in the season.
Xterra Buffelspoort 2011 was sensational! From the moment I arrived at the venue I knew it was going to be a great day. Xterra Buffelspoort had made Xterra history with the most entrants, well over a thousand athletes, racking their bikes and preparing for this grueling event.
Xterra Buffelspoort has always been a very technical, hard race, usually due to the extreme heat and rocky, technical terrain and this year was no exception. Due to the rain over the last few weeks I expected a lot of muddy sections on the bike and technical hilly run, but after days of sunshine just before the race it dried the route out and conditions were perfect for a fast race.
By 8am I had registered, set up my transition spot, warmed up and was anxiously awaiting the mass start at 8:15.
My new SAILFISH G-Range wetsuit fitting like a glove, I was ready to start yet another triathlon. As men and ladies all start together, I lined up right behind the great, world champion Conrad Stoltz,wishing I could gain power from his ora somehow:). The gun fired and off we went! One big 1.5km swim lap, 1 loop of 26km bike lap and a 2 lapper 12km run awaited us.
The swim went well, I thought I had started a bit slow, but by the last buoy, I had a good position, 1st lady and 11 overall and that’s how we exited the water. Running out with JEEP athlete Ryan Redman, known for his swimming abilities, I knew I had a solid, good swim leg down.
Now for the mtb leg. The route was either not as technical as I can remember or my bike skill and strength had improved quite a bit( I am hoping it’s the latter), because even though I was not feeling 100% I had a good bike leg and kept on opening up the lead.
Entering into transition for the last time I was ready to test my running legs, so within seconds I was off my bike, into my INOV-8 F-Lite 195’s, out of transition and onto the last leg of this race. As I ran out , I passed Conrad who looked like he was taking an afternoon jog so comfortable was he running, leading the men’s division by miles, he was heading out onto his 2nd lap as I was heading out onto my first.
The run was extraordinary. They took us up and over the Dam wall, across the river and as I was scampering on my hands and knees up the opposite wall, with the spray of the water rushing through the Dam flood gates on my face, for a brief moment I absorbed it all and realized this is why I love Xterra so much. The run route was technical, rocky climbs and steep rocky downhill’s, but my INOV-8 F-Lites gripped like glue, not missing a step, not sliding out, just enhancing my running abilities which they are known for doing! The river crossings were no problem and the water just ran out of the shoe, the breathable upper mesh drying up quickly, no blisters no slipping and sliding, the F-lites really impressed me once again.
With the finish line insight I was in high spirits, I had achieved what I had came out to do, testing my strength against other athletes and racing all out. Satisfied and relieved I crossed the line in 1st place!!
Thank you to all the organizers, Stillwatersports for hosting yet another great event!
Thank you INOV-8, SAILFISH, RUDY PROJECT and 32Gi for supplying me with top notch gear that really gives me the edge, enhancing my performance every step of the way.
Xterra Buffelspoort 2011 was sensational! From the moment I arrived at the venue I knew it was going to be a great day. Xterra Buffelspoort had made Xterra history with the most entrants, well over a thousand athletes, racking their bikes and preparing for this grueling event.
Xterra Buffelspoort has always been a very technical, hard race, usually due to the extreme heat and rocky, technical terrain and this year was no exception. Due to the rain over the last few weeks I expected a lot of muddy sections on the bike and technical hilly run, but after days of sunshine just before the race it dried the route out and conditions were perfect for a fast race.
By 8am I had registered, set up my transition spot, warmed up and was anxiously awaiting the mass start at 8:15.
My new SAILFISH G-Range wetsuit fitting like a glove, I was ready to start yet another triathlon. As men and ladies all start together, I lined up right behind the great, world champion Conrad Stoltz,wishing I could gain power from his ora somehow:). The gun fired and off we went! One big 1.5km swim lap, 1 loop of 26km bike lap and a 2 lapper 12km run awaited us.
The swim went well, I thought I had started a bit slow, but by the last buoy, I had a good position, 1st lady and 11 overall and that’s how we exited the water. Running out with JEEP athlete Ryan Redman, known for his swimming abilities, I knew I had a solid, good swim leg down.
Now for the mtb leg. The route was either not as technical as I can remember or my bike skill and strength had improved quite a bit( I am hoping it’s the latter), because even though I was not feeling 100% I had a good bike leg and kept on opening up the lead.
Entering into transition for the last time I was ready to test my running legs, so within seconds I was off my bike, into my INOV-8 F-Lite 195’s, out of transition and onto the last leg of this race. As I ran out , I passed Conrad who looked like he was taking an afternoon jog so comfortable was he running, leading the men’s division by miles, he was heading out onto his 2nd lap as I was heading out onto my first.
The run was extraordinary. They took us up and over the Dam wall, across the river and as I was scampering on my hands and knees up the opposite wall, with the spray of the water rushing through the Dam flood gates on my face, for a brief moment I absorbed it all and realized this is why I love Xterra so much. The run route was technical, rocky climbs and steep rocky downhill’s, but my INOV-8 F-Lites gripped like glue, not missing a step, not sliding out, just enhancing my running abilities which they are known for doing! The river crossings were no problem and the water just ran out of the shoe, the breathable upper mesh drying up quickly, no blisters no slipping and sliding, the F-lites really impressed me once again.
With the finish line insight I was in high spirits, I had achieved what I had came out to do, testing my strength against other athletes and racing all out. Satisfied and relieved I crossed the line in 1st place!!
Thank you to all the organizers, Stillwatersports for hosting yet another great event!
Thank you INOV-8, SAILFISH, RUDY PROJECT and 32Gi for supplying me with top notch gear that really gives me the edge, enhancing my performance every step of the way.
COMING SOON>>> a post race XTERRA TV interview and PROFILE UPDATE...
