Last Sunday was the biggest XTERRA race of the year and it lived up to it’s reputation of having the strongest competition and toughest conditions (although not as hot as normal). I definitely have a ways to go to get to where I want to be, but I made some progress this year and learned several things along the way.

We flew out Wednesday morning and got into Maui mid-afternoon local time. Our traveling companions Josiah and Ingrid Middaugh kept us entertained throughout our travels. After getting the rental car, stopping at the grocery store (new Whole Foods in Maui!), getting our condo keys and unloading our gear, we were all tired and hungry. We all took a short walk over to our favorite restaurant, Pita Paradise, for a fresh fish pita and then hit the sack to get some rest. Thursday through Saturday was all about prepping for the race and getting some extra rest. Josiah and I decided to only ride the practice course two times on Thursday and consider that good, to not risk bike or bodily damage before the race. The rest of the time we did some easy runs and swims to keep loose. Saturday was a few short hard intervals to really warm-up and we were all set.

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Well, XTERRA USA was three weeks ago now. I had a solid race but was left feeling a little disappointed during the 8-hour drive home from Ogden the next day. I raced as well as I could that day, but seven other racers raced even better. I really have no complaints but was just simply looking for better results. To kick dirt in the wound, the eighth place finish on the day left me one-point shy of a fifth place finish in the series overall. I thought I had pulled off the top-five overall only to hear someone else’s name called to come up for fifth place instead of mine. Bummer, to say the least.

The days after, I was going back and fourth on wether I was going to race the World Championships in Maui a month later. One side of me could easily be finished for the year, take a few weeks off from training and get re-organized for 2011 in November. The other side of me didn’t want to miss the race in Maui and wanted to “redeem myself” with a solid final race of the year. What to do? Not sure, so I chewed on it for a couple days while I rested. My decision was to allow myself to train each day as I feel and make the final decision to race or not to race the week before we left. Our trip to Maui would either be a fun, race-spectator vacation or fun race-vacation. Not a bad decision to have to make, I figured. If the training goes well, I race, if I don’t feel up to it, I don’t and Kathy and I enjoy the race from the side-lines.

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While much of the EPC squad was racing off-road in Utah, there was one representative in Alabama on the same day racing the USAT Age-Group National Championship, Sandi Garcia. While racing primarily off-road the past few seasons (and winning an XTERRA Regional Championship this year) she took to the road in hopes of qualifying for the Age-Group World Championship in Beijing in 2011. You see her oldest son will be completing his 4th year of Chinese, and why would she not want to go to China when she will have her own personal translator! Garcia persevered through the always tough competition at Nationals and successfully snagged her spot on the 2011 USA Worlds Team in the 45-49 age-group. The race will be held September 9th next year. No doubt she and her son will have an experience of a lifetime!

After your last event of the season you deserve a break from structured training. The length of the time away from swimming, cycling, and running is really a matter of preference to the individual athlete. Most of us type-A triathletes are “addicted” to training and have trouble taking time completely away in fear of losing fitness. However this fear is an irrational one and actually losing some fitness is necessary to allow for adequate recovery before rebuilding to a new higher level in the future. One to two weeks away from our main sports is all it really takes to allow for this recovery. The next step after your time off is the critical one, slowing down and improving one’s technique!

Everyone can stand to improve their technique in all three sports, no matter how good you already are at them. Why is technique so important? As you improve your technique you improve your economy, which is your ability to move faster while consuming less oxygen and burning less glycogen. Important stuff on race day. In fact it’s possibly the most important factor to your success as an endurance athlete.

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As the dust settled after the 2010 XTERRA USA Championships two EPC’ers were crowned National Champions! “Hairy” Jason Michalak and Danielle Kehoe stood a top the podium as 2010 National Champions, Michalak as the amateur overall champion (2nd year in a row) and Kehoe as the 20-24 women’s champion. Several other EPC athletes competed in the race to cap off their 2010 seasons. The night prior to the Championship event the XTERRA Regional Champions were crowned at the annual awards dinner hosted by XTERRA. It seemed like half the stage for the Mountain Division was made of EPC athletes. Danielle and Jason were both Region Champions as well, along with Ed Oliver (his 5th regional championship), Kristine Gewin and Sandi Garcia. 2010 proved to be another very successful year for the EPC XTERRA squad!

EPC Multisport has recently expanded by creating a  non-profit endurance sports club, sanctioned by USA Triathlon, as the EPC Multisport Club. Grown from the athletes of Endurance Performance Coaching and the EPC Elite Team, the new club is now open to any and all individuals that want to be part of a fun, challenging and supportive group of athletes to train and race with. The EPC Multisport Club’s primary focus is on triathlon (of all types and distances) with the inclusion of cycling events, mountain bike racing, running events, winter endurance sports and whatever other endurance sports it’s members bring to the table.

With year-round group training opportunities, social gatherings, team clothing, race travel and organization, members gain the advantage of more consistent training and racing through the support of the club. Also of value is the alignment of the club with several sponsors including Wheat Ridge Cyclery for members needs in bike and triathlon gear, Pearl Izumi for clothing and footwear, Rudy Project for helmets and eyewear to name a few of the great discount opportunities available for members.

Open enrollment begins November 1st for the 2011 season. Our mission is to facilitate an environment where everyone can succeed in their sport by taking advantage of the supportive group of coaches and athletes that make up Endurance Performance Coaching. For more info check out our EPC Multisport Club info page.