2009 Worlds Recap

The 2009 XTERRA World Championships did not go as I had expected. Despite getting some heat acclimatization in Arizona two weeks before and getting to Maui on the Wednesday before the race, traveling well, resting well and feeling good in the days prior, I could not get it going on race day. This was my third attempt in Hawaii. With the first two attempts allowing me descent excuses for poor performances (multiple flats in 2006 and terrible travel troubles in 2008) this year I have no excuses. Only questions, as to what happened out there on the slopes on Haleakala.

My swim was right where I expected it to be, about 3-4 minutes down on the lead group. I ran towards transition looking forward to a strong ride. Immediately on the bike however, I felt like my power was lacking. It felt like I needed to just warm-up the cycling legs for a few minutes and I’d get going. The whole first half of the bike felt like I was riding in sand. I was moving up through the faster swimmers but not at the rate I was looking for. I couldn’t hang with the faster guys coming around me that I normally can. Then some guys that I rarely see during races began to make their appearances. The lack-luster bike left me feeling defeated and disappointed.

Once off the bike I told myself to stay in it and give a good run because anything can happen in this race. I started off reasonably strong the first two miles then began to fade a little more than expected. Motivation was draining and by the time I hit the half-mile beach run section of the course I was ready to finish. I plodded my way through the rest of the course with my head down hoping no one would see me as I made my way to the finish. One minute over three hours and a handful of seconds was my finishing time, leaving me in 35th place. My best race yet in Maui by quite a bit, but far from where I would have told you I would finish in the days and weeks prior to the gun going off.

So my season came to a close after a less than stellar performance. Kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I’ll be thinking about this race for the next twelve months as I try to figure out what I did wrong and where I can do better. I’ve had the last two weeks completely off from training and have taken the free time to look back at 2009 and ahead to 2010. I have a lot of work to do over the off-season to make the kind of improvements I have in mind. I’ll get back to work on Monday with Maui in mind.