Ready for Richmond

All set for tomorrow’s race here in Richmond. Been here all week acclimating to the weather and getting familiar with the trails. Great course out here in Richmond. Perhaps the best on the Xterra circuit. Crazy river swim with an island run on the opposite side, submerged boulders to dodge and fast cross-current angle swimming. The bike course is fast and fun, however it’s been shortened by several miles from previous years for an unknown reason. The race is right downtown and and the amount of real mountain biking trails is very cool. Tight twisty trails, rocks, techy spots, fast spots, short climbs and several urban features like bridges and staircases that you negotiate along the way. Then onto the run which starts off on the road to get over the river, then up onto the 20 foot tall flood-wall for a stretch, up the gnarly “Myan Ruin” staircase before dropping into the woods and back across the river to the finish via a lengthy slick-rock section, a ladder and bridge crossing and the final trip back over the bridge. Awesome course and promises to be a fast one with a shorter swim (1000m), bike (20k) and run (9k).

Wearing bib number 5 again, I’m expecting another solid race and looking to land on the podium again. The Seven is ready to tackle the trails and I threw on some fresh rubber in the form of Schwalbe Racing Ralphs. The low, tightly spaced knobs will roll quick over the firm trails and hook up well in the corners. Love these tires! The pro field is bit bigger here with the addition of Dan Hugo, Dominic Gillen and couple other locals to spice things up. I’m feeling pretty good today and expecting things to stay pretty close on the swim and bike and have the top 10 guys pretty close heading out onto the run. It’s possible that we will start the run right around if not under the 1-hour mark so legs will be fresher and things be less strung out and closer together. This means the run will have to be fast to hold positions and make up ground. I’m prepared to push as hard as ever on the run in hopes of a fast run split.