Triathlon - Duathlon

XTERRA East Championship Swim Clinic

 

DATE: Friday June 10 & Saturday June 11

TIME: Friday – 5:30 p.m./Saturday 8:00 a.m

WHERE: Meet at the swim start just west of Brown’s Island

 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:

Thom Stanton is a long time member of the team that consults with Team Unlimited in deciding the swim course for both the Sport and Championship races. His involvement in open water swimming and kayaking is extensive. We are very fortunate to have Thom involved with this event to assure the safety of the competitors as well as a top notch race course.

 

Our swim clinic begins promptly at the start time, and takes about an hour. Our general agenda includes:

• Gathering - Meet at boat ramp by Tredagar Iron Works
• Introductions - Get to know, assess experience, and identify who is in which race 
• Overview - Equipment, course layout, and general hazards in river
• Current Events - Basic how to regarding swimming in moving water
• Race Start - Considerations for positioning for solid start 
• Coursework - Swimming from race start to island in two groups (full and short races)
• Finish - How to exit course at boat ramp for run to first transition

All participants should be able to swim for at least five minutes continuously without need of assistance or added flotation (you'd be surprised how often folks expect to learn to swim at the ramp). Form fitting swim suits that reduce drag and river shoes for foot protection are recommended; due to close proximity of rocks on river bottom, goggles are required. 

 

XTERRA season kicks off this weekend in Miami, FL. Be sure to check the XTERRA race schedule http://xterraplanet.com/races/race_schedule.cfm for your favorite races. The Richmond Cup Race is scheduled for June 20 so be sure to register early so you don't get locked out.
Be sure to check into the local off road multisport races as well, schedules are posted at RUNRIDERACE http://www.runriderace.com/, FRED EVENTS http://www.fredevents.org/ and EX2 http://www.ex2adventures.com/.

Francine Rapp and Paul Leeger took the top spots, finishing first overall in their respective categories at this past weekends "Rappahanock Adventure Triathlon". In fact, Paul finished over 20 minutes ahead of the next finisher.
You can check more of the results at http://www.fredevents.org/Results.htm once they are posted.
That contributed a whopping 300 points to ASR's points in the VORS points chase.
What to go, Francine & Paul.

Conrad Stoltz just won the recently held XTERRA Mid Atlantic Cup race despite a nasty gash on his foot he acquired while trying to help reel in a non-compliant swim buoy just prior to the start of his race. He eventually recieved 12 stitches to keep all the stuff that was supposed to be on the inside in place.
When I was telling this story a team mate, he related a "Conrad" story of his while he was racing in Utah at the American Mountain Classic stage race in Brianhead.
Below is a caption from his report from that race:

..."Again, today started off with a monster climb straight out of the gate.  I changed the gear out from a 16t rear to an 18t rear due to the punishment that it was dishing out.  We got to the top of Brian Head Peak and seemed to hover above the 11,000’ for a while!  My lungs and legs felt good today, but I had no idea what was in store!  Dark Hollow trail was the most exhilarating ride of my life!  It seemed like most of the riders were walking their bikes due to the steep drop off’s around every corner.  Through the years, this trail must have been eroded and there were huge drops everywhere!  I gave away my only tube and CO2 to racers with flats.  Experience shows that running 50psi in gnarley technical decents pays off.  At the half way point I didn’t think I could go out for another lap.  I sat on the hot pavement and had a lunch break.  Suddenly, a voice with a strong accent says “you need your chain lubed, and can I get you a coke?”  I looked up and Conrad Stoltz the Xterra World Champion is lubing my chain and getting me a drink.  I will never forget the moment he said “ remember the name Squirt lube…”  and I returned “no problem”!  The fresh lube and coca cola was everything I needed to complete the second lap.  Thanks Conrad!  We cruised to the finish line with a 1^st place finish at a multi-day stage race and earned every pedal stroke to get there!  "

Keep up the good work, Conrad - and good luck with the rest of your season.

To the public, it seemed always questionable if XTERRA was coming back to town. But to a very few of us - there was absolutely no doubt - including yours truly. Spike Toler, Kate Lucas and myself KNEW - XTERRA would be back...and we set ourselves to making sure that the experience of all the athletes in the races occuring both days was what they were expecting based on all of the previous 10 races here in Richmond.
There was incredible work performed by a few more people that made the race a success: Marianne Swann & Courtney Cotton acting as Co-Volunteer coordinators had their hands full with the incredible number of volunteers that pre-registered and walked up. Developing and implementing a plan for a race of this size in just 4 months was quite an accomplishment and my thanks goes out to those I have just mentioned but also - and just as importantly ALL those who came out to make this race a success.
Next year will be even better - and since I will be racing, I know I'll be in good hands!

Swannee

So by now, you registered XTERRA-ists have recieved the blast that wetsuits may be a possibility in Richmond. LET IT BE KNOWN - if wetsuits ARE allowed, you will be a part of history because wetsuits have NEVER been allowed. My feeling is that should the water level stay where it is, or rise, we'll probably be in neoprene...or whatever space-age material our suits are composed of today on Sunday morning.
So, be sure to bring your wetsuit along...just in case the Hawaiian gods decide that the water needs to be a little higher and a little faster!
Kahuna will make the call - soon, later...maybe even race morning!

See you on the trails!

Swannee

Okay adventure triathletes, XTERRA is in town. Conrad will be signing photos at the Roadrunner Store on Friday and racing starts on Saturday. The XDURO and the Scramble will start Saturday morning. All the festivities will be as usaual and packet pick up for the triathletes will be all day Saturday - so get down there have fun.
Now - the big question is where will the swim be. So far, the NOAA website (http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=akq&gage=rmdv2&view=1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 ) is predicting a drop from the present 7.7 feet to a June 12 level of 5.5 feet. Who knows where it will go from there but keep an eye out; I'll report what I know here but as far as the course - we really won't know until race morning.
Looking at the rain reports, I'm predicting a perfect course. Perfect for fast times! The way the weather looks we'll be getting occasional rains to keep the trails from getting too dusty but not enough to make them muddy.
I'd suggest just getting out on trails when you can to do your own "recon" of the course.

Swannee

View the Xterra Atlantic Cup - Schedule of Events [pdf]

The XTERRA Mid-Atlantic Cup (Richmond) schedule has been released. There is much to do this weekend...including racing - so be sure to come on down or register to race.

I'll be working the race, primarily on the run course, but basically where ever they need me. If you have any time to help out, please email Emily, XTERRA volunteer coordinator at emily@xterraplanet.com .

I hope to see you at the races!

Swannee