Triboomer came down last weekend and helped record my first off-road triathlon for a podcast. I ended up getting 5th overall, 1st in my age group, and second place in the swim. I had an absolute blast on the bike portion, wringing everything I could out of a hybrid 29er with flat pedals and commuter tires rescued from a dumpster. The only person happier than me is the bike, surely feeling stoked to be used to it's full potential.
So many of us just do road races. I'm here to tell you to get a mountain bike by hook or by crook and do an off-road race! Mine was technically not a true Xterra (This was a sprint distance and Xterras are more like Olympic), but it gave me a taste of what the real thing is like. And I'm sold! There is a rush of pure adrenaline as you bomb down a rough trail at breakneck speed, constantly keeping it on the fine line between control and race pace. Not to mention running through the woods as fast as you can, constantly turning around to see if the competition is catching you, like a deer running from a wolf.
Of course, I always throw in lots of other goodies in a show. I've also included audio from me helping out as a time trial judge at a local Senior Games bike race. As a bonus, Drew sent us audio from Oregon as he tests out a home-made mountain bike with a 29 inch wheel in front and a 26 in the back.
SHOWNOTES!
- At the race site, hiding in the woods, freaking out at all the poison ivy.
- Description of the course by the race director.
- Start of the swim, T1, and taking off on the bike.
- Triboomer interviews the owner of a local bike shop.
- I freak out the crowd as I roar into T2.
- Finishing up, post race interview, and getting my award.
- Kai won a helmet!
- Quick run-down of News and Stuff...
- Tips for swimming - windmill your swimsuit and tie your goggles in the string
- Xterra is AWESOME - thinking about doing the one in Austin.
- Been running to work - leave car, split the days.
- Did some local time trials. bike there, race half an hour, bike home.
- Lost only to a badass, but still slow. Must improve!
- Confessions of a Runner podcast is good.
- Hornet juice contest is still going on - hornetpower.wordpress.com
- New bike needs new shifters.
- Selling my Cycleops trainer.
- Twitter is a mess. Witness the non-trigeeks vs. trigeeks.
- Dukes of Hazzard theme song by Weezer.
- BONUS AUDIO - Drew mountain biking in Oregon.
- Audio bits of me helping judge at some local time trials. Walkie-talkies sound cool.
- Biking with Triboomer.
- Voicemails!
Don't forget that you too can call in at 512-CRY-DELI or send me audio at texafornia at gmail dot com.
Friday, December 12, 2008 at 8:57PM 
