Xterra USA Pre race

This is not a race report.  I'll write one here eventually, but we were there from Tuesday to Sunday so there's a lot to write about.

First off, it was a beautiful venue for a race.  We camped the first 2 days at Anderson cove campground which is right on the reservoir, then got a hotel in Ogden for the last so I'd be better rested (ie, not cranky) for the last few days leading up to the race. This worked out pretty well, but next year I think we'll just rent a condo for the whole time near the race site.

We got there Tuesday afternoon and set up camp.  I originally had intentions of riding the bike course Tuesday and Wednesday, but after riding in the car all day, I decided a short run would be fine.  We ran up and down the trail where the bike starts to climb and my legs felt pretty good.  The rest of the course scouting would be left for Wednesday.

Coopy relaxing at the campsite

 The next morning I got set to preride the course.  Adam dropped me off at the start of the climb up Wheeler Canyon and then planned to meet me at the finish at Snowbasin resort to do the run course.

The course climbs gradually for several miles before a descent and then another long steeper climb with a lot of switchbacks and then another descent to the finish.  The course wasn't marked yet so I went off of a vague description and map on the xterra website hoping that there would be trail heads, other people or course markings up to lead me.

Ready to ride...I made sure to read the bear sign first.

 The nice part of preriding is not just getting to know the course but actually getting to enjoy the surroundings. this was truly a beautiful trail and I felt lucky to be riding on it.  The trail climbed pretty constantly but gradually. I was happy to see that it wasn't too technical.

further up the trail, still beautiful, still climbing 

When I got to the first descent it was not too scary until I came upon this guy.

This is a moose on the trail...I didn't want to get any closer to get my picture.

 I waited for a minute or so, then he finally ran off when one of the race crews dirt bikes scared him.

After the decent the course began to climb again and I got to what was the new part of the trail which was a long steep climb with a lot of switchbacks. Making sharp turns on steep uphills appears to be my big new weakness on the mountain bike.I made a few than a really loose steep left hand one and I was down and sliding attached to my bike back down to where I started.  Ugh.  It doesn't help that at that point in the course you're already pretty tired.  That was my only switchback blunder, but it was a big one. I rode hard to the top wondering when it would end.  I was rewarded with this view.

Pineview Reservoir below is where the climbing began

After this is where I got a little lost.  I got to a fork in the trail. No sign, no markings, no nothing.  First I went straight/left, but then thought I should go right (wrong), and continued to climb and climb and climb until it turned into a hiker only trail and I concluded I was going the wrong way.  Then I started going the right was then turned off on a trail for Ogden overlook, which was another climb and also a wrong way.  Finally I got back on track and got back to the resort after 3 hours of riding and a lot of climbing.  A little more than I planned on.

 Adam and I and the 3 dogs set out to walk run the 6+ mile run course.  The run starts out with a steep hill running out of the resort up the mountain below the ski lift.  The next few miles are twisty and turny and rolling with another biggish hill around mile 4 and then a long downhill for the final mile.The run started out well, but Cooper is 8-10 years old and has never been a big fan of runs over 2 miles.

Mickey carrying water for the dogs

Somewhere between 1 and 2 miles...I think

So we ran and walked, coaxed Cooper along, took pictures, and pushed Cooper to run harder than he's ever run before.

I definitely didn't plan to do a 4 hour workout day 3 days out from the race, but it was good to see the course.  Next time I'll know where I'm going so I won't ride so much and maybe will split the run and ride into different days.

Napping with Frito after a hard day

Thursday was a day off for me while I supported Adam while he rode the bike course.

Friday was a short swim and run and then packet pickup and rest.  I didn't feel super nervous about the race. A little nervous, but going over the course help ease my nerves regarding the unknown.