Multi-Sport

Team OAM NOW Turning Heads and Dominating the Podium at Michigan Titanium

September 11th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM NOW Triathlete

cheryl finish MI TitaniumThe ISI Michigan Titanium Triathlon (MiTi) is in its third year and continues to bring high quality competitors to the city of Grand Rapids from all over the US and even Canada. Team OAM NOW faired extremely well in the field with 2 overall wins and two 2nd place overall finishes. The race offers a half iron distance (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run) and hosts the only full iron distance (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run) in the state of Michigan.

Race weekend kicked off on Saturday morning with a kids’ race that is part of the USA Triathlon Splash & Dash Aquathlon Series which introduces youth to the world of multi-sport with swim-run events. Team OAM NOW triathletes Amy Kimber, Cheryl Sherwood, Cricket Howard, Raquel Torres and Roxane Kippen all volunteered to help out with the race by assisting with race registration, setting up the finish line area, guiding kids around the run course and handing out finisher medals to all of the participants.

Sunday was the big event and, per the usual, athletes and volunteers headed to their positions in the dark. As the sun began to rise, Cheryl, Roxane and Bob Schultz paddled out onto Versluis Lake, where the swim would take place. While not racing the event, they did choose to give back by volunteering and supporting fellow teammates and other competitors by keeping them safe and keeping them on course in the water.

Alex Vanias completed his first full iron distance triathlon and finished 2nd, behind a professional triathlete who was the event’s defending champion. Read his blog about the grueling day. Kaitlyn Patterson

Kaitlyn approaches the finish

Kaitlyn approaches the finish

raced the half iron distance and blew away the field with a first place finish time of 4 hours 53 minutes in the women’s field, twenty minutes ahead of 2nd place. She also finished in the Top 10 out of all 251 participants in the half, including men, women and relay teams.

 

cricket mi titanium

Team OAM NOW aquabike specialists, Cricket Howard and Kathy Kirk, both had strong performances. Kathy grasped the overall female win in the half distance aquabike and Cricket finished 2nd in the men’s field in the half distance aquabike. Often times, the aquabike finish is a bit anticlimactic because the race ends after the bike leg and usually the finish time is recorded as the athlete re-enters the transition area. This year, aquabike athletes had a special finish chute that allowed for them to dismount and cross the finish line with their bikes which provided a greater celebration for both participants and spectators.

 

Both Kaitlyn and Kathy felt their confidence growing throughout the race. After passing a number swimmers from the men’s wave, Kathy put her time trialing abilities to good use and continued to catch riders up the road. She caught a glimpse of her closest rival, last year’s defending champion, on the out-and-back portion of the route and felt good about being able to hold her lead. As she worked through her nutrition on the 56 mile bike course, which she has struggled with in the past, she felt the boost from each dose of calories and pushed harder with each one. Caloric intake is a race discipline in itself and fine tuning this can truly improve one’s overall performance.

Kathy Kirk

Kathy Kirk

Kaitlyn also used the out-and-back section of the bike course to gauge her position and chased down the only other female in front of her, who happened to be on a relay team. Fearing she may have gone too hard on the bike, she was set at ease during the run once she was able to spot the 2nd place female and calculated her lead to be about 16 minutes. She finished out the run conservatively to avoid hitting the wall and ended up with a spectacular win in just her 2nd half iron distance race.

Overall, the MI Titanium turned out to be a fantastic day for Team OAM NOW and its athletes. With results like these, there’s plenty to look forward to in the future.


Boyne City Tri- Team OAM NOW Wins Age Groups and Overall Podiums

September 9th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Kaitlyn Patterson, Team OAM NOW Triathlete

Falling one week after the Michigan Titanium, the Boyne City Tri had remained somewhat of a question mark on my calendar all summer. Hard races at MiTi for Alex (Vanais) and I had left us tired, but after we could walk normally again we decided to race this fun event. We both raced the inaugural Boyne City tri last year, and it is where we caught the tri bug.

The morning of the race was chilly and windy, but stayed dry. There were whitecaps on Lake Charlevoix as the swimmers, in colored caps, congregated on the beach. The race organizers tried to assemble an elite field, but it consisted only of one male and one female. Alex and I both remained in our age group fields as we don’t have elite licenses.

20140831_124232_resizedThe waves and wind made for a rough swim and a significant amount of water ingestion. I was thankful the water was clean as I repeatedly took waves to the face. I saw many people clinging to buoys as they tried to gather themselves. Despite the difficult water conditions, I was the first one in my wave out of the water;  it was a minor miracle. The field was small and the elite wave started earlier, but I’ll take it. Alex, on the other hand, had some chasing to do with four minutes to make up after the swim in the men’s field which was deeper.

The bike course began with a flat portion along the lake before some significant climbing later in the race. It was strange to be first out of the water and, as a result, I was definitely lacking a sense of urgency on the bike. My bike and run were solid and I kept the lead for the age group win, but  was topped by the elite racer in the overall results.

Meanwhile, Alex was in a tight race. He had chased down the leaders with three miles to go on the run. Despite an amazing effort, the Ironman last weekend caught up with him and he couldn’t match the acceleration of one competitor resulting in a 3rd place finish overall, but first place in his age group. He still had the fastest bike and run splits of the field, including the elite racer.photo (1) (1)

Our OAM teammates also rocked the hills and waves in northern Michigan. Robyn pulled out an age group win despite fighting a cold. Chuck finished 11th overall with another age group win in the sprint tri.

Yet again Boyne City tri was a well run event with lots of support and a great atmosphere. All in all, it was another fun day with OAM teammates and a great way to conclude tri season!


Team OAM NOW’s Alex Vanias Wins 2nd Overall in Full (Ironman-distance) Triathlon at Michigan Titanim

August 27th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Alex Vanias, Team OAM NOW Tri-athlete

With an average of 100 miles per day on my bike, for a week straight, in the mountains, one (one meaning me) might think doing an Ironman-distance triathlon in one day should be easy, right?  Wrong.  My first shot at the 140.6mi MI Titanium triathlon is the hardest thing I have ever done. Of course, it didn’t help that I had not really trained to do an ultra-endurance race. It also didn’t help that I didn’t train my gut to handle all the calories necessary to race for 9-10hrs. Lack of preparation plus a grueling race could have had far more disastrous consequences; while the first part of the race felt good, during the run, I learned a lot about myself and the Ironman-distance Tri.

I was far more nervous about my sprint distance tri the previous weekend than the MI Titanium because I figured there would be plenty of time to make up for mistakes in such a long event. This was true for most of the race. My 2.4mi swim was much slower than expected; I’m not sure why. However, this wasn’t a huge concern because the 112 mile bike leg gave me plenty of opportunity to make up time! I made up my 10min deficit to the race leader with 30 miles left on the bike. I run pretty well, especially for longer distances, so I took the opportunity to follow the race leader (Jimi Minnema) on the bike and sort of get some “rest” before the run. With a few miles to go, I took the lead hoping to get a head start in the transition to the run. Everything was going according to plan!

IMG_20140824_170212_259It felt almost too easy until 6mi into the marathon. At about mile 6,  my energy levels really dropped off and all I could do was run at a pace I would normally use on recovery runs. Still, I kept pushing on. At the 13 mile mark, my legs completely seized up and I had to stop. That’s when Jimi caught and passed me. After my cramps stopped, I went back at it. At that point, I knew I was racing for second place. I seriously considered quitting, but I have never quit a race because I was tired or weak. That’s the mental race. That’s the moment we all talk about races being mental as well as physical and it’s a make or break moment. I wouldn’t admit defeat. I was still determined even though the last 13 mile lap  of the run was nothing more than a shuffle/walk. I have never felt so weak. Luckily, there were lots of friends and teammates cheering and pushing me  to keep me motivated along the course.

After what seemed like forever, the finish line was in front of me and, technically, it was over; the pain, however, lasted a couple more days! I came in 2nd overall, at just over 10 hours.  Looking back, I have certainly learned a thing or two and I look forward to making my next 140.6 a lot smoother!


Team OAM Now’s Alex Vanias and Kaitlyn Patterson Take on the Draft Legal Detroit Tri

August 21st, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Alex Vanias, Team OAM Now Triathlete

When I saw that there was a draft-legal elite development triathlon in Detroit, I couldn’t pass it up. Since I was going, teammate Kaitlyn Patterson decided it would be a good experience and decided to race as well. It’s worth noting that draft-legal sprint triathlons are not what we have been training for, especially with the MI Titanium 140.6/70.3 the week after the Detroit Tri.

Kaitlynne and Alex

Kaitlyn and Alex

There was a mandatory pre-race meeting for all the draft-legal participants the day before the race so we had to head down Belle Isle early. We used the opportunity to check out the course and pick up our race packets. The race was labeled as U25, but there were quite a few exceptions for racers older than 25. Kaitlyn, for example, was going to compete against a 30-year old woman who recently won the Olympic distance age group nationals.

The men’s and women’s races were held separately. I started at 7:45am while Kaitlyn started at 8:45. The water temperature was 70 degrees so wetsuits were not allowed. All the draft legal men were called up to the line on the beach, one by one, and before I knew it the race started! I hadn’t gotten in the water before the start which turned out to be a major mistake. The 70 degree water took my breath away, and as much as I tried to catch my breath, I just couldn’t. I found myself hanging in the back of the swimming group. As we made our way farther out into the Detroit River, waves appeared out of nowhere and started choking me. Already in oxygen debt, I had to slow down. It was frustrating not being able to go as hard as I knew I could. Not only did the waves make sighting a green buoy against the shoreline difficult, but the river current also took everyone off course while swimming back to shore. I came out of the water 4 minutes behind the leader- not so good.

I hopped on my bike and immediately started hammering to make up time. I passed roughly half the field on the bike leg without drafting anybody and without letting anybody draft me. A pace line of 10 guys tried to bring me back, but they failed. I knew I was having a good day on the bike, but I didn’t realize at the time that I set a new threshold power record while riding a non-aero road bike at an average of 27.5mph, and had the fastest bike leg!

Of course, having to ride so hard in a draft legal race put me at a disadvantage on the run compared to the leaders who were mostly drafting. While running, I felt okay, but not great. My goal pace was 5:10/mile, but I only managed to average 5:20/mile. I still overtook several people on the run for the 7th fastest run leg of the day. This put me in 12th place out of roughly 30 Elite Development racers, but still about 3 minutes behind the winner.

Kaitlyn’s race went similar to mine. With a crazy fast and competitive field, Kaitlyn still finished solid and in 6th place overall.

I was hoping for a top 10 finish and was only a few seconds away from that goal. I now know how fast I need to swim now in order to be successful in draft legal racing. I look forward to continuing my swim training with Athletic Mentors to work out my issues and make me efficient!

Ed note: Team OAM NOW’s Professional Triathlete Raquel Torres offers some great swim training advice here.


Team OAM Now Triathletes Still Going Strong

August 21st, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM NOW Triathlete

Mike Steele

Mike Steele

August has been a busy month of racing, so far, for Team OAM NOW triathletes. The podium pace set earlier in the season has not slowed down. Over the last three weekends, tri team members have raced in six different events and reigned in multiple podium finishes.

August started off with beautiful weather for the Millennium Triathlon in Grand Rapids, MI. After finishing on the podium at XTERRA Ionia Offroad Triathlon the week before, Mike Steele and Roxane Kippen, put away the mountain bikes and got back on their time trial bikes for another great race. Mike finished 2nd in his age group in the Olympic distance race and Roxane finished 1st in her age group in the Sprint distance event.

That same weekend, Alex Vanias and Kaitlyn Patterson entered the hunt for a big cash payout in the Elite race at The Experience Triathlon in Frankenmuth, MI. The pro/elite field was a strong one and included national level professional triathletes. Alex and Kaitlyn both finished 5th overall in their respective fields and pedaled their way to the 2nd fastest overall bike splits of the day. We are very excited to see these two continue to grow in the sport!

Chuck Grzanka tuned up his swim by competing in the Harbor Springs Coastal Crawl. He is fortunate to be able to train in the clean, clear and usually chilly waters of Little Traverse Bay, where this event was held. Chuck finished 1st in his age group and 3rd overall in the one mile, wetsuit division.

Chuck Grzanka

Chuck Grzanka

On August 10th, the city of Battle Creek, home of Kellogg’s, hosted the Cereal City Triathlon. This was a sprint distance event consisting 750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike and 5 kilometer run. Paul Raynes finished on the podium, 3rd in his age group. Mark Olson finished 4th in his age group and posted the 3rd fastest overall bike split of the day. Matt Gunderson, in his first year of triathlon, finished 6th in his age group.

This past weekend, Alex Vanias and Kaitlyn Patterson raced the Detroit Triathlon, a draft-legal U25 Elite Development race in Detroit, MI. This was the first draft legal triathlon for both Alex and Kaitlyn and a good opportunity for more exposure in the pro/elite arena. Look for a blog to come about the experience.

And last, but not least, Chuck Grzanka was at it again, up north at the Traverse City Triathlon where he competed in the Olympic distance race. He finished 1st in his age group and made great improvements in his swim and run times from the previous year’s event. Congratulations Chuck!

Team OAM NOW triathletes are up next at the MI Titanium full and half triathlon in Grand Rapids, MI on August 24. Come on out to Versluis Park to cheer them on!


TEAM OAM NOW Triathletes Win Big in the Dirt

July 29th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

When you hear the word triathlete, dirt is not generally in the same headline.  This weekend five TEAM OAM NOW triathlon team members went off-road to show they are not afraid of rocks, roots, and sand. Not only did they prove they’re not afraid,but they brought home home overall wins as well.
XTERRA is the off-road version of triathlon that follows the swim-bike-run format of a triathlon, but swaps the road for trails in the bike and run portions of the race. XTERRA Ionia, was held this past weekend at the Ionia State Recreation Area. The 800 meter swim was in the cool, spring-fed Sessions Lake and was followed by a 13 mile mountain bike and 5 kilometer trail run.
This was an inaugural event and, with the exception of one misinformed volunteer directing riders down the wrong trail, was a well-run race. Roxane Kippen, resident XTERRA expert, was in the hunt for the overall title and started out 4th woman out of the water and quickly made up the gap to 2nd and 3rd place with a fast transition and quick start on the bike course. At the first major turn on the course, there was a volunteer directing riders to go straight, when the course markings indicated a right turn. Roxane and the riders behind her knew the course went right and followed the marked trail. Knowing there was a very strong mountain biker and a very strong runner still behind her, she pushed the entire bike leg to maintain the gap through the run. XTERRA Ionia Group_croppedShe was able to hold off the other ladies and posted the fastest bike split of the day and finished first overall for the women. (The racers who went the wrong way on the bike course were assessed a time penalty as the misdirection resulted in them completing only half of the bike course.)

Triathlon team member Mike Steele and Elite Club team member Bob Schultz were competing in their first off-road triathlon. The week before the race, the team pre-rode the course to be sure they were familiar with all the twists and turns and the course itself. USA Triathlon rules state it is the athlete’s responsibility to know the course, and the recon ride proved extremely helpful given the unreliable direction from the course marshal. Mike got his crashes out of the way before the race, and successfully kept the rubber side down, finishing 5th in his age group. Bob also maneuvered well through the tight single track and finished 2nd in his age group, behind a current XTERRA regional age group champion.
TEAM OAM NOW also hit the dirt at the Big M Challenge, a cross-country mountain bike race held in Wellston, MI. Triathlon team members Alex Vanias and Kaitlyn Patterson both won the overall in the Elite men’s and women’s races.

Big M Challenge Men's Podium

Big M Challenge Men’s Podium

Alex took the win at the line after battling some of the top mountain bike racers in the state. Kaitlyn had the finish line all to herself, posting the fastest time for the ladies, which was over five minutes faster than the 2nd place finisher.


Team OAM NOW Breaks the Finish Line Tape for Overall Victories at Tri Del Sol

July 28th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM Now Tri-athlete

Tri del Sol is a staple event in the annual triathlon schedule. Held mid-July at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin, located in Middleville, MI, the race offers both Sprint (750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike, 5 kilometer run) and Olympic (1500 meter swim, 40 kilometer bike, 10 kilometer run) distances. The venue offers a swim in the beautiful Lake Barlow, a bike course covering the hilly roads bordering Yankee Springs State Recreation Area and a run on trails and country roads surrounding the camp.
Kathy Kirk, TEAM OAM NOW resident Aquabike specialist, saw her interval training in the pool pay off in the Olympic distance Aquabike with a great swim (19:03). She had also been working on her bike mount skills to save time transitioning to the bike leg where she cranked out 22.3 mph for nearly 25 miles. She finished first overall of both men and women in a time of 1:22:39.

20140719_112202

Alex Vanais, Kathy Kirk

Alex Vanias, former cycling superstar, turned his focus to triathlon this year and is already proving he is professional material in this field with an overall win in the Olympic distance triathlon. He finished just shy of two and half minutes ahead of local professional triathlete Jimi Minnema. Alex came out of the water in 23rd place, nearly four minutes back, but made up the time on the leaders with the fastest bike split of the day averaging 26.8 mph on the 40k course and the fastest run split of the day.
Matt Gunderson, new member of the TEAM OAM NOW Elite Club, stepped out of his comfort zone of duathlon and into the world of triathlon at Tri del Sol this year. His strength on the bike was evident with the 5th fastest bike split in his age group. This was Matt’s first experience with open water swimming and it went better than expected, which is to be celebrated for certain since the swim is often the biggest barrier to entering triathlon. Knowing what to expect from the swim, Matt is now ready to tackle the three disciplines.
TEAM OAM NOW triathletes are up next on July 27 at XTERRA Ionia and August 2 at Millennium Triathlon.


5 Out of 5 Team OAM NOW / ATHLETIC MENTORS Triathletes Earn Podiums Including an Overall Win at Little Traverse and Grand Haven Triathlons

July 15th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM NOW/Athletic Mentors Tri-athlete

This weekend was a busy one for Michigan triathletes, including Team OAM NOW / ATHLETIC MENTORS, whose athletes batted 1000 in podium performances at both the Little Traverse Triathlon in Harbor Springs, MI and the Grand Haven Triathlon in Grand Haven, MI.

Chuck Grzanka and Jeff Towner won their age groups,Paul Raynes was third in his age group and Roxane Kippen won the overall female at Little Traverse. Meanwhile, in Grand Haven, Todd Anthes was third in his age group.

Little Traverse Triathlon is in its 6th year and boasts some of the most beautiful scenery of any race in the state. The 600 meter swim is in the crystal clear, 66 degree water of Little Traverse Bay, where racers can see the bottom of the bay for the entire swim. LTT bike courseThe 19.6 mile bike follows M119 as it climbs out of Harbor Springs through the beautiful Tunnel of Trees and the 4 mile run course sends racers out and back on the stunning shoreline of the bay past beautiful historic homes.

Little Traverse is an annual event for Team OAM NOW / ATHLETIC MENTORS triathletes Chuck Grzanka and Jeff Towner. They have a home course advantage and it paid off with first place finishes in their respective age groups. Teammates Paul Raynes and Roxane Kippen were new to the event this year and found their way to the podium as well with a third place age group finish and overall female win, respectively.

Jeff Towner, Roxane Kippen, Chuck Grzanka, Paul Raynes

Jeff Towner, Roxane Kippen, Chuck Grzanka, Paul Raynes

Grand Haven Triathlon has been a popular West Michigan race for a number of years with a great venue along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The Olympic distance race includes a 1500 meter swim along the sandy beach at Grand Haven State Park, followed by a 40 kilometer bike on the rolling hills of Lakeshore Drive and a 10 kilometer run along the boardwalk and around Harbor Island.

Grand Haven is a home town race for Team OAM NOW / ATHLETIC MENTORS triathlete Todd Anthes. He trains in the chilly Lake Michigan waters and puts in a lot of miles on the local bike and run course. The race this year was changed to a duathlon because lake conditions were too dangerous for swimmers, so the 1500 meter swim was exchanged for a 5 kilometer run. Todd pulled out a solid run-bike-run for third in his age group and finished less than ten seconds off a top 10 overall finish, which is a tremendous achievement given the strong men’s field at this event.

Team OAM NOW / ATHLETIC MENTORS triathletes are up next at Tri del Sol, XTERRA Ionia, and Millennium Triathlon.


“I Was Lapped”- An Elite Athlete Learns from Her First ITU Race

July 15th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Raquel Tavares-Torres, Professional Tri-athlete

Last year, I had my first Elite experience (ITU draft legal race) in Sarasota, Florida. In hindsight, I have to laugh at myself. What was I thinking?  To race at that level with just a few weeks of “training,” especially after more than 12 years without riding a bike or doing anything remotely similar to triathlons, didn’t seem like a great decision.

While we were packing the bike Coach Mark Olson let me borrow (I didn’t even have my own bike!), I told him I was apprehensive and nervous about racing at the elite level; when I decided to try the triathlon, it was just for fun, as more of a personal challenge. I didn’t know that weeks later I’d be flying to Florida to compete.

I can still hear him saying to me, “Raquel, just go and have fun. Go there and learn.”1962220_10203027938167073_2118103568646100431_o

So, basically, that’s what I did. I flew to Florida, with minimal experience, without enough training, without the right equipment and by myself! I might have been apprehensive and I might have been a bit scared, but it was one of the best things I’ve ever done because of what I learned.

When I arrived in Florida, I didn’t have a wet suit.  I had to borrow one from another coach and one of his junior athletes. One hour before the race, I squeezed myself into a super tight wetsuit. During the race, I felt as if I was swimming in a straitjacket. As a result, I was out of the water a full 3 minutes after the first group. 3 minutes is a long time in an Elite race, in any race really. Racers who are fast out of the water are able to, as mentioned above, join the peloton, conserve energy, race faster, and race with the lead pack. Those of us left behind in the water must face the head winds alone as we struggle to catch up. Catching up, at this point, is difficult, and unlikely.

A race official dressed all in black, riding a huge motorcycle, pulled me over and said, brusquely, “Give me your chip” (referring to my timing chip with which I would be scored).

I’d been lapped. Once you’re lapped, your race is over. I looked over and saw a few of the other women on the ground, next to their bikes, tears streaming down their faces, and felt my own tears well up in my eyes. We’d all been lapped. Our races were done.

So what did I learn?

– In draft legal races, you can “cheat” or you can work. If you are in a big group of good riders and you draft, you avoid the head wind and expend approximately 30% less effort than the people who are working in the front of the group or peloton. You want to be with the pack. You want to conserve energy.

-In Elite racing, every part of the race is important. A good, fast swim means you get to ride with the fast riders and draft with them as well.

-Bad races happen, even to experienced athletes who have trained. Sometimes it’s a bad swim, sometimes you get out of the water and your legs are spent. There are a variety of factors, often beyond your control, that can influence your race, and if just one of them is off, it can set off a chain reaction. What matters is that you know it can happen to anyone. Even elite athletes have bad races. Even elite athletes get lapped, and it happens quite often.

More importantly, what matters most is that you look at every racing opportunity as a chance to learn whether the outcome is what you expect or not. The true measure of my success is my ability to walk away from a bad race and use what I learned to my advantage in my next race. This is how you get better. We do not learn to walk on day one, first we must fall, and from falling we learn balance. The triathlon is no different. It is about balance. It is about learning. In order to do this, we first must get out there.


TEAM OAM NOW Off-Road Triathlete, Roxane Kippen, Among Top Women in Midwest

June 26th, 2014 by Team OAM NOW / Athletic Mentors

By Roxane Kippen, Team OAM NOW Tri-athlete

Off-road triathlon is the perfect racing scene for a mountain biker who wants to give the three-discipline sport of triathlon a try and also provides a new challenge for an existing triathlete who wants to mix things up by trading a time trial bike and pavement for knobby tires and wooded single track trails. OAM NOW triathlete, Roxane Kippen, specializes in this style of racing, and has started the 2014 XTERRA Triathlon race series by finishing in the 3rd overall female spot at two recent Midwest races.

Off-road triathlon (XTERRA) races include a smaller field of athletes than many road triathlons, but its top racers are fast and skilled. Xterra-Brown Co-06-14-2014-456-The swim portion of an XTERRA is much the same as a road tri, but the bike and run legs require some technical ability, and often times courage, to maneuver single track trails with rocky climbs, root-covered down hills, tight turns, log piles, and off camber “goat paths”. Each course is different and distances range from ½ mile to 1 mile swim, 10 mile to 30 mile mountain bike, and 3 mile to 10 mile trail run.

XTERRA DINO Logansport was held on June 14 at France Park in Logansport, IN. The ½ mile swim was in a rock quarry with a backdrop of a high rising cliff that would actually serve as part of the 2 loop, 10 mile mountain bike course. The 2 loop, 4 mile trail run included a rocky hillside climb which required good balance and precise foot placement. An excellent video of last year’s race with the awesome coverage of the course can be found here. Roxane finished 3rd overall female with a time of 1 hour 50 minutes (a 6 minute improvement to her time a year ago) behind a woman who has been on the age group podium at the XTERRA World Championships multiple years and another woman who has been the XTERRA regional age group champion at a number of regional championship races.

XTERRA East Fork was held on June 21 at East Fork State Park in Bethel, OH. The 1000 meter swim was up and down the long pebble beach of a lake in the state park. X17The 2 loop, 12 mile mountain bike was one of the most technical bike courses of any in the region. With rain in the days leading up to the race, the trail was left slightly wet and very slippery on the rock and root sections, resulting in some crashing and bruising for many of the competitors. The 6.5 mile trail run was challenging jaunt through the park’s backpacking trail with several bridge crossings over rocky ravines and a few brutally muddy sections. Roxane again finished 3rd overall female with a time of 2 hours 58 minutes. This was a new course for her and she hopes to come back and improve her time and position next year.

The OAM NOW triathlon team has selected XTERRA Ionia as a team event and plans to have a good showing of team members willing to get a little dirty in their tri kit. Check out this local off-road triathlon event and come out and cheer them on July 27 at Ionia State Recreation Area.



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