Molnár Dániel: XTERRA Canada

Results: XTERRA Canada overall results
Pictures: XTERRA Canada picasa web album

Xterra Canada has come and gone. It was a long trip to get there but it was all worth it. Canmore could easily contest to become the "best alpine town" on this planet. Perhaps some Swiss or French small towns could beat it's beauty but once you are out on the trails you stop thinking about these things.
Even in the summer the Olympic Nordic Centre felt like it could energize me for weeks. During the winter that place is full of world-class cross-country skiers, biathletes but this time some of the world's best off-road triathletes gathered to take home their share of the $10000 prize purse or their age-group titles. This was my goal, too, to win my age group competition and "again" win my spot to Maui.

My last post ended with camping at a municipal camp site. That night was everything but a perfect pre-race night. It was smokey as my "neighbors" had huge campfires, loud, as they were trying to out-shout the passing trucks from the highway, and so cold ~38 degrees by 4am. It rained and snowed on top of the mountains that night.

At 5:45am I woke and quickly packed my stuff in the car to leave only the tent behind. I, then, drove up to the lake where it took me quite a while to set up the transition area for myself. I just realized that the bike needed more air, remove one of the bottle cages, do this and that and I easily spent 25 minutes still in the dark and cold. Most people were ready to drop their bike off as soon as they drove out there but not me. Once done I drove up to the Nordic Centre to set up T2 where I transition from the bike to run. Shoes, bib number, and fuel was placed under the bike rack.

8am came fast when we all had to participate in a mandatory pre-race meeting. Shortly after the buses took people back down to the lake. I waited a while as the race didn't start until 9:30am. I probably waited too long or the lines were probably too long filled with spectators so it was cutting really close. Instead, I ran down to the lake. I already had my wet suit on me and more clothing over to keep me warm. Well, I was sweating by the time I finished my mile-run down the hill- ahead of the bus so it was all worth it?

Snow-capped mountain tops to feature race morning

The lake was beautiful, but really cold. It had crystal-clear water that I have never swum in before.
It was a mass start that is 160+ athletes started in the same time, all together. There was a lot of pushing and kicking involved, luckily enough I didn't get too many times punched or kicked in the face. Regardless of the pristine water I didn't have the best swim of my life out there. My arms got quickly tired and I am not sure if it was because of the 64 degree water temperatures or the short wetsuit that prevented me from extending my arms or both. I exited the water in 39th position overall that ain't too bad but must get better in the future. My feet were so cold that running the 200 yards back to the transition zone on carpet was more painful than the entire race at the end..

The dreaded Coal chute that didn't seem that extreme
once you go down on it on the bike...

After the transition I was on the bike headed the woods. The bike course was not too long, 22km or 13.5 miles but one of the most technical ones. After a mile of road biking back to the Nordic Centre we were already on double-track trails only to finally hit one of the most technical section of the course. It's called the landry chute and I knew it during my pre-ride a day before that it was a part that I will dismount my bike and push it down. This tim though there was a few other fellows pushing the bike down while others were flying over us. Back on the bike again I continued my journey over the root-filled and extremely windy, bumpy and did I mention already rooty? I passed dozens of bikers, short course and long course competitors but some also passed me. Some bikers rode fearlessly over the course. I, on the other hand, played "wait for it" to survive this leg of the race and put my shoes on. The second loop on the bike course was a lot better. I managed to bike down the coal chute, a short but extremely steep and loose rocky section that gave me hard time during the first loop. By then I knew I must run fast to make up what I lost and I knew that with more technical skills I could be up there going for the money in a year or two.

The las section was a downhill back to the Nordic Centre where I had to have the speeds in excess of 35 mph over the rocky descend. I ended up posting still the 18th fastest bike split that put me ahead of many of my competitors. Unfortunately though, some pre females rode even faster and that seemed to be too much at the end.
In less than a minute I was already on the 10k (6.25 mile) run course. I passed runners like they were just standing, the opposite what happened to me on the swim and bike course. I still wasn't the fastest runner that day as Mike Vine the overall winner of the race out-run me by about a minute. The course suited me and I had a lot of fun during my run. Maybe even too much fun because now I feel that I could have run faster and leave even less in the tank out on the run course.

A man-made bridge allowed me to kind of relax a bit..

Quarry Lake where the swim took part.. 64 degrees only that is at the top end of all alpine lakes. Crystal clear water so I could see the bottom about 20-25 feet down.

I ended up taking 9th overall and 1st in my age group. My time was very close to those ahead of me so I am confident that in the near future I will be a strong contestant to earn money and bring home even better results.

Shaking hands with Arthur Siqueira from Brasil
who finished 3rd place

During the run close to the finish

I know, however, that there are many things that have to change in order to drop my times.

First and foremost I need to improve my swim. With faster swim I could exit the water ahead of many competitors whom I would pass regardless on the bike. Passing on single lane bike paths is difficult and results in precious seconds or even minutes at the end.
Improve my technical skills on the bike. Now this is that is more difficult in my opinion. We don't have the kind of trail in North Dakota that could help me get ready for races like the Xterra Canada. Windy, bumpy, roots-everywhere trails with steep hills can only be found in the Rockies.. Perhaps more frequent and lengthier trips to the mountains? Matter of free-time and budget- TBD.
Better bike. I do have a decent bike. Epic Sports only carries quality bikes and my Specialized Stumpjumper EVO 29er is no exception. The 1x10 gearing is great for cross country biking but I have to now realize that I tend to run out of gears on steep and long hills- that is I need to dismount my bike. I think I am a good climber because of my weight/power ratio but when females ahead of me (all my respect to them :) can climb hills that I have to "run up" makes me wonder. Also, especially during this canadian course the rear tire was al over the place. I could not get a good grip on the trail as my rear tire was jumping everywhere. A full suspension bike would do magic. Again this entire issue is a matter of funds.
Most professionals and elite level athletes ride a full suspension and have better access to quality trails. Most have all the necessary funds available to them so they can worry-free train all year long to get ready for the season. Their season is not limited to the summer either.

No, I wasn't complaining. I am happy to have what I have here. A caring wife who supports me in every step. A great family both in Hungary (my super-worried but loving mom, sisters, dad and the rest of the family) and in the US (Anna's family). I should not forget my newest family, the employees, students here at United Tribes Technical College whose support is amazing!

I will be doing this as long as my body lets me because this is what I love and this is what keeps me going!