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Xterra Short Track

17th Aug 2025

Last Sunday I finished 18th in Xterra Czech short track, and while I won't be standing on any podiums, or starring in the livestream, for me this is still a win.

My first ever short track was Xterra Czech 2020 - not something I was confident to do, but it was mandatory for the elites if racing the full distance. The danger with the short lap format, is if you fall more than 5-6 mins behind the leaders you will be caught and lapped out, something I'd never taken into consideration. I made all the rookie mistakes like stopping to put bike gloves on in transition, wasting too much time, and also just not being fast or strong enough on the bike. I was caught by the runner on their second lap only about 400m into my first lap, and it was disappointing not to finish.

I didn't get to race again in 2020 (Covid) so my next chance at short track was Xterra Germany 2021. At least this time I knew what to expect, although I still made mistakes - getting boxed on the swim and again stopping for gloves in transition. The logic being I didn't want to crash on the rock garden and destroy my hands before the full race the following day. The irony was I was fine on the bike, but tripped on the run - after having taken off my gloves - but not doing up my quick release laces! I did make it further this time, but still got caught and wasn't able to finish.

I thought I had retired at the end of 2021 (it's a long story - ask me!) and that my success rate at short track would remain at 0%

I didn't race Xterra again at all, until it made it's debut in the UK. And I didn't race short track again until this year, 2025. I wasn't even planning to race elite this year - it's harder than ever to not get slower (or injured) at the age of 44, and it was too much to juggle work, childcare, looking after the dog(s) and support my husband's new job with more responsibilities - I just wasn't finding enough time to train.

However all that changed with an unplanned change of work situation last October. I found myself working freelance for the first time, with far more flexibility over when and where to work. And then up came a race opportunity that's been on my bucket list for more than 12 years... the chance to race Xterra Rotorua (New Zealand), and do the double with Xterra Dunsborough (Australia) - the 2025 Asia Pacific champs. I would never have been able to take 3 weeks off work while employed, but as self employed I could just take my laptop and work from wherever I was. And if I'm going all that way... I may as well go all in and race elite! My points and ranking say that I'm supposed to race elite, even though I definitely feel imposter syndrome at times. I've just reached the age category where I'm allowed to opt out!

But, back to short track! Racing as an elite in Australia meant I would once again have to face the short track - and with a 100% rate of being lapped out I wasn't too optimistic! I was also very out of practise, but decided not to make the same mistake and bother with gloves/glasses on the bike. The main thing that went wrong was asking a random guy to do my zip up on my tri suit (I was in a rush, needing a last minute wee as usual!) The zip wasn't done up properly and came undone, feeling like my suit was really dragging on the swim. Everyone here was a GOOD swimmer, and for the first time ever, I was last out of the water. I thought I'd messed it up from the start, but I was still in touch with the group and managed to stay in contention on the bike... until I made my next mistake of holding the wheel of a better rider down the pump track, not realising the last jump was not a jump but just the Xterra course exiting off the side of the track. I crashed HARD. I think I lay there a few seconds wondering if anything was broken, and whether I'd ruined my whole 3-week trip within 10 minutes of racing... however, I seemed OK - other than the road rash and knowing I'm going to ache tomorrow. I jumped back on the bike, realised the handlebars were pointing 45* the wrong way, got off again and straightened them, and then I was finally off. I learned at the end of the race that about 5 others (in both mens and womens races) had also crashed on this corner!

By now I was of course dead last, and just trying to close the gap enough so I could see other riders and not be completely on my own. Onto the run, there was no sign of the lead runner approaching behind me. I knew I had to go all out and get through lap 1, then I would be safe... would I make it?? My run legs felt pretty good, and running is usually my best discipline. I was running scared, but I made it without being caught. I couldn't believe it! I thought I'd blown it with all those mistakes - on a course that suited me more than the European ones (as it had no steep climbing). I had to slow down on lap 2, but I was still closing the gap on athletes ahead. I ran out of road to actually overtake anyone, but finished within touching distance. Finally I had finished a short track! Even though the voice in my head said "yes, but you finished last" - these are all bloody good athletes, all much higher ranked than me, and I should be able to feel proud that I justified my position in the elite field.

So fast forward to last weekend and Xterra Czech - back where it all began!

I'm in better shape than Australia, but facing my nemesis again of a steep and technical European course, almost the same one I failed on before. I'm happy enough on the rocky drops and descents, but I am not a strong athlete, I race at less than 200w and max out at 500w (for about 1 second!) and it burns all my matches getting up these steep and rooty climbs. However this would be a true measure of whether I'd improved or whether the Australian course was just easier.

Again, I almost messed it up before the start, by slicing my finger open trying to cut a hole in my bike number. I spent most of my warmup time at the medical van trying to tape it up and stop the bleeding, rather than actually warming up. Despite this, the race started well - I exited with the main pack on the swim, even though I got very boxed, and dropped back to follow feet instead of fight. Onto the bike I was passing people as well as being overtaken; perhaps all the gym work and steep hill reps at home were finally paying off! I am always rubbish at transitions but got myself onto the run about 5 minutes behind the leaders - would it be enough? I had a terrible run the day before in the main race, suffering badly with cramp, but thankfully the legs were functioning better today. I made it onto lap 2 with about 20 seconds to spare - I was going to finish!

So P18 may not seem like much to the watching crowds, or the elites aiming for the podium, but for me it was a win. It felt like a creditable performance, being in the mix, not just finishing last, and succeeding in a course that 5 years ago had beaten me. Some of these athletes are 25 (yes 25!) years younger than me - and they are the stars of the future. But at least my own short track story came to a happy ending :)

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