Blog

First Xterra Adventure - Malaysia

10th May 2014

My first time in Asia, first Xterra, and first time racing as a Pro. Nothing like throwing myself in at the deep end!

A whole new world of adventure in Xterra Malaysia

Adventure is the spirit of Xterra and I was certainly embarking on one when I signed up to race Xterra Malaysia on the recommendation of my new coach Sam Gardner. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but fast forward a few months, and I find myself on a 6 hour bus ride from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, watching the tropical scenery go by and wondering what it will be like racing in such heat and humidity like I’d never experienced!

I worked out we would be competing in 90 degree heat- hotter than the sauna I use in David Lloyd- then add in 100% humidity, imagine working out at race intensity for 3+ hours and you get an idea of the challenge ahead!

Our Malaysian hosts couldn’t have been more welcoming though- all athletes were put up in the wonderful Pullman hotel Putrajaya. Judging by the huge billboards on the drive in, it had hosted Barrack Obama on his official state visit only the night before! Probably in a more expensive suite though ;)

I was put in a room share with Carina Wasle, one of the Xterra legends, but who obviously had no idea who I was! Our room only had a double bed, but in for a penny in for a pound I thought. Luckily we are both pretty small and neither of us snores!

Recce-ing the bike course with coach Sam

The next couple of days were spent recce-ing the course and trying to acclimatise- generally drinking litres of electrolyte, trying not to use the air con, and marinading myself in Deet (I am a mozzie magnet and slightly paranoid about Dengue fever!)

The bike course didn’t look too technical which was a bonus- the run was a different matter though. Plenty of scrambling through quarries and jungles, with a few ditch jumps thrown in for good measure. But to the directors’ dismay, local land developers had just dug up part of the course, so we also had fallen trees and rubble ground to contend with. There was even a bulldozer digging on the bike course on race day!

Coaching in the international school- more nerve wracking than the race!

Sam and I were asked to do a coaching session at a local school- which was possibly far more nerve wracking than the race itself! Thankfully Sam led the sessions and I assisted, except for being left with 20 kids to myself in a swimming lane and just having to make something up!

That survived, it was on to the next ‘out of comfort zone’ experience- the race press conference! Where we athletes all had to introduce ourselves. I said something along the lines of “This is my first time in Asia, my first Xterra, and my first Pro race, so I have no idea what to expect”. I am looking forward to the swim the most because it’s the only time we’ll be nice and cool.

So race day arrives, setting up transition and warming up in the dark is a little surreal, but we start at first light to try and avoid the hottest part of the day. What a great atmosphere! It’s still flipping hot though by British standards!

I don’t get the best start in the race, misunderstanding where the line was and thinking everyone was meant to come back to the pontoon. I lost maybe a minute but keep a cool head, and still 5th place out of the water.

Fun in the bike park

Within a few km on the bike I catch the Malaysian pro, and soon after Renata. This throws me a bit as she has the reputation of being the top biker. She indicates me to pass, which I do but soon afterwards panic and crash! Both she and Daz Parker go past while I’m trying to fix my saddle (which is now facing sideways) and after that I ride more cautiously, walking some parts that I’ve previously ridden as I don’t want to risk crashing again. I’m not too far behind Renata and Daz though as we pass each other a few times, and hopefully I can stay with them on the run.

Safely into T2, but then the next problem- I can’t get my shoe off! Must have broken the ratchet when I crashed… how the hell do I get my foot out? For 3 minutes I struggled with it while photographers took pictures, and all the while everyone was getting away on the run…

Can't get my bike shoe off in T2!

Finally I managed to wrestle the foot out without undoing it and I was on my way.

The run is normally my best bit but it was a matter of survival in these conditions. Pacing is key- too fast and you overheat; stop moving and you also overheat as there is no airflow! Most of the course had no shade, but in the jungle was even hotter as it was 100% humidity and zero breeze! I don’t think I’d have got round without the ice water being handed out by marshalls- and even Ben Allen was handing it out after he finished his own race- thanks Ben! 1:20 must be the slowest 10k I had ever run, but that gives you some idea how tough it was.

This must be the only race where I’ve wondered before the start whether I’d even make it to the finish! So it was a great sense of achievement, and I was relieved to prove myself in the same ballpark as the other Pros. 5th place overall and justifying my place on the start line.

It was a great day for the Brits with Jacqui Slack winning the race and Daz Parker with her best ever result in 2nd. For the men, coach Sam also finished 5th. Huge congrats to all of them.

All in all an awesome debut experience- I can’t wait for the next one!