The season begins

This weekend brought our first race of the season. Sara and I have been racing in the Adventure Xstream Moab 12hr adventure race solo the last couple of years. This year we decided to race it as a coed team as a change of pace. Having raced together on a team of 4 we know we race together pretty well. Training this year for me, has gone pretty well. Commuting to work most days has helped with base miles and adding hills on the weekends has been a great bonus with the weather on the front range lacking moisture!
Having signed on to race with the Bach Builders mtn bike race team this year has given us a chance to try new products from great sponsors. Having had muscle cramp issues in the past I usually race with plenty of electrolite tabs and fluids. Having infinit nutrition as a sponsor this year has allowed me to try a different approach to hydrating and nutrition. I raced this race with just Infinit Nutrition and a little water. I was very pleased with the results! No any cramping issues at all and with not having to worry about getting gels down, it made getting nutrition super easy! of course the Schwalbe Racing Ralphs did their job to perfection! Not a better tire out there!
Sara and I started our race strong and at the lead of the 2 person teams. We finished the long climb up Longs Canyon in the lead in our coed group, with the two closest teams right behind. At the first checkpoint all three lead coed teams were within a minute of each other. At the top of the rappel it was still 3 of us pretty close together and at the bottom of the rappel the team of John and Marcia V. took over the lead. As we ran the 6 miles back to our bikes we could see them pass us on their way to the kayak leg, only a minute or so ahead. We knew we would be strong in the paddle and were holding up hopes we would catch them on the water. With the team of Jan and Kim Bear "Sante Fe Bear Pair" right with us it was looking like a pretty good finish on the water. At the 5th checkpoint Jan and Kim were punching their passport as we were leaving, about 5 seconds ahead of the Bear Pair. Racing down the paved bike path to the kayak put in was fast and it was going down a sharp curve that Kim, being towed by Jan, had an accident and hit a fence pretty hard. We stopped and did what we could do and made sure she was ok, which she insisted she was, then after being told numerous times by Kim to ride on, we left. Hitting the paddle now we knew we would not be able to catch the "Flatlanders" team and just paddled steady to the finish. Wanting to make sure Kim was ok, I asked the race directors if they had heard from Jan about Kims condition. I was told that they were already on the water.... Wow! As hard as she hit I was sure they would pull from the race but Kim is as tough as they come and not only finished the race, but the Bear Pair came in 3rd right behind us. Amazing to say the least! Not the way we would ever want to finish a race, but glad Kim is ok and getting ready for the St. George Ut Ironman!!
So all in all it was a great event and one that again saw my Dad finish the race in under 8 hrs, at 71 years old, and solo! He never ceases to amaze us!!
I took some video with my new helmet cam during the race which can be found here . Just getting used to the editing and need to figure out how to combine all the video into 1 movie.. I'll get there.
Looking forward to a great season and the next event for me, is two weeks away.