Tinian triathlete Joshua Manglona will be on a mission, as he debuts in the 2009 XTERRA World Championships in Makena, Maui, Hawaii this Sunday.
“I don't have a target time in XTERRA World, but my mission is to challenge the course and finish the race,” Manglona said.
This Sunday's premier off-road triathlon race features a combination of 1.5-kilometer swim that starts in front of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort, a 32-kilometer mountain bike that climbs 3,000 feet up and down the lower slopes of Haleakala, and a 12-kilometer trail run that passes through lava rock, forest trails, and beach sand.
“I heard that the bike and run courses are brutal. I heard that the bike course is better this year than ever and the run has a lot hills and we run on the sand. Well, I would like to test those words out and see for myself,” said Manglona, who left Saipan yesterday for Maui, joining fellow triathletes Mieko and Kevin Carey.
According to the XTERRA website, the bike course is not open to the public and cannot be pre-ridden by competitors. First-timers like Manglona need to read a lot for directions, while returnees could only remember some old route, but will still feel lost most of the time. Bikers are often seen shaking their heads as they negotiate the up and down slopes of Haleakala. They also climb from sea level to 1,200 feet then down and back up to 1,400 feet with a final portion called “the plunge,” an 8-kilometer nerve wracking ride back to sea level.
The run leg also has a lot of climbing involved and one of the course's interesting features is the “Makena Beach Mile,” which is a grueling slog along soft sand, but a beautiful end run along the oceanfront golf course.
All these features make Manglona more excited than nervous in his first race in XTERRA World.
“I'm too excited to be nervous because it's a new challenge, a new environment, new people. It's XTERRA World Championship in Maui,” said Manglona, who is still fresh from competing in the 2009 Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
Manglona returned to Saipan from the Cook Islands early this month and quickly resumed training for XTERRA World.
“My physical and mental conditioning is great. Rarotonga's bike and run courses are very different than the off-road courses in Maui. I trained with that in mind,” the 21-year-old triathlete said.
Meanwhile, Manglona thanked his sponsors and supporters for making his Maui trip possible.
“I'd like to thank my sponsors, IT&E, especially Kathryn Barry and Brad Ruszala, Brabu Pharmacy, especially Ted and Kathryn, Romie of Bike Pro Shop. I also want to thank Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas and the people of Tinian for making it all happen for this local boy,” Manglona said.
“Of course, I'd like to thank my family, mom and dad, Jon, Rit, James Jr., Timika, the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation headed by Russ Quinn, Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association and its president Michael White, Taga Inc. president Wolf Mojica, and the Tinian Amateur Sports Association. Thank you everyone for your support. While I'm there you are all going to be in my heart. I'll remember all your support and your faith in me every step of the way,” he added.
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