From XL to XTERRA

Motivation. Behind every action one makes is a certain something that provides one with the reasoning necessary to choose between taking one course over another. When I started training for the 2005 Saipan XTERRA Championship, I was motivated by a promise that I made to the organizers and triathletes last April as well as the urge to return to a healthier lifestyle.

While every decision that I’ve made over the last four-plus months hasn’t mirrored that of the professional triathlete, or the perfect motivational speaker, it’s okay because I’m just a rookie at this who’s trying to stay focused on the prize of crossing the finish line at American Memorial Park on April 9.

It has been a challenge to weigh the importance of keeping myself on the straight and narrow while not becoming a prison guard-monitoring training partner, and I’ve had my share of shortcomings. I’ve gone from being the nice guy, to being the “don’t-eat-that” guy, to the “if-you-really-want-it, you’ll-find-a-way” guy since we started this venture, and I’m still not sure of which guy is the best.

What I do know is that whatever our motivation, John and I are still on track to finish our goal of completing what we started when we jumped into the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool on a Sunday afternoon back in November.

Last week, motivation led me to the parking lot of the Governor’s Office atop Capitol Hill to take part in a mountain bike race hosted by the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation—my first.

This was the first true test in an off-road competition for my two-wheeled machine from Romy at Saipan Bike Pro, and I couldn’t wait. After receiving a pre-race briefing from coordinator Sue Knecht and the best-hand written map ever made, roughly 30 bikes lined up for about an hour of hills and valleys, and hills again.

Following a quick field picture, the riders took off down Capitol Hill Road, uphill toward Wireless Ridge, and then down part of the XTERRA trail. I previously ran this part of the trail during one of the runs with the Saipan Hash House Harriers, but taking a mountain bike down it wasn’t even close to the same experience.

From the beginning there were narrow passes, low branches, fallen trees, and menacing rocks that tempted my tires, but I leaned on the advice from the women’s top finisher Dawn Hammermeister-Douglas who stressed control on the downhill over speed.

When I thought that I had the hang of it, I got a little cocky and released the hounds of speed—not the best idea. The fact that this was my first race should have been enough to keep me cautious, but it wasn’t, and I almost gave myself a face-to-rock introduction because of it.

That kept me on the semi-cautious side for the remainder of the day, but when the trail ended at the pavement by the Kingfisher Golf Links, I let the wheels spin freely without fear of boulders. While it was fun for a while, the downhill soon turned into an uphill, but thankfully it was nothing like the dreaded double-sided climbs of Tinian.

When we got to the top of the next hill, it was back to the gravel for a well-controlled downhill—such was the theme of the day. Whether it was on an easy stretch of paved road or a single track through the jungle; every time we were punished with a climb, we were rewarded with a breezy descent that cooled us down.

There were a couple of sections of the trail that stood out from the rest, such as the rock-laden section that forced riders from their seats to carry their bikes uphill, or the two-plank wooden bridge on McDick Trail that was just plain cool.

The people who cheered on the riders and took pictures of us along the way were great as well. Even though portions of the course were difficult, it was as if the supporters were there to carry us through the whole way—especially when they were there on the inclines.

By the time we neared the finish, I was with among a trio of racers who had been jockeying for position throughout the course—and we gritted our teeth until we crossed the line.

The president of the NMITF, Stephan Samoyloff, was the first to finish in an astonishing 43: 50, and while I was a ways back at 1:06:28, I learned a couple of things that will help me in this Sunday’s V-ORAXTERE.

I will definitely take the control over the speed from now on, and also that I need to get the cool clip-in style bike shoes. While I was with the fast guys in the beginning, they pulled away during one of the first uphill climbs—and not the most tiring uphill, either.

It’s not that I expected to be riding close to them for the length of the course (far from it), but the way I hear it from the regulars on the circuit, I am losing out on some 20-percent of potential power without being “clipped-in.”

Within the next few weeks, we’ll see if the proof is in the pedals, but for now, I’ll be using the same equipment during the challenge of the 750-meter swim, 15-kilometer mountain bike, and 4km run of the V-ORAXTERE two days from now.