Xterra worlds Maui

600 athletes including almost 100 pros lined up in Maui, Hawaii for the world championships yesterday. The best field ever assembled included Olympic medalists, 8 world champions, several top ITU road athletes, mountain bikers, Ironman champions and the best Xterra pro's.
After spending 3 weeks aclimatising to the heat here on Maui, I was very motivated to try to get the quickest bike and top 10 overall. Unfortunately I just missed out on both accounts, with 2nd quickest bike and 14th overall, however looking at the athletes behind me and ahead of me I know i have stepped up a level, beating many of the top Europeans that have beat me most of the season, and most of the US athletes that beat me in Tahoe a month ago.
Looking forward to a couple of weeks here in the sun, surfing and chilling on the beach. Then back to the grind of slowly improving my swimming.

Tahoe US champs and Maui world champs

Sorry for no posts for ages. I am in the middle of a 7 week adventure tour stateside. The first race was the US champs in Tahoe, I've never raced at altitude before and don't want to again without better preperation!! All the athletes ahead of me either lived at altitude or spent 3 weeks or more there before the race. Basically i struggled round the race, all 3 disciplines i felt like i couldn't breath. The following weekend I went to Canada for my cousins wedding, had a really good week, drunk too much and hardly trained at all! I really needed this to clear my head before my Hawaii build up.
I am writing this from Maui currently, been training really hard. Great to have Julie Dibens here too currently as it's easier to drag myself out to the pool with her nagging at me!! 10 days until the race and all is looking good. Then i'm looking forward to a rest for a few weeks. Congrats to Chrissie Wellington on her Ironman result, great stuff. Off to enjoy the last couple of hours of sun. Sam