Which is not to say it wasn’t tough…the Makena Beach XTERRA Trail Run definitely rivals any trail I’ve ever been on. But the build up was so intense, the warnings so severe that I fully imagined having to climb hand-over-foot lava cliffs for miles on end. There was a bit of every type of terrain on this World Championship course – steep dusty fire roads, loose lava-rock descents, deep sand Makena Beach trailblazing, navigation of overgrown roots and low-hanging branches in the Spooky Forest and for good measure, a final dose of sand and lava on the Black Sand Beach – and I loved every step along the way. I’d even be up for running it again today, if that didn’t necessitate preceding the run with a choppy ocean swim and a daunting mountain bike ride.
The athletes are in for a serious challenge today, and the competition, especially among the pro ranks, is stacked up something fierce. All eyes are on Melanie to witness a smack-down performance as she attempts to claim title #4, and based on her solid preparation, gritty determination and focused confidence (and of course her fuel of choice, GU) I’d be surprised to see any other woman beat her to the finish. Go Mel!!
Aside from Melanie, another athlete I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know this week is the most recent inductee into the XTERRA Hall of Fame, Kerstin Weule. Kerstin was reigning champ here in Maui in 2000, and she has eighteen additional XTERRA titles on her resume. But Kerstin’s phenomenal pro racing career dims in comparison to her exuberant spirit and friendliness. She’s just a joy to hang out with and a wonderful new friend.
I’ve also enjoyed meeting Will Kelsay, an XTERRA athlete and ambassador like none other. This guy spent the past year roaming the circuit in a beat up RV, racing at the pro level, passing the hat to support his travels and giving clinics at Fleet Feet stores nationwide along the way. He’s pretty unmistakable with his brilliantly colored mohawk and ear-to-ear grin. To get the full feel for Will and his unique approach to life and sport, you really should check out his blog site, www.willkelsay.com. We’re proud to include Will on our GU athlete roster.
I started race day with a 5:30 wake up call to my new Kiwi friends Roger and Frank (at least they were my friends until I rang them at that ungodly hour), dragging them out of bed for a brisk early morning run. Now it’s time for a quick shower and then down to the GU bodymarking tent to soak up the nervous vibe of the athletes. Good luck to everyone!