Racing The 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in New Zealand

It has been a few months since my family returned from our monster trip around the world for the Ironman 70.3 Worlds in New Zealand last December, and quite honestly, I have needed that time to fully absorb it. Turns out, circling the globe for a race does more than test your endurance—it rearranges your soul, your time zones, and your tolerance for airplane food. Our planet is a vast and diverse tapestry of cultures and rituals, stillness and movement, explosive flavors, smiles and laughter, architectural marvels, weird animals, and more - all mysterious and new, yet at the same time, oddly familiar. Osmose it all on one trip, and you are forever changed. 

And change was something I needed desperately. 

Roughly 30 days to cover Vienna, Dubai, Singapore, race in Taupo, Auckland, Honolulu, Santa Barbara, and then return to Vienna...(full story and photos on Substack!).

Jan Frodeno And Daniela Ryf Win the 2015 Ironman World Championship

German triathlete Jan Frodeno won the 2015 Ironman World Championship today in Kona, HI, with a blazing time of 8:14:40 (swim 50:50, bike 4:27:28, run 2:52:22), making him the first ever to win an Olympic gold medal (2008), the 2015 Ironman 70.3 World Championships, and Ironman World Championships. He finished ahead of German Andreas Raelert (8:17:42) and American Tim O'Donnell (8:18:25). [all results]

(Jan Frodeno for the win, photo courtesy of IronmanTRI)

For the Women, it was Switzerland's Daniela Ryf winning in 8:57.57, using the fastest bike split of the day (4:52) and a solid run to build a 12 minute margin over her competitors and improve on her 2nd place finish in her debut last year. She was also the 2015 Ironman 70.3 World Champion, so both world champs doubled this year.

(Daniela Ryf takes the title in her 2nd attempt)

Top Men:

1 FRODENO, Jan DEU
2 RAELERT, Andreas DEU  00:03:03 back
3 O'DONNELL, Timothy USA 00:05:00 back
4 POTTS, Andy USA  00:06:37 back
5 BUTTERFIELD, Tyler BMU 00:09:20 back
6 VIENNOT, Cyril FRA 00:10:32 back
7 LLANOS, Eneko ESP 00:13:37 back  
8 KIENLE, Sebastian DEU 00:15:15 back
9 MCMAHON, Brent CAN 00:15:35
10 STEIN, Boris DEU 00:17:04 back

Top Women:

1 RYF, Daniela CHE
2 JOYCE, Rachel GBR 00:13:22 back
3 BLATCHFORD, Liz AUS 00:17:08 back    
4 VESTERBY, Michelle DNK 00:20:55 back    
5 JACKSON, Heather USA 00:24:02 back
6 CHEETHAM, Susie GBR 00:25:51 back
7 PIAMPIANO, Sarah USA 00:27:02 back    
8 PEDERSEN, Camilla DNK 00:27:51 back    
9 STEFFEN, Caroline CHE 00:30:09 back
10 GOSSAGE, Lucy GBR 00:30:56 back

2015 IAAF Track and Field World Championships in Beijing Starts Tonight!

Usain Bolt vs. Justin Gatlin. The unstoppable Shelly-Ann Frasier-Pryce. The incomparable Ashton Eaton, the worlds greatest decathlete. Will Dennis Kimetto go sub-2:03 in the marathon again this year?  Can WR holder Genzebe Dibaba double in the 1500m and 5000m? Will Mo Farah recreate his Olympic main again in 5000m/10000m? The 15th IAAF Track and Field World Championships begin tonight in Beijing at the Bird's Nest, and the talent roster is through the roof.

Here's the TV schedule...set your DVR's! (or check the YouTube channel)

IAAF World Championships 2015 TV Network Schedule (ET)

Friday, August 21
Daytime session 7:30P – 1A live Universal Sports

Saturday, August 22
Evening session 3P – 4:30P *taped NBC
Evening session (re-air NBC)7P – 8:30P *taped Universal Sports
Daytime session 8:30P – 1A live Universal Sports

Sunday, August 23
Evening session 1P – 2:30P *tapedNBC
Evening session (re-air NBC)7P – 8:30P *taped Universal Sports
Daytime session 9:30P – 12M live Universal Sports

Monday, August 24
Evening session 7A – 10A live Universal Sports

Tuesday, August 25
Evening session 7A – 9A live Universal Sports
Daytime session 9:30P – 12M live Universal Sports

Wednesday, August 26
Evening session 8A – 9:30A live Universal Sports
Daytime session 9:30P – 12M live Universal Sports

Thursday, August 27
Evening session 7:30A – 9A live Universal Sports
Daytime session 8:30P – 1A live Universal Sports

Friday, August 28
Evening session 7:30A – 10A live Universal Sports
Daytime session 7:30P – 12:30A live Universal Sports

Saturday, August 29
Evening session 2:30P – 4P *taped NBC
Evening session (re-air NBC) 5P – 6:30P *taped Universal Sports
Daytime session 7:30P – 10:30P live Universal Sports

Sunday, August 30
Evening session 2P – 3:30P *taped NBC
Evening session (re-air NBC) 5P – 6:30P *taped Universal Sports

Kremer, Maksimow, Team Roche and More Named to Team USA World Long Distance Mountain Running Team

When the 2015 WMRA World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships kicks off at the Zermatt Marathon on July 4, 2015, ten top U.S. runners will be there donning the red, white, and blue. Many of them are no strangers to international competition, while a few get to cut their teeth for the first time and try to be one of the top 3 scorers on the team.

(This course ain't no joke)

A few highlights of Team USA:

Stevie Kremer, 31, Crested Butte, CO – Salomon's pocket rocket, Stevie Kremer got the attention of the world when she won the Skyrunning Series in 2013, fresh off winning the 2012 World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships. She's one of the best climbers in the sport, which will fair well on the Swiss Alps course. Great new video on her on the Salomon TV Channel.

David and Meghan Roche, Sunnyvale, CA - Likely the fastest couple in trail racing, these two Nike runners are known for setting a dozen course records per year between the two of them. Meghan is the reigning USATF 50k national champion, and recently won the 2015 Way Too Cool 50k.

Peter Maksimow, Manitou Springs, CO - A Team inov-8 member, Peter has incredible range on the mountains, from his Top 10 at the Pikes Peak Ascent, to top finishes all over Europe last year. He will certainly give the local breweries a test run as well. Too bad there's no award for best mustache.

Andy Wacker, 26, Boulder, CO - Andy placed 3rd at the WRMA championship at Pikes Peak last year, and won the USATF Half Marathon Road Championships with a blazing 1:05 (despite nearly missing the start). You can bet his speed will be put to the test.

Mario Mendoza, 29, Bend, OR - Famously known as the second fastest trail runner in Bend, OR, Mario is no slouch when a championship is on the line. He picked up Top 3 finishes at the USATF 10k, Half Marathon, and Marathon Trail championships in 2014 along with wins at the Dirty Half, Squawmish, and Haulin' Aspen Half Marathon.

There are also a number of Mountain Running Team USA regulars such as Eric Blake (team member for 10+ years, team silver in 2010), Maria Dalzot (back after making the Junior team in 2007), Brandy Erholtz (her 6th US team), and Megan Kimmel (4x La Sportiva Mountain Cup winner). Former US Mountain Running Team athlete and longtime staff member Richard Bolt from Mountain View, CA will lead the team to Switzerland.

The World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships is sanctioned by the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) under the patronage of the IAAF. This is the first year the event has achieved “Championship” status. The first World Long Distance Mountain Challenge was held at Sierre-Zinal in Switzerland in 2004, and last year, the event was held at the Pikes Peak Ascent in Manitou Springs, CO. The first team competition took place in 2009 in Austria. The U.S. Women have won the team title three times and the individual title three times. The U.S. Men have two gold medals and one silver team medal, along with three individual titles.

Wish them luck!

SD

Max King and Ellie Greenwood Win 2014 IAU 100k World Championships In Record Time

(Max King breaks the tape and becomes the IAU 100k World Champion, photo courtesy of Bryon Powell)

American Max King and Great Britain's Ellie Greenwood were able to hold off the global competition and crazy heat to win the 2014 IAU 100k World Championships in Doha, Qatar, earlier today. Max's 6:27:44 finish took nearly 3 minutes off the American Record (previously Tom Johnson's 6:30:11 in 1995), and was ~100 seconds ahead of 2nd place Jonas Buud from Sweden.  Spain's Jose Antonio Requejo (Spain) was third in 6:37:03, and American's Zach Bitter (6:48:53, 6th) and Zach Miller (6:51:30, 9th) also made the Top 10. Both winners set the tone for their teams - Team USA took home the men’s team title, while Team Great Britain secured the women’s team victory.

(The KING! Photo courtesy of Bryon Powell)

Ellie Greenwood had a solid day, holding the lead for most of the race and finishing in 7:30:30, a solid eight minutes ahead of Japan's Chiyuki Mochizuki. Great Britain's Jo Zakrzewski was third in 7:42:03. American's Meghan Arboghast (7:52:12, 8th) and Pam Smith (7:59:11, 10th) made the Top 10.

(Ellie Greenwood dominates to win the IAU 100k World Championships, photo courtesy of Bryon Powell)

Want to get the blow-by-blow, as well as get pre- and post-race videos with competitors? Head over to iRunFar.com, where Bryon is covering the event live and producing all the photos I am stealing. ;-)

Congrats to all the great competitors!

- SD

Emily Harrison Wins IAU 50k World Championship Trophy Final

Flagstaff, AZ's Emily Harrison brought home the gold at the IAU 50k World Trophy Final in Doha, Qatar, last weekend with a blistering time of 3:32:27 in 88 degree heat and 60+ degree humidity. The event featured the fastest runners from 17 countries, and came down to less than a minute between her and Great Britain's Joasia Zakrzewski (3:33:20).

(Emily Harrison breaks the tape for her win at the IAU 50k Worlds)

"Because of the heat and humidity, Ian (Torrence, her coach at McMillan Running Company) and I decided that going for any records or fast times was pretty much out the window," said Harrison, already the 2014 USATF 50k Road National Champion with her 3:16 time at the Caumsett 50k earlier this year, "The goal going into the race was to win and to conserve as much effort as possible. I didn't do anything crazy to prepare for the heat and was banking on being able to keep my effort within reason on race day in order to not bury myself."

Harrison was the favorite, but she stayed with the pack for the first three of ten laps. Around the third lap, Canadian Catrin Jones made a move, but by lap six, Harrison moved her way back into the lead and kept it to the finish. Zakrzewski, fresh from running the marathon at the Commonwealth Games made her way through the field as the race went on, and held second to the finish.

(Cashing the big check!)

"I will be back for the 100k World Championships in a couple weeks, which is being held at the same venue/course. This was a great opportunity to preview the course and prep for the 100k."

Congrats, Emily, our 50k National and World Champion!

Top Women:
1) Emily Harrison USA 3:32:27
2) Joasia Zakrzewski GBR 3:33:20
3) Catrin Jones CAN 3:37:54
4) Rita Nordsveen NOR 3:45:18
5) Neza Mravlje SLO 3:48:39

The Mens race also posted some amazing times given the hot conditions. Collen Makaza (ZIM) took claimed gold (3:00:40), followed by Phil Anthony (GBR, 3:01:26) and Harm Sengers (NED, 3:05:01). Makaza, Anthony and Elijah Biwott (KEN) took the early lead with Michael Wardian (USA) running close to the pack. At about the 3rd lap into the 10 lap course, Paul Martelletti started challenging for the podium finish as well, before settling comfortably in fourth place. At about the 30km mark Makaza increased the pace of the lead group, dropping Biwott (who pulled) and creating an 80+ second lead he kept to the finish.

Michael Wardian finished 6th with a time of 3:18:06, and will also be returning for the IAU 100k Worlds.

Top Men:
1) Collen Makaza ZIM 3:00:40
2) Phil Anthony GBR 3:01:26
3) Harm Sengers NED 3:05:01
4) Paul Martelletti GBR 3:11:05
5) Gary O’Hanlon IRL 3:14:34

Uganda, Italy Score at 2013 World Mountain Running Championships

Uganda swept the Mens podium at the 29th World Mountain Running Championships in Krynica Zdrój, Poland this weekend, while Alice Gaggi from Italy scored gold for the Women and led the Italian team to a top finish. This was an "up and down" year, with Men running a 13.5k course and the Women running a 9k course.

(Team Uganda take 1-4, photo courtesy of @usmrt)

(Phillip Kiplimo takes the win, photo courtesy of Nancy Hobbs)

Phillip Kiplimo (UGA) triumphed over his teammates in the final stretch, with Geoffrey Kusuro taking silver, Nathan Ayeko taking bronze. Joe Gray (7th) was the top US contender after 2011 World Champ Max King had to pull out with a twisted ankle while leading early in the race. Zachary Ornelas (25th), Alex Nichols (27th), Ryan Hafer (29th), and Glenn Randall (79th) were the other top US finishers, pulling Team USA to a 4th place finish.

(Women's podium)

Italy's Alice Gaggi scored gold on her birthday to take the top spot in the Women's competition, with the UK's Emma Clayton taking silver, and Italy's Elisa Desco taking the bronze. US Olympian Magdelana Lewy-Boulet (11th), Christine Lundy (29th), Megan Lizotte (32nd), and Megan Kimmel (36th) scored 5th for Team USA in the team competition, behind Italy, Great Britain, Ireland, and Turkey. Team USA's Mandy Ortiz (daughter of former Team USA member Anita Ortiz) scored an impressive gold in the Junior Women's division.

(Mandy Ortiz on her way to gold)

The True Masters of Track and Field Competing in the Marathon at the World Masters Athletics Championship

As luck would have it, the 2011 World Masters Athletics Championships, an annual international IAAF track and field event that pits the best masters athletes age 35-101+, was hosted in Sacramento, CA, this year, so I signed myself up for the marathon. Although it wasn't my best day, I had a great time donning the stars and stripes and running with a field of exceptional athletes from around the world.

(At the start)

(Jean Pommier, far more awake than me)

(Poland, UK, France, Columbia...from everywhere!)

You could tell from the 5am starting line that this event was going to be pretty special. A few hundred runners were warming up in the unusually cool morning, with another couple hundred "track nerds" lining the course start to cheer on their countrymen and women. Flags/singlets from the world were everywhere - Italy, Columbia, Poland, Brazil, Canada, Japan, etc. - and their languages filled the air with universal tones of encouragement and support. Some athletes were former Olympians, while others had joined the sport later in life. Most were already friends, passionately speaking of events from the previous week, like M80 phenom Ed Whitlock winning three events (including an age group world mark in the 1500m) or Neni Clark setting a new age group world record in the hammer throw, or 101-year-old Trent Lane doing the throw pentathlon. Honestly, 101 years old and throwing the shot put?!? That's insane. It's impressive enough just to BE 101 years old. Track nerd-dom is definitely an international phenomenon, and this is the perfect way to celebrate it!

(M80 Ed Whitlock crushing the 1500m)

I went through the warm up motions, already showing signs of unusual fatigue and sore spots from a wonderful 2,500-mile family road trip over the last three weeks. On top of that, I had a grand total of nine hours sleep in the previous three nights. Well done, Scott, nice prep! But it's tough to create excuses when the three guys warming up next to you are in the highly competitive 70-75 age group. Can you imagine the kinks and sore spots they are working through? Crazy. So I figured it's best to just go out fast and make the most of a PR-possible course of five loops along the American River. Luckily, I ran into ultrarunner Jean Pommier, fresh off getting 8th in his age group in the 10k a few days earlier, and knew that I could just hang onto his shoulder for the first half to be in the 1:18-1:20 range. Jean looked like he was going for 100k with his handheld water bottles, but I suspect he would be a contender for his M45-49 age group for sure. If I needed to slow a bit, ultrarunner Annette Bednosky would certainly be in the 3-hour range (I know this because she said "3:10'ish", and she usually comes in faster than expected).

We made a quick loop around the CSU-Sac campus before getting onto the American River Parkway, and the pack quickly split up with a few dozen running sub-2:45 pace. The Bay Area's Tony Torres, very capable of a 2:30 marathon, was up front and feeling good that neither the Ethiopian or Kenyan marathoners (posting sub-2:20 qualifying times) could make it. I hung on with Jean, who was going fast enough that our conversation was sparse at best, citing only the deja vu of running this bike trail in the dark (a la the American River 50 or Helen Klein 50). By the time we completed the first lap (mile 5), the sun was illuminating the cloud filled sky. Just as predicted, Jean was pulling us at a 6:09 min/mile pace with ease.

(Early AM on the course)

(Jean takes us over the footbridge to finish the first lap)

I got a better view of the runners around me in the light, and we had five continents represented in our little pack. Cool! You could really tell when we hit one of the bridges full of spectators who would shout out in more languages than I could count. When Jean and I came by, it was "go USA!" from everyone, and that little boost of pride kept out strides going quickly. Such fun to represent your country!

(77-year-old Mogens Dam from Denmark going strong, and wondering what the hell I'm doing with a camera)

At mile 9, I had to (quickly) stop for a bio-break, while Jean stayed on pace. One thing about his water bottles is that he never had to slow at an aid station! My right shoulder was nagging me (that's the deltoid responsible for holding 4-month-old Quinn), as was my right heel (the gas pedal foot!), and I chuckled that I hadn't properly recovered from all that driving. Ah, life as a 40+ year old! You even need to recover from driving. I slowed the pace to 6:30 min/mile to let my GI tract find some balance, running along with 50-year-old Hector Juarez from Alcapulco, Mexico. We found a good rhythm, trading off the pace making and hitting the 13.1-mile point in 1:22:01.

We began lapping the slower runners quite regularly at this point, and I was really impressed with how fast they were going. M80, F75...nobody was walking, not even on the climbs. They were all true and trained athletes, and to be honest, I was jealous of all the hardbodies. Boy, I sure wish I can look that good in 30 years! Most of all, I loved seeing the smiles on all of their faces. There is no place any of them would rather be.

(80-year-old Michio Kumamoto smiles on his way to Gold for Japan in 5:56)

I took another unexpected-but-demanded bio-break at mile 20, and my body gave me a colon shiver as if to say "go ahead and try and keep sub-6:30, and I'll show you some stars and stripes...stars in your head, and stripes down the backside of your legs". Ahem...duly noted! I slowed up to 6:40 min/mile, counting on Hector to pull me along if I slowed too much. Although we didn't share a language, he was always there to say "come, come!" if I slowed on the climb, and I did my best to reciprocate on the flats where I was a bit faster. We picked up Sally Gibbs from New Zealand (F45) along the way, who was happy to have someone else pace after leading her little pack for 20+ miles. She was comfortably in first place among all women.

Hector pulled me all the way to mile 25, then kicked it up a notch to sprint to the finish and urge on one of his teammates. I came in 26th place in 2:52:04, not bad for an off day. Jean did great, coming in 2:47 for the bronze in his age group and securing the age group win for Team USA, as did Annette who won gold in her age group with a PR 3:01 (see what I mean?). Nice! I got some hydration and cheered on the runners, simply astounded by some of the finish times. USA's Terry McCluskey finished less than a minute behind me to win the...gulp!...M60-64 age group! Damn, that's quick. He didn't think so, and pointed out that the whole M60-64 podium would go sub-3. Whoa! Columbia's Hernan Rio clocked at 3:17 at the ripe age of 71...and our very own M40 Tony Torres won in 2:32 (all results). Everyone brought their "A" game for sure.

(Some of Team USA members chatting at the finish)

(Hans Heidelberger goes 3:01 at age 57...and sacrifices a nipple for his country)

(Team Mexico had some great finishes, like Meliton Bautista Carba's 3:05 in the M65-69 age group)

(The man who set the pace for me nearly the whole race, Hector Juarez, after his 2:51:58 finish)

(Top Masters women - the hilarious Verity Breen from Australia, USA's Sara Gigilotti, and winner Sally Gibbs from New Zealand)

I hopped back in the car to head home, honored and inspired to have been a part of this unique event. How could I not be? The passion for running is deep all over the world, and the WMA's show that champions can be made, or even remade, at any age. Heck, I might even be competing here in my 70's while my Dad is in his 100's, both of us wearing the stars and stripes. How cool would that be? Uniquely inspiring.

The next WMA is in Brazil if you are interested. Thanks to all the great volunteers and officials for a fun event!

- SD

Tropical Fun at the 2010 XTERRA Trail Run World Championships

I returned to the Hawaiian islands one last time this year to join 1,500 trail runners for the third annual XTERRA Trail Run World Championship at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu. This 21k/10k/5k race is becoming a very big deal, and has grown over 50% this year thanks to the 60+ races in the XTERRA Series pulling runners from all over the world and the reputation of a challenging course with $10,000 in prize money. My Dad and I saw an opportunity to get some beach, sun, and fast trails so we made it a "dude's weekend" to retreat from winter on the mainland.

(Ahhh...Waikiki)

It was great to have a few days of one-on-one time with the old man prior to the Sunday race. The Outrigger Reef hotel at Waikiki was a splendid location for "acclimating". I often forget our standard family get-togethers provide few venues for deep conversations, much in thanks to eager grandkids, the ever-ringing cell phone, and the matrix of in-laws and siblings time slicing the few remaining hours for rapid fire catch ups. The beaches of Waikiki offer a contrarian repose, with a trifecta of sun, beach, and mai-tais that can eat an afternoon with one gloriously random conversation. These long stretches of quality time, engaged and listening, inevitably unearth new stories and perspectives that permit us to appreciate the men behind the roles of father and son. Time is a wicked cool gift.

(At the start)

(A few clouds for cover, but still a hot day)

Come 9am on Sunday, we arrived relaxed (and quite possibly over-acclimated) for the 12.9 mile romp through the stunningly beautiful Kualoa Ranch. Nobody was allowed to preview the course, so the starting area was abuzz with new runners getting tips from experienced runners like Max King (2-time defending champion), Fujio Miyachi from Japan (5th last year), Christian Friis, Cristina Begy (defending 35-39 age group champ), and George Taylor (75 yrs old and 2x age group champion). Max had some new challengers this year with Brandon Mader (who rocked the Alabama XTERRA Series), Oregon's Tyler Davis (5th at Nationals), and the US Navy's Will Christian all in top form. The Women's race was wide open, with most people putting their money on Sally Meyerhoff after her 2009 American Record in the 10-mile (54:38), or reigning XTERRA Triathlon World Champ Melanie McQuaid.

(Posing with Team XTREME)

(Seriously bad ass Team XTREME, photo courtesy of Eric Wynn/XTERRA)

As I was warming up, I got to meet Team XTREME, a group of military men running the race in full gas masks to raise awareness for military members wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. The masks create 20-25% oxygen resistance, which is, as stated by founder Jeremy Soles, "not nearly as difficult as living with Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, or learning to walk again with prosthetics". Wow. There's a little perspective for ya.

At 9:15am, the gun went off and Will Christian, Tyler Davis, and Max King led the pack up the first set of hills. I settled into 25th or so, just behind Sally Meyerhoff, trying to keep my cool in the early miles. Behind me was a snake of runners that seemed to stretch to the sea.

(600 trail runners take on the 21k distance, photo courtesy of Eric Wynn/XTERRA)

(The cannon sends us off!)

(Cruising up the first valley, photo courtesy of Eric Wynn/XTERRA)

(Will Christian, Tyler Davis, Rivers Puzy, and Max King set the pace, photo courtesy of Eric Wynn/XTERRA)

At mile 2, the course took a new turn, heading up into the Valley to connect to some single track. We saw backdrop scenes from the TV show Lost, and films such as Fifty First Dates, Jurassic Park, and what looks like to be a new film about the Lost City of Atlantis. The single track came suddenly, and forced the pack to spread out; I was fortunate to be a few steps ahead of Mark Speck, my likely competition for the 40-44 age group. When we exited the single track to head out towards the ocean (mile 4), I had gapped him by a minute, but had also been gapped significantly by those ahead of me. Oh, cursed single track, you giveth and you taketh away!

(Climbing up to the single track)

By mile 5, I was drenched in sweat from the breeze-less stretches of fire roads that baked my pale white body. It felt like we were running all alone in the thicket, but any clearing would quickly show us that there were folks just ahead and on our tail. Single track may spread us out, but fire roads bunch us back up! I wonder what is around the next corner?

(Richard Burgunder leads a group up an early climb)

(Using my 180-degree swiveling ankles to tackle the lava, photo courtesy of XTERRA)

The views were spectacular, and the trails much dryer than previous years. I took in as much water as I could at the aid station (mile 7) before passing some horseback riders and tacking the big climb. The long exposed stretches quickly drained me, and I had to slow to a walk to keep my composure. Try not to strain that neck looking over your shoulder, Scott!

(Even the fire roads were lush)

(How crazy are these views?)

About a half mile up the 15 degree ascent, I came to a complete stop to allow the tunnel vision to fade away. Hmmm, same spot at last year! I guess that course knowledge isn't doing much to help me avoid the overheating. I got passed by a few people, including Mark Speck who was one of the few brave souls running everything, all of whom put a hand on my shoulder to make sure I was okay. Once the vision was back, I snapped to and charged up the hill again.

(And here is what photos look like when the tunnel vision kicks in)

(From the thicket to park-like clearings)

The back side of the mountain (mile 8) was much more dry than last year, so it was easier to control my speed on the descent (unlike Meyerhoff - be sure to check 3:35 in the video a the end of this entry for her epic spill off the mountain). I charged through the last of the fire roads in hopes to catch Mark Speck, but the clearing in the single track showed that he (and three others) were out of reach.

(Along the top ridge, then down the other side, photo courtesy of Eric Wynn/XTERRA)

(Descents steep enough to need a rope! Photo courtesy of Eric Wynn/XTERRA)

There was nobody behind me, so I cruised in at 1:35:41 for 18th place, 3rd in age group. I was just in time for the kids race! Check out the video...it's the future of trail running coming at ya! Such amazing energy.

Max King (1:16:36) made it a three-peat, despite recovering from the flu, with Will Christian (1:17:56), Hawaii's Rivers Puzey (1:20:54),  Brandon Mader (1:21:48), and Tyler Davis (1:23:07) taking the top 5 slots. Sally Meyerhoff (1:28:58) recovered from her mountain spill to win the Women's division and pick up the $2,000 check, pushing so hard that she was whisked away to medical soon after crossing the finish (she's fine). Hawaii's Kim Kuehnert (1:36:52) and Melanie McQuaid (1:38:11) finished up the podium. [results, press release]

(Max King)

(Sally Meyerhoff)

(Into the finishing chute!)

Before I could even gulp my third Gatorade, I heard them announce my Dad's name at the finish. He did it again! An amazing 1:56 for a clear win in the 65-69 age group. Once more, I am happily upstaged by my father - age group wins at XTERRA Nationals, USATF Trail Championships, and now XTERRA Worlds. He has set the bar quite high for my debut in the 65-69 age group...thank God I still have a few years to train!

(Larry Dunlap, WORLD CHAMPION!!!!)

We sipped some beers at the finish, making lots of new friends, then headed back to Waikiki to swim with a sea turtle and watch my Dad's legs cramp in crazy sporadic patterns. Throughout the next day and flight home, we overheard trail runners talking about their amazing experiences and how they want to "step it up" to even bigger distances. XTERRA is doing a great job feeding this sport! Then again, how could you not with such an epic adventure.

(Top 3 finishers, men and women)

(Tyler Davis helps raise money for CAF with a haircut from Paul Mitchell)

My Dad and I didn't need to say much as we headed to our respective homes, for we had enough beach and trail time to say everything. I am lucky to be able to share these experiences with him, particularly because it was the time he graciously spent with me as a kid that led to my deep passion for the outdoors. Once again, the gift of time yields immeasurable fruits.

And I couldn't be more proud of my World Champion Dad! Such a perfect way to cap the season.



My thanks to Janet, Trey, Emily, Dayton, and the fabulous crew at XTERRA for another extraordinary event. You guys make it easy to add adventure to our lives.

Mele Kalikimaka! (Happy Holidays)

- SD

[PS - Check 4:55 in the video above...is my Dad throwing an elbow at the finish? ;-) ]