St Croix… pre-Pelham Xterra
St Croix Race:
1km into the bike leg I could feel my rear tire (Sean’s borrowed tubular disc) going flat. 600m later there was an aid station, so I stopped there, and yelled for a knife. As it was St Croix. in 30 seconds a guy shows up with a steak knife, and we saw through the tubular – rip it off, and have the new on one, inflated, and installed in 3min40s. Of course this tire is too fat for my frame, so I have to take it off and adjust the set screws in the horizontal dropouts. Another 2min50 gone. Of course the new tubular has NO glue on it, and this is a super twisty course. The following 88.5km were good (giving me time to make up the lost minutes) and not using the back brake at all to minimize stress chances of rolling my unglued rear tire. I knew to get a Kona slot I would need to back up my ride with a solid run. Though I started the run with over 3 minutes lead around 8 miles in I was passed, and shifted to ‘minimizing stress’ from that point on home.
St Croix Other:
-Island is Mafia run. A few days before our arrival a corrupt cop was on trial, the whitness suddenly died and the family man Judge suddenly decided to kill himself.
-Sean and I partied with the cool people (Sean and TL were the band).
-Rhodsey pointed out that rum is cheaper then juice here (and went off to find another $200 bottle of wine).
-They drive US cars on the wrong (left) side of the road. Which is super dangerous, as you are continuously blind on corners, intersections, backing up.
-If you are into sailing, scuba diving, etc. this was a really really cool place.
-almost 1/2 the bike course was re-paved the week before the race by hard working Puerto Riccans
Flight home… on a dented, then again not safe to fly, eventually got in 5h late (on 3h30 of flying). We had the opportunity to meet up with Jeff Cuddback at the airport. He’s a super cool guy, but if you ever meet him and want to see something interesting just say 2006 and watch.
Drive to Canada:
Woke up, sent Tara to rent a Trailer, and packed the house. by 4pm we were on the road. At 10 pm we pulled in to a McD’s for a pee break and to swap drivers. I’m about to enter when I hear Sean yelling behind me. Then when I look: Bam a car smashes into our trailer, shifts into gear and starts towards exiting through the entrance.
I jump in front of the car to keep them from leaving. ‘Just give us your phone number and we’ll make it better tomorrow’. Yeah Right I’m thinking. Luckily a cop comes around the corner. Turns out that they were loitering etc McDonalds, and the cops and were escaping. Kicker? The driver is only 15 and (obviously) has no license. The parents are called, and the mother ends up throwing water all over the restaurant. Awesome. An hour later we are off again.
Being Home:
It doesn’t happen often. While my parents are off hiking I drove back up to Bracebridge 2 weekends in a row. Mowed the lawn, hung out with the DOG.
I always forget what a beautiful spot Bracebridge, Muskoka is even if I don’t spend very much time up there.
One trip down memory lane was hanging out with Courtney, my high school GF, and her family after not having crossed paths for 10 years. Funny how somethings don’t change much over 10 years. And some do. She’s getting ready to start work as a paramedic, and we went mountain biking together.
Drive to Pelham Alabama:
Some people must think that I make money as a triathlete, and that is how I can afford to only work 4 months a year. The truth is that my work is not spending money. Wanna go on a road trip Nat Faulkner style? Take this Saturday’s Xterra race as an example.
Driving vs Flying: $160 on gas vs. $300 flight, $100 bike flight, $60 car rental, drive to airport, parking = drive (catch is 3 days of travel instead of 5h).
Accommodation: tenting in bushes/ field/ undisclosed location = free
Internet/ warmth/ fax/ coffee: Best Western lobby
Food: at race site today in time for press conference. Was interviewed by 2 local papers, and was allowed to take home left over sandwiches (lunch and supper).
Entertainment: I had nothing to do last night, and walked over to the local department store, and spent an hour fitting kids on their new <$200 bikes
You get the idea – I’m not rich, and not making money doing this but there are no excuses about not being able to get something done.
The pre-ride.
After waking up beside a farmers field I had a 2h drive to the race site. The swim is 2 loops, of a murky reservoir. I like the loops, it lets you see what’s going on. The bike is a long long single track, with some double track climbing past half way. Passing will be a little tricky, so the swim is more important. I’m sure when I ask politely people will yield to me though 
1/2 the run is nice and winding out on the bike trails. The other 1/2 is a leg breaking saw tooth up and down off road profile.
