Mike Vine Reports from Keystone X-Terra Champs

Hey all, the Keystone XTerra event went off this weekend and for those who are unfamiliar with this event, well it's not just another Pro Tour stop. This event lies in the 'ultimate challenge' category - at least in my books it does! With its 1km coldwater swim at 9300', 30 km mtb up to the dizzying heights of 11660' and high speed technical descent, followed by an 11 km trail run, this event ensures a severe treatment of lung searing pain for all who dare to compete.
As such, this event is part of my self proclaimed 'triple crown' of xterra - i hold it in high regard along with the USA champs in tahoe and world's in maui. Keystone is extra special because it's the venue where i became hooked on xterra ever since competing at the inaugural 1998 event. This year was my 6th trip there.... missing the last 2 years in keystone has been hard to swallow. As a result, leading up to this event I had the feeling like i deserve to do well.
also boosting my confidence was a strong race on a similar course in crested butte 2 weeks earlier and knowing i've performed well here before when i set the course record in 01.
when the gun went off i did exactly what had to be done.... hung with the lead pack on the swim ( easily my best swim of the year ), then once on the bike i let rip. didn't hurt coming out of T1 and seeing the race lead within sight... conrad and the ITU guys ( ie fishlike swimmers ) were all right there. after the first 6 min climb up the service road to the singletrack i had already moved into the lead. At this point the adrenals were pumping and the blood was boiling. the climb almost felt effortless... i summited keystone mtn 45 min later and there was nobody in sight. apparently my lead was 4 1/2 min. ah yes, what a feeling! onto the descent the upper half of which is wide open... must admit my aged hardtail is not the weapon of choice over this rocky terrain.

Lower down is the tighter more technical track which i thoroughly enjoy, especially after clearing the chute on 'wild thing' and a smooth wheelie drop off the big boulder had me grinning. heading out of T2 onto the run i could see Conrad had bombed the dh and was 2:45 down. but still, a steady tempo was all that was between me and my first XTerra Pro Tour win since 2001. I felt spry - just like at crested butte 2 weeks ago - and enjoyed every step of the way, stretching the lead to 4 1/2 min at the line. Only last year's champ Josiah Middaugh outsplit me on the run.
What a day! justification to the sometimes overwhelming 2 years of commitment to training in exile.
This week Ann and I are on a schedule...another day in Keystone , 2 in Moab UT, 3 in Sun Valley ID, and finally the weekend in Bend OR for the Sisters High Cascades XTERRA points race. rough times!
for now,
Vineblaster

STORY-
http://triathletemag.com/story.cfm?story_id=10621&publicationID=92&pageID=1705

RESULTS-
http://www.xterraplanet.com/race/results_05/keystone_05overall.html