FEB 2025 has been pretty mixed. One race – a strong result at XTERRA Matterley amongst the Elite/Pro adults – and unfortunately having a small bout of illness not too long after.
First off, with the opening cross race of the year and in conjunction with the title, this race was a step up from last year – racing the full-distance race at the XTERRA UK Duathlon, with some Elite/Pros racing, stepping up myself from half the distance in the sprint race last year.
Full Distance Race:
- Run 1: 6k, 2 laps
- MTB: 20k, 4 laps
- Run 2: 3k, 1 lap
A couple weekends ago now, I headed across to Hampshire on what was a pretty drizzly day and quickly turning wet and muddy course.
Courses recces and warm ups done though, and bike cleaned best I could in little time, I did my last bit of warm up prep for the race.
RACE:
On the first run the pace started off pretty strong on the fireroad with a group of us, before hitting the techy trail sections, where I was running the off camber sections and trail pretty well, allowing me to start opening a gap.
Each lap was about a km gravel track, before another km in the woods and a final, mostly downhill, km back on the gravel.
Over the 2 laps, my gap increased on the trail and a bit up the climb, not really reaching much more than 15/20s, but was closed back mostly on the final downhill to transition.
Into T1 I had a 5s lead overall to one of the Pros just behind.
I lost a little time in T1 as I put a jacket on, given it was cold and there was a strong wind on the bike, especially up the top side, and I had some nutrition stored in it, which helped me later.
My Main XTERRA UK Nutrition:
- Use the code FINLAYGOODMAN5 at XMiles to purchase and save on top nutrition products like those I use 👇
- Pre Race: Huma Gel
- During: Huma Gel
- Drink: Rawvelo Hydration Powder
Onto the bike I closed the 10s gap, that had formed through T1, pretty quickly, getting onto his wheel, closing best through the tighter, wooded sections of the course.
Over the first half lap I held on, passing people in the shorter sprint race that had started a couple minutes after us.
When we got to the gravel track, just as I was taking on some nutrition, the gap started to extend as he started to put the hammer down with some strong power and gap me. Stronger over the power benefiting sections, the gap extended a bit up until the 3rd lap where the gap stopped growing.
I still held 2nd overall, extending my gap behind at the same time and continued working.
Coming off the bike, the gap had extended to just over a minute, so I had him in sight at times and kept him working hard to keep me away, so was pleased with my effort on the bike.
After a clean T2 I started the run, legs heavy and body fatigued. Having raced several Xterra’s now, I can say that the effort induced and experienced is much different and heavier than the road, and in cross triathlon there’s no hiding in a group or let up, and a much greater strength demand, which I could definitely feel running into the hill out of T2.
Closing over a minute gap back over 3km is a pretty optimistic effort but without trying I’d never know. Onto the run, I embraced the attitude, that I could give some more and upped the run pace, to try my best to close down the gap. I pulled back 40 seconds within less than an 11minute final run, finishing 2nd overall, 1st in the 16-17 category and just 25s off the win.
The effort was something I’m happy with and the race result itself, with a 3 and a half minute gap back to 3rd and last year’s winner. Probably my first time racing against top elite adults, so was good to see how I performed, and secure both the fastest run splits too.
- Credits to Carel Du Plessis for Images.
Unfortunately, I was a bit ill in the week after the race, causing me to have to rest up a bit and miss the National XC running Champs, but now I am getting back into normal training, stepping up from a bit of rest and preparing for what’s ahead.
Thanks for reading, and will keep the site updated with upcoming races and blogs.
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