XTERRA Grabouw 2013- blue Monday on a Sunday

I’ve been dreading to write this race report, but I feel I have to put the facts out there, so here goes:

The abbreviated version:

– The course was great.

– Richard Murray is the real deal. Helmets off to a gutsy, fearless win. Cant wait for a rematch!

– I slightly overcooked my Abu Dhabi Triathlon (report in next blog) prep and came into this race luke warm.

– I ran slightly off course and got disqualified.

It worked like so:

With 2 km to go on the run, I was 1 min behind Richard and 1 min ahead of the guy in 3rd. The podium was set, and from the top of the run course at 6km, I had been just running tempo pace- saving my legs for Abu Dhabi Tri. (6 days later) I wasnt going to run Richard down -even if he fell on his face twice and given the various time splits on the course, (and the fact that I saw nothing but open road behind me) the oke in 3rd would finish 3rd.

This run course had been the same the past 3 years. When I ran it a week before the race, was not yet marked. So I presumed it was the same as always. It is the athletes responsibility to know the course, and as we saw numerous times on the Cape Epic recently, staying on course while racing off road, (especially when leading) is easier said than done.

Refer to the picture below:

I ran the usual course- marked with the blue line. BUT the chevron tape and branches between the two red arrows were not there when I ran through. That was added AFTER I had run through the “gate” the two logs (with tape to the sides) on the ground created.  I remember thinking “aw, they made  nice “gate” so people wont cut the 180 corner.” The actual course is marked with the blue stipes. (stripes only on picture)

When I got to the beach a minute later, I saw Richard about 25 seconds in front of me and I realized something went wrong. I didnt know what or where, so I jogged the last bit so the “normal” time gap would be restored and Richard would get his 1 minute+ win.

At the finish the guy in 3rd appealed and I was disqualified.

Lessons learned.

Too bad a great event and classy win by Richard was clouded by drama.