This is supposed to be a race report, but I have a hard time writing reports without race pictures. So I’ll just write a story.

Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the sweetest bike of all?

Not having done a road tri since spring 2005, (Alcatraz) people wanted to know why I came to Chicago. I answered: I need some quality training, so instead of doing boring intervals at home, I’d travel to a fascinating city, do the Guinness Book of World Records “Biggest Triathlon”-8000 people, talk to triathletes at Fleet Feet, catch up with the Saucony people, and try to add another win at one of the most prestigious races in the world. I have a good track record here: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. (not all in one year) But most of all- I like this town!

Ritchie Cunningham flew in from Germany on his birthday 1.1 days before the race, and we had the most amazing home stay. (Home stays are usually amazing in one way or the other) Our host Paul, who “participates” in triathlon, lives on the 11th floor of a building that overlooks Millennium Park. The park just being renovated for $260 million! They should have called it “Bizillion Park” We had a view of the lake, the city and the park. The city’s architecture is amazing, the people interesting, the traffic terrifying and parking non-existing. The restaurants are great and uncountable, and Paul made sure we sampled a good view. Including the famous deep dish Chicago Pizza. (Had the left-overs at the airport this morning.)

Those who have been reading my spam, will know of my trials and tribulations with trying to stay ON my bike, and out of  the ER room. Coming back from that meant I ran a total of 3 times since my crashes and twisted ankle in Milwaukee 3 weeks ago. (One of those runs included Xterra Ogden last weekend) So my run could possibly be “situation critical mate!”

I had no idea what to expect on the bike either. Xterra training is different and I had no idea of how fast the others had become while I was gone. The past two years my road bike has been set up just like my mountain bike. (ie, upright body, saddle 11 cm back, and no aerobars) Not your ideal time trail position.  Monday before the race, I threw on some Profile Design Cobra T2+ aerobars, and Andy from Rebound helped me set up the position. Rode a ride or two, felt good, and Wednesday (4 days before the race) I finally decided to race Chicago, entered, and bought the ticket that evening.

Thursday I realized I needed race wheels and emailed the owner of Zipp, saying “Howzit my broe, hoe lykit met n stel wiele? Chop chop, ek sê!”

Friday I had a flashy pair of Zipp 808s in my grubby paws! (Admire them in the picture above) Andy is great guy, wouldn’t leave a fellow South African in a pinch. Shot broe!

All I needed was a fast wetsuit. At the expo Chris was eager to let me try 2XU. (Say “two times you”) I had a good, comfortable swim, coming out with the 2nd group, about 1 minute down.

Once on the rocket ship, I mean bike, I made my way though the field easier than I thought, but when I moved into 4th, and got closer to the leaders I couldn’t believe my eyes. Craig was sitting on the TV motorbikes’ wheel! On and off for about 8 km. He says he did it because Simon and Benno was doing it! Nice. That’s why I love Xterra: Drafting is never an issue, and no drug will give you skills or balls.

Running fast and furious the 1st mile, closing down somewhat on Bennett (3rd) was just a false sense of security. The wheels came off and I slipped to 6th. The last 2 km felt good again, so the fitness is in there somewhere.

I leave this race with optimism for the last part of the season, and look forward to LA Tri in 2 weeks. Another quality session away from home. Getting ready for Xterra Tahoe Oct 1, and Maui Worlds Oct 28.

Thanks a lot to everyone who jumped around last minute to make Chicago happen.

Conrad

Results Chicago Tri:
1) Craig Alexander
2) Simon Lessing
3) Greg Bennett
4) Brian Fleishmann
5) Matt Reed
6) Conrad Stoltz

Rocket ship in foreground, leaning against The Bean. Paul lives in the 2nd building from the right. Spot the Caveman and Ritchie…

Humpty Dumpty had 3 great big falls.

Pre-able:
45 minutes before the start, lightning flashed ominously over that big lake next to Milwaukee, and pretty soon rain came down in buckets. Swimming was not meant to happen. We were to do a duathlon instead- 3k run, 30k bike, 10k run. The change of conditions was exciting and it was my first wet Xterra. Most people huddled under the Xterra tents watching the sky pour. The more serious athletes warmed up in the rain, and some (the clever/ prepared ones) used the time to make quick tire changes. I had some bike issues, and the local Specialized mechanic did a quick rear suspension swap in the rain. If I  had mud tires with me, I would have thrown them on, but alas, fast, dry condition tires with little baby side knobs (needed for steering in mud) were going to have to do the job.

Tumble #1
Fat FootWarming up I did some strides. Running at full speed on a grassy area, I stepped into an open irrigation box, rolled my ankle, and fell like a sack of potatoes. My ankle really hurt, but after a few big words and some tentative steps and I felt ok. The race must go on. Afterwards I learnt  it was a 2nd degree sprain with some partially torn muscles and ligaments.

The cannon boomed and the pros stormed off. Staying with the leaders was crucial, and I rode the bus comfortably.

Once on the bike, 6 of us rode the flat tar and gravel roads behind Brian Smith, a new Xterra pro, who came over from Mountainbiking. Just before the first singletrack section I moved into the lead and got ready to throw down.

Tumble #2
Not Popeyes HamstringI took the first slight corner fast, and could feel the tires drift a little- “ah, not too slippery”, I thought. Already had a gap… The next turn was slightly sharper- actually a fork in the trail, that split both sides around a young tree. I turned, but we went straight. The trail was slippery as snot and I hit the tree at about 30km/h. The tree shaved me clean off my bike. Bike went to the right, my Clif Shots and I were scattered in the mud to the left. Point of impact? Inner thigh.- fortunately low. The thought of a broken femur crossed my mind, but I was already up and riding, so it couldn’t be broken. I looked down and already there was a big welt rising under the purple lines.

Shaken but not stirred, I rode more carefully, caught the leaders, and decided to “just” sit behind Brian for a while- He was riding well, he seems to have good tires, but more importantly, I could judge how slippery the trail was by watching him slide. I was still planning on how, once the trail opens up, and my leg hopefully throb less, I’d dump him, and make some time.

Tumble #3
Fat LipFollowing Brian onto a narrow wooden bridge my bike suddenly disappeared beneath me. I didnt turn, I didn’t touch the brakes, nothing. One moment it was there, the next it was gone. All I remember is the “thud” of my head hitting the railing on the way down. And the back wheel spinning like crazy as I lay there stunned. Must have lost touch with reality for a while there because I went from 2nd to 7th without realizing so many people passing me. Also, the fall knocked my gears in 1st and I had to use a mixture of force, sweet talking and yanking on cables and derailleur to get it to shift again.

By then, all I wanted was my mommy. If I fell one more time, I’d be ready to cry.

The rest of the bike leg I just rode with Brent and Paco. I tried to get away a few times, but I’d slide into a lapped rider that’s bogged down, just to get caught again.

After that I pretty much switched to “survival mode”, and just followed doggedly.

We started the run in 5th, 6th and 7th,  3 min 30 down . The other two took off right away, and I hobbled along, hoping things would hurt less sooner rather than later. The inside of my leg wobbled like a mound of jelly when I ran, (especially anything resembling a downhill) and my ankle, which had a numb pain, loosened up  (or deadened completely) and I’m happy to say I was cooking the last 2 miles, almost sprinting down 6th.

The medical tent was carnage. Paco, Brent, Brian and we were only 7 finishers so far! I saw my ankle bulging like a tennis ball and my heart sank to my shoes. Xterra President Janet Clark is a very competent ambulance driver and Brent and I were roomies at the hospital. The nurses spoilt us with polony sandwiches, cream puffs, (and lengthy demos on how to eat a cream puff without spilling cream) sweet bad coffee, X-rays for me, wound scrubbing and a healthy dose of stitches to the huge gash for Brent’s knee.

The verdict was “not broken”, and  I hobbled out on crutches. Nyberg carted us home and somehow we squeezed 3 very dirty and broken bikes in the back and 3 very dirty and broken athletes in the front of a family car. Wasn’t so funny then.

Rick Cruse – XTerraThis story was written 10 days later on my way to the next Xterra in Ogden, Utah. With intensive Kiatsu (thanks Brad and Shad) and massage (Mark and Tana), I managed to ride my bike and start swimming 5 days after the race, I ran once, but something under my heel hurt and I’m not planning on running till race day, Utah.

Determined to finish this tragic comedy on a happy note, here is a good story:
My first bike ride back from injury a Yellow jacket flew into my mouth, and before I could spit it out, it gave me a quick love bite! Incredible, but true…

IN AFRICA, THEY BREED US TOUGH !

Conrad