I started XTERRA training at 4 years old when single speed and white tires were all the rage.

I’m in Maui, Hawaii. It has been my birthday for almost 24 hrs and, it will keep going for at least another 20 hrs. Thanks to Facebook, I have been getting birthday wishes from folks in Australasia almost a full day early, and as the earth turned, and the sun fell on Africa, wishes came flooding in last night from South Africa and Europe, and then today (the 23rd- my actual birthday) the North and South Americans checked in. This time thing is weird in many ways.

I’m still in bed, watching the ocean, the palm trees, Kahoolawe island (the one the Navy ruined with “target bombing”) I

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The Springboks took the Rugby World Cup, so I had pull out all the stops and hit XTERRA Worlds in a big way. The only way- on the top of the podium, lei around the neck, sponsors Pacifico Beer down my throat.

What an epic battle. My game plan of killing everyone on the bike and jogging it in went out the window. My Sydney Olympics breakaway buddy Olivier Marceau rode the less than technical course brilliantly, and we started the run neck in neck. I’ve raced Olivier many many times over the last 15 years and never have I even come close to outrunning him. So I told myself, “Pucker up, this is going to be the toughest run of your life”.

©2007 Rich Cruse/XTERRA
The 1st mile on the road I stuck to Olivier like a bushveld tick, but as we hit the 1st big climb he dropped off the pace. First I though he was playing games, but when I turned the screws his footsteps faded quickly and a little miracle happened.

It was a star studded field with the Olympic silver medalist, (Bevan Docherty) 5 Olympians and a number of past champions. Victory was really really sweet. Especially after last years’ trials and tribulations. Actually, the last 5 years of paying my dues here in Maui.

Thanks a lot for everyone who played a role in my unbelievable season. I won all 6 XTERRAs I did. What a great year it has been- I only had one mechanical and not a single biomechanical!

Mahalo,
Conrad

Ice cream and beer season is now officially open…