Arizona's Xtreme Desert Triathlon

by Jimmy Archer (www.JimmyArcher.com)

RESULTS 

Over the years XTERRA has become known for its ability to channel the spirit of a venue into the race itself. This has never been more evident than at the 2006 Arizona's Extreme Desert Triathlon.

What comes to mind when you think of Arizona? Heat, cactus, snakes, scorpions, the Wild West, Wyatt Earp? This race has it all.

Saturday before the race saw 90-plus degree temperatures and cloudless skies - quite a change from the April showers I left back in Boulder, CO, and ideal conditions for athletes attending the pro clinic hosted by Mike Vine. More than 25 competitors - half of whom were XTERRA newbies from five states (good omens for the XTERRA crowd, our little sport's growing up so fast) - got a full dose of Vine's seasoned race wisdom.

Sunday's race drew similarly pristine conditions with more clear skies and temps 10 degrees cooler. But enough about the weather. The racing began with a point to point swim in the oasis that is Saguaro Lake at the base of a 1,000 foot sandstone cliff. On the start line was surprisingly deep field of six pros and a couple of age-group world champs. As is the norm with point to point swims it seemed a little long, but I've been swimming so I didn't mind. Especially when I came out of the water third with one of my best swims ever, and right behind Mike Melley, who I understand was quite a swimmer for ASU. 

After a rusty transition it was onto the bike and right into a special part of the Arizona Xtreme course, the climbs. At first sight this course looks like a pretty simple double track; no big deal. But in reality the course is more of a wide single track with two of the toughest climbs on the XTERRA circuit. It has a bit of everything; rock, sand, gravel, and hard-pack. The same goes for the climbs. They're so challenging, they should have names to describe them. I could come up with some names right now, but they wouldn't fit the PG rating I am supposed to maintain, so… I give up.

Heading up the first climb, I find myself shoulder to shoulder with saguaro cactus, some legless reptilian spectators (ie. snakes) and a gila monster. The first climb is tough. It's loose and challenge but rideable. The second, which comes about 20 minutes in, is the killer. It's super loose, very steep, and just plain tough. My training partner and pro Ryan Ignatz said he rode it, which would have made him pretty close to super-human on that day. I admit I bailed off two-thirds of the way up. There's a great view of the lake and the beautiful Arizona desert, as well as the two miles of soft sand riders must trudge through before hitting the fast, winding desert descent.

After a solid bike that saw me come into transition third I was in the familiar position of having to run down race leaders Ignatz and Brian Smith. The run is my favorite part of this race, and of most races. This one is an 8k winding single track through the desert that reminds me of good old New Mexico High School Cross Country. Simply, it's everything you would expect from an Arizona XTERRA, including another snake sighting and some really cool Canyon-scapes. After a solid run, and a bit of miss-direction by my competitors I was able to take the lead and go on win my second race in more than 50 XTERRAs. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come. 

All in all, Arizona's Xtreme Desert Triathlon is a fun race on a unique course which truly reflects the spirit and flavor of XTERRA in the Southwest. This is rapidly becoming one of the classic, must-do XTERRAs.

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