Marsh, Garcia-Neveu Win XTERRA Camp Eagle

By Gary Harris, XTERRA Rep

Did you ever wish you could go back to summer camp? How about a summer camp with 1,400 acres of exceptional trails, a spring fed river, rock climbing, kayaking, beach volleyball, a Gladiator obstacle course, zip lines, a killer staff and an XTERRA race. If so then all I can say is Kumbiya, pass the bug juice and welcome to Camp Eagle.

A mere 2 hours from Austin Texas, Eagle hosts an exceptional children's camp, adventure race training facility, retreat center and backpacking program. It's really a multi-sport paradise for all ages, a paradise that almost vanished. That was until a local Texas philanthropist, who prefers to remain anonymous, donated over a million dollars enabling Eagle to make much needed repairs and take the facility to the next level.

Race morning was perfect, it rained for about 2 hours the day before so the trails were sticky and the temperature dropped to a pleasant 72 degrees. The rocky Texas soil on the course usually soaks up the rain. Well it usually soaks up the rain unless the rain starts ten minutes into the swim which resulted in a thick tar like mud like I have never seen.

The swim started just as scheduled, being at the beginning of a spring fed river there is very little current. Swim down river 200 meters, turn at the last buoy, come back up to the dam, climb up the ladder, dive into the upper river,  head to the floating dock, hop on out and run up the 102 steps to transition.

As the athletes headed to the bike the fun really began as the monsoon persisted in turning the course into a 10 mile mud pit that slowed many XTERRAists to a crawl. This accounted for lots of bumps, bruises, plus 25 twisted, battered, and broken rear derailleurs.

Mud or no mud the players came to race and throw down they did. First place Brandon Marsh flew through the course coming in 1:48:40 and even though 2nd place Juan Garcia-Neveu was only two minutes behind he could never quite close the gap.

The women's race was just as exciting. Two local favorites where taken out by, you guessed it, muddy rear derailleurs getting ripped from their bikes. Now it was anyone's day with Pam Garcia-Neveu of New Mexico finishing in 2:30:43 and Okalahoma's Kim Jennings taking second with a dirt riddled smile. "That was the best" Jennings said as she crossed the line "what a great day playing in the mud."

It could have been a tough muddy day for a lot of people, but most dealt with the mud with such fortitude. "It's like a spa treatment" I heard one lady say as she rubbed the mud over her XTERRA tattoo. Most who were plagued with derailleur issues chose to finish the run with a smile rather than just quit.  One guy, Justin (you ROCK), destroyed his XO rear derailleur on mile one of the ride. He ran into transition carrying his mud riddled busted steed, ran out again, finished the bike on foot and proceeded to the run for a daily total run of about 14 miles.

HUGE Thanks to Anthony, Chris and the entire Camp Eagle Crew. With your Texas hospitality you really know how to do XTERRA right.

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC