The year is in gear and Ironman Panama was a beautiful start. In all respects. 1500 mostly Latin athletes from various Central and South American countries. I started in the 6th swim wave and had all the professionals and all the female competitors in the previous 5 waves starting ahead of my group. Look how fast this young Columbian gal has her wetsuit down. Just seconds out of the water. Full on race mode!. My 1st impression as I exited the water and ran the long 1/4 mile stretch to the bike transition was: “Dang, everyone is hauling ass already………..if this keeps up all day ……………it’s gonna hurt”

Okay these bike shots have story!!! The 56 mile ride took us in and out of town toward the boonies and back 3 loops. If you look at the middle pic you see the fella giving direction is all energetic. And I have 3 bottles filled with fluids. Then look at the pic above it which is probably the 3rd loop. He has his sleeves rolled up and his socks rolled down. And very non energetic. Me? Rear seat mounted water bottles done and gone. Aero drink level on bars very low. Safe to say we were both feeling the heat! Great ride. That is the downtown Panama skyline and where we stayed. Loved it. 

Okay, will get some race report in and done: It was brutal hot. The swim epic in a canal that is one of the 7 wonders of the world. It was brutal hot. We were racked with our competition. Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Columbia, El Salvadore, Mexico, Costa Rica so many more all lined up. And of course Panama! Did I mention it was hot? Yeah like 36C. And the humidity? Yikes. Makes Hawaii feel somewhat tame.They provided exceptional on the race course. Volunteers, ice, water, energy replacement, etc. Off the charts. But damn it was hot.

Highlight of trip no doubt spending time and being treated as if we were family with Gabes beautiful familia. Soccer games, eating like a local, grocery shopping, visiting friends and family, etc. Everyone and I mean everyone knows them. And all that do are blessed. We certainly were/are. I will even toss in a few more blogs this week it stoked me such. Both Jodi and I and won our divisions in some steep tough comp qualifying for Worlds. I myself am still quite partial to the off road stuff though. I do not train on aero bars. But the TT bike suited up and delivered the fastest bike split by 12 minutes in my division. Enough cushion to soldier the 1/2 marathon and stay in front. Jodi is just so efficient she just did her thing as she swam up front, took the lead on the bike and then continued to distance her competition on the 1/2 marathon.

 I went 4 hrs. 58 minutes with a not- so- perfect race. Very stoked being a dinasaur and still cracking under 5 hours : ) But truly amazing is Jodi went 5 hours and just few seconds. Simply amazing.

Right now on Wednesday about 10 hours since off the plane from Maui. Early a.m. appointments and still recovering. Very challenging course/conditions as normal. So many Euro’s and other foreigners these Xterra races have taken off around the globe. So world wide. So many accents along with fast competition. I Very tight. Top 10 for myself and 3rd American. Jodi raced so strong and placed 8th. Her field is not nearly as large but the girls that are racing are ALL fast. Jodi had the 2nd fastest run in her division and ran down many on the brutal steep hot course. Many crack on the run. I sampled some hamstring cramps but just soldiered on taking in everything I could @ the water/gatorade stops so they could have been much much worse. Never a good thing when happens but again I was able to tame them down and soldier on to a very satisfying finish. Maui is beautiful.The people are beautiful. The trip and race: Exhausting. No denying that. Will post more pics later. Here is Corey’s beautiful daughter Sophie. Cheering on her dad. Great job Corey. That is one of thee toughest courses on this planet. Pics of bike are pre and post race. Certainly takes a beating.

With Xterra World Championships 3 weeks out I felt the little zippy/all out/red line/pedal to the medal race held here last weekend a good indicator of where my speed(if I have any) is. Xterra is balls out but about 4x’s as long in duration. Oh and hell of a lot harder.

Chose to wear no wetsuit as Maui they are not allowed. No sense in pampering myself with buoyancy (yes I would have) since in a few weeks I will be swimming one mile open rough water without one. Also chose to ride my standard and very non aero road bike for the little extra work and drag (that and I got too lazy to slap an aero bar on night before). Swim and run went well. Came into transition right behind 1st and 2nd place. Those two kids took off running like, well kids! Got caught and passed by another runner mid way. Damage control to the finish and stoked with a 4th overall. What does that indicate to me for Xterra? Nothing. They are two different beasts. But then again this will be my 6th World Championship race on Maui and I know what I can do there. And know what to expect (usually)

Surf City Cyclery was out in force and gobbled up lots of hardware. Pic here on podium are long timers and still fast fellas Marc Hapke and Kirk Fitzek. Triathlon with some old school. And old school works. Proof is in the pudding. I mean on the podium.