The family at Team Unlimited and XTERRA sure know how to turn one of the best race weekends of the season up a notch. Enter the 2011 XTERRA East Championships and Trail Run weekend. By far one of the most fun and interactive events on the circuit for the whole family. This event proves how important the total experience is to XTERRA.

The events were set into motion by Team Extreme as they sky dived into the transition area to pay respect to all of those who have served our country. From there the festivities started. Richmond had everything from an interactive Kids Zone that provided a virtual simulator of the bike course to a kids fun/ obstacle race. I could not keep my kids of the bikes as they were having so much fun.

Or off of the obstacle course.

The first day was for the trail run. Many hundreds of participants came to test their abilities on either the 10k or 21k course. Most would not expect the technical trails ahead of them, being that this race is staged from downtown Richmond. But with river crossings, bridges and many miles of technical single track ahead, there were surprises for everyone.

My wife entered the 21k trail run. XTERRA really makes it great that these weekends allow activities for everyone in the whole family. Promoting overall health and wellbeing is very important to them and it enhances the experience greatly. While my wife was out conquering the challenges of the trail run, my children were tearing up the kid zone.

By the end of the events on Saturday, everyone had a great time. Now it was time to et ready for the XTERRA East Championships. Going through a regular routine of double checking the gear and eating right closed out the day. Up at 5AM to get some food in me and off to secure a prime spot in transition.

The early bird gets the worm. In Richmond, with so many competitors, end racks are not in abundance. Getting in early to stake your claim really makes a difference when you want to get in and out of transition easily.

Look at all these people. Transition was not even ½ full yet.

The race was great. They added some distance to the swim and sent us out in a zig zag pattern. This I like much better than staring at a single buoy way off in the distance. After the swim and a decent run up to transition it was time for a 2 lap bike of one of the best courses on the circuit. This bike course is fun with a capital F. I enjoyed every bit of the ride and looked forward to the run. The run is unique as you start by leaving the city behind and climb over the notorious “Mayan Ruins” to enter the single track trails. On these trails you experience all kinds of adventures from river crossings to hurdling roots like Carl Lewis.

Richmond is one of the best races and experiences available. Team Unlimited makes this a true family experience.

Race: XTERRA Southeast Championships
Location: Pelham, Alabama
Distances: 1500m swim, 35k mtb bike 10.4k run
Marcus Result: 5th place division, 15th overall amateur
Dan Result: 4th place division, 14th overall amateur
Products used: GU Roctane and GU Brew,  Synergy Syn-Skin, Maxxis Ikon & Aspen Tires, Jamis Dakota D29 Pro,  Rudy Project helmet, Scrub Brakes, Crank Brothers Candy Pedals.

The Southeast Champs race came a little earlier this year. You’d think it’d make a huge difference in temperature, but the difference is marginal.  If you recall my report from last year, you may recall my description about it being “Alabama hot”.  Even though it wasn’t as hot, it was still pretty warm when Dan and I showed up at transition some three hours before race start.

After a quick stop-in at the marking tent, a bit of fun banter back and forth with Janet Clark, we setup transition and went into relax mode for a while.  The next hour or so was spent reuniting with our XTERRA family of regulars, Emma Garrard, Fred Smith, Frank Fernandez-Posse, Charlotte Mahan, Meiling Yee, Eric Hammond, Mark Hammond, but to name only a few.  Most of it was casual conversation and just catching up since the last race.  There were a few questions about Spain and some discussion of Richmond.  It was good to see the racing family again.  Before I knew it, Dan was flagging me over to the bike to do a warm-up ride.  We took off and rode for a bit.

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