Linda Gallo's Official Website

I woke up the morning of my FIRST Xterra a bit nervous about the unknown!  The lake was a balmy 74°F degrees (to match the expected high of 100°F for the air temp!) so this was a non-wetsuit swim.  Better for me!   The men and women started together which is good and bad.  Then I can draft off some of the faster guys, but the guys also start much quicker, so it’s hard not to go anaerobic in the first few hundred meters. Shortly after the gun went off there were two groups headed out to the first buoy.  Unfortunately, I was in the group that took the longer line and we arrived at the first buoy about 20 seconds behind.  I went to the front of my group of guys and spend the rest of the swim chasing the 2 swimmers in front.  I finally caught up with about 200 meters to go and was second person and first woman out of the water!    On the bike, I made it up the first little technical bit and felt comfortable on the whole ride, even the downhill rocky sections (once I remembered to get my weight back!).  I was able to hold my own on the uphill sections, but lost time on the downhill and single track. (Note to self: increase mountain bike ride frequency from 1 to 2 rides a week)  Towards the end of the first loop I rode a bit off trail and encountered some brush, before quickly getting back on the trail.   The second loop proved uneventful ( a good thing!), yet as I was headed down the short sandy hill and back to transition, I took a corner too close, had my weight too far forward and took a small spill/abort and fell to the side.  I was quickly up and on my way after turning my handlebars around and putting my chain back on.    The run started with a single track trail straight up the side of the mountain, which was a bit demoralizing especially with the heat and sun.  Once I got about half way into the run, I got a shot in and some electrolytes and started to feel better and hammered the second half of the run.    Overall, I was first out of the water, 10th off the bike, and finished 11th; and more importantly, had a blast!  Definitely a fun race and I look forward to a few more Xterra races the second half of the season.     Next up is Alcatraz on June 8th before a mid season break.