Lots of Mud & Fun at Jersey Devil Xterra

BCTC was well represented at the 2015 Jersey Devil Xterra.  For most it was their first off road triathlon & for Jen Cecchi it was her first triathlon period.  Coming out to race was Andrew Lawlor, Brian Jones, Reg Schneider, Casey Phillips, Wendy Fesmire, Jen Cecchi, Kevin Delaney & myself.

Early concerns with the weather ended up being not an issue at all and it ended up being a perfect weather day for racing.  Believe it or not the lake temp was advertised as 59 and did not feel cold at all.  

The swim was a half mile 2 loop course in a fairly shallow lake.  This is the same lake as Survival of the Mills.  All seemed to fair well in the swim although most of us had issues at the turn buoys dealing with the traffic.  When you exit the swim you have a good quarter mile run back to transition.  Most bring what ever shoes they will be biking in to put on for the run to transition.  The bike course is also  2 loops totaling  15 miles of the beautiful trails at Wells Mills park.  The course is fairly flat but has plenty of sand deep in sections that more than makes up for the lack of elevation.  The bike course is not very technical however there was several deep mud pits a few of which that were filled with water that was nearly impossible to ride through especially on the 2nd loop.  Kevin reported a women in front of him was submerged in one of the deeper mud pits nearly up to her neck.  

The 3.5 mile run course is the most technical part of the race the trails are tight with lots of twists and tight turns, water, plank crossings, roots, tress to climb over & duck under.  But they are some of the most beautiful trails in NJ.  At times you run through narrow parts of the same lake you swam in earlier.  Just when you think you are done you hear the finish festivities, you see the finish line & the markers run you right by and back into the woods for another half mile.

Everyone finished the race in one piece and all had a blast doing so.  Thank you to Andrew who was our race captain and made sure we had the tent set right at the finish line.  See all the results at http://raceforum.com/2015/xterraoa.htm