Despite the snow outside, I’m drenched with sweat. No, I’m not riding the stationary trainer in preparatory revenge for XTERRA Worlds 09. I just watched the highlights of this years’ race. I lived the race again. Sitting at the table, adrenaline pumped and my senses were abuzz with racing fever. Go to Xterra.tv for 2008 Worlds highlights. There is no commentry, you dont see me flat, (it will probably show up on the full length TV show) and it looks like I’m off the bike 1st, but I relived the race in Technicolour.

You too can relive (or just “live”) this season’s XTERRAs. Watch the whole season’s XTERRA races from all over the world and most notably Jamie Whitmores’ (she is fighting cancer) XTERRA Warrior Award 2008 on XTERRA.TV

My XTERRA.TV favourite is 1996 Worlds with Jimmy Riccitello, Mike Pig, Ned Overend, Michelle Jones and Mark Allen as commentator.

Photo by Nils Nilsen 2008

Mark DeJohn

One of the hardest things for the traveling athlete is finding a good massage. After some poking around in Bend, I was referred to Mark by another cyclist. That was 4 years ago and now we good friends. Mark is a big strong guy (even bigger and stronger than me!) and there is no worry that the massage wont be deep enough! Here I was introduced to Active Release Technique (ART), a technique which takes care of tight spots in a matter of minutes. We’d go with the usual massage for recovery and if we run into trouble (usually IT Band) Mark would do some ART and Bob’s your uncle.

Mark is also an avid mountain biker and trail builder. In fact, he helped build most of the existing trail system in Bend and is the Oregon IMBA representative. Although we talk a lot of cycling, we actually havent ridden together yet. (We do go for beer quite a bit!) See, Mark likes to ride hairy trails on his 5inch travel trail bike, and I try to stay in 1 piece for Worlds in October. A bit of a clash. Now that Worlds web is over its snowy, but we’ll fit in a ride sometime levitra generique.