Xterra La Vegas: Tough enough for an MMA fighter

Pre race briefing Friday they emphasized the bike course was dangerous (even though most courses are you do not hear them say that much}. "Due to torrential rain fall the dcesents are rock strewn and corners are very loose" They actually over-emphasized that. Many pulled out of full Xterra and chose to transfer to sprint distance. Good for them. Not only did someone get Heli Vac'd race day. Apparently someone pre riding the course a few days before.
       Okay so gotta have some fun to calm the pre race nerves. What better way than to dive into the 57 degree water wearing (walking) shorts only and challenge Pavel to a swim to buoys and back the day before race?

        We stayed at the host hotel and race morning we were able to rack our bikes in good spot early. It got L.A. traffic like jammed up in no time. But before that this nice and what I thought maybe a  new- to- Xterra young man asking me for a few pointers on the entry/exit transition. After sharing my thoughts with him and walking back to my spot more than one person stops me saying: "Do you know who that dude is"?
 I replied: "Nope".  "Well  that's Nick Diaz. Champion MMA Fighter" and stating  "Just watched him on pay per view cable last week fighting some French animal named St. Pierre". "That dude is one of the most gnarley fighters' in the world". "He is one bad ass", etc.
     Cool. But I do not watch cage fighting. But had to return for a photo after hearing that. Nick would kick my ass in any arena. Okay maybe not the Xterra arena. But then again, I wouldn't get in any other arena with him. Got home and looked up his fighting stats. Holy tomole'. Freakin' real deal.
    That's good friend Robert Little in H20 about to begin his wave. Mine was 3 minutes after his. I chose to launch off rocks. That's 3 races in 7 days for both of us. Red lining it the whole time. A 2nd place for myself last Saturday , first place Sunday and  4th today with the others in my division just mere few minutes ahead. Often I would ask myself what could I have done to make up those few minutes? Today, nothing. I gave it my all in this 3 hour pedal to the medal  freakin' hairy course of a race. And thank God uninjured.
             Prayers are with those so unfortunate and life- flighted out by helicopter. You never want to hear or worse,  see that. Especially when one is a girl.