Our last Sick Fun adventure took us to Maui, Hawaii to the 2012 Xterra Worlds Championships. Simple and easy it may seem at first, the test turned into survivor mode very quickly. The day began with an easy one mile swim in the ocean. Mother nature was very sly as she enticed us into believing we were having fun. The temperature began in the low 70’s and by race time was 89. Having never ridden the course, hopes and dreams of a easy enjoyable steady paced race turned into work. Climbing became the rule of thumb for the day. Slow steady, easy gear, greuling, climbing. The sun moved overhead and this 20 mile mountain bike ride became scorching hot. Every pedal stroke became a chore. Around every new corner was more loose sand or powdery dirt. Initial goal plans for the day were to average 8 to 10 mph on the bike. They don’t call it Worlds for nothing. Eight miles into the course averaging 6 mph I realized “SickFun” was starting. By now the temp was above 90 degrees and my head and arms were baking from the blistering heat. No time for sun screen was dumb. At first the water stations with hand up bottles were a tease. Ice cold to the skin felt awesome as it took your breath squeezing it into the top of the helmet. Continuing on a time warp must have appeared. It seemed like each mile got longer and longer. Maybe because I got slower and slower. Long steep unforgiving hills appeared one after another. Many competitors gave in to the push your bike method but riding at 3 mph is still riding in my book. As the legs gave way to the grind and heat, that haunting thought of “I paid money to do this” popped up. Once you cross the line an utter this statement “SickFun” has arrived.
