And just like that the 2024 race season is here.
My second year of elite racing will kick off at XTERRA Greece on Saturday 27th April.
This event is a big one.
As the first European stop on the XTERRA World Cup circuit you can guarantee that the start list will be stacked. The XTERRA World Cup is a 7-stop global circuit where the best XTERRA triathletes go head-to-head for a share of a $340,000 prize pot. Although I am not targeting the series (I have to balance a real job too!), I will be lining up with the top girls in this season opener. Pretty nerve racking but a fantastic opportunity to see where I'm at after a solid block of winter training.
Adding extra fuel to the fire is the fact that I was in Greece last year, however, a bad crash during course recon meant I was unable to start the race. Finding myself on the sidelines I took the role of support crew for my partner and coach Rob Moore as he smashed his age-group to take the win. Missing out last year, I'm more excited and motivated than ever to get out on the course and give it my all.
Race Details
The race is held at Vouliagmeni Beach in the Athenian Riviera, located just 23km from Athens. This unique sea-side resort is a fantastic setting for an XTERRA race, sandy beaches, clean waters, rocky mountains, warm weather and an incredibly friendly culture that makes you feel right at home.
1500m Swim
30km Mountain Bike
9.4km Trial Run
The race begins with a two-loop 1500m swim in the Gulf of Vouliagmeni. Following a short run from the beach we enter T1, grab our bikes and head into the rocky mountains for the two-loop 30km Mountain Bike. Having reconned the course last year I know what I'm in for. Sharp climbs, tricky technical rocky sections, steep shutes and slippery gravelly surfaces. The dry terrain will be a far cry form the cold, wet, muddy conditions I have been training in all winter but I'm hoping the skills I have acquired from sliding in the slippery mud will lend themselves well to handling the treacherous gritty twists and turns on this course.
Next up, the run course, also 2-loops and covers 9.4km in total. We will head back out into the mountainous coastline and with temperatures usually around the mid-twenties this is where things will start heating up! The course is tough. Very steep, very rocky and very technical. I've been doing a lot of strength work and hill runs to specifically prepare for this event, and my goal is to run strong.
In terms of my aspirations and expectations for the race, I hope to pull together a strong performance reflective of the work I have put in over the winter. My best World Cup result to date is 10th (XTERRA Czech 2023) and my goal is to build upon this.
But, having said that, last year I didn't even make it to the start line, so if I get that far next week I'm already winning!
See you on the other side.
How to follow the race:
Instagram: @kerriann_upham / @xterraeurope / @xterra_greece
Facebook: Kerri-Ann Upham / XTERRA Europe / XTERRA Greece
Comments