XTERRA Atlantic Region Kicks Off May 12 in Charlottesville
While the weather outside is definitely frightful in the Mid-Atlantic Region right now, the cold, ice, and snow hasn’t stopped the die-hard XTERRA Atlantic Region racers from training.
Lucky for them, it’ll be a bit warmer in a few months when the season kicks off in the height of spring on May 12th at XTERRA Charlottesville. The opener is at the Miller School of Albemarle, on a course normally closed to the public. It’s a special venue that features about 10 miles of trails built by the students of the school, many of whom rank among the top endurance athletes in the country.
With the new XTERRA America Tour rules that count your best three races to determine age-group regional champs, the Atlantic Region races are certain to be as competitive as ever.
“I will attempt to defend my XTERRA Regional Title again this year, but it will be a little more challenging with the new rules,” said Luke Alexander (35-39). “I think it will make for a very exciting and competitive season where athletes will really have to plan their seasons to come out on top.”
Alexander is going to focus on XTERRA Charlottesville and Oak Mountain in May and then go for broke in July at XTERRA EX2.
“The new rules are also going to make the XTERRA Gold races more competitive as athletes try to get a slot for Maui by qualifying at XTERRA Oak Mountain, Beaver Creek, or the Pan Am Championships,” added Alexander, who said he plans on racing at both Oak Mountain and Utah this year.
“The age group field at XTERRA Oak Mountain is going to be bursting with talent,” Alexander added. “I plan to peak for Utah this year for the first time and hope to come away with a good performance on the national stage.”
Like many athletes in his region, Alexander is busy with his career and his training. As an added challenge, he is also going to school to finish an engineering degree. He often rolls into races with his sidekick Chester, his corgi.
“With the new points system, wins are going to be the target this year,” said XTERRA Atlantic Regional Champ, Charles Futcher (55-59).
Futcher has been in the gym since November with a new fitness program and coach.
“So yes, I’ve ramped up my game to qualify for Maui again,” said Futcher. “I want to win my way in and am looking forward to XTERRA Way Over Yonder.”
One of the cool things about the Atlantic Region is the opportunity to discover some really great places and turn an XTERRA off-road adventure into an urban race-cation.
In Charlottesville, the race begins with a 1000-meter lake swim. The 30K bike navigates some sweet singletrack with plenty of technical features and challenging climbs. The 10K run includes two loops of these trails, giving athletes plenty of opportunities to enjoy spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Charlottesville is also home to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, the University of Virginia, and a thriving downtown packed full of art, shopping, and culture. As the home of the original farm-to-table restaurants, Charlottesville also boasts amazing restaurants that source fresh ingredients from local farmers.
Like XTERRA Charlottesville, XTERRA Way Over Yonder (Wawayanda State Park in New Jersey, May 18th) can take you from the woods to the urban jungle. Also called “The Beast of the East,” XTERRA Way Over Yonder features a 1000-meter swim in the pristine Wawayanda Lake followed by 14 rolling miles of singletrack and a six-mile trail run. Less than 50 miles away from New York City, you can be off your bike and in Manhattan in a little over an hour giving you countless options of how to spend the rest of your weekend. You can get pampered at an Upper East Side spa or take it downtown to SOHO for galleries and restaurants, and then back to Broadway for a show.
Coinciding with summer break, XTERRA EX2 is a way to play in the wilderness of Rocky Gap State Park while also being within easy distance of Baltimore and Washington DC. Held in Flintstone, Maryland on July 14th, XTERRA EX2 begins with a .75-mile lake swim followed by a 13-mile mountain bike ride on rocky and grassy lakeside trails and finishes with a five-mile run.
With camping, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, awesome beaches, plenty of trails, and fishing, this is the perfect family vacation. Or, racers can make it a romantic weekend getaway and visit the on-side lodge and casino and stay in one of Cumberland’s many cozy bed and breakfasts located near Rocky Gap State Park.
The 2019 XTERRA America Tour features more than 30 races from coast-to-coast broken down into eight regions: the Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, South Central, and the West.
Find the details on how the series works and sign-up for an adventure today at xterraplanet.com.
Triathlon America Source | Back to News