The first sentence uttered on the mike after crossing the line muddied and spent: “Girl power – Ladies, don’t know where you’ve been, but welcome.” Obscure Buffelspoort Dam – miles from civilization – soaked in fine drizzle, hosted the largest Xterra turnout in South Africa – 1000 entrants, of which most new recruits were female. It was a significant day for the lifestyle I love in South Africa.

It was my third race on the outskirts of Johannesburg in the Magielsberg mountains; and being three weeks out from Xterra South Africa Championships in Grabouw, become my most important race there as a building block of personal significance. I needed a fine day out. I needed confidence. I wanted to win.

Dylan and I travelled up on Friday morning. Billed excess on a bike that arrived 3h late. Tripped out to Buffelspoort. Pre-rode the course which was rocky and technical and nothing short of supreme. Shot back to Joburg, slipped into my mint new 2XU V:1 Wetsuit overnighted from PE, dined on fine Thai, crashed, and woke at 415am to trip back to Buffelspoort – only the Garmin was programmed to shortest route.

An issue after the cloud bust storm that burst Joburg on Friday evening. The Garmin lady said right on the gravel. We obeyed. The first serious rut made Dylan and I smile – we were in the Land Crusier after all. But by past the point of no return, staring at c for serious 4x4’ing, we were less amused and more panic’d. It was the most mental pre-race adrenaline pump I’ve had since missing the swim start as an 11year old (just joined in for the bike/run!).

The detour meant we’d not found yoghurt for the homemade muesli breakfast. Its fine detail management that can push favour out of grasp. I usually eat three hours before – ie, I have confidence in eating three hours before, now were we trying to find parking amongst the million Jozi Xterra newbies and the buckets of mud, while pouring sketchy Caltex fuel station milk into Tupperware bowls. Anyhow, atypical scenarios usually make for the best of memories after.

It’s not about the bike, but it sure makes a difference, having the shit that kills. Between my new wetsuit, new 2010 Epic, and new Puma race flats, the small advantages add. But then I stumbled and broke the first rule I could – was caught napping and started the opposite side of the good swimmers.

Trying to be respectful of altitude swimming and desperate to find feet I stroked the tiger best I could to the first bouy, and was perhaps one body length shy of Kent Horner’s feet, who was trailing Charl Keet. Did not come undone, but sure wasn’t able to show pool form. Bit disappointing, but limited damages to 25sec at the swim exit.

Xterra Buffelspoort bike route starts out with bone rattling rock gardens now slippery as shower soap. Within 3km of riding I’d nipped past  a Charl – one of the nicest lads in the sport, and past a ground level skidding Kent. I was a bike length back when he went from vertical to horizontal riding.

Kent politely apologized for costing me a few seconds, and with a no worries I was off. Kent is a class act, and ran down a 2min lead last year at on this course, and I wasn’t keen for a repeat.

If you were one of the Xterra Lite masses I passed between this point and the reserve – my sincerest apologies. My screaming, whistling, clipping handlebars and indignant gasping is not my usual self… Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I took all sorts of risks maxing my front and rear suspension through the reserve trails of loose jaded rocks. I loved the excuse to risk, to roll the dice. I’d received course information – of a section cut out – while riding and knew I know had less bike time to come good.

At the point of the course where I’d passed the school kids making out the last year (still one of my favourite racing moments) I was passing families doing the Xterra Lite as a unit. So precious and positively reflecting of the sports future. Kids as young as 10years of age like Hanno (got to meet afterwards) braving the mud, bridge crossings and thin air. Fair play. It was overwhelming, the sheer number of young, old and female entrants on the Xterra Lite course. If you made it through the extreme conditions yesterday – you can make it through any course. Well done.

The last few kilometers needed tender shifting and no out the saddle accelerations. Mud had jinxed my chain, and my rear brake was at 20%. Braodside into corners is not the time to have only front brake stoppage. But she brought me home, and will never be the same again…

Was desperate for a strong run after a few weeks of niggling and inconsistent running. I could tell out the transition that my feet were at home. Not knowing any information had me pressing through the first lap of 5km with the  urgency of a warthog with aerial tail.

Turning for lap two I heard it was 7 min lead into T2. Relief. Tried to work on form and cadence from here, and get the work done for a solid prep race.

(The flights nearing Cape Town, and the baby in row 27 (I’m n 26!) is surely about to scream again.)

Kent ran down Charl to place second, so did Justin Porteus for third and a Belgium athlete for forth. Charl rounded the top five. Riana de Lange was did real well in extreme mountain biking for win the girls side.

If you were at the prize giving and had to endure the repeated calling of my name – my apologies. Was cleaning the bike on the farside of the camp misinformed on prize giving schedule. Alas.

Again – big up to Joburg for getting mudy en masse. The turn out was phenomenal. Well done for finishing.