XTERRA Midwest Mudder Post Race Story

By Fred Phillip, XTERRA Rep

If you’re looking for a college town (Kansas U) with great Restaurants and atmosphere then get over to Lawrence KS.!

Lawrence itself can be a getaway, even without a race to draw you there.  Lots of places to stay, B&B’s Motels, Hotels and Camping, only a short 40 minute drive from Kansas City KS.

The Race Venue is Clinton Lake, which has nearly 15 miles of off road trails.  You’ll find a couple of tuff little climbs, some technical rocky sections and a ton of sweet single track in between. 

Race Day it self started out in the mid 70’s but during the heat of the day got up to nearly 90.  The shade in the single track was welcome on both the bike and the run.  The Course was comprised of a 1500 yard swim a 15 mile bike and a 5.5 mile run.

Kansas has good clean water to swim in and Clinton Lake was not the exception.  The Bike Course contains a few technical (rocky) sections, but mostly there were some great sections where you can let it rip and suck the bark of the trees in your wake….  The Run Course had some technical sections and one section that pass you with in 100 yards of the finish line 2 times during the 3 required laps.

On the men’s side the race started with Brad Miller of Columbia MO, having the fastest swim of the day at 27:57.  Ryan Pirtle ripped the fastest Bike of the day in 1:15:43 as well as the fastest run of the day in 35:00.  Local favorite Tige Lamb had his hands full with Ryan Pirtle.  Ryan came from nearly 8 minutes back on the swim making that amount up plus and additional 2 minutes to take the lead off the bike and maintaining it to take the over win in 2:32:00.  In talking with Ryan after the event he mentioned that he, just a few weeks earlier, had won the Missouri State Mt Bike Championship and was a cross county runner as well.  

On the Women’s side Melisa Lemus of St Louis MO. lead start to finish to take the overall in 3:05:35

Congrats to all!

© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC