XTERRA Deuces Wild Race Report

By Circ Toepel, XTERRA Rep

Sun, wind and mud were the distinct features of the 2008 race outside of Show Low, AZ.  Seton and Debbie Claggett, race directors, found the largest mud hole in all of Fool Hollow to bring the racers through on the bike course.  Some loved it, some cursed it, but all agreed it was down and dirty XTERRA style.  This race has had a cult following for most of its 5 year existence.  Many racers have done the Deuces Wild since day one.  A few hardy souls have even survived the "Double Deuce".  This twisted adventure begins with a 70.3 or Olympic tri on Saturday and ends with the XTERRA real deal on Sunday.  Gina Detolve, one of our XTERRA ambassadors, gritted her teeth through the windy and hot 70.3 tri on Saturday then the XTERRA on Sunday to take 3rd in the Double!   The men's Deuceman (70.3) winner had to forfeit his title due to an automatic DQ from a USAT official for his chinstrap being unbuckled just a hair too early.  Think about that next time the XREP asks you not to ride your bike in transition!  He also did the XTERRA and would have won the double except for that little detail.

Racers were covered in mud coming in from the 16 mile bike but since the 5 mile run featured a thigh deep water crossing near the end, they were a little cleaner coming into the finish line.  The wind would have felt pretty good on the run had it not been so strong that you felt like you were climbing yet another hill.  Even with the wind Benjamin DeWitt ran 35:29 for the fastest of the day.  Susan Petronio had the fastest women's run time of 45:32.  Carl Abrams was first to reach the shore in the half mile swim in 11:36 with Sage Grossi having the fastest women's  time of 15:22.  Marcus Hayward blazed the bike course in 1:09 and the women's bike winner was Liz Carrington in 1:22.   

Sage was also the women's overall winner with a time of 2:29.  Her last minute decision to come race certainly paid off!  Meiling Yee followed in 2nd place with an impressive 2:32 and Elizabeth Carrington was 3rd in 2:36. Brian Barrett took the men's title in 2:02 followed by a close race for 2nd place, between Clay Moseley in 2:06.36 and Dean Hewson at 2:06.56

Afterwards, racers like Reynaldo Carereo ecstatically proclaimed "this is the best race all year!"  He has done all 5 and also did the Deuceman - must be something in the water.  Kevin Flynn particularly liked the muddy tunnel and the cool finishers medals.   The $30K worth prizes given away at the raffle is reason enough to come enjoy Deuces Wild.  One lucky competitor bought extra tickets and walked away with over $3K worth of cool schwag!   I doubt if anyone went away empty handed.

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