Consistency a Key in SoCal Trail Run Series

Dewayne Sode wasn't even a runner two years ago. Now he's an XTERRA regional champion.

Sode relied on consistency and friendship to lead him to the men's 50-54 age-group championship for the 2010-11 XTERRA SoCal Trail Run Series. The SoCal Series was recently completed, and the age-group champions from the final standings each received a free entry to the XTERRA Trail Run National Championship at Ogden, Utah, on Sept. 25.

"I'm the first to say I'm not the fastest in my age group," Sode said. "But I made my way to all the races, and I think I was consistent. I scored points at every race, and I think that was the key."

There were seven races on the 2010-11 SoCal Series schedule, and Sode was one of a handful of runners who participated in all seven. It meant he sometimes had to drive for two-and-a-half hours to get to a race.

"I have a couple of friends who were also doing the series, so I'd just see who was available for a race and we'd drive down together," he said. "I wasn't planning on doing all the races, but as it went along, I saw I was earning more and more points and had a chance to win my age group, so I kept going."

In the end, he proved that you don't have to win a race to earn a regional championship. The top 15 runners in each age group score points at a race, and Sode placed between second and seventh at each race.

What makes it more impressive is that Sode can still be considered a novice runner. He only started running two years ago, although he was used to trails as a mountain biker.

"I just wanted to try something different," he said. "I was used to the terrain from mountain biking, but the first time I did (an XTERRA) race, I thought 'this is pretty cool.' I like the extreme side of sports, and the courses for this series are pretty extreme."

They are also very popular. The SoCal Series is the largest of all the XTERRA regions, in terms of participation numbers. During the 2010-11 season, the SoCal Series drew close to 5,000 entries.

"It's awesome to get to try all these different venues all over Southern California," Sode said. "I always tell my friends we're like kids in the days leading up to a race - we get excited and talk about what we think it might be like. Of course, it takes us 10 days to recover from the thing afterwards, but it's worth it."

Photo courtesy SuperSportsPhoto.com

Here is the list of 2011 XTERRA SoCal Region Champions:

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