Long silence period...but we are back and here some updates!!!

This year and season has been challenging at different levels, travels, injuries....even some weddings for what I heard 😁.

Despite all the life events happening, TJ79 US were  still at it and raced here and there.

First big race was at the end of 2018 in Chile, were Marc and Matt met our friends from TJ79 Barcelona for ElCruce stage trail run race. 

3 stages for a total of 100km and more than 3000m of elevation in central Chile. Marc and Matt raced in the duo category and despite not being well prepared for mountain climbs they took a final 4th place in the male duo division. An unexpected results and a race that will have some long impact on 2019 season.

Back in mid December, it was time to rest and recover from this race....high time. Not long after, Marc started to have issue in is lower back and it will take him the all season to get this injury fixed and started training again....

Not much group ride this season as spring turned to be a rainy mess and lot of work during weekend and family life added on the crappy weather. 

Matt participated to different short orienteering meeting to work on navigation skills for bigger event and finally race the 361 Frigid 4hr Rogain where he took 1st overall finishing just seconds ahead of the Minto Father and Son team. 

Matt the raced in 12hr Conquer the cross road Roagain in Indianna. The race went extremely well and after 68k and 1800m D+ of navigation Matt took first overall for the second year in a raw.

As Marc was still injured Matt teamed up with other great AR racers from No Complaints, Doug and Jim, to win the 12hr NO Sleep AR in early June. A nice result with a competitive field but with the beginning of pain in left legs that would last for month.

After taking first in the Topo summer series trail race at Big Bone leek stat park, Matt went to Europe for work and stopped in France for some mountain time where with an old friend Arthur. They spent time mountain-biking in the Alps with not much run to spare Matt's left legs.

Back to US, Matt started to work on clearing his leg issue with the help of Iain Hughues who will get this issue fixed in couple of physical therapy session.

To add to the left leg injury, Matt crashed pretty bad during the Red Kite round 200k gravel race. After DNF, Matt was brought back to finish line by Doug who also dropped the race to help (less than poor organisation on this race with nothing set-up to pick up racer in case of issue).

 Lot of wounds and scratches with a pretty bad right hip cut that will take more than one month to completely hill.

At the same time Matt teamed up with Doug again. 2 weeks after the crash, to race the 361 Dead Fred 9hr AR where they took first overall. A great day with a perfect strategic navigation from Doug put them in a serious lead by the middle of the race.

By the end of Spetember, Matt left leg was finally good and the serious run training would restart with the objective to run the Ultra Maokong 50Km trail race in Taiwan where Matt will stay for his traditional weeding with Vivian.

Before that Matt joined Bill Fletcher from OutlawDonkey at teh Dino CIA 12hr AE Race along with a young new female teammate, Mackenzie, to help Bill for a last minute qualification for USARA National. Race went pretty well for this new trio and they took a nice 3rd overall and 2nd Co-Ed team places after 11hr27min. Job done!!!


To continue to work on long endurance and navigation, Matt put a last race before going to Taiwan during the Topo East Fork 12hr Challenge, and after a really entertaining race design with couple of lack crossing swimming, Matt got a 1st overall finish. 

Couple of orienteering meeting, some trail run but obviously not enough hills after and Matt was on the starting line of the UMK50 at 4am after only 2hr of sleep and a capricious stomach. After 9hr01min, 50km and 3500m D+ on wet technical and steep hills of Taiwan, Matt crossed the finish line 3rd Ex-aequo. The race went better than expected with the short sleep and stomachache for most of the race who led to a difficult food intake. 

Right after the UMK50, David and Arthur joined Matt in Taiwan for a 5 days bike trip on the Taiwan east cost before Matt wedding.

During this time Marc went to Barcelona couple of time and work on his back issue with ElMago and he is know recovering and getting back on training. 

Clearly the 2019 season has been a difficult one but with some good results and podium in almost every races and always tons of fun and friendship all around the world!!