We’ve been by Mira’s side as he prepares for Xterra and have discovered all his secrets by learning about his training tips and routines: from the exercises he does, to the nutrition regime he follows and the equipment he uses. Now it’s time to get to the heart of the training: an in depth look at each one of the three sports of Xterra: swimming, biking and running.
The swimming session during the race sparks great emotion: the noise of the horn, which starts the race, followed by watching as the athletes dive into the water as the typical pre-contest jitters suddenly dissolve, making way for the knowledge that, win or lose, the race is on.
I used to swim when I was a child, then I started to play football and have played it all my life. After the car accident I was involved in in 2010, which resulted in the amputation of my left leg, I approached swimming again. This is the only discipline I can do without my prosthetic leg.
The transitions from race to race have to be prepared just as well as the rest of the race. The transition from swimming to the bike race is a key step for Mira, as he not only has to change clothes, but also to put on his prosthetic leg.
Biking is a sport I started to practice after the accident which resulted in the amputation of my leg. Just a little over six months after the car accident I was involved in in 2010, I completed a bike tour. This is also one of the reasons why it’s one of my favorite sports.
The most difficult discipline for me in this particular race was cycling, where I had my first major physical difficulty, in the form of cramps, at the 20th kilometer. The cramps lasted all the way until the end of the race, however, we always found temporary solutions to help me carry on.
It was precisely the sport Mira likes the most that gave him the hardest time during the race.
Despite this setback Mira completed the race in only 5 hours and 58 minutes and managed to qualify for Xterra World Championship 2021.
Finally, the discipline which brings a triathlete to the finish line: running. Why does Mira include some track sessions in his training plan?
I completed Xterra Czech Triathlon Race in 5 hours and 58 minutes last year, but I wasn’t satisfied with this result. This is why I’m looking forward to the next race. Before the World Cup, I will be participating again in the Czech Xterra, where I would like to improve my time by one hour.
To improve your performance running and get better results, it’s very important to include sessions to increase your speed in your training some.
And he did it! Awesome, Mira! He finished the main event at the Xterra Czech competition in 5 hours and 33 minutes, beating his 2020 record of 5 hours and 58 minutes!
I was honored to be by his side during the preparation for this race.
I’m not brave enough to do a triathlon, but I have learned a very important lesson which will keep influencing my daily life. Your body can take you up to a certain point, but it is your mind and your soul that will take you across the finish line.
Good luck Mira and see you all in Maui in December!
