Very pleased with my 7th place at the 2011 Xterra World Championships and being the first American Woman! I was excited that the course changed venues simply because I wanted to see and experience a different part of Maui. The new course in Kapalua was less technical than the old course but was just as demanding with lots of steep climbing on both the bike and run.
My super supporter Doug made me pose for the camera for some "scenic shots"
SWIM- The new swim course was in a less sheltered area than the old course and all the "real swimmers" were looking forward to big surf. The two days before the race there were good sized waves but nothing too scary for this "always worried about sharks" kind of ocean swimmer. Race day the water was about as smooth as a lake but that didn't prevent me from almost drowning. When 675 people start together on a small beach there is no way to avoid some level of chaos. The bottle neck at the first buoy was so bad that I had men swimming on top of me and pushing me under the water. Panic ensued for me and I had a vision of being pushed under water and not being able to get back to the surface. I stopped and screamed loudly for everyone to "stop it". Well, nobody stopped being aggressive and I had to doggie paddle my way around the first buoy and find a little bit of clear water to regain my composure. I stayed with a group of women for the remainder of the 1st lap and was able to pull ahead of a few of them on the second lap. Coming out of the water into T1 I had no idea how many women were in front of me. In T1 I saw Suzie, Emma and Renata and knew I would need to get moving quickly on the bike.
BIKE- I only was able to pre-ride the first 4 miles or so of the course, as I didn't think it would be smart to try and ride the whole thing 2 days before the race. Doug was able to ride the entire course for me and warned me to pace myself and not be too ambitious on the first few climbs to avoid blowing up on the upper climbs. I'm so glad I listened to his advice as the climbs were indeed long and steep. My performance on the bike was good but nothing to write home about. This time of year gets hard for me as there are very few hours of light before and after work for me to get longer rides in. I think next year I'll have to suck it up and get on the trainer or do some big night rides to be able to maintain my bike power and fitness until Worlds. I still climbed well and felt strong but just lacked that "perfect feeling". Renata remained ahead of me on the bike from the start and I never saw her again. I passed Suzie early in the bike and fell behind Carina and Danelle who both looked very strong when they passed me. I could see Specialized teammate Emma for most of the bike but she and I were clearly going the exact same speed and it wasn't until the last 4 miles that I caught and passed her. The downhill sections were not technical except when I was behind a pack of men and was left riding in a red dust cloud so thick that I couldn't see at all. My biggest focus on the bike was hydrating and this was something that I executed perfectly. I drank my entire Camelback, a large bottle with Infinit and about half a small bottle of water at both aid stations. RUN- I was feeling strong coming out of T2 but didn't know what to expect on the run other than a long climb and long descent. I was told I was in 9th place and that 5th place was only 2:30 ahead. If I honored my roots as a runner and my abilities I thought I could maybe make up that 2:30 and get on the box. I passed fellow Coloradan Kelly Cullen within the first mile and could tell the heat was not agreeing with her. She was one of many that were slowed by or fell victim to the heat. Fellow Specialized rider Melanie was leading and had an assumed victory until she collapsed within a few hundred meters of the finish. This was heartbreaking to hear yet amazing to see someone push themselves above and beyond their limits as an athlete in pursuit of excellence. I didn't pass any other women on the run and assumed I was in 8th place. At the top of the climb I saw Emma was not far behind me and I kept pushing the downhills hoping to get away. My focus for the last 3 miles of the run was centered on my breath and not the fact that my quads were cramping up with every step. When I got to the last 1/2 mile of the run I heard I was in 7th. Through the stream bed and onto the beach sections I could see the 6th place girl in front of me and thought for sure I could catch her. I tried to pick up the pace but I felt like I was running in slow motion. This was confirmed when Doug was able to keep up with me. The last bit to the finish was up a steep grassy hill...cruel to say the least! Up this hill my stride got a little wobbly, I did some weaving and I wasn't sure I'd make it for a brief moment. Luckily that moment was about 50 feet before the finish line and I did indeed make it as the 1st American and 7th overall!
The beach run and the hill to the finish were brutal
Congratulations to Women's winner Lesley who was very deserving of her victory on a tough day! While the race was missing last year's Champion Shonny as well as Julie (both out due to injury) the field was stacked and fast with the addition of some ITU girls. It is so exciting to see how fast the women continue to get and hopefully we are making the races more interesting as the "battle for the box" gets closer.
Wow, all that dirt makes my teeth look really white. Not sure my brain was working in this picture.
Huge thanks to all my sponsors for their support this year! Specialized, you make the best hardtail 29er a little 5'3" girl could want! Native, you are a super fun company to partner with and I always know I have the most styling shades on! Honey Stinger, I could eat your chews for dessert. In fact, I sometimes have to resist the temptation to do just this! Infinit, my custom drink blend leaves me strong, even in the hot, humid Hawaii climate! NoTubes, the super light and durable wheels are genuine pieces of artwork! Avia, your shoes leave me blister free and fast! Squadra, what can I say, your kits make me look good (and are super comfortable)!
I'm happy with another great season of racing and look forward to building upon my success next year! However, if you need me in the next few weeks I'll be at the gym reading a magazine on the eliptical machine.
