Interview with Triathlete.com

Here is a link to a recent interview I had the privilege of doing with triathlete.com. Enjoy!

http://triathlon.competitor.com/2011/04/news/q-and-a-with-usat-collegiate-nationals-winner-kaitlin-shiver_26637

 Go Gators!

Go Gators!

 You know what’s funny about racing- when you cross the finish line and have achieved the result you hoped for (and raced to your potential), you forget all the pain. I guess at that point the feeling of accomplishment outweighs the physical pain of the race. By the end of the day, not only did you forget the pain, you have the desire to do it all over again! This competitive nature is what keeps us coming back for more. When we don’t have the race we wanted, we want to do it again. When we have the race we wanted, we want to do it again-somehow better this time. 

I have been looking forward to Collegiate Nationals in Tuscaloosa for awhile because it gave me the opportunity to compete for my school again! I love wearing the Gator uniform and being part of a team! The race conditions were interesting since the river was 60°F and by the time we were running it was almost 90°F with humidity!

The swim was not as physical as other races I have been in which is always nice. This was also the first race I have ever done in a wetsuit, although I never thought about the wetsuit once during the race thanks to Aquaman! Although I have never raced with a wetsuit I have completed numerous open water swims with one and this was by far the most comfortable wetsuit and allowed for the most flexibility. Aquaman really makes an incredible wetsuit! I was able to find some feet right before the first buoy and stayed right on them the rest of the swim. The run to transition was really long and I was able to catch a couple girls that I exited the water with.

Walking down to the in water start -thanks Aquaman for the AMAZING wetsuit!

I ran straight to my bike in transition and threw on my helmet, grabbed my bike and was out of transition. I had a clean mount and could see the leader right ahead but as soon as I went to get in my shoes I somehow popped my left shoe right out of the cleat. I think I got my foot caught between the shoe and the strap. I quickly turned around, put my shoe on and continued racing. I could still see 2^nd and 3^rd just ahead so I focused on closing the gap. On the way back on the first loop of the bike (it was 2 loops) I was able to catch the leader on an uphill. The rest of the race I was biking (and running) for my life!

I ran into transition after the bike and heard I had put 45 seconds on second place. Within the first ½ mile of the run we had to get up the biggest hill of the course. The whole way up all I could think was “Although the hill repeats at home were not fun at the time- thank you Coach Jennifer (Hutchison)!” It was still tough to get up but I knew I just had to not slow down as much as everyone else. The rest of the run I just kept pressing and trying to stay cool. The best part of the race came at the end where I was able to run through the finish shoot doing the Gator Chomp. That is a moment I will never forget! I am so blessed to have shared this experience with my Gator team as well as my mom who was there supporting me the whole weekend!

GO GATORS!

Collegiate Nationals to be aired on CBS Sports April 29th 10pm E.T.!!