Almost 3 weeks ago now I competed in my first WCS race in San Diego, California. This race was also the last Olympic selection event for the US where the top US female would make the 2012 Olympic Team (if she also finished in the top 9). I went into this race with the only intention being to gain experience and learn from the opportunity that I was given. A year ago, I would never have guessed I would be on the start line at San Diego where the worlds best ITU athletes were competing.
Luckily, the race fell on the last weekend of my break from school before summer classes started. I went out there on Wednesday and the race was Friday. I did my usual pre-race routine and felt good going into the race and knew I had great training behind me. I had a pretty good swim and ended up with the second chase pack during the first lap of the 8 lap bike course. Over the next couple laps we caught the chase pack, and were caught by another pack and ended up riding about half the race with roughly 40 women. I have never been in such a large bike pack during a race! I got so caught up in everyone around me and the technical course that I forgot to get in the fluid and nutrition I would need for the run.
I felt good the first lap of the 4 lap run course but faded every lap as the lack if hydration and nutrition caught up to me. On about the third lap I started seeing double on and off and grabbed any water I could at the aid stations. At the end of the day, I was 48th out of the 70 women on the start list and successfully completed my first WCS race! I have so much more to bring to the table but have learned so much from this experience, I cannot wait for what the future holds!
