Competing on the same course as last year was somewhat a relief, but this year I was back with improved equipment and more hours of training under my belt. But just like every year, collegiate competition always brings some new faces, making it tough to scope out my main competitors… especially when they may not start in my wave. I had a great swim (21:23), cutting almost two minutes from last year off the 1500 meter swim. I sure can thank Ironman Wetsuit for providing me with a top quality Ironman Stealth wetsuit. This year I didn’t spend much time developing my time-trial position and I can definitely contribute my sub-par bike split to that. I was pleased with my run split on this dead-flat 10k out and back, although I didn’t catch either of the two girls ahead of me. I found out late in the day that a girl from the 3rd wave had beaten me by four seconds, bumping me to fourth place… I was disappointed but I know that I would have come out on top if she’d been in my wave. I have been in draft-legal mindset for most of my training.

.:Full Race Report:. .:Results:.

After a long road trip from Blacksburg, Virginia with 4 guys on my Virginia Tech Cycling Team, I
was really ready to race a good couple days of big-time cycling. After a disappointing crash in
the road race last year at Nationals, I was prepared to deliver some Hokie revenge. However, fate struck again… in the criterium through the wet, slippery streets of downtown Lawrence, I got caught up behind a crash and wasn’t told to get a free lap. After a couple laps of solo chasing, I gave up – deciding to save my legs for the next day’s road race. For that, I was feeling really good, avoiding a couple brutal crashes and hanging with the pack for the first 50 miles of the 56 mile road race. With 10k to go, I got the first (and hopefully last!) flat of my season. I got a new wheel from the wheel van but the brutal crosswinds on the dam made it too tough for me to catch back on in the last 10k. Very disappointing, but I’m still glad I went, for the experience of a big race like that.

Competing in my first professional race of 2005, I was extremely nervous, especially with my history of not handling heat well and temperatures well over 100 degrees F. However, as it was my first race with Team AEGIS, my teammates were very supportive and helped to ease the pressure. Despite my worries about getting dropped on the swim, I held on comfortably in the 3rd group, only 20 seconds behind the 2nd pack. Although I was very quick about getting into my cycling shoes and ready to chase down the group ahead, I made the mistake of waiting for the pack I swam with. The 2nd pack consequently put time on us and I tried out my cycling skills, attacking twice to see if I could put some time on my group. The heat got the better of me on the last lap and I began the run dehydrated and tired. Wearing new orthotics and not having run more than 30 minutes in the past month, I dragged myself through the 10k in 107 degree heat. When I finished, I took my bloody shoes off immediately. It was a tough race.

.:Full race report:. .:Results:.

I learned a lot at this race. Here are a few things…

1) Don’t assume stray dogs are nice.
2)Running up the beach between the swim laps does not work to my advantage.
3) Try not to let water get in your shoes when you’re running.

I competed against 14 women, mostly from the US and Canada. The smaller field and unfamiliar ocean swim made it tough for me to swim with the pack. Despite missing the pack by 40 seconds, I still had a decent race, cycling with a group of 2-3 other girls, all of whom I was able to beat on the hilly run course. I drenched myself with water during the run and got some major blisters. I know I won’t do that again! All in all, I was glad I wasn’t dead last out of the water and that I am starting to run as fast as I normally do.

.: Full Race Report :. .:Results:.

I really surprised myself last weekend at the ITU NYC Continental Cup. After a shaky rookie debut at the Pan American Continental Cup in Tempe, Arizona, I was nervous to face the same level of competition again. I knew swimming with the current of the Hudson River would be a plus for me in a field of very strong swimmers, but I never thought I would come out of the water in the middle of the main pack. My group caught the leaders on the bike portion on the Henry Hudson Parkway, and with all of us finishing the bike together it came down to the fast 10k run through Central Park. Although I didn’t take off as quickly as most of the group, I held a consistent pace and picked off enough competitors to place 5th in the women’s pro field, and 1st for the Under-23 division.

.: Full race report :. .: Results :.