on the podium with Elizabeth Orchard (3rd) and Jacqui Slack (winner)
a bit of cross training on skies on the snow just 3 weeks before the event was probably not the ideal lead up for xterra but it was great for the mind and so much fun! we had the best conditions we could wish with new snow falling almost every day or night making for a perfect playground and any skiers dream :)
i did do some swimming before the race this year, which was a good start but it wasn't really enough as i only started in February. unfortunately swimming is such a technique sport that it will take me more then just a couple of month to make some improvements, oh well there is hope for next year.
so like last year i was last out of the water in the pro field, together with Sonia. it's slightly daunting when you find your bike is one of the only ones left in the transition zone, it's also an effective wake up call to start catching up.
i didn't have the best race on saturday, i didn't seem to be able to push as hard as i would have liked to which was frustrating especially since i had so many people supporting me and i wanted to do well for them too. it was only on my last running lap that i felt i was able to push a good pace, it felt good to finally go fast. it was just a bit late in the race to make much improvement but managed to run up to 2nd place, passing Susie Wood towards the end of the 1st lap and Nic Leary on the 2nd lap. there was never any chance that i was going to catch up to the leader Jacqui Slack who was 7min or so faster out of the water and won the event with a comfortable lead of 5min, awesome job!
Nic Leary got 4th and Susie Wood 5th, nice work.
thanks everyone for a fantastic race!
