Getting off the line first - thanks to friend and pro photographer EA Weymuller for the excellent photo!It was a real treat for those of us local athletes to be racing on our home turf. With Sadie and Erik gone to the airport for their flight to Europe, Brian Gregg and I got to absorb the wild energy of our home crowd and got huge cheers and support through the heats. I had people tell me afterward that they could barely catch their breath after the semi-final heat with both Brian and I racing together!
After feeling super strong in the qualifer, quite strong in the quarterfinal, and pretty strong in the semi-final, I dropped plow in the B Final. My tank had run dry; I led the heat out and into the first hill and realized my only way to survive was the control the pace at something I could maintain. Well, that ended about halfway into the hill when that pace dropped to pedestrian and everyone behind me realized they should get the heck around me. In the shuffle I got tangled and spun around and was off the back. And stayed that way. After crossing the finish line I stumbled a few feet and, amidst abundant support from friends, threw up everything in my stomach. A hard-fought day.
Scott and I talking strategy under the watchful eye of MOD sponsor David BonnAfter Saturday's effort Scott strongly advised, and I agreed on not racing Sunday's 15K. With only two weeks until I fly to Europe my focus right now is on rebuilding a training base on which I can race for five weeks in OPA Cup action. For now, it's all about putting in the hours on the hometown turf. Thanks to everyone who put in countless hours to make a spectacular SuperTour, and to everyone who showed up to cheer - what a community!
