Always a bridesmaid, never a bride

Do you know how many times I've been told that saying in the past month?!?! 2nd in Arizona and now 2nd in St. Croix, that's tough!

St. Croix was awesome; the best, most physically challenging race I've ever done. Overall, I'm very pleased with 2nd place. A stacked contingent showed up on race day; I was even told by one girl, "I'm going for the Kona slot. I'm out for blood." Needless to say I passed her early on the bike and made sure to look back and smile in the process. Back to the race...
SWIM: We had to swim about 200yds. through the bay to a small island for the start. The water was very choppy and clouds filled the sky. We got to watch the pros launch and before I knew it we were in the water chasing after them. I think I swam about a mile and a half out there, it was really tough to spot buoys through the waves. I made it out about five minutes off pace, but knew I could make it up on the bike.
BIKE: I tried to stay conservative early on the ride because I knew that Beast was looming ahead. There was an 8 mile loop that came back towards transition, then the 48 mile loop around the island made up the remainder. I passed my friend who was "out for blood" on the 8 mile loop... never saw her again. I came back in to town feeling strong despite the rain and strong winds. Heading back out all I could think about was Mile 20: The Beast. For any readers who are unaware of this Beast, it's a 7/10 mile climb averaging a 14-21% grade, peaking at 27%. To put this in perspective, most walls are built at 27% (maybe that's an exaggeration, but that's how it felt).
THE BEAST: You approach the Beast with a small climb to assure no rider has any speed propeling them uphill. Mile 19 is through rain forest so it's easy to get caught in the beauty around you, then the small climb and switchback and there it hits ya. I started out in my easiest gear pushing about 6mph and slowing... this was going to be a long climb. About 30 ft in to the climb my lungs constrict and I begin to wheeze uncontrollably. I stare down at my front wheel thinking one foot in front of the other. At this point I know I'm close to the top so I look up, damn... I haven't even passed the first of three switchbacks. Switchback # 1 welcomes you with a 21% grade, took it wide. Switchback #2 welcomes you with 27%, this turn was awful. Riders ahead gave me dirty looks for breathing so loud. I just starred down at the pavement as I passed them :) So at this point, I'm literally dying. I'm seeing flashes of red and can't even make out the top of the hill. There are locals running next to me cheering me on but I have no idea what they said. Then, I crossed the line, the peak, I had somehow conquered The Beast. I grabbed a water and geared up for the descent. Wow that sucked, still can't figure out how I made it up.
MORE BIKE: The rest of the ride consisted of normal St. Croix amenities: speed bumps, south shore headwinds, more 15% climbs, technical descents ( I saw about 10 crashes... hammerheads need to learn to use brakes when it rains!), and a big iguana that was ready to attack. It was the coolest and most difficult ride ever.
RUN: I was determined to run strong after my crap performance in Arizona. I has chased down two girls on the bike and knew there were two more ahead on the run. The course was a two loop run through a really cool resort. Lots of hills, spectators, sun, strong wind, and great ocean views. Before loop 2 I had caught and passed girl #1. At the turnaround I saw my support crew (ie my awesome Dad) who informed me I was eight minutes behind girl #2 with 7 miles to go. I decided to go for and it picked up the pace. Two miles into the run a friend told me I was 5 minutes back... I was going to catch her. The next two miles were hilly so I backed down and saved it for the final three. Coming out of the Buccaneer I picked it back up all the way home, but it just wasn't enough. I crossed the finish line completely spent; nothing more I could have done.

It was an awesome race, and while I didn't come away with a Kona slot I did claim Clearwater! So back to the drawing board, and as my brother says "My wedding day is coming!". Train on.

Greetings from St. Croix

Hello from sunny St. Croix. It's the morning before the big 70.3 and the town is shaping into Triahtlete World. The transition is being built on the waterfront and athletes are buzzing through town. As for me, I'm trying to take it easy. I got a great nights sleep and just had a breakfast of champions at the Avacodo Pit (mmm!) I'm getting ready to go drive the course to get a better handle on The Beast and the technicalities of the bike leg. Feeling great and am so ready to race. My body is feeling fully recovered (thanks to Bridgid!) and the course couldn't play any better to my strengths. Keep an eye on me tomorrow at www.stcroixtriathlon.com or www.ironman.com. See you at the finish!!