So, today is the day before the big race...I am nervous, but yet very confident in having a great performance.  There is nothing better than feeling prepared for something that you have worked so hard for.  Everyone involved has helped me accomplish and surpass many goals and expectations; now it is time to do it AGAIN...ONE MORE TIME!!!

In order to make my last statement make sense, I guess I should update everyone with my season perfromances.  My stats say it all; I have competed in two sprint distance triathlons, finishing #1 overall female.  I competed in an olympic distance triathlon at Moss Park, finishing #1 overall female.  My most recent race was Nationals in Portland Oregon; an olympic distance triathlon.  I was very pleased with my perfromance there as well.  I was a little nervous about the course, being that there was nothing but hill after hill after hill.  However, to my surprise I handled them very well...all the training in Clermont prepared me for those lovely hills, but not the temperatures; a little too chilly for me.  When I couldn't feel my hands and feet anymore on the bike, that was the first indication of how much more effort I was going to have to put into the race if I wanted to come out on top and at least finish #1 in my age group.  Low and behold, I some how managed to make it through the race without too much trouble and finish #1 in my age group...so I thought.  A couple hours after the event was over and the final results were announced, I came to find out that I ended up getting a penalty for running out the "swim in" entry, which was MAYBE two feet away from the "run out" area.  I must have gotten so distracted with not feeling my feet, that I couldn't read the BIG, BLARING sign the read RUN OUT...go figure.  as an end result, I recieved a penatly of 2 minutes which dropped my ranking from #1 female to 4th; what a shame.  I guess we all have to get a penalty some time...I guess if I am going to get a penatly, I am going to do it right, Nationals of all places.  Despite the penalty, I still qualified for World championship, which will be held in Gold Coast Australia in Sept 2009.  that in itself is an accomplishment I was very proud of; not to mention the mere fact that I KNOW, I had the #1 time in my age group.  I chalked it up as a learning lesson!!!

 Since Nationals, training only got longer and more intense.  My coaches pushed me to the limits; mentally and physically...But, they also showed me that I can handle it; and potentally go even further if necessary.  I tell you what, I was ready for the taper when it came time to back off a little.  That may have been one of the harder things for me to cope with.  Being that my training sessions we long and intense for so long, I felt as if I wasn't getting enough milage in during the taper.  With the encouraging comments provided by my coaches, friends, and family, I went against my inner voice and followed the taper accordingly.  Thanksfully I listened, I feel like a million bucks!  I am ready to race and continue my streak!  Now, it is your turn to particiapte in my success, just take a moment on Sat morning to wish me luck and think positively about my race.  That alone will help me get through the event and continue with success!!!