Burlington, Vermont did not disappoint.

I wanted to race USAT Nationals Olympic for a few reasons.  Mostly, I wanted an opportunity to race head to head with the best short course athletes in the country in my 40-44 age group on this given day.

Last time I went to USAT Nationals I was 35-39 and it was in 2007 in Portland.  This is the trip where I earned the nickname Miss Daisy from Driving Miss Daisy.  I was worried about bears, starving to death all the time and always had a bee in my bonnet.  Hence, the nickname.  Fast forward to USAT Nationals in 2012 and Miss Daisy traveled with Elizabeth and Chris Waterstraat – same trio from 2007.  This time, Elizabeth EARNED the nickname MAUDE and for the same reasons I am called Miss Daisy.  I told her it is the impending turning 40 that is making her lose her mind:   the chills, hot flashes, demanding FOOD and coffee, having a meltdown and stomping her feet.  Because guess what happened?  MAUDE came out in Burlington and Miss Daisy was a peppy, happy (and relaxed) as a clam.  Oh the irony. (after 40 you just don’t give a sh*t quite frankly).

But, we had a great time – lots of laughs, good friends and shared respect for each other and our racing preparation.  Our hotel was absolutely disgusting and I rallied and did not complain too much – that is what happens when you jump into an already sold-out Nationals of 3000 athletes – hotels are GONE.  Enter:  Roach motel.

I was calm for Nationals.  I knew I was in great shape and knew that I would have a good day.  The weather was cooler (yay!) and the water choppy.   I can’t ask for much more.  And, mentally I was in a great place.  I have raced Nationals enough (and big, competitive races) to know that YOU MUST have a good swim.  PERIOD.  If you cannot have a good swim at Nationals, you cannot get into the mix right away.  And, in my age group – we were last of the day, so we started at 9am!  I knew I had to work hard from start to finish because the course would be super crowded and I would not know who was 40-44 until I came upon them.

My goal:  NO regrets and TOP 5 Age Group.  Top 10 is Podium at Nationals and the Award Ceremony is as inspiring as it gets in short course racing.  USAT recognizes the TOP 10 in all age groups and it is one of the highlights of each Championship – to see the 80-84 year olds and 70-74 year olds!   I loved it.

I have been feeling really good lately.  Amazing what happens when you don’t train for an Ironman and you specify your training for short course!  Ah!  You feel good!  I knew that if I was going to be in the mix in this race, I would have to swim in the 22 minute range, bike sub 1:10 and run 42 or better.  I was confident in all of those times; however, the wild card was my run.  I KNEW I could run a 42 minute 10k, my workouts had proven that, but that was my HUGE goal for Nationals, run 42 or better, that is 6:45 pace or better.  I did a track workout the Saturday before Nationals (bike/track repeat) and it was VERY good so all things pointed to this being doable. (since last year at this time I was not even walking)

SWIM:  The best thing about the swim here is that it was REAL.  It was choppy and aggressive and just what a National Championships should be.  I secretly was overjoyed.  I was wishing it was worse because then it would most definitely rip apart the age group.  I found my friend Mary B and we tried to relax as we waited forever for our AG to start.  I warmed up a few minutes and then just plopped myself in the front of the AG – it was aggressive – we were all treading water and kicking one another to get position.  But, I don’t care about that – I know if I get a clean line – I can keep Mary B and some of the faster swimmers in my sight and I will be fine.  And, that was true.  I came out of the water in the top 5 and was right where I needed to be.  I felt GOOD in the water – didn’t sight as well since I too am not used to choppy water, but all fine.  We were all slow, but I did not care, just trying to keep the rubber band from snapping from the lead group of 1-3 girls.

BIKE:  Funny because I was most confident in my bike these last couple of months and this is the area that comparatively I did not do as well as I wanted.   But, it was enough to stay in the mix.  The bike was harder than I thought it was going to be and I was trying to get into that rhythm.  I was feeling good though and was passing a ton of the 30-34 girls who started 8 minutes ahead of me.  I kept trying to find ANY 40-44 girls!  I will say that if you are in the top 5 at Nationals (or thereabouts) EVERYONE IS FAST and you do not just “pass” someone – you have to hunt them down and get them.  I got off the bike and really had NO idea where I was.  I had one girl pass me and I knew I was still in that 4-7th position.  Note to self:  TIME to get back to the Computrainer, way better than outside riding for short course training.

RUN:  I felt AWESOME.  I saw 2 girls in front of me in T2 and I made it my mission to get my legs, get up that massive hill out of T1 and then settle and then attack.  I saw my friend Mary B up ahead and after I passed her I worked on getting the girl in the bright yellow POWERBAR kit (Thanks for wearing that color).  I felt light, fast and perfect.  Temps were perfect and the course is fast after that initial hill.  I was moving and everything clicked.  I did not even care where the mile markers are – or what my time was, I was racing.  I was going hard and I was feeling AWESOME.  One of those days you just need to bottle up.  Where you do not want things to end!  I was passing a ton of people and by mile 3 caught Powerbar girl.  I had NO idea where I was so I just started chasing the faster 30-34 girls ahead of me.

I came to mile 6 and one girl came flying by me and I could not respond.  While I felt good, she ended up running a 39:xx and I could not match that pace.  I crossed the finish line – spent but SUPER HAPPY.  I knew I nailed it and I knew I was where I wanted to be.  My final run time?  42:xx !

We waited for results to be posted and I was 6th!  Guess what the time difference was between 5th and 6th?  .01 second.  That is one one hundredth of a second.  I am trying to understand that because I never saw someone that close to me but there must have been someone crossing the mat with me who was 40-44.  It was crowded!  Trust me, when I saw that, I spent some  time trying to digest that one.  BUT:  That is racing!  I left it all out there.

Above is 1/2 of the 40-44 AG podium.  Maude’s picture taking skills need some work.

The best part of short course racing?  Fast, furious and done quickly!

USAT Nationals was one of those races where I said NO REGRETS and I went out and just made it happen.  I am happy today.  I race for many reasons.  Some are public (I crave the competition, I crave being the best I can be at each age, I appreciate the longevity I have in this sport) but some are private too.  I am deeply inspired everyday by the athletes that cannot race and I never take one day for granted any more.  With athletes dying on the courses, athletes fighting cancer or injuries or broken bones or motivation or the demons that run in their heads….I know when things are good – to ride that wave and jump on.  I did all of that on Saturday and that is what makes me tick.  When things are good – I am on that wave because life is short and who knows what tomorrow will bring.  So, for that, I am grateful and HAPPY.

I celebrate each success and this weekend was a HUGE success for me.  One of my best races – while it was far from any PR for me – It got the job done AND I am sure it is a PR for my 40-44 self.

And, I am grateful that I had bought new bright NEON SHOES (Yellow) so that Miss Daisy did not get lost in Burlington.  I literally stopped traffic with them.  And, here the whole weekend I thought it was just because I was cute.  The shoes:

NOT so much.

And, truth be told, all I wanted all weekend was ICE CREAM.  I patiently waited until 9pm on Saturday night for Ben and Jerry’s CHOCOLATE THERAPY (right Caroline?).  It was awesome..I had NO idea Maude (who needed to get her butt to bed and was fading away here) snapped this picture of me.

THANKS to Jerome who stayed home with the kids and supported my passion.  He is such a great supporter and spent some quality time with the kids while I was off in Vermont for 3 1/2 days.  Thank you, Jerome. xxo

Next up:  Maude and Daisy do Long Course Nationals in Oklahoma.  Oh, this will be classic.