Back home again

So I’m back home for the holidays now and recovering over a mixed yet forward looking year.

Clearwater was perfect until I started running! I exited the water along side Joanna Zieger and Julie Dibens and stormed through transition into the lead. Julie zoomed past but I settled well and kept her in my sights.

As we turned left at about 5km the police car failed to direct-muppets! and went down the wrong road- the 5 girls in touch zoomed past but quickly switched back and got on their tails.

I rode very hard from here on in and despite a very controversial decision to let the pro men off behind us (that saw a couple of girls latch on to their train and pull up to the good swimmers), me and Mary Beth-Ellis broke off the line of girls.

In hindsight, I hope the organisers of Clearwater understand that decisions like this are absolutely crucial in deciding these championships. At points in the course it was absolutely impossible to not tail the men because of the long pace line that was cutting into us. I do feel that it became a race of who could hang on in at the men’s pace rather than dictate our own pace. I fully (maybe naively) believe that we all want a fair race but when organisers decide things like this we have to react and live with the consequences, not really them as they will get a world champion anyway. Why not start us 10 minutes behind the men and there would be no problem. Is the road schedule really that tight?

This is all a little moany as I know that the best lady on the day won, no question-Jules was ace. However in future we need to know this is definitely the case and it is not only first place that matters in world championship results.

As soon as I hit the run I felt awful. Very lightheaded and not really leg related at all. I past the third place mary at about 10km and then just had nothing at all to give. I dropped out whilst in fourth place at about 12km.

It’s a very strange situation as I have trained so well since Perth, looked after myself nutritionally and I thought travel wise too. In truth I was relying on my run because it was going so solidly and my treadmill reps are easier and faster.

Having thought about it and discussed with Chris and my loved ones I think I was really silly to think that all the travelling this year would not inhibit me. I’ve just got off the flight from florida and I feel absolutely awful. I think that the euphoria of perth masked these effects and the assumption that I made about coping with flying just two days before racing in Florida.

I have to explain that my decisions have not always been independent of financing this dream and it sometimes become balancing what’s best and what I can afford. Next year the racing will be far more specific and I have delegated responsibility on travel to Chris…lucky him! I ALWAYS think I’ll be ok but this is my personality and it doesn’t necessarily take logic into an emotional decision.

ANYWAY that’s enough of dwelling on being fed up. I can’t wait till next year now and my new winter with a new coach and new area and training groups.

I am national olympic champ and world long distance champ in 2009 and that’s better for me and my sponsors than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!!

Stay fit and healthy through the winter and lets make 2010 great