World Championships Recap

It's been a week and a half since the big show so I figure if I don't write a race report now, I never will! So first, I'd like to start by thanking everyone for the messages, I appreciate the support you all have given me through the year and it will definately help carry me through the long winter into next race season!
So I figure I'd give a brief play by play of all the excitement...after all, it was rather exciting! Going into the race, Dom and I set the goal of a top 10 finish, but honestly, I was trying to convince myself that I should be happy with finishing anywhere from 10-15. Afterall, it is the World Championships where anything can happen and a lot of women were there that I didn't know how to predict where they would fall. So on race morning, I had just a touch of nerves, nothing like I normally experience. I knew I wasn't supposed to be a major player in the overall standings, so why stress? I was relaxed and knew that I had to stay relaxed in order to stay hydrated and not let the heat, lava rock and kiave thorns get the best of me.
The start was the best of my life...The field seemed to be pretty spread out so I lined up with the buoy straight ahead and I didn't get pulled out super fast. It got a little crowded approaching the first buoy when both sides of the field squeezed in toward the center, but within the chaos, I stayed calm and found a good draft. As I ran across the beach going into the second lap, I spotted another pink cap (a female pro) just a few people in front of me. I swam another relaxed second lap, feeling like I was barely working. When I came out of the water, I realized why I wasn't working...I was on the feet of Nico Lebrun (a former world champ!) and Melanie McQuaid (a former 2x world champ!).
Melanie beat me out of transition so I tried to get out while she was still in sight. I managed to get on her wheel for a nice 1/2 mile stretch down the road before heading up the volcano. I decided to hang onto Mel's draft (and a couple of guys between us) until she started to hammer and naturally pull away from me. As we rode along and hit a few hills and rocky areas I fell back a bit but it seemed like she never really pulled away. We both cruised past Marion L then a while later, I passed Christine Jeffreys, the first woman out of the water, and continued to push the pace until cresting Ned's climb where I could still see Melanie ahead of me (a long climb to the high point of the course where I also drank my UCAN) and then tried to stay relaxed as I descended "the plunge," a long rocky downhill section that is known for taking out even the race favorites. Next up was the boneyards section which has a few more climbs and a lot of rocky, nasty terrain that isn't terribly difficult but there are no good lines. Here I had a couple of close calls but managed to stay upright. I caught a nice draft off a couple of age group guys who were hammering the paved section back to transition and entered feeling pretty good and still relaxed. UNTIL I heard Whit announce that I was in 4th position with Melanie less than a minute ahead! Then Jamie Whitmore (the most inspiring woman I know) got on the microphone and starting talking about how well I was racing- how I was having the best race of my life and she was so excited for me-and then I began to get nervous! So many people were excited and cheering for me out of T2 and I realized that it was possible to get on the podium!
At this point I could see all of the women coming into T2 behind me and there were a lot of fast runners close behind. I decided to set a comfortable pace to start the 7 mile run course because it is definately not an easy one. The paved section was a nice place to get into a rhythm and get my head straight before the nasty climb but all I could think about was the "death march" coming up: the long, hot uphill climb to the water tower. As we turned up the dirt road to start the climb, Jeffreys passed me. I ran with her until my heart rate got a little too high then settled back into my own pace and tried to keep her in sight. When we finally crested and headed down the loose rocky slope, I passed Melanie and offered a couple of encouraging words but heard no response. I opened up and let the legs roll, keeping the cadence high and staying light on my feet so as not to bust an ankle or let the hamstrings cramp. Soon after, Marion L. (from France) blazed past me and I knew I was in 5th place and couldn't give up any more time. I trudged across the 3/4 mile deep sandy, hot as blazes beach to hit the last aid station and enter the "spooky forest." I knew the worst was behind me and it was time to pick up the pace if I wanted to defend my podium spot. So I hammered through the winding single track, over and under trees (not hitting my head on them this year!) and then hit the black sand beach to be surprised by Carina Wasle (from Austria) passing me. Ugh back to 6th place. Here is where the excitement begins. We cross the short beach section, then an ankle twisting, jagged rock section along the waters edge, up onto the grassy edge of the golf course where my friend Kathy was yelling at me to "pass her and get on the podium!" Here I had about a quarter mile to the finish...I wanted to pick it up but nothing was happening. I think I had almost condeeded to 6th place. But she was soooo close- only 10 yards...I knew I wanted to get her but was also pretty happy with 6th place. Oh the mental anguish I was hurting so bad! We lept across the rock wall (hamstrings on the verge of cramping!) then made the hard left and a quick hard right onto the sidewalk: 50 yards to the finish. The crowd was screaming for me to "get her," Carina kept looking over her shoulder and my legs still weren't moving any faster! The sidewalk had the tiniest little mole-hill-esque rise JUST before the finish line. As I came over the 'hill' something happened and to my surprise, my legs just took off! I flew by her just in time to cross the line in 5th place!
At the finish line there are volunteers and people lined up just waiting for racers to collapse so they grab you and ask if you're ok as they automatically walk you towards the med tent. After a minute I realized I was ok and had managed to pull off the 5th place finish. UNBELIEVABLE! How did I do that? I still don't know. I guess my training, nutrition and preparation was right on and everything just came together for the biggest competition of the year! Wow, what a day. All I can say is it was a great day to have a good day!
Heres to a great 2010 season and more to come in 2011! Cheers!