That was a hot one!  I worked really hard for my 5th place.  The legs were heavy and everything hurt, so I just talked myself into suffering anyway.  It worked out ok!  I am feeling great now, and just about to board a plane for Germany.  This weekend is going to be awesome.

good luck kiss

Here are some photos from South Africa.  Yesterday was the short track race at Sea Otter.  I had to run up the first hill due to a tangle up, so that really did not help my case.  Ended up 7th on the day chasing hard.  Today is the XC.  When I finish I will have completed 27 laps of the 19 mile loop during my career.  There is not much going on out there but gravel roads, so I will be bring light fresh legs with me today.  The weather is nice and sunny which is a lucky break.  Usually it is windy, cold, raining or all three.  

Safari sweetness

SRAM to the rescue. My mechanic is the best.

This has been a very eventful week!  It started with the family driving to Tsali in the Previa.  I felt sixteen again, which made me anxious actually.  Those teenage years are overrated.  My brother Sam told me that if my time was :15 minutes behind him that meant I was on track for a world cup podium.  I told him I guess I would “go out to puke” and he said, “that’s the point”.

I had a great race, and so did Sam.  We got to win together again which is pretty fun.  I also finished :15 behind Sam.  My Mom and Dad also raced, and Richie won the sport category.  He drank his champagne right away and then started to feel sick.  Guess he’s not a pro yet. .. Trish was handing us all our bottles just days from her due date.  She is amazing!

The very next day I was boarding the plane to Durban, South Africa.  I had 4 seats to myself and slept 10 hours with some help from a little blue pill.  I think that really helped my situation, because I felt great when I landed.  My teammate Sam Schlutz said it looked like I just got out of a spa.

As soon as I could check e-mail, I found out that Trish was going into labor.  Lucy was born soon after and I am sad that I missed it!  I will meet my niece soon.  Word is, my Dad says she looks like me and has my lungs too.  If this is true, Sam and Trish are in for a handful.  Oh boy.

Race day came quick, and I was ready.  The track was super fun with lots of steep ups and downs.  I felt great right from the start, and I can’t ask for more than that!  I spent 3 laps in the 4th position then felt a huge bonk coming on.  I asked for everything they had in the feed zone which equalled two cokes and two double espresso gels in the last two laps.  Gross.  I have never been so hyper after a race.  I should have gone and danced it off somewhere because I couldn’t sleep at all that night.

I managed to only slip two spots to finish in 6th, just :30 seconds off the podium.  I guess Sam should have set my Tsali goal at 14:30 behind him.

Ripping the DH

I had so much fun out there, and I was so appreciative to feel so good.  The crowd was great.  I got a couple marriage proposals while I was racing, which really made me laugh.  I also had a really cute old man tell me after the race that I was by far the best descender.  Nice!  I’ll take it. Heather also had a fantastic race scoring her first top 10 with a solid 8th place finish.  I think she passed  about 10 people on the last two laps. 

Yesterday we went on a Safari.  It was amazing!  I will put up some pictures as soon as I can.  Right now I am in Johannesburg and the internet is creeping.

So, I am pretty psyched to say the least.  In one week I have become an aunt, gone a Safari, and rocked the World Cup.  Now I will just sit back and relax in seat 53C for 18 hours and a fumigation in Dakar.  Delightful!  Check back soon, I will be writing from Sea Otter.  Thanks for all the support!