Hello from Clearwater – the day after my last race of the season – a painful season – but a season that I managed to execute despite being at less than 100%. Having finished 2nd at the 70.3 World Championships in 2006, I earned my slot to this year’s event. And since I had spent much of the summer not racing due to an injury, I was quite eager to race the 70.3 Worlds this year.
I had a good swim and started the bike with Karen Smyers and Kate Major. I smashed the bike and rode my best 90 km ever – cycling 2:21 – and I wasn’t even in a pack!! But my legs were just dead after that effort. And I suppose my shortened running season didn’t allow me to pull out my normal 1:20 run split on such tired legs. I worked as hard as I could on the half marathon but I was all grit and no finesse and my Achilles was not very happy. I used every possible positive thought that I could, but it came down to finishing what I started. I race for more than just victory. It would have been very easy for me to not finish the race – I was not in the top ten and I was in some pain – but I don’t know if I would have been stopping because of the pain in my foot or the pain in my ego? I will never be afraid to not place top ten but I will be afraid to give in to expectation or pride. I could run – I didn’t need to walk – I just couldn’t run as fast as I could if I was 100%. I ended up running 1:28 and finishing in 4 hours and 23 minutes. Next year, I will be 100%. The healing starts now. It is a long time to the 2008 race season and I will start it and finish it at full speed.
And so, I could have written the whole year off and rehabilitated my Achilles for the 2008 season. But I chose to get it almost better, put on a band-aid and go win the 25th anniversary Subaru Ironman Canada and Pucon 70.3 in Chile, South America. And while victories are good, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to race and to share our gift of sport. Happy off season and I look forward to a healthy, fast and happy 2008!!!
Lisa