swim, ride, run

40 minutes easy jog this morning. Really really easy.

Prerode Round Valley tonight and I love the course! Very flowy. And cold. I rode with Galen, who's a big time downhiller. Anyway he gave me some good advice on what lines to take and how to get around the corners, and other scary tips on the course like, "here you just shouldn't use your brakes at all"... um, haha, should be a fun race Saturday.

Round valley HS mountain bike race today.

It was perfect weather for racing and I felt great. My only goal was to stay on Sienna's (Park City) wheel as long as I can. At the last race she beat me by 2.5 minutes. I got a really good draft from her on the climb and was able to keep up the entire first and second lap, just sticking right behind her! Everyone was going crazy because it's never been this close in the varsity girls' race!

On the third and final lap I sprinted and passed her with about a half lap to go. There were a lot of girls on the course and so passing was a little difficult. Coming into the finish I was in the lead but Sienna was right on my wheel. To get to the finish there is a stretch of narrow, rocky singletrack and then a sharp right turn onto a dirt road, and then about 50 yards to the finish line. I thought it'd be a sprint once we hit that road, but Sienna tried to pass me early on the singletrack. We hooked handlebars and both crashed! It sucked! My rear shifter broke, and Sienna got up faster than me. Anyway... she took the win :(

Though the finish was a bummer, I was happy to know I've improved and am as fast as Sienna now. I think running's helped a lot. We got perks for such an entertaining race though, like an interview and "good sportsmanship" medal. My team and the rest of the racers did well too! Hahaha what a fun day!

Easy 4 miles around Sandy today. Feeling good running, but I want to rest up for another HS bike race this Saturday, in Snowbasin. Last week's Round Valley race report was posted, turns out I won I guess. 

HS bike race #4 at Snowbasin.

I must have bad luck or something. I was leading during the downhill on lap 2, by almost 2 minutes! It was awesome. Until I flatted. 1/2" inch tear in my rear sidewall. My first thought was: **EXPLETIVE**!!! Luckily, did not crash. But I had to run my bike down the trail to the pitzone at the bottom, and switched out wheels, and two girls Sienna and Brenna passed me while I was running. I finished the last lap and still took 3rd, though. Nice bonus though: I won the Queen of the Mountain jersey for having the fastest time up the climb (that was before my flat).

Running hard again starts tomorrow.

XTERRA Maui! An incredible race, with incredible support from friends back home in Utah and my very awesome family. The heat and humidity and beauty of Hawaii is hard to beat. The ocean swim went without problems for me, and then I completely buried myself on the bike. I was 5th amateur off the bike coming into T2 and ahead of Hannah Rae too!  Well needless to say, I was dead for the run. My lead over Hannah lasted about a mile, and I struggled very badly the entire run. Still, an awesome race to end the year on and I have so so so many people to thank for such a great season! I finished 2nd AG, about 4 min behind Hannah, and 14th amateur. Emma took 4th pro, I'm so proud of her!!!