I have never been to ‘the south’ before but was looking forward to racing there as I heard good things

about it and it didn’t disappoint!

It was also a little break from packing our house for our upcoming move to San Francisco! Jeff has gotten  

a new job there and we will be relocating at the end of this month.  There is alot to do with moving and

everything that comes along with it. Jeff started his new job the end of September, so I have been the

single parent...to our dog of course!  She is beautiful and I love her very much but she has more

 energy than I do. I think my mum just laughs when I tell her how tiring it is 

as Kaisley is giving me a taste of my own medicine, for when we were kids. My mum always reminds

me ‘do you remember the time when you and your sister stole that boy’s bike and took off down the

road in different directions’??!!

It only took a few hours after Kaise was picked up to go to Carla’s place, the best dogsitter/ trainer

(www.bestdogtrainingsandiego.com ) that I started to miss her and kept waiting for her to come running

up to me. I’m on my way home now as the race is over and I am flying and typing at the same time,

I have gotten good at that! She will be so excited and the craziness will being again…something I

appear to love.

I took a week off (from a proper schedule) after REV3 Ohio full distance to surf and chill out with friends

and take Kaise to some different trails to run in the bush. We had a girl’s night, ordered deep dish pizza

from Chicago (thanks to Zodes) and watched Bridesmaids and had some good laughs. On a weekend

visit from Jeff, we went with our good Aussie friends Sim and JB to see the comedian Jim Gaffigan and

had some good belly laughs there too. It was great to do some ‘normal’ things for a change without

having to worry about getting up early to train. By Saturday I was ready to go again and went for a ride

with my friends to dust out the cobwebs.

Sunday I volunteered at the Del Mar Powerhouse Paddle and Swim event and did the 6 miles paddle

with my friend Gracie (who waited up for me!). It was a lot of fun and just what my body and mind

needed.

Huddle and Newby looked after Kaise for half the day whilst I was gone and when I came back she was

happy to see me but didn’t want to leave her BFF Leroy .

                                                   Mac, Lucy, Me, and Gracie

                                                                            PowerHouse Swim and Paddle

                                                                Kaise and Leroy

Then it was back to some more structured training as there was still one more race of the season to do.

Ok,, back to my Rev3 race in South Carolina, I kind of got side tracked there for a bit, 

My friend Erin (who I met training with Siri) organized a great home stay for us, right on the lake, close

to the race site and so beautiful and quiet.

I arrived Thursday night and Erin picked me up from the airport, filled me in on the course and where

to ride the following day. I woke up just before 11am….must have needed some beauty sleep! I got out

for a ride and run as I was feeling a little sluggish after travelling all day. Then it was off to register and a

short interview for the REV3 footage.

Saturday I got up a little earlier and made it out for a short bike and run and then we jumped off the

back pontoon for a swim in the lake which was stunning. How I would have liked to have access to a

speed boat and wakeboard/kneeboard/ski’s…..now that would have been fun! Luckily I didn’t have

access to a boat or any toys as I might not have been able to move too well on race day.

A non-wetsuit swim for the pro’s and the water clean and glassy as we swam round the small headland

of the park and out onto the bike for a rolling 56mile course. I really liked the ride, it had a bit of

everything and the wind picked up hitting us from all angles. I wasn’t so happy when an official who I

believe might need new glasses, pulled me over for drafting….i was riding by myself and had been for a

few miles so I tried to find out how I could possibly draft off a person who was so far in front you could

only make out it was a bike…..he continued to say ‘maaaam’ and I continued my case but of course he

won and I had to stand down for a few minutes. That is a long time in a strong field but I decided to

take it as a test to see how much I really wanted to race and my mum’s voice kept repeating itself in my

head ‘just do the best you can do’ and then I recalled my squash days when I got a bad call and had to

play on. Still I wasn’t happy but couldn’t give up because of that and I wanted to see out what I had set

out to do, finish the REV3 series.

I got on the run and was in 6th place and that is where I finished. The other girls in front of me were

having a great battle which I would have liked to be part of but it wasn’t to be.

I won the overall REV3series which was my goal for 2011 and I accomplished that

It is a bitter sweet moment, the last race of the year as I have looked forward to having some time

off but when it comes, I still have a little want to race again…..it is a dangerous drug so I know I need

to detox now for a little while so I can come back again next season with enthusiasm and the want to

race….the perfect elixir!

I looked around yesterday as I waited to accept my Overall Series award, at the people who run the

REV3 series, the companies who dared to sponsor it and get it off the ground and the athletes and

their families who came to race and hoped they realized how much time and effort goes into running

these races and that their series is a success and has brought back the old school feel of triathlon. REV3

have events for all ages over their race weekend, kids adventure races (and jumping castles, slides,

face painting etc), sprint/Olympic/half and full distance races and make sure age group athletes and

professionals have as smooth a race as possible and a great experience. Thank you to all the REV3 staff

for ensuring that at every one of your races and to every person.

It is my last opportunity this year to thank my personal sponsors for your continued support throughout the year.

I think of myself as an employee of your companies and want to do the best I can to promote it as I

believe in the products I use.

Saucony, Nathan, Wilier, Reynolds, Rudy Project, DOMA coffee, Profile Design, Cobb Saddles, Udo’s Oil,

Continental tires, RIDE Cycles, Garmin, Fuel Factor Nutrition-Kim Muellar. I am thankful for your continued

support.  

Ok, got to get a packing, the count down is on, got the moving van ready and cant wait for another adventure,

Here we come San Francisco....be ready!!