After entering the Monster Challenge ITU Triathlon in both 2001 and 2002, and then not being able to compete due to injury, it was great to finally be healthy enough to go to the race in Boston on August 31.

At the pro meeting the day before the race, the event organizers continued to stress that this race was an "urban triathlon," so we should all keep that in mind while we were racing. At first, I was not really sure what I would encounter in an "urban triathlon," but I quickly found out during the race the very next day.

The swim took place in the Boston Harbor. After a deep water start, we had to swim to the other side of the World Trade Center Building. At that point, we were pulled on to a deck by several race officials and then sent on our way up a couple flights of stairs, through the World Trade Center Building, down a steep ramp and back into the water for another loop around the building. For the first time in a triathlon, I can actually say that I did not enjoy the swim at all! The swim did not go well for me from the very beginning. I am not sure how, but I managed to wedge myself between three other girls during the first few strokes of the swim. I typically like the beginning of the swim when everyone is fighting for position, but this time I had three other girls swimming on top of me and it did not seem to matter how many kicks and arm swings I threw their way. They would not get off of me!

All I could think of was the scene in the Rocky III movie where Rocky was locked in the corner of the ring while his opponent, Mr. T.. just keep hitting him with one punch after another. Rocky’s wife and coach were yelling to him from the sidelines "you have to get out of there Rock." I was very aware of the fact that I needed to get out of the situation I was in. I also knew that my father and brother were probably going crazy watching the whole thing, but it really did not seem to matter because no matter how many times I hit and kicked the other girls they continued to swim right on top of me. Personally, I think I would have found some clear water and moved over pretty quickly after being kicked hard in the face by me, but I have to give it to my competitors for refusing to give up. I finally remedied the bad situation by just stopping for a few seconds to let them go ahead and then swimming around them on the other side. If only I had thought of that a few minutes before!

Anyway, after losing a good 30 seconds or so to the leaders who were swimming well up ahead while I was battling in the back, I managed to make it around for the first loop. I was pulled up to the deck by an official. I then proceeded to run up the stairs and through the building in slow motion as I made my way back to the water. I could hear the frustration in my brother’s voice as he encouraged me to run faster, but my feet were numb from the cold water and I was exhausted from my earlier battle in the water and I just wanted to turn to him and say, "you try this!" I was also concerned that I would face plant as I ran down the slippery ramp leading back to the water. (You can now see how focused I was at this point. I was apparently more concerned with falling than I was with the fact that people were flying by me.)

I managed to get through the rest of the swim without any other problems. I actually finished the swim in 6th, but thinking that I had had a horrible swim, I tried a little too hard in transition and ended up struggling to put my bike shoes on. As I tried to slip my foot into the shoe, my foot slipped causing my bike shoe to spin around on the pedal. Visions of the Bellingham Race where I lost my shoe flashed through my mind. Afraid that I was going to lose my shoe again, I slowed to allow myself to safely get my foot in the shoe. Unfortunately, I missed my opportunity to ride with the first chase pack. I had to settle for the second chase pack and while we worked fairly well together we still lost time to the lead groups.

I learned what the race organizers meant by "urban triathlon" during the bike. We started the bike course by riding out to an area where we then had to complete four loops before heading back to the transition area. On the way out, I think I hit about 30 potholes just in the first few miles. I think the potholes were a result of a big construction project that they are working on in Boston called the "Big Dig." (www.bigdig.com). Anyway, I was looking forward to the four loop portion of the bike because it was suppose to be a very nice smooth road. I guess the people who wrote the course description have a different idea of what constitutes a smooth surface than I do because I think I hit about 20 more dips and potholes while riding on that part of the course alone.

Along with the potholes, the other obstacle on the bike course was all of the orange cones that were placed on the course to guide us in the correct direction. There were three rows of cones which made it extremely confusing to figure out which row we were suppose to be in at that point in the race. My group somehow made our way through the course. I was very glad to get off the bike and head out for the run.

The run course was just a short loop that we were to do six times. It was completely flat and very spectator friendly. I felt pretty strong on the run. When I finished the bike I was in 12th place, but by the time the run was over I moved in to 7th place.

Overall, I was not pleased with my race. I was pretty frustrated with my swim and my first transition. I was, however, pleased that I got some more points and that I earned some money. I also really appreciated having my brother, Chad, his wife, Erin, and my father there to cheer for me during the race. Their support really helped me!

I give a lot of credit to the race organizers as well as all of the volunteers because it took a lot of work to hold a triathlon in downtown Boston!

I feel like the Boston ITU Triathlon help serve as a tune up for my upcoming World Cups in Nice and Madrid! I am looking forward to racing in Europe where there will be even more of an opportunity for new experiences.