Pan American Championships 2009
Hello, it has been a while again since my last update, I have done a few races since then (i will get to those later). I just want to inform my friends who haven’t heard about the Pan American Champs this past Saturday, May 16th, 2009 in Oklahoma City. I was the 2008 defending Champion held in Mazatlan, Mexico.
I started out the weekend graced with being 1st ranked American for PATCO. This is the first time I have ever been ranked number 1 in a competition of this caliber. I was very nervous, mostly cause I had to choose my spot on the line first, I have yet to have this opportunity.
When I got out on the pontoon I immediately went to an end locations as instructed by my peers :) I was luckily enough to have a top swimmer, Jen Spieldenner, come and stand next to me for the start. As the horn blew I wanted to stay on Jen’s shoulder as long as I could and get caught in her draft. (As most of you may know I am not the strongest swimmer in the field and I have been trying since February, when Mike Done started coaching the group at the OTC in Colorado Springs. I have been making improvements, but I knew it was going to take some time.) I felt good in the water, but I wasn’t expecting what happened, I was able to stay next to Jen and by the first buoy I moved to her feet and it felt effortless compared to how I used to feel. I was very excited knowing I was swimming with Jen who was going to come out in front. I came out of the water just behind Jen and right with Amanda Stevens (another a top swimmer). I was pumped, I had a GREAT swim! It wasn’t a McLarty great swim:) but it was for me.
I got on the bike with a good size pack, McLarty and Perisol where off front by 60sec (that was to be expected). Our pack only got 5 sec. closer after the first lap (4 lap bike), but then we were joined by two power-houses on the bike Susan Williams (2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist) and MaryBeth Ellis. We caught the two girls by the end of the 2nd lap. Everything was going great! Before we turned around Perisol had an unfortunate accident and was unable to finish the race (luckily she was not seriously injured) at that point MaryBeth made a break on the pack and forced me to chase her down. I wasn’t sure if anyone came with me, then I saw McLarty and Shoemaker, with the pack of four we broke away from the rest of the field to start the 4th and final lap.
Our pack was coming around the Capital when MaryBeth caught a groove in the road and almost fell. We both had a nervous laugh and I made a comment ‘make sure to stay out of that’. Sixty seconds later; Shoemaker in the front then McLarty, Ellis and Me, MaryBeth accidentally went in the groove again and quickly screamed, tried to corrected herself and swerved a hard-right….directly into my front wheel. I few over my handle-bars and landed on my left shoulder and head, then skidded to a dead stop. I couldn’t help but scream, not in pain but it shock, I was laying there on my left side head cocked slightly toward my shoulder as a result of the sliding, my knees almost to my chest like in a fetal positions with my arms out in front. I thought I could get up but my body wouldn’t let me, I picked up my right arm and it was shaking like crazy. I started to assess my injuries and knew I had the obvious road rash and quickly ran my fingers over my left collar bone, it was a sharp-dull point not smooth like the rest.
Cyclist’s most common injuries a broken collar bone. As Mark Fretta put it “Welcome to the Club”. I can’t say I really wanted to join, but I guess its bound to happen sooner or later. I had a great start to the season and was pretty confident that this race could have gone in my favor with a fast run. Later I found out that it was a clean break, no surgery and I could bike inside now, run again in two weeks, and swimming is to come later. This changes my mid season plans, but I guess I am taking a forced vacation early this year.
I really want to thank all the people who have been incredibly supportive and that have taken the time help make it easier. Especially Sarah McLarty, she helped clean my wounds and take my bike apart. Thank you Katie Baker for getting me form the Hospital, it was lonely there until you showed up, and for my pain pills they are working great:). Thank you to my boyfriend Matt Chrabot for taking care of me the night after the race.
I’ll be back before the season is over!