Florida State Championship Series is almost here!!!

We have less than two weeks to start our mountain biking season here in Florida.
Last preparations are being made and whole Big Wheel Team is very excited and will head all the way up to Tallahassee for the first race!

Let's the racing begin...

Just wanted to Thank Boca Bearings

I finally have a squeak free bike. I just replaced all the bearings on my bike and it is finally quiet and the shocks and pivots are so smooth. If you need bearing for your bike please go see them, Michael is great. Thanks...

My butterfly project...

After returning home from Richmond, very tired of course I noticed nice surprise in the garden waiting for me! Of course, there is always something happening there, what else I would expect. In the small flower bed that I created with one native host vine, there was tons of beautiful white caterpillars. They were already very big and had probably one or two more days of chewing left before they will transform into chrysalis and after that to beautiful Zebra Longwing butterflies. Problem was the vine was almost gone and I felt more than obligated (since they were in my garden!) to help little guys out. I and my husband put an effort to bring those hungry babies tons of fresh food. The moment I attached fresh leafs to the old vine stems everyone migrated... :-)

I even had to bring them home for one day since they were spraying our roof with some chemicals. They did behave nicely except one that was ready to transform. He kept venturing away and we did put him on small potted lily like plant that I like to place my "ready" caterpillars on to start working on their chrysalis. Little guy kept falling and falling to the carpet and the moment we allowed him to just do his own thing, he very independently walked the carpet, found one leaf that was touching it and climbed back up. He picked his favorite spot and after making nice silky patch to attach himself to he hang down to shed his last layer off and become chrysalis. The next day when everyone was back outside happy on the patio it seemed like everyone was ready to go. So I put one by one on the same plant and all caterpillars had their own personal space to transform. I have 14 of them right now hanging down, looking like little owls...

Few of them that I was not able to watch after, I left in close proximity to my other potted tree and all of them migrated straight from the vine to it and there is a group of them hanging right there also. My patio looks now like its Christmas with all those little guys hanging like some ornaments from my plants. They have approximately some 8 to 11 days in the chrysalis form before they emerge as gorgeous butterflies. We had first one born yesterday in the garden and I'm going to update shortly her "snow white" picture... It's amazing what few feet by few feet of natural space can do. Nature itself is like a miracle. My garden right now is covered in clouds of butterflies and there will be 14 more shortly to add to it. One of them happened to also be a different type of butterfly "spiky" Gulf Fritillary and I also have two tiny Monarch caterpillars feeding on the milkweed. To add to it I discovered another butch of eggs of zebras and put already brand new plants next to them so little guys don't go hungry! More soon...

Current status:

eggs: tons (maybe 18)

caterpillars: 4 (1 zebra, 1 fritillary, 2 monarchs)

chrysalis: 2 (zebras)
born: 13 (zebra)

Just born... well and mating already. This is the zebra's way.

East Coast Xterra Championships in Richmond, Va

It was completely the most crazy, insane, difficult and fun race I ever did!

2nd in Age Group
14th Overall Woman
24th Overall Woman with Pro's

Registering with World Champ
Lesley Paterson

It was not an easy decision to go up to this race. After all I raced already pretty much nonstop since last October. Living in Florida and doing the whole mountain biking series means that you are racing the whole winter while the rest of the world is resting and getting ready for the next season. So starting from the biking season I went to the triathlon season and my body reminded me already quite a few times that it was time for break. I told myself Alabama Cross Triathlon would be my last race before taking the long deserving break and thankfully I did qualify there for Maui. But Richmond showed up on the calendar and “oh boy” this race I could just tell would be so much fun. I didn’t want to miss a chance to race in such a unique location and I decided to go.

Conrad Stoltz, Myself and Shonny

All those things together would mean that my husband and I just signed up for an “ultra endurance marathon” that would eat up all the energy we had. Starting with a full work week, late evening packing, waking up early, still exhausted from full week at work packed in the 3.5 days and driving up the whole day for 12.5 hours to the race site… To add up to it I started feeling under the weather and day after day it kept getting worst. Preriding the course was so much fun but starting to ride in full sun, 85 degree weather with no clouds in the sky and headache from sinuses didn’t make it easy. What made it easier was our friends that accompanied us on the bike, swim and run training.





We had an awesome ride and I fell in love with the trails here. They were very technical and I was very proud to say that I pretty much was able to clear almost everything. Swimming in the river with my friend Jason was so much fun and I felt like a little kid on an adventure when previewing the swim course. We would rest in the middle of the river on the rocks covered with some greenery and just talk. We spotted a car axle, a table, crutches and someone told us they saw a bike in the river… For most of the swim river was shallow and you could see how pathetic your attempt to go straight was when the current was telling you otherwise.






Into the race morning not to my surprise I found out how tired my legs and arms were and how sick I was. From all the possible moments it had to be this morning of the most difficult race that I ever attempted. It can be easily seen on this picture that I was not eager on the start line. It was the first race ever that I gave myself a possibility that I might not finish, because of my state and because of the predicted 94 degree weather (definitely not my first choice!). I was in peace with it and decided to give it a try.







The horn went off and men and women together started heading across the river to the first buoy. We were so close that I had people swimming right under my arms. After the first turn, to my surprise, instead of swimming, we ended up on the sand bar in the middle of the river where most of the racers were walking/jogging. It was a cool break from the swim since I really started to get tired. The next step was another zigzag across and then a swim against the river toward the island.

Short island run after which we did reenter the water again. This time we had to swim all the way across the river pretty much right under the bridge where the water got dark, deep and current was so strong that for a few moments my little, weak body started to give up and I began to feel hopeless. Current was pushing me so strongly to the right and I had to keep swimming on an angle to not miss the next buoy. This is when I got big gulp of river water and had to flip on my back to recover and pull myself together. After that it was home run and I zoomed down the river with the current to the final two buoys.

 

 
With the swim done we still had a very long run on the paved road to the transition area. In no time I was out on my bike and headed for the trails.
 
Road turned quickly to a loose gravel climb, which then lead us across the bridge to the rest of the trail system.

It then took us to the sweet and technical single track. The trails were fast and fun, covered with roots and big rocks, tough descencs and rock gardens which made the ride challenging. I was in the zone and with little time I was passing a good amount of riders. After a while I got to the two ladies that would be part of my ride for most of the two lap course. We kept going back and forth as it seems like we all had different strengths and depending on what part of the trails we were at different one would excel.

 

I remember getting to a huge climb that I knew I was approaching from the noise made by the spectators awaiting there for us. I was afraid that girls in front would not make the climb and I slowed down and waited for them to descend and get to the climb, not to my surprise they got off their bikes and started walking up the face of the rock.



 

I took a little more time and started zooming down, I knew I didn’t want to walk it and went full speed into the climb, I went up and after clearing the slick rock boulder I was able to continue.  Not all the way to the top however since girls were still there walking their bikes blocking my way. Best part of this was the crowd on this section shouting loud "Go Wronska", "You can make it", "This is how it's done!", "Yeahhh". It was hilarious, monivating and super fun! Next memorable section was a part filled with river rocks which you could tell once again that you were approaching from far away. There was even more fans there and the noise was intense. I took the same approach and allowed all the riders in front some distance since I noticed no one considered to ride this section. This was the second and most difficult rock garden, all covered in uneven wet rocks on a 90 degree turn. People seeing that I was going to attempt to ride it where shouting my name out loud once again. Every little rock I cleared the more screaming and shouting took place. It was awesome!




The atmosphere there was electric and moments like this make the race so much better. The further I got the more people I had to pass and on the second lap the story repeated itself. This time I made it to the top of the climb and managed even to make a pass on a staircase leading up (sweet!)… Besides being very hot and tired I managed to have a pretty good time on my ride and enjoyed it a lot.

The second lap was more challenging since the sport people were now also with us on the trails and that skinny technical course was now even more congested.






I had to literally scream on people encouraging them to keep on pushing and make the climbs to make sure I will not get stopped in the middle of the steep ascend. There were sections however that I was able to clear in practice like the super steep and long wooden ramp that kept on going up and turned to a rocky climb toward the end. But all the previous plans went into nowhere the moment every single person I had in front of me decided to dismount their bikes and just walk. Oh well. I remember crossing the aid station and there was a guy washing his car on the side, seeing our misery he decided to hose us down which was pretty cool. I finished the bike strong and headed for transition again. Ran to my spot, hung my bike, helmet and went after my shoes. And it happened to be, my sparkling new awesome mountain bike shoes (no tri specific) would not open, the circular dial just kept on spinning on my left shoe and my fingers which started to cramp right now where just sliding on it like it was butter. I tried other hand I tried to dry my hands off and still nothing. I was stuck, seriously stuck and thought how unfortunate it was after this long race now be trapped in my own shoe and not be able to continue. I tried forcing my foot out of the little opening there was with little success, I screamed in disbelieve, collapsed on the grass and kept fighting the shoe. Finally with all my strength I forced my foot out which resulted with my whole left leg going into spasm and left arm pain that I would feel for a big part of the run. But I was out! And in the middle of this madness I had a guy right in front of me telling me that he biked behind me for quite a while and that I was the “most pleasant” person he raced with today and that I represented my sponsors well. That was definitely great to hear. Amazing how many things can happen in so little time…

Off to the run I jetted out of the transition still so disturbed by the time loss of some 30/40 seconds fighting my shoe and I missed the first water station. Not good. Here I pretty much had to follow everyone since I had no opportunity to preview the first 1.5 miles of the city run. In the full sun with rays reflecting on me from the pavement I knew I would be put to the test. But my legs kept on turning and besides all the discomforts I was gaining ground on a lot of racers. I had to pass most of them on the bridge since I looked up towards the end of the crossing and there was no one in sight.

I saw an asphalt path to my right whining down under the bridge and quickly ran it down.  Still no one was there and when I was already all the way down I did hear a faint voice from above me yelling “this way”. I looked up and this was a girl that I just passed before, pretty much saving my race. I turned quickly and went back up. I Thanked her with a weak voice hoping she would hear me. It took me quite a while to get the lost ground on the few people I passed before and to catch up to her again on the stairs leading us to the “‘dry wall”. When going by her once again I said that I could not Thank her enough and did continue my run in the heat of the day.




Shortly I found myself under another bridge approaching the famous “Mayan Ruins”. The day before, we were flying up those steps with my husband and a friend, timing ourselves. Yesterday our times ranged from 13 to 18 seconds to the top, which turned for me today to crawling them up like a little baby and having nothing left on the end of the climb. It was brutal.





Reaching some single track was relieving but there was still a very long way to go with more gravel open to the elements running.

I didn’t want to push too hard since I felt I got so far already and now I really would love to finish this race. Strong or not strong, it didn’t matter that much, finishing it today would be a good enough achievement. The more technical running got the more I enjoyed it. Finally after the forest run I got into the very open section of the dry river crossing where I spotted my fellow racer Duffy (would notice this pink from a mile…). It was one of the most favorite parts of the run for me and I managed to catch up and hop on to the ladder climb.

 



After that we still had another pretty long technical and whiny trail to run before going to the foot bridge. I had very good speed and felt like another water station next to the bridge could go wonders for me but this was not happening. I flew on the bridge and on the ramp down and then on the last road stretch to the finish. It was beautiful to finally get there and cross the finish line. It was great to finish my long race journey with such an amazing race. To my surprise I happened to have another strong race and finished 2nd in my age group, ahead by 1.5 minutes by my competitor from Alabama that beat me there by 3.5 minutes. This was a strong and very satisfying victory for me and this placement did qualify me for Maui once again!

 

 

 And then the Podium...

All my friends and fellow racers had great finishes that day and this is good to know how competitive and strong our Florida circuit is.

All good things in life have their price however and mine was to pack my gear and head for Florida straight from the race site. My husband and I were very tired after an already way to long and to eventful week and we still had 14 hours of driving ahead in the middle of the night. The drive was long and very difficult, way worse than the race itself and we had tremendous troubles to even stay awake. We were up for 24 hours when we got home. We collapsed at 6 am for 6 hour sleep and went to work! I never have been so tired before and never hit such a big wall. I pushed myself over the limits and it took me many miserable days to start getting back to normal.  Being sick, overworked, over-raced, just plainly drenched by life, it’s something I would need to evaluate strongly when my next race approaches.  This was the most difficult part I had to go through from the moment I gave the “go ahead” to compete in this race.

The race however was simply awesome and I am very happy I was a part of it. It was an amazing experience, challenge and test of what I can handle and what I’m made of. Would I arrange all things prior and post the race differently next time, definitely yes. Would I compete in this race again, oh yes, can’t wait already!

I need to thank here my husband who made sure my bike is perfect as it can be and ready to go. He spent countless hours taking my Sonic apart piece by piece and making sure she is going to be best she can be on the race day. And she was and I’m very grateful for that! I also wanted to Thank Clifbar for the nutrition to keep me going in the race and KT Tape for keeping my knees pain-free for the whole race. Also as always for Squirt for keeping my chain dirt free and lubed for the whole race.

Some Extra Pictures from the Trip.

Dewet From Squirt Lube and Myself

Richmond character

Yep, lots of colorful personalities...

Richmond calling...

Heading to Richmond for crazy fun and difficult seems like race...

Good read:

http://www2.richmond.com/lifestyles/2011/jun/07/xterra-returns-richmond-gas-masks-ar-1091596/

When you need Ray of Sun...

Today is the day when I finally broken down. When everything was going good and I was getting ready for my next Xterra and suddenly I just got overwhelmed. With what, I don’t even know.

Being stuck at work, not being able to do what I want to do, being tired, mentally tired, stressed.
I had hurricane going in my head and it all just crashed. I sat down and cried.

With all those days of glory I also get those when nothing is good, everything bothers me and I’m not happy.

I feel like the most unhappy person in the whole world in this moment. It’s tough to be strong and walk with a smile and never show a weakness.

We all have our doubts and our fears. My fear, I think, is the future.

But not the future that I will make for myself from my dreamy way of living, but the future that reality and corporate life brings us, the dry and dirty truth that besides all you need to rely on yourself and prepare yourself for the future, because if you don't, there will be no one there waiting to help you.
We are all alone even when it doesn’t feel like it.

I will always have my dream future with fantasizing of great adventures, future races, taking care of and photographing my butterflies and flowers. I will always make my life beautiful and good no matter what the ugly part of life will throw at me. But sometimes I will just sit down like today and cry and feel hopeless for the moment.

But this moment will go by and the second I will step into my home and have whole forest of creatures galloping towards me, see all the flowers covering my garden with beautiful colors, I will be able to fall asleep in the arms of my husband... I will be strong and happy again…

This is what my husband sent me when I was stuck today in the dark and it made me cry even more…

Maybe I needed it to start all over again.


“There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with all its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and its poor performance; Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow’s sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today. Any person can fight the battle of just one day.
It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad, it is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore, Live but one day at a time.”

Thank You KT Tape for keeping my Knee Pains Away...

Xterra National Championship race in Utah qualifying Pin!

Long awaiting Qualifying Pin for USA Nationals!

Race is in Ogden, Utah however. Hm... Are we going to have one day this race back in Lake Tahoe?

So many years of training, dreaming and one season of actually racing to qualify but the race is not in the same location that I wanted to race in.

Those incredible views of the pristine lake with rugged mountains still with snow in spots and lonely pine trees are stuck in my head for so long. I would love to go there finally after this very long wait...

Also I'm currently ranked 4th in the country in my age group...

Not bad for first season of racing (remember racing not training!)... :-)

I just received an official Maui slot!

This is my dream race in a dream location.

Worlds and Nationals in Xterra had been on my mind for many years now.

I remember relaxing on the couch with my husband and watching on TV Xterra Nationals. There was Emma Garrard riding up this beautiful trail in Lake Tahoe. She was still racing as an age grouper and having a full time job. Now she races pro and I watched her battling it out in Alabama with the top racers. She is such an inspiration. I remember this like it happened just days ago. I looked at my husband and told him that I was going to be there one day just like Emma did. He smiled at me, like usual with little disbelieve. But you know what, he should know me better by now, I really do not say things that I don’t mean. So I started training hard and striving for it.

Watching the Worlds in Maui later on inspired me even more, all those amazing athletes from around the world with their years of dreams and hard work burnt right there on the sharp lava rocks and filled in clouds of red dust. I could watch it a hundred times over and over again and each time it would make me cry. It is such an achievement and victory to get there, to race, to have courage and strength and will. I applause to anyone crossing the finish line because I know how difficult it is to push yourself so far…

I thought I was ready last year when I went to race in Canadian Championships in Whistler, BC which by the way was a super awesome race. But I couldn’t do it and defaulted to the Sprint race. I wasn’t ready and started wondering if I ever will. I didn’t give up however and kept on training as much as I could.

Six months later however I woke up and was willing to get out there and give it a try. Finally, I allowed myself to prove that I could do it.

After few full distance events I placed in top women in my region and this will qualify me for the Nationals in Utah this year and that is so sweet! Also I just did qualify for Worlds in Maui from my ITU Cross Triathlon finish in Alabama!
That is crazy. I'm ecstatic now and very happy. It happened finally for me!

It happened very quickly and I was ready to wait as long as it takes for my opportunity. But I got it and there is no need to wait any longer.

All I can say here is that no one should never give up, never stop dreaming and stop believing.

As long as you love something and you have a clear sight on what you want and you are making small steps toward your goal, you are on the right path.

Keep dreaming because dreams do come true, sometimes it takes time, sometimes it takes longer than we anticipated, but it is all worth the wait…

Those videos must be seen:

Utah, Nationals - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RPvgNYeq2U
Maui, Worlds - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZcZrlx_Rhk

Thanks Clif...

Thanks Clif for all the new products. We just got home from the ITU Worlds Cross Triathlon where I came in 4th in my age group and 20th overall and all this was waiting for me. 

 

 

 

 

Shelby County 2012 ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships / XTERRA Southeast Championships

I placed 4th in my Age Group and 20th Overall in Women. Not bad for my first full Olympic Distance Cross Triathlon (Xterra).
That means I did qualify for my dream race Xterra World Championships in Maui, Hi!!!
Here we come Maui and the World's in Xterra...


    Finishing times:
                                                 swim    bike         run             total

    Beata Wronska #139            :31:38  01:32:11  00:52:15     2:56:04
   
                 

 

The opportunity to race in World Championships doesn’t come around often; therefore ready or not we packed the car and drove once again to the beautiful Oak Mountain Park in Alabama.

I was looking forward to this trip knowing I will stay in a beautiful cabin located right in the heart of the park with my husband and friend. Going to a big event like this for the first time doesn’t give you any understanding of how to set your expectations. So all I wanted from it was to have a great race and do my best and for everything to go smooth and according to plan. Having two South Florida fellow racers Melissa and Duffy gave me the opportunity to measure my progress through them, since we know each other's strengths and weaknesses.
I was very looking forward to the bike part of the race as I knew my biking was quite strong. Run I predicted would be somewhat good but I also knew that the swim would be the most difficult leg of the race.

I never experience yet in the race a good swim or even a decent swim. Whatever happened there in the water in the past always put me in the disadvantage with having to work my way up slowly on the bike and on the run. Mostly it was because of my fears for open water swimming and that was what always did ruin my races.

But finally it was all about to change!

In the days before I kept wondering how would I position myself on the start line knowing I was not the strongest swimmer. This morning however I walked over to the edge of the lake and I had no doubt where I was supposed to be. I heard the announcement “ten seconds to start” and I ducked down and was ready to go. There was no one doubt or one fear in me this time, I was ready to get out there and swim.
 

The horn went off and I was surrounded by the angry white bubbling water with hands and feet kicking and flying around. I was calm at this time and told myself “it doesn’t bother me, it is all good”. Some thirty meters in to the swim however I started getting this overwhelming feeling that I experienced in the previous races and this feeling destroyed my previous swims. I was short of breath and started to feel tense and I told myself “oh no, please not again!”. Normally I would stick my head out in front or flip on my back and my body would tense up and breathing would get even more labored. I knew it did nothing good to me in the past and for a split second I had a complete visual of me doing it again. But I told myself “No! Not this time!”. I forced myself to keep my head under water and just to blow bubbles slowly and continuously out of my mouth. It worked, my body relaxed, my breathing was slowing down and I was able to continue my swim with no further disturbances. I was so happy I could finally, for the first time ever focus on swimming and racing and throw away all the fears. It felt good, all I had to do next is to assess my location and focus on the buoy on the horizon and look for fast feet, or at least some feet in front of me. I found them and was able to draft for a little while but shortly I realized however that I could go even faster and went around the swimmer right before reaching the first buoy. Everything went well after that and the first lap was done. I did run around the flags and jumped in for the second lap but this jump did make me feel a little woozy and I hoped that I did not overdo it and that I will recover from it quickly. I did and kept a good pace on the second lap. Towards the last stretch to the finish there was this long awesome line of girls swimming and everyone was in this cool one big draft heading to the shore.

I made it, got out and started running just to find out that my fellow racer Duffy was just a few feet ahead of me and my other friend Melissa which is a great swimmer was right there with me pretty much stepping on my heels. I was so amazingly surprised that I put a big smile on my face. It was not only from knowing that I had to have a great swim but that my best friends were all together!

T1 had to be quite equal for three of us since we got out on the bikes all in a line again one by one and headed to the single-track.

After one mile swim the trail did not feel the same as on the pre-ride. My legs felt very heavy and very slow and I knew I will not enjoy the ride at least on this section as I would want to. I was right behind Melissa and Duffy was right in front of her. I knew Duffy will bike away in a quick moment and I might not see her again. It was all OK; I knew that as long as I stay with Melissa I would be in a good position since she is very strong and solid overall. The more time went by the more girls we would catch up to and manage to pass. It became part of this ride to get to the next person in front and then to the next one. At some points I was right at Melissa’s wheel and at some points I was losing sight of her especially on the downhills. But things were about to change the moment we got to the brutal four mile long climb with sections where things got very steep and rocky and you were putting out all you got just to get to the top. I had great speed going up and my legs felt way better now but not fresh however. I had good speed and looking down at my bike computer I noticed I was going some 14 mph on the easier uphills. I told myself “awesome, you are doing great Bebes” and I kept on going. Quickly I caught up with Melissa and just told her that this is where the “fun” begins. I don’t think she shared my enthusiasm at this point… It was a very brutal part of the bike leg and not everyone was eager to joke around. I went by and continued to chase down more girls on the steep climbs. I saw a whole tail of riders in front and it seemed like I spotted Duffy’s helmet on top of one of the gnarly climb. But told myself “it’s probably someone else” and didn’t give it much more thought.

I kept cranking up and figured I still have a few more painful climbs ahead to notice to my surprise a big board announcing that you’ve reached the peak of the mountain! Nice, now all I had ahead is the part when you can fly quite fast down and would reach few more smaller inclines on the wide double track. I geared up and started flying. I managed to get to another group of girls and pass full speed a Canadian and some USA racers. I gained more speed and saw on the last incline my friend Duffy just meters away. I saw her looking back knowing someone was approaching her and I said “Hi Dufster!”, she was very surprised to see me and I went right by her. It didn’t last for long however since just 40 seconds later it seems we reached the beginning of another downhill. This was a bad part with giant moving boulders covering a 50 meter stretch of the double track. I didn’t like this part and picked a good line with a good speed, but in the split second I heard a set of fast wheels just jetting on me full speed and heard voice yelling “let me go”. Duffy was flying down full speed and her front wheel was already covering half of my back wheel and she was trying to get on my line. All I could see in my head was the possible disaster to happen if we crashed at that moment. I learned my lesson in the past when I broke both arms and I was not to take things for granted. So I moved slightly but the terrain was so uneven and covered with boulders that there was no way I was getting back to my lane. So I was stuck on the bad side of the downhill with even bigger rocks that I had to battle. The section ended quickly enough however for me to make up my time, get some good speed and catch two more girls before entering the famous Blood Rock section.




Going there I knew I didn’t want to have anyone in front to block me from what I had planned. I had a good distance from a girl in front and in back and I was able to clear the first few stair like rocky drops before dismounting and running down the rest of this section. I looked back and saw a Canadian girl that I just past ride the whole Blood Rock. That was very impressive and I let her by since she did carry speed from the decent. Rest of the ride was high speed and very technical but after crossing the road trail turned to a smoother single track which was quite enjoyable and stayed this way to the finish. I later found out that on the final section Duffy allowed herself to fly superfast and launched herself from a drop and flew over the handlebars. Thankfully she was fine and was able to continue the race.

In T2 I was only 7 seconds behind her and 5 seconds ahead of Melissa which must have flew on the downhills as well. So once again I was happy to have all my friends right with me the moment we headed out for the run which happened to be the least pleasant part of the race. It was getting hot out now, the legs were even slower and heavier and the sun started beaming on us at full strength. We crossed some asphalt and gravel sections and headed into the forest. The tree cover helped with feeling more comfortable and my legs step by step started to get more and more refreshed. I felt my left calf cramping for some quarter mile and I was very worried about it but with time the pain went away. I managed to pass Duffy and had a clear view of Melissa once again. All I wanted now is to just hang on; knowing that even with finishing at the exact run time than her I would be in good shape. All three of us were tired and the whole run course was in the survival mode and it was all about who can endure more pain and more torture. Even if I wanted I could not speed up and I’m sure it applied for all of us. There was only one pace, the pace that would take us to the finish and it was a very long run ahead going twice around the lake.

With time I gained ground on Melissa and I was able to pass her, since than I never looked back. I just grinned my teeth, tried to keep my pace and think of nothing else. It was tough, very tough. The bridge crossing exposed to the full sun was even more brutal on the second lap. Now my face was all burning from the heat, my whole body was in overheating zone and I wandered for how much longer I will be able to endure it. I had one moment on the second lap telling myself “Beata you are almost about to finish a World Championship race…” the moment I processed it chills covered my whole body. I told myself don’t even go there, just focus on the run, focus on the terrain and your own body.

I ran the last section strong knowing I was almost done. I had my husband right next to me telling me how proud he was of me. That was great to hear, but I had no energy in me to even respond. I jumped into the last single track right before the finish line to hear Dewit from Squirt yell to me “Go Beata”. I got my last wind and sprinted to the finish, raised my hands up and felt so relieved knowing that it is finally over.

I crossed the finish line, saw a little patch of shade and collapsed on the ground. I could not move for a minute or two, I was hot and exhausted. Someone reached out to me and helped me to get up and showed me directions the mist tent.




 

Oh the mist tent! This was the best thing that could wait for me at the finish line. My hot body now was drenched with super cold water pouring over me from all directions. I started cooling off and feeling better instantly and this is where all the emotions started to kick in. Tears now just started to pure out and mixed with the sweat and the water droplets. I just stood there and cried. I don’t even know why I cried, I was overwhelmed with all the feelings that are part of competing in an off-road triathlon event. Pain, exhaustion, euphoria, happiness, gratitude. I could not ask for more. I had my husband with me, my friends and I was fine and I was done. Everything I did today was very good and I didn’t even know how I placed in the race, all I knew was that I was satisfied with what I did and that was for me the most important of all. A little later when relaxing and sharing race stories with a friend my husband walked over to me after looking at the finish board and gave me this look. He looked at me and told me “you did it, you got a spot for Maui” and this is when the second wave of tears came in…

This day was so wonderful for me that it almost was too good to be true.

All my years of training and dreaming consolidated themselves to this very moment when everything I wanted was right there for me…

I could not be happier…

Besides all the racing, it is almost impossible to put in words all the experiences from such an eventful trip.








Starting with bull frogs on the edge of the lake giving us an awesome hip hop concert every night, to a beautiful calm view from the cabin located in the middle of the forest. A sweet ride on a metal boat that was leeking water while cruising the tiny lake with a bunch of friends. Grilling at night on the water’s edge. Swinging on the porch while drinking a cold beer and exchanging stories. Hanging with the Specialized crew that consist of hilarious guys that were working on my bike and were making sure she is race ready (Thank you Jeff!) and my bike being in between bikes of top world athletes like Conrad and Shonny could not ever be described clearly enough.

From all the ceremonies and meetings we had to attend to all those people we met on and off the trails. Sitting at the table next to a world champ, his wife and his crew at the after party, I could go on forever.

But mostly having great times with my husband Pax, friends Melissa, Duffy and her husband Michael made this whole experience so much worthwhile.