The winds were strong on race day and it resulted in a change of swim venue. The swim course was 1000m and there was an approximately 800m run to T1. I was just off the back of the lead pack out the water, and worked hard during the run to T1 and immediately pushed the pace on the bike.
I was able to catch "the pack" within a few kilometers on the bike and move into second place. There were 6 girls riding together, or pacing off each other. Regardless of drafting rules and all the officials out there, not a single penalty was called on our group, so I have to assume that everyone behind me wasn't drafting. Packs are going to happen when you have this many talented people racing together; we're competitive, this is our living, no one is going to let anyone get up the road if they can help it. However, this is exactly why draft legal racing was created.
I came off the bike with Blatchford, McLarty, Luxford, Cleaver, and Groff. Running out of T1 Blatchford was setting the pace; I got on her shoulder and planned on holding on for as long as I could. She dropped me just before the 1 mile marker, but I put in another surge to get back on her shoulder. I stayed with her through 3 miles, but after a surge from Liz I was no longer able to match her pace. I stayed in 3rd place until 4 miles and then Sarah Groff came by me. I did my best to stay with her, but I moved into 4th. I had a solid gap on 5th and worked hard to keep 3rd place as close as possible. I crossed the line in 4th place, extremely satisfied with my race. I've race St. A's three times, my first time I was 10th, last year I was 6th and this year 4th.
Thanks for reading!
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