Beijing World Cup Yesterday I had the opportunity to race the Beijing World Cup, the official test event for the 2008 Olympics. Coming off a 14th place finish at World Champs two weeks ago, I was really looking forward to having another chance to race hard in a very competitive field. With nearly 80 women starting the race, it appeared to be just as competitive as World Champs, if not more so as many countries were using this as an Olympic qualifier. I was very relaxed going into this event with a goal of finishing in the top-8 to secure my spot on the Olympic team. I don't normally have finish goals as they can depend upon so many uncontrollable factors, but it was something I would keep in the back of my mind as the race unfolded. As always, I wanted to stick to my normal game-plan of going as hard I can from the start to the finish and not being afraid to take risks. I knew my level of fitness was higher than ever going into this event and it will likely be my last major race for 2007 so I figured I had nothing to lose! After a few days of torrential rain showers that led to a possible postponement, Saturday brought perfect sunny and dry race conditions. The swim was a one loop course with nearly 600m to the first turn. I always prepare for the worst when it comes to fighting during the swim but I had a feeling this race would spread out more than usual, with less contact because of extra distance to the turn. Well, thankfully I had mentally prepared for the worst because it was one of the roughest swims I've ever done. There were times that I wasn't even sure if I was moving forward and even one time when I moved backwards as someone got a good grasp on my ankle! I could tell I was in the thick of things and further back than I wanted to be. I exited the water near the tail end of a long string of athletes. I had a quick T2 and felt strong on the bike right from the start. I knew that there was a very large group forming just up the road and if I wanted any chance to get in there I would have to really dig deep. At the start of the climb I found myself riding side-by-side with Felicity Abrahm. We both chased hard right to the top of the hill and I actually caught onto the back on the crest. However at this point I had gone to my limits and couldn't keep the pace up to stick with them on the decent. Watching the pack ride away from me on the decent was disheartening but I knew at that point I would have to mentally re-group and make the best of my situation. "Staying in the moment" is something that Siri has instilled in me this year as I have found myself in new and challenging situations in many of the races. I can only be concerned with what I am doing at every moment of the race and focus on the things that I can control. So, I rode hard and even though my bike pack was disorganized and unmotivated to work, I put in a hard effort on the course to get the best simulation for next year. We were 2 minutes behind the lead pack of 30 women at the end of the bike. I knew my race for a top finish was over but my race is never over until I cross the line. So, I ran hard. I was mostly on my own for the first half, before I started to catch some front-pack women. I crossed the line in 19th place with the 6th fastest run split. Obviously not the result I had hoped for but I gained valuable experience on the Olympic course that will only help me in the training and preparations for next year. And now for the exciting news: I have qualified for the Olympic Team!! My result in Hamburg two weeks ago earned me the spot but it wasn't solidified until after this race. I don't really think it has sunk in yet that I will be an Olympian. Qualifying is a very exciting step in my life but I feel as though it is just another step that will lead to greater things. My dream is to win a medal at the Games so I am thrilled to have taken one step closer to achieving it. But for now, I will celebrate this milestone before the hard works begins! Thank you all so much for your support this year! Cheers, Lauren Back to Articles Page

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