25K by Erica Rose

Hello,

Well, my final race is over. It did not go very well, as you´ve probably seen in the results. To be honest, I have no idea what happened or why it did not go well at all. I did everything I could to prepare and I was ready to go. Some days, I guess, are better than others. Yesterday was not one of my better days.

Even though the swim did not go well, the support I received throughout and after the race made it difficult to be upset. I had four of the best coaches out there on the course with me, giving me nutrition and encouraging me even when they knew how much I was struggling. Coaches from other countries were cheering me on as well. Britta, one of my very best friends, was out on a feeding pontoon working with the German athletes and she helped me so much each time I went by her station. When I finished, the team doctor and trainer were both there to greet me and the officials allowed Shelley Clark (another one of my very best friends) to run down to greet me and help me out of the water. The entire US team was there to congratulate me and support me and it was a pretty incredible feeling to know that I had so many friends and teammates no matter how I did in the water.

Brendan arrived the day before my race and watched every minute of it. He was there for me at the end, as well, and has been incredible. I can´t possibly describe how much it means to me to know that I have such a wonderful group of people who care about me and support me through all of these events.

I don´t have too much to report as far as how the other races went. Mark Warkentin had a GREAT swim and got a silver medal in the 25K. Olympic qualification in the 10K and sliver medal in the 25K - what a week!

I was able to celebrate for a while last night with my international friends. It´s now 4am and I´m at a hostel in Seville... not sleeping because I can never sleep the night after a race like that... waiting until 5am when we´ll head to the airport to begin our travels around Europe.

Erica