Japan: loved the food, and the people were incredibly polite. I ate rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and was always trying new treats (salad, miso soup, and curry for breakfast? Yes please!) Yokohama was my first race post London and it felt great to be racing again. I was mentally itching to race, however I was a little flat. The swim was slower than normal. We started biking and it basically all came together. I rode timid, even though I had more confidence than ever on the bike –I think I just forgot how to race? Got to the run, and I finished as strong as I could. I ended up getting 8th behind teammate Sarah Groff.
The day after the race Sarah Groff, Vicky Holland and I went on an excursion to downtown Tokyo. We found an Olympic Games 2020 festival. We attempted to tell them we were Olympians, but I don’t think they could understand us. Nonetheless, they welcomed us with open arms, teaching us how to make green tea and giving us chocolate treats. It was an incredible experience and the green tea was delicious – we whipped it until frothy and drank up (picture)!
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After we went to a park with a shrine. It was beautiful (picture). We were famished by this time, so we went to find food, which was difficult as Vicky has a food allergy: Fish (so we tried to find something that wouldn’t have fish, fish sauce, etc. which is like trying to find something without cheese in WI). We ended up going into a packed restaurant downtown where you used an ATM-like machine to order your food and pay (picture). You then sat down, and your meal was delivered shortly. It was something I’d never experienced before.
On the way home I was craving a bubble tea. Sarah thought she knew a place that served it. We walked up to the window to order, but the man behind the counter had no idea what I was saying. I was pointing at pictures and trying to show him what I wanted. Five minutes later he was back in the kitchen whipping something up as I prayed he knew what I wanted (picture). Thankfully I had paid for a bubble tea and was happily ready to pack my bags and head to Wollongong, Australia.
I spent the past few weeks in Wollongong training. It was beautiful and great weather (picture). I flew to New Zealand on Wednesday for the World Champs in Auckland this Saturday, October 20th. I’m excited to race. It’s a tough, hilly course where no one can hide on the bike. Excited for a tough race to end the season.