I am back in Canada now and trying to figure out what time I want to go to sleep and stay awake.  I had one good nights sleep since I got back from Japan on Monday but we will see how long it will be till I get another one.   After having a fantastic pre worlds taper week in Gamagori, Japan I was the most excited I had ever been going into a World Championships.  I was very confident in my past weeks of training and extra confident with my knowledge of the very technical Worlds course.  The swim consisted of two laps in a Japanese jet boat racing pond.  Yep your right, it was dirty and a bit oily but that won't stop us crazy triathletes.  The swim started off really well as I was able to pick on the right side of the pontoon which in the previous five races of Saturday and Sunday was first to the first turning buoy.  I had a great dive as I new to anticipate the starting horn which they had also done in the previous races and I was in the water ahead of all the guys around me. (that's me furthest out from the top with the red sides)

I then got onto some good Kiwi feet with Olympic Gold medallist Hamish Carter and followed him to the first turn in the front of the group.  I held inside line all around the first lap and didn't get pummelled like most World Cups and exited the water after the first lap in about tenth spot.  The second lap was just as good and I actually started to cruise the back stretch of the lap and was thinking about the transition.  We rounded the final turn and I exited the water beside team mate Simon Whitfield and I had my usual blistering transition and was sixth onto the bike.  (Red suit pulling bike out)

I immediately found a great wheel to follow that went strait to the front and rode second wheel through the very technical bike course for two laps.  The bike course consisted of seven laps and each lap had twelve turns which ends up being 84 turns in 40km and I love turns, I mean really love them.  As a result I remained either 1st, 2nd or 3rd wheel the entire race blowing guys off ever technical corner we took or coming up past them out of the turns.  I don't want to brag, but I was by far the best bike handler out there and the ride actually seemed pretty easy.  Leading the bike was actually easier as I could carry more speed and choose the line I wanted through the corners and not waist any energy.  As you move further back in the pack you get slower going into the turns and then have to all out sprint to catch up to the group out of the turns.  And when the group turns into 30-40 men the last guys are almost coming to a stop at the two 180's while I am going through at 23km/h.  I stayed at the front for all seven of the laps and had lots of coverage on the live show playing at the stadium and online at www.triathlon.org.  (center red suit)

After a solid ride and just avoiding a crash by locking up and skidding both wheels 600m from the finish of the bike I entered transition in the front of the group.  I had another solid transition heading out with the main group of runners.  With temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius and high humidity I went out hard but with an element of control to properly pace for the heat.  The front pack of runners started to string out with a group of ten holding together and the pack then stretching out behind to where I was running hard but comfortable.  I continued to pick off guys throughout each of the four laps as they started to fall off there pace because of the heat and going out too hard.  With one lap to go I was in a group of five guys jockeying for position around 22nd to 27th.  I decided it was time to put in a surge and break from the group and head for the few spots they lay just up the road.  I went for it and another guy came with me and then surged over top of me and together we pulled away from the group.  I saw and heard his laboured breathing so I attacked again which cracked him and quickly moved up the road to the top 20 area.  With a kilometer to go there were two more spots just ahead and I picked up the pace just another notch to close the gap.  As I got to them I was at about 700m to go and I figured I might as well put them away and start the kick for the finish.  Rounding the last corner onto the 300m finishing stretch I opened up to a full stride to secure my 19th position down to the finish line.  (second lap picture)

This was one of my most well executed races physically, mentally and tactically.  All three of these things I worked hard on to prepare myself for this best placing at an Elite World Championships.  This 78 man field was arguably the most competitive World Champs in a long time.  Being ranked 36 going into the event and beating past Olympic and World Championship medallists I was very happy with my race and I also secured my spot at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne Australia.   My awesome preparation for this race was made easy through Triathlon Canada's great support of the Elite team where we had a great pre worlds camp set up in Gamagori.  My coach Lance Watson was there and helped me get ready perfectly as well as my Chiropractor and overall therapist Rob Hasegawa who we were fortunate enough to have as our team therapist.  The National Training Center and Pacific Sport in Victoria where we did miserable heat sessions indoors on treadmills and bike trainers at 33 degrees and 97 percent humidity made a big difference to our racing ability in the heat.  The coaching staff through the center for swim, bike, strength, physiology by Neil Harvey, Steve Lund, Jeremy Sheppard, and Gord Sleivart respectively.  My sponsors of course make it a lot easier to race as I have equipment to do so like shoes (New Balance), glasses (Oakley), bike (Easton/Velomax/Steed Cycles/Continental Tires/Dion), food (PowerBar), race suit (Orca), and support (Paul Plocktis, Jeff Cooper, Steve and Nancy Syme, Parents, Family and Friends).  Thanks everyone for helping me to succeed.   I now switch focus to my Xterra racing where I have the US Pro Series Championships in Lake Tahoe, Nevada on the 2nd of October followed shortly by the World Championship event in Maui on the 23rd.  I am headed to Colorado Springs for two weeks this Saturday the 17th to prepare for the altitude in Lake Tahoe.  I will then go back to Colorado Springs after the Tahoe race for two more weeks to finish the altitude training benefit for Worlds in Maui.