Angela Naeth Elite Triathlete: 70.3 St. Croix

I traveled from the St. Anthony's 5150 race straight to St. Croix on Wednesday. After a hard Olympic-distance effort, it worked out well to travel straight to the island - not only for the race, but for much needed rest! Luckily I travel with an entourage of helper monkeys who massage me and feed me grapes to speed my recovery.

St. Croix is a magical island to me (magical as in amazing, not Harry Potter). I think I was born to live by the ocean; I absolutely love it. It feels like riding a unicorn over a rainbow while eating a Nutella sandwich. OK, I guess that is a little Harry Potter. I now consider my homestay to be extended family, so it's always a pleasure to go somewhere when you have family waiting for you!

Me, Andrea Rowley (my homestay mom), and Jen Fletcher

There was pouring rain all weekend, so much so that there were huge puddles we had to race through. I was sure I was going to find Ahab fighting Moby-Dick in one of those puddles. It made it like an extra event because I had never really raced in conditions like these before! Race day we were greeted with mud, muck, rain, humidity and a technical bike course. With the terrible conditions, I was "lucky" enough to only suffer a flat tire, which happened just six miles from the finish of the bike leg. It was a bit tough down some of the technical descents, but it was either try to fix it and lose precious time or ride it like I stole it!.You know I chose to ride it like I stole it! Even the run was a bit technical, with the puddles we had to run through and the wet grass and mud. Next up is the Columbia 5150!

A huge thank you goes out to all my sponsors and supporters. I'm one lucky gal to have such a great support team. I'm over the moon about getting the course record in such crazy conditions. I'm sure it also had to have been who I was with all weekend: my adopted family, the Rowleys - Andrea and Andrew. I sincerely thank you for everything.