Clutch Rescue @ Owl's Nest — a White Mountains win

What a weekend, what a race.

Truly an experience from end to end. Racing in Waterville Valley — a place I’ve visited my whole life that started my love of the outdoors. The most beautiful and challenging course I’ve ever done. Family out there supporting at every turn and all four transitions. Couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.

Race-wise: came out of a solid swim (2nd out of the water) and pushed hard on the first bike leg to take the lead — 1,500 ft of climbing in 14 miles is no joke. I glanced over my shoulder on the final climb to see I had company, and let’s just say Sean and I got to know each other very well over the next two hours.

The climb up Mt. Tecumseh is no joke either. Despite both getting off-trail a couple of times, Sean and I were shoulder to shoulder almost the entire way. He got a couple-minute lead at the summit, but I reeled him back in on the way down (I think there were four or five lead changes on that hike).

Maybe it was the new confidence on the brand-new bike, but I attacked the downhill ride back to Owl’s Nest to build a small gap and hung on for dear life on the final run leg to squeak out a 50-second victory.

So many people to thank: as always, my partner in crime @amandalynnn2; my cheering squad @lmmusco and @psmusco; @outsiderendurance for an incredible race, team, and volunteer crew — the whole package; @power2tri.endurance for pushing me through an up-and-down year with some crazy twists and turns; and Sean, for making me earn every step of that hike.

One more race on the calendar this year — let’s keep the momentum rolling.