Sorry to hear about the crash! The nice part is your fitness seems to be above and beyond what you need to squeak through to the elite license. Problems such as taking a wrong turn, or crashing, or mechanical issues are terribly aggravating, but you have the proper tools and you'll meet your goal eventually. Good luck in your next two races!!

(You need to be top 8 and within 8% of the winners time to have it count as a qualifying race, correct?)

That's what we're here for.

You're gonna get there Gator. Just relax and concentrate on the future. You've got the skills, you've got the training. And you're right your fortunes will turn. You just have to keep going.

What's a little pressure? Dont Gators thrive on pressure?! ;) So you have to be on your game these last two races? Be on your game. Dont worry, you will be. You want it bad enough, you'll be all over it. Which races are they? If I am in town, I just might show up to cheer you on.

seems like you have a handle on the fact that you can only control the present... who knows what is going to happen with the next two races? Nobody. You do know, however, that you are going to give it everything you can and that is all you can do. You can do it!

Gator, I read an article in Triathlete magazine (this month I beleive) where Dave Scott was talking about how he couldn't win at Kona. Physically he was at his peak, but yet winning still eluded him. He indicated that once he relaxed and stopped putting so much pressure on himself to win and just started to enjoy "being in the moment" that everything changed. He credited being able to break through that barrier by realizing in the 16th mile of the Marathon that win or loose he was just happy to be able to have such an experience - the thrill of competition if you will. He was enjoying the fact that he was able to do what so few others were able to do even if he never won the big one. Of course the rest is history. He went on to win that Ironman in 1980and many others. I may be off on some of the details as I'm writing this from memory, but you get the idea.

While in your case it sounds more like a string of bad luck, there is something to be said for Karma and living in the moment. Relax, know that you are already an elite athlete and that the pro card is just a formality and WILL happen.

Although I'm a bleed blue UK Wildcats fan, I still wish you the best of luck in the pursuit of your goals! ;-)

Brad

Gator

Sorry to hear about the crash, hopefully you and your bike are both ok.

Also, I have full confidence that you will roll over the competition much like your beloved Gator have done in the past weeks. However, if the Gators had played some real football teams, like those found in the PAC 10, that might be a different story.:)

And sign up for all USAT races next year! ;)

I'm afraid you are doomed. You see, the gators used up all their good luck when they beat OSU for the national championship last year in both football, and basketball. I think your best chance of success it to move to another school.

In all seriousness, just like others have said... you have the engine and you know it. Now it's a matter of toughing out these unfortunate events until things fall into place. If you enjoy the sport, it will be a lot easier to tough out summers like what you just had.