Linsey Corbin starts the season off with 2nd Place - Pucon 70.3

Hola mis amigos!

The 2009 race season is upon us. Hard to believe! I raced the Pucon 70.3 in Chile over the weekend, and came second, for the second year in a row. As I told the race director, Pedro: I will be back!! I will win this race!

It comes as no surprise that this has quickly become one of my all time favorite races. Racing in Pucon is much more than just a race. The people of South America are all friends, they are so excited to see you around town and shower you with hugs and smiles. The food is amazing, and you really have the opportunity to embrace the South American culture... one night we witnessed a wedding parade in central park at midnight!!! The city of Pucon is in a fabulous setting that reminds me a lot of Montana: mountains, rivers, lakes, sunshine. It truly is a gem!

Onto the racing, which is the whole reason I was there. I am happy to report that my countless hours of swim practice and help from Coach Lance are still paying off... I exited the water 4 minutes faster than last year, and much closer to my competition. A quick second to celebrate my mini-success and I was off on the bike on a mission to get myself to the front of the race. I can't say I felt great at all during the ride, I felt as if I had taken my bike out of its travel case and left my quads at home in Montana. But, this is all a part of the racing experience. Filling myself with some positive thoughts, I caught up to Heather and put my head down and rode as best as I could. As the race went on, it became apparent I wouldn't be entering T2 with the 4 minute cushion I had in 2008. Heather and I entered the second transition together to a crowd of roaring Chileans telling us to "Vamonos!!" Off the bike and into my speedy Saucony's, I was off to conquer the most challenging run course on the circuit.

The run was 3 loops, and each loop consisted of half hills and half flats in downtown Pucon. In the hills, I ran like a true Montana girl, putting time into my competitors. Onto the flats, and Ms. Montana's legs didn't know how to turn over. Up into the hills, and I would gain that time back. Into town, and Heather was getting closer. Up into the hills once last time, and I gave it all I had. I tried every trick in the book: I prayed, I envisioned Simon Whitfield at the Olympics, I thought of all my new Chilean friends, I pretended I had $1,000 in my back pocket and ran, I "saw" Coach Lance on the sidelines, I thought of Lisa Bentley winning here in 2007 by 10 seconds. I truly gave it my all. On Sunday, Heather was the better athlete, a true champion. I rounded the corner to the sandy beach finish and knew I was the second place finisher and grabbed my cowboy hat and took time to enjoy high-fives with all the spectators that encouraged me all day long.

At the end of the day, it was an incredible race. I swam 3 minutes faster, biked 2 minutes faster along with the fastest bike split, and ran 5 minutes faster than in 2007. All I can ask for is to do my best while I race, and I feel as I did just that on Sunday. To not win, was a heartbreaker... but to be racing in such a fabulous country with such amazing people alongside me, I wouldn't change my day.

Here is to a successful 2009 season! Thanks for joining me and supporting this journey.

All the best,

Linsey Corbin