28hrs later and I'm watching a calm western sky slowly grow darker over the Pacific ocean sitting in LAX. No matter how long I've been gone, it's always a great feeling being back on the West Coast. Something about it that makes it home, no matter the latitude. Even the warm weather and people of TnT can't keep me from that feeling. It's always hard to leave a tropical locale in the end of winter when you know that heading home means chilly morning runs and layers of clothing to pull on before heading out. We're getting into that time of year when I just want to be warm again, the weather is getting slightly warmer so that precipitation is now just cold rain, and yet, you know that there's still a few months that you'll be dealing with the weather. Man, now I just sound like I'm whining. Which, in a way I am, I try not to whine but man, the weather, cold weather, is what does it for me. Onto NACAC.
I'd like to think that preparation ruled out in this competition. Of course I have no idea what everyone else has done leading up to this race or how they prepped, so it's just speculation of course. Mine certainly wasn't perfect with a 50k two weeks ago, which I could still feel early this week, but I was in good shape with good training behind me, a fast race three weeks ago, and all the heat training I could handle the last two weeks. I'd like to think it was a combination of the above that pulled out the win this year. I knew that it was going to be tough to handle the heat, even with the heat training I tried to do the last two weeks, and my feelings were confirmed after the juniors staggered across the line in the first two races. The US team gave a good fight in both, but in the end the Canada A squad was just stronger and pulled out the win in both Junior races. Senior women were next and ran brilliantly to pull out a win against good Mexican competition. We were last off the line. After the warmup (and I was definitely warm) the trick of cooling my core temp as much as I could with bags of ice seemed to help through about 4k of the 8k course. The US team lead the way mixing it up with a runner from Guyana and the Mexican squad. True to form though the Jamaicans lead through the first 400m. But the race quickly became a battle between the US. We controlled the race after 3k with 4 runners out front. Running together for another 2k loop we began to whittle away at each other until we were adequately spaced apart on the last 2k loop to hold position and bring it in.  The last 2k was more of a survival lap than anything since we'd all lost whatever heat reserves we had. I managed to pull out a good win in my third try at NACAC. Pretty happy with that. The course ended up playing very well to my strengths and I managed the heat and humidity as well as anyone. Everything came together on the day. Doesn't happen too often, but when it does it feels good.
It was a beautiful awards ceremony on a hill above the beach and Caribbean Sea watching the sun set.  Couldn't have planned a more idyllic setting. Of course we all took a nighttime dip in the Sea one last time to cap off a great couple of days in paradise. It's difficult to add words to a dip in dark warm waters with the sand between your toes after a good hard effort competition. Sublime.
These trips always forge a common bond and lasting friendships with the other members of the team. Hanging out after supper with nothing much to do but reminisce about the culture of your current surroundings, old teammates and races, and of course all things running is as rewarding as the event itself...unless of course you can mark down a W in the log.  That's pretty sweet. 
Way Too Cool next weekend. Looking forward to some warm Cali sunshine already. Wait... I'm in LAX right now.
Results at http://www.usatf.org/events/2010/NACACXCChampionships/results.asp