Nationals and Rankings

Leanda Cave

So I'm not all that clear how rankings work but since I was in 3 triathlons last year that were actually USAT Sanctioned I qualified to get in them (that doesn't mean much).  Around here there aren't that many triathlons that actually make you get the USAT coverage.  But apparently in my age group for last year out of the 2,096 that did enough races to be ranked I was 1,316 out of those.  You may be thinking but why are you announcing this?  Ok well when I looked that I was being ranked with the likes of Leanda Cave, she was ranked 1 in my age group it made me feel a little better! :-)   There were about 20,000 total listed in that age group but I guess they didn't have the 3 sanctioned triathlons?  I've never looked into the points or how they are assigned but I guess I will at some point just out of curiosity.

The other exciting thing that happened this year is that I got an invitation to go to Nationals for the Olympic distance!  I was so excited the day I got the email that I ran out of the room and sat in front of my audience (my parents and husband) with a huge smile on my face saying "Guess What!?!?!"  Well then I slowly realized that with the timing of when it was and by when I would have to commit to it the logistics just aren't working out for this year.  So as bummed as I am about this I will not be able to participate in Nationals! :-(   I hope to go to Nationals in two years and might even get a coach when and if it happens and actually train for this like an A race not an "Oh crap I better start getting my miles in race!"  But I also don't fully understand the rules for qualifying for this because I think according to their rules I should have been invited in the past but this is the first time I have been.  Either way I usually don't like doing destination races but I think this one is one I would travel for!  So watch out in two years Nationals here I come!  :-0  Ok I might be getting a little bit ahead of myself.....

Have any of you been to Nationals?  Was it a really cool experience or not worth it?