Update from Brasil!

So a week has gone by now in the wonderful city of Rio de Janeiro and so far this has been one amazing trip. I have been having the best time with my teammates and even getting to meet some great athletes from all the other countries. Training has been going better than ever but I guess thats a given when you have all the time during the day for your workouts and rest. I feel ready to go for this next weekend and I´m super excited. Here is a recap of the week so far:

The Christ Memorial- One of the most spectacular views I have ever seen. If you don´t know, the memorial sits on one of Rio´s tallest mountain top and looks over the city. It was built with the purpose to spiritually protect the city from above. To get up there is only about 24 american dollars which buys you a ticket for a train that runs up the mountain. Just the views from the train were breathtaking. Once you get up to the top, you take an elevator and then another couple escalaters till you are at the memorial. I took some great photos which I will share when I get back. Most amazing was there is a small chapel in the back of the memorial where you can go sit down. Im not a very religious person but it was amazing just being in there.

Copacabana Beach- On the 17th we took a trip over to the beach to check out what would be the site of our race. Copacabana is probably the most touristy beach in Rio. It was also the site of where the Beach Volleyball games were being played. We hung out on the beach and ended up going for a nice open water swim followed by a beach run. Might I add that I wore a speedo for most of the time on the beach! haha. Its just what you do around there. Everyone does it. So why not? When in Rome... I ended up heading over to the volleyball venue where I caught a bit of the USA vs. Brazil match. It was a good game but Brazil ended up with the win. The roads where we are going to be riding look perfect. Our course is right up and down the beach 8 laps. Im pretty sure there are going to be a lot of people watching! It was packed down there! We ended the beach trip at this amazing little restuarant. Although it was difficult at first to read the menu, we ended up finally getting the waitor to bring us the English Version! But what the waitor didn´t tell us was that the dinner entries were actually servings for two. So we were pretty surprised when we got our food. I ordered the chicken parmesian and it pretty much was the size of a whole dinner plate! Then there was another plate full of mashed potatos. So much food!!! But we were so hungry at the time that it all went down pretty easy with the exception of some mashed potatos. Anyway, to recap the beach. It was amazing. We get to go down there again to swim and run some of the course on Thursday. So excited!

So other than those two attractions there hasn´t been much else going on. We might go tomorrow to a place called Sugar Loaf. Its a mountain top that you take a cable car up to that is supposed to have some more amazing views. It all depends on the weather though. Today got a little cloudy and I think tomorrow might be the same. So we´ll see.

So far my Portuguese is coming along pretty well. Ok, Im lying. I wish they spoke spanish here. I´d get by a lot better. I only know how to say- Good day, thank you, excuse me, and good night. Thank you is a very common word around here. The Brazilian volunteers have been amazing. Whatever we need, we get. From food, bus travel, laundry, and entertainment. Each bus ride we take is police escorted through the streets of Rio so you really feel pretty special. All the people walking in the streets wave at the bus as you drive by. Its awesome. There are signs and banners everywhere for the Military World Games. Its pretty huge for this city. And Im still so excited to be apart of it. The Brazilians have really put on a great venue. Everyday something else shocks us. The opening ceremonies were nothing I have ever seen. They put so much time and effort into making it one of the best moments of my life. Walking into a giant stadium filled with over 4500 people cheering is pretty spectacular and emotional. Watching the torch being lit, I felt like an Olympian! And guess who they had light the torch??! PELE!! I couldn´t believe it! So awesome!

I really could keep going on about all that is happening here. It really is an experience of a lifetime and I feel very proud to be walking around in the Red, White, and Blue. As of right now, Im super excited to race. I will probably get a little nervous once it gets closer but thats the nature of the game. I´ll race strong knowing I will have my country colors behind me the whole way.

Once again, thank you to everybody for all the support since I´ve been out here. Its really motivating me! Its great having so many friends and family members behind me. I wouldn´t be here if it wasn´t for you guys. Thank you!!