I got a chance to speak with Val on her decision to not compete at Regionals . Here's what she had to say:"Basically, my heart wasn't in it, and I know that to compete at such a high level, I need to be fully committed. Plus some nagging injuries, increased demands at work (with the well known "common core"), all added up. A break will help me re-balance and reevaluate. I have spent many months struggling with this decision - what is best for my physical/mental health, best for my family, best for my career. I am still enjoying training, teaching, and being a mom!Steve and I did an adventure race (mountain biking, kayaking, trail running) where we came in 4th over Easter weekend. I'm looking forward to picking some other events to train for in the meantime!"We're huge fans of Val, and we wish her the best in whatever competitive endeavors she takes on.