I'm heading towards Bendigo for a race I wasn't expecting to be at, but things feel into place during the week, which meant I wasn't needed down at Lorne and I am driving through fog. Not complaining, I will be happy if it stays cool for the day. Turns out the mother nature has a devious sense of humour.So, the race plan today is quite simple. Finish the race with the same amount of skin that I started with.
Relaxing start, by sitting behind the official's quad bike until we were escorted over Sedwick Road. Once the field was back together it was on. I found myself towards the front of the pack pushing hard on tarmac uphill. What was I doing? There was still 58km to go.
The course turned off the bitumen and now moving freely over an access road along side a culvert. Feeling fresh and producing decent speed. I need to position myself closer to the front more often, cause by the time I get to single track, there are no bottle necks. Head down and once I get close to the bottom I discover there is so much water laying around. All I can do is hope I pick the right line. Didn't always get it 100%. The bike pretty much stopped dead on a couple of occasions.
Crunch, first bug in the mouth for today. Believe the final bug count was in the order of a half a dozen.
The terrain changes so quickly, now climbing over loose shale. Loving this, no water. Point it down the other side, the biking clacking over the rocks and absorbing the bumps. My ankle on the other hand reminded me it wasn't fully healed, but come on, this is so much fun.
The song in my head is until the End of the World. Nothing significant, just left over from the U2 concert. Must be relaxed and I am enjoying the race, despite the heat building up.
Oo, double arrows, so what do we have here? What? No dispute, there is the pink tape. The trail is now a creek bed. Eight weeks ago this would have been awesome. Now it is a question of keeping the bike out of the washouts and deep water. Got to the bottom with my race plan still in check.
My drive line is already starting to squeal and it is only 16km into the race.
The ground is super soft, and the next patch of water is clear, so I don't bother lifting the front wheel. Mistake! Down it goes up to the hub and I am OTB. Plop. I am now soaking wet, which gives me slight relief from the heat.
The first drinks station came and went. There was no need to stop. My hydration pack still feels relatively heavy. I pause long enough to grab a couple of snakes. I think I have found my new favourite race food. Down a couple of Clif Shot Bloks. Whoa! Each chew is equivalent to an espresso.
Getting hotter as I come to the crest of a hill, which appears to open out on to a car park. The arrow points left, so down the fence line trail I go. Can't see any pink tape. The trail doesn't feel right. Drop down a loose steep hill and still no tape. Time to turn around. Others have done the same by turning let but haven't descended the hill and watch as another rider and myself climb back up. My heart drops when I realise 10-15 people have now passed me without the effort. Someone had turned the arrow around and that act of bastardery cost me 1.5km and around 5 minutes. Can't change it now. Let out something audible that is frowned upon in polite company.
My drive line is making a racket. 33km into the race and I have no lube left on the chain. I am starting to hold and ease the shift level to change gears.
Can't get enough food down. I hate that I accept that avoiding diarrhea is a daily event. Starting to struggle. The more fatigued I get the less I want to eat. Compensating by increasing my fluids.
Got over steer on a switchback climb. Put too much power down and watched as my back wheel gently overtook the rest of the bike putting me on my bum, laughing. It was the most graceful fall I have ever done. Race plan still achievable.
Descending now on a relatively clean single track. Nice flow and just the right amount of rocks to keep it entertaining. Still having fun.
Awesome, back onto the culvert, which gives me a lift. No mud and can increase my speed. Starting to get it back together and feel good. The road section also helps. Driving the legs now.
Everything was going well until I got near the final drink station. The mud and water had become mentally draining. One of the volunteers must have seen something cause she loaded my jersey with snakes wouldn't let me leave until I ate something. Love their work and support they give.
Tired, hot, the bike and myself covered in filth but I need to keep moving. Everyone around me is struggling at one point or another. Someone will get a spurt and then be in trouble a kilometre later. Plenty of encouragement, patience and courtesy out on the track. People don't need to be asked to move out of the way. Everyone is racing themselves.
There is a familiar feeling in my abdomen and to relieve the pressure I stop and get off the bike. Less than 10km to go and will stop and pause a few more times. One last gel and I hope I will be ok.
Cautious on the descents as I am mentally spent. I don't want to hurt myself by making mistakes. Now aim for clean water, hoping to get some relief whatever splashes up on my legs. Still trying to avoid the mud. Some of it smells like a cow has been rotting in there for months.
The leading female of the full Epic, whom has done an extra 40km but started 2 hours earlier, passes me like she is on a Sunday spin. She said something along the lines "You're doing well, keep it up". She lied, I was so cooked. My legs were still feeling OK though.
Back on single track now and under trees. Another U2 song in my head. This time, Some Days are Better than Others. So true. This was a good one. The weather is turning and there is a thunder storm coming in. The wind has picked up and the temperature drops. That and the fact I am now coming across signs 8km, 6km has made me regain focus. Down hill single track with a couple of creek crossings help knock over the kilometres quickly. One more climb, push and the last bit of hard work is done. Now, stay alert for the last 2 km. The finish comes into view and I forget how tired I am. Wait? What? The trail turns away. Ah, the last little tease for the day with a series of switchbacks. The terrain levels out and I am done. More than happy with my race result, 10th in class and 39th outright which was in the top 50% of the field. I am getting better and learning more with each race. Total distance 62.71km, 4h 32m 21s. Only 2745 calories burnt.
No cramp, a couple of bruises and my race plan intact.
