The Highland Fling 2012

Race morning has arrived and I calmly have breakfast, coffee and warm up. Well try to warm up. It is still only 3 degrees. I make sure that I am in the start chute early to get a respectable starting position.

The start can't come soon enough as lycra isn't ideal to standing around in with the current temperature.

The race begins and there is a crash and fall of a couple of riders to the right of me. That avoided and onto the road. Heart rate is under control as I hit the first farmers paddock and climb. Moving well and Tim comes by and sit on his wheel.

Start eating and the instant I do, my breakfast repeats.  Awesome. Try to ignore it and concentrate on moving forward. On the front of my bunch now and I see Jess and her group 40m in front of me. Time to close gap. 40m, 30m, 20m, 20m, 20m. I can't get on and watch her pull away after the river crossing.

Another farmers paddock and more food down. It tries to come straight back up. I think I may be in trouble here. Notice I have done nearly 19km which means I have a steady 5km climb. The heart rate and speed are still good. Every now and then I can see Tim just up the road. This is a good sign cause we both have similar goals. We are aiming for the 5 hour mark for the 112km.

Round the oval and into the transition. Stage 1 knocked over and I within a couple of minutes of last year. Not ideal, but not too bad either. In the neutral timed zone and try to eat. Now it is drastic. I can't get food down.

Back with Tim into the single track. By the time we come out of the first section I am bonking. I am supposed to be eating 6 Clif Shot Bloks an hour and I can only manage 2. Now I am in trouble. Tim disappears into the distance. It is the last time I see him for the day.

Descending towards a hard left handed. Here it comes, set the gears and prepare myself for "The Wall". I manage to get to the first "step" before I unclip and walk. Even walking I am getting passed. Crest the top and into some more single track. Allow the bike to run and have fun. I don't need to use a lot of energy. "Everglades" was the highlight. Don't get caught in here but that becomes another story once I am back on the road.

Downhill at 60kmh. SHIT! I see the corner too late and supposed to go right. Straighten the bike up and hit the brakes as hard as I dare. Don't quite pull up in time, so a few seconds are lost as I pull some of the undergrowth from my bike. Poor bugger behind me nearly followed me into the scrub.

The next test is Halfway Hill and the KOM which I fail. I had nothing during this point. With 1km to go to the top I glance down at my Garmin. My speed is 1.5kmh. I am completely broken and mentally spent. There is still 20km to go to the final transition. In such a dark place that I just want to stop. Cramp is kicking in. I just want to pull over and sleep. After 64km the elite guys, who started 45 minutes behind me are coming through.

The transition is getting closer and I am having doubts. Fuck it! Keep going. Thats it, keep the legs turning over. The next section of single track is what keeps me from stopping.  Into Wingello for the final time. I have a can of lemonade thrust into my hands by a spectator. I can't recall tasting it and it is down before I know it. He stays close making sure I get water into my Camelbak and offers encouragement. 

Food is easier to get down and the increase of fluids is now making a difference. My luck continues when I head out and latch onto three other riders. Andy Blair is in front of us and it spurs us on to push. The mind is back into the race and use the other guys to help me through. This lasts until the next farmers paddock. It is a little too rough to maintain the speed of the other guys. Doesn't matter, that was a quick 5km knocked over.

Feeling as good as I can be and starting to think about the single track, and the climbs of Brokeback Mountain and Your Call. The first part brings a smile. The last two, not so much.

Through the pine plantation and there it is. The right hander into Rollercoaster. Suffering cramp in both hamstrings and there is no way I can walk any of the hills. If I do, there is no guarantee I can get back on the bike.  The pinches hurt.

Into Sherwood Forest and I no longer getting passed. I am actually starting to pick people off. No idea where the energy comes from. Now my head is fully back into the race.

This is it, Brokeback mountain. Focus on not using up my legs and tackle the hairpins one at a time. One, two, three, four and now over the top to the sound of drums.

Bakers Delight comes easy and even at this stage of the race I am enjoying it. In the midst of the slower Half Fling riders and without exception, move over. I have never gotten by riders to easily and it was always appreciated. Thank you. Out of the single track now the only obstacle remaining is Your Call before a gentle run into the finish.

The legs are still cramping, so the steeper, shorter and rockier left side is not even contemplated. Bury the head and tackle the last climb as hard as I dare. Short road section and now less than 2km to go. I notice that Jenny Fay, the women's leader is coming behind me.

There is the underpass and in between it and me is a huge loose rock. I can't swerve to avoid it. Jenny is only a few bike lengths behind me to the left. 250m from the finish and I have the biggest moment of the day. No idea how I got away with that tank slapper. She comes past safely just before the underpass.

Sit up and roll through the finish in 5:36:13.

Reflections

I have come to realise that I am a very much a confidence rider. It takes me a while to turn myself around mentally when things aren't going so well.

I put down the inability of keeping food down to having too big a breakfast within 100 minutes of the race start.  From there I managed to only get down 14 Shot Bloks. I was supposed to consume 30. No where near enough for the 4300 calories burnt.

Other than a lack of lube on the chain for the last 15km the Giant XTC Composite was flawless and is now perfectly set up for me.

Race Data - Strava

The Highland Fling

Six hours, for 110km.  That is the target for the day.

The opening stage is fast, but not beyond my fittess level. It is a mixture of fire and farm access roads. First big climb of the day and I move forward. Starting to pick off a few riders that went out too hard from the gun. Over the top and straight back down. The bunch reforms and starts working together again. Someone comes around the outside and sits on the front. Guess we weren't going fast enough. He doesn't want any help, and after a couple of kilometres he falls off the front and straight out the back. The bunch is now around 20 when the there is the sound off skidding tyres and the air filling quickly with dust. The lead caught sight of the arrow late and reacted to get around the corner, and so did everybody else. No damage done and rhythm is hastily re-established once back onto access roads. Not regretting the new bike. The Giant XTC Composite 29er 0 so easy to ride fast over the terrain at the moment. It is my marathon bike of choice.

Throughout the day are several creek crossings, with the temperature rising come as a relief and a chance to cool down the legs. The first way though has me worried. The water level was up to my knicks. Turned I had nothing to worry about. That was as deep as it got all day. The second last one called out to me. It was so inviting for a sit down. Normally it wouldn't be cause it was the colour of tea.

Into some single track and still feeling strong and working out the finer points of the bike and it's wider bars. One thing that is standing out is the XTC takes a little more effort to get it back up to speed. A lighter wheel set and tubeless tyres will help with that.

Oh, narrow gap between a couple of trees coming up. Try to ride the gap dead centre. All I do though is clip the one on the right at 25km/h. Get thrown off the side of the trail and land on rocks and back under the bike. The bike hasn't it the ground so I know it is Okay, but me?

First, second and third breath hard to get in. My ribs hurt. Losing time now, and the bunch I was with. Plenty of people ask if I need help. Scramble back up the slope and wait for a gap to appear.

Breathing, and just below my shoulder blade is painful but soon I get a reprieve. The single track opens up and becomes a farmer's paddock. I can ride with a fairly constant effort and control my breathing. Still manage to average 26km/h over the grass. Loving the bike.

Tim soon passes me and I am able to stay with him awhile.  Settled in again, now able to breathe normally and good, a climb. Into an element that am comfortable with. It isn't overly steep. It just keeps going up for 3km.

Stage 1 done and into transition in a time of 01:02. That is so far under a six hour finish my mind goes into overdrive trying to do the mental arithmetic. I think I am now under sub 5 hour pace. Doubt myself at 30km/h  and just get on with the job of downing fluids and food. Focus and push out some decent pace.

Over the course of the day there a signs posted on trees to indicate where you are. The one for me that stuck out was "The Wall" and it was, 38% gradient. I contemplate riding it for a second, then another second. After that, the sound of my feet can be heard unclipping from my bike. More food down and push the bike.

Tim catches me again and spend the next 20km within sight of each other. That was until "Halfway Hill". As I was climbing I felt a twinge of cramp. Stop, stretch out the leg and start sucking on an Enervit tablet.

More single track and getting a lot of pressure on the outside of my palms. Some adjusting still to be done. Starting to suffer let my attitude dip. Onto the KOM climb and just focus on getting to the top so I can have a breather. Not to be, 400m down the road I try and change back into the big ring. "What the 'ell?" It won't change and now I can't turn the pedals at all and why is my leg bleeding? Crap, the chain snapped and it whipped around catching the front derailleur and me. After 25 minutes I am mobile again. My focus is renewed and I press on. It isn't long that I am passing people, and them bam, cramp! Still 40 odd kilometres to go.

There is no one me that I can form bunches with, so all I can do is ride on my own. Sometimes into the wind through the denuded pine plantations. More climbing and I have settled into a decent rhythm. Feeling good and producing a speed that I am happy with. The kilometres just tick over and soon I am into transition ready to tackle stage 3. Fill the Camelbak with an extra litre, wash my sunglasses and head off for the final 30km. I am still on course for a sub 6 hour time. Still ahead of my original goal and other than the hand discomfort I am in good shape.

Three kilometres down the road and pop! No drive, there goes the chain again. The repair with the pin failed. In the future I need to keep an eye on the chain when it breaks, cause when I came to a rolling stop 300m down the road, it had decided the bike was no longer part of its well being. Turn around and start the search. As I find my chain, my luck comes in again. Josie and Courtenay come by and Josie tosses me her toolkit. Awesome, I am still not a DNF yet. Back away Sag Wagon!

Another 29 minutes lost. There are less than 30km to go and I am motivated to get as close as I can to the 6 hour mark. The legs are driving the bike, however, the small chain ring has limited me to a top speed of around 30km/h.

First major climb after stopping, cramp, right on cue. That makes me realise how much I hurt. My upper arms are like jelly, legs are tired, and I keep needing to adjust my grip to reduce the pressure on the palms. Twenty kilometres to go and 40 minutes to do it in.

Just entered single track and have lost the ability to absorb the bumps with my arms. The rest of the body is bearing the brunt. Ride smooth where I can, and limit the losses over the technical sections. At least my climbing hasn't deserted me.

I am surrounded by other riders, but I am riding on my own and able to race at my pace. At this stage of the race, people are more than happy to move across.

Pre-event I was warned about a paddock climb up grass and "Your Call". I had now arrived at the base of the paddock and knew that I was nearing the end of the day. Pull the arms in and down. Start the climb, aiming to keep the pedals turning over. Not overly fast or bad as I thought it would be, but now there was only one major climb between me and the finish.

As I leave the single track I am roughly at the 100km mark and the time clicks over to 6 hours. Don't know where the energy comes from but I am determined to finish as soon as I can. Without realising it I had arrived at "Your Call" and chose the shorter, steeper, more technical route.  The immediate goal is not to unclip through the rocky step ups cause I knew there was no place to get back on until the top. No one else was riding so I call early and I call loud. Riders pay attention and move to the opposite side of the trail for me. Set the gears and move up and over each step with purpose choosing my line for the next couple. Push, drive the legs, keep the arms loose and remember after this, no more hills. One last push, hurt and done.

Onto a gravel road and my legs are spinning like I am on a wind trainer. Smile to myself, cause from the outside I must look like an idiot or a hamster in a wheel. The Fling is nearly over, left turn off the road and into a farm land track. I can now hear the MC and catch glimpse of the finish. No time to back off, 200m to go. 06:17:06

Reflections.

Rule 1. Don't do anything new in a race. Normally I won't recommend it, but using a brand new XTC that I hadn't ridden outweighed the negatives from using the 29er for The Highland Fling. It is such an easy bike to ride at speed.

I am close to ecstatic with the time I rode, without the mechanical issues, 55 minutes lost directly, plus whatever time I lost not being able to use the big ring. There is still room for improvement can't wait to see it at the Otway Odyssey. There will be a day when everything falls into place.

Race Data - Strava

Race Data - Garmin

My goals are continually being re-accessed. When I started searching for a coach 5 months ago, I wrote a list for short, medium and long term goals. After a slow start coming back from injury, most of them have now been surpassed. Looking forward to see how far I can go with my riding with the help of PCS: Progressive Coaching Systems.

Southern Exposure 12 Hour Solo

As I was rolling around The Forrest 6 hour I wondered if I should try a 12 hour, so here I am on the start line along side Ross Burrage.

Don't know what to expect today except it was going to hurt and hurt for a long time. 

My goal is to reach 200km by the end of the race. Ross believes 50 minute laps will get you on the podium.

There is the start and my immediate plans are to sit on Ross, so I know I am not going to hard. He is experienced at the longer events and it allows me to focus on him and not get sucked into chasing the 3 hour and the team entrants.

Well, that lasted less than 3km. My climbing is going well and I overtook him on the first major climb. Settled into a rhythm that I was happy with and focused on the trails.

Entering Tree Grass Alley

Into Grass Tree Alley and the section will become my favourite part of the course and looked forward to it every lap. Allow the bike to run and smile.

It was followed by my least favourite part of the course which I christened Root Rut Gully.

The cross over bridge comes and goes and soon I am on an unsealed road. I am already eating and drinking where I can. It is going to be a long day and I don't want to food flat, or bonk. As I return the bottle back to the bike I hit a lump in the road and lose my balance. Save it by unclipping. Whoa, that was close. I didn't come away completely unscathed. To keep my balance I whacked the back of my calf with the pedal, or so I thought. At the end of the day I find out it chain ring.

Another long climb and at the top was a view over the ocean. Nearly made the heart rate worth it. Over the water bars and at the end of the fence line road there is a tricky little right hander that I couldn't seem to get right over the day. Wide, shallow entry, shallow, wide exit didn't seem to get me any closer for setting up the climb on the exit.

Descending now and getting flow through the trees. A couple of them are tight and need to be given some respect. I don't want to tear off a derailleur here or rip a tyre off the rim.

It has started to rain and Mark is waiting in the food zone with his arms full. I swap out the bottle just in case. Rain doesn't last long but the cloud cover remains. No wind, no sun and 18 degrees. Perfect riding conditions. The climbs are still moving beneath fairly easily and enjoying myself.

Two hours in and my knee has blown up. My cleats had shifted a few days beforehand and I now know that I didn't get them lined backed up. Forty minutes later my IBS is starting to play up. Bugger. I am no longer riding to heart rate. I am riding to stomach cramps. Not far now, so close to the feed zone. Call out to Mark and he has the Nurofen, Coke and Gastrolyte sorted as I get off the bike. Jersey pockets are replenished with food and I am off within the minute.

There are times during the day when it seems you are the only person on the trails. The 3 hour riders have finished and the 6 hour riders have yet to begin. 

Gels are being avoided for the time being and replaced by a greater intake of Torq Bars and Gu Chomps.

Come into the feed zone for chamois cream and find out that I am leading the category by 5 minutes over Ross. That also puts me in 10th for the solo entrants.  "Ok...Now what do I do? I have never been in this position ever". Next lap and the gap is now 6 minutes. My head gets ahead of itself and I realise getting time gaps every lap is going to be more of a hindrance than anything else.

The next couple of laps I focus on being efficient and not being a nuisance to other competitors. The 6 hour race has started and some of the team riders are flying. In most cases you can hear them closing in so all that is required is a slight adjustment of speed and line to allow easy overtaking.

No stomach issues at the moment so I take on as much energy gels as I dare.  Root Rut Gully is giving my arms a pounding and now my forks are bottoming out. I need to be able to cope for four more hours.

The gap gets out to 11 minutes, so I can ride conservatively and not take risks on some of the descents and blown out corners. Lights have been fitted, tyres pressures adjusted and now is set up for the rest of the race. Mark suggests swapping out to the Hardtail but my body won't be able to cope for the remainder of the race. I take on more Nurofen, Coke, Gastrolyte and another application of butt cream. Have been prepared and setup for last few hours of the race.

The bike is bottoming out everywhere and isn't fun to ride. Root Rut Gully is a nightmare. All I can do is point it down the hill, let gravity take effect and hang on. All the bouncing is knocking my helmet light out of alignment. Guess they aren't supposed to be bounced around like that.  It is the first time I have used my Exposure lights and my first impression are that they are exceptional. There is no second guessing on the trail.

Some of the corners have blown out and have been loose all day. Have been weary of the worst one and now down I go. I paid too much attention to the build up of loose surface, so instead of riding through the corner I rode into it and washed out the front. Ten hours into the race. Everything hurts and I was a little slow to get up.

The gap is down to 8 minutes, then 5.5 minutes. Less than 2 hours to go. Into the pits for the last time to throw on a Camelbak and head out.

To get through the day I set myself little goals, from making sure my bottle is empty by the time I get back to the feedzone, to staying in the big ring for a climb, to make sure I get to 100km within 6 hours. Now it is to keep my average speed above 17km/h for the day. Looks like I will make it.

Ok, 2 more laps. There is just over an hour to go and have worked out I cannot stop before the 12 hours cause if Ross goes out he will beat me. Time to dig, spin the legs and try relax. People throughout the feedzone are offering encouragement. Mark throws some my way.

Into the climbs and grit the teeth. Still in the middle ring but it hurts. "You are nearly done. Keep turning over the legs and suck it up."  So tired, mind starts to wander and thoughts turn to doing a 24 hour solo. At this point of the day, I don't think I have one in me. Focus, an hour to go, focus".

Passed the dam and around the corner. "Don't you get off you fucker!" Twice more and 50 minutes left.

 

Big ring, middle ring, little ring, now dig into the climb. Pain, more gears. SNAP! Crunch, clack, clack!

My head is spinning and trying to catch up to the situation.: My derailleur hanger snapped? I am not that strong. What?"

Don't panic and start the process of removing the remnants of the hanger from the derailleur. Damn it, it is jammed. For a split second I get anxious. Lots of people ask if I need help including some of the leading riders. Ross now goes by. The derailleur has the new bracket attached. All I need to do is fit it back on the frame.  The race isn't over.

Get the derailleur attached to the frame. Now the race was over. The derailleur is bent and there was no way I can get the wheel back on.

So, off it came, on went the wheel and I pushed the bike back to the feedzone via the access roads. Arrived in time to hear over the speaker system that I had a 5 minute lead. Well not anymore. Mark was surprised to see me and now all there was to do was wait. Ross and myself had lapped the field, so there was a chance that I could still finish on the podium. Wasn't to be, 3rd, 4th and 5th had all been a couple of minutes of each other so they raced until the end pushing me into 5th place.

Some things to come out of the race. It was my fastest 100km in a race 5:38 compared to 6:00. My fastest 110km in a race 6:03 compared to 8:40 and it was my longest ride ever from 160km to 182km.

Out of the 182km I led for 178km, so I am ecstatic on how I rode for the day, but I hope that it doesn't mean I need to do the longer events to get a result.

 

Race Data - Strava

 

Race Data - Garmin

 

Thank you Mark for your support on the weekend. you made the day bearable and less stressful for me.

Upon reflection and the access to race data, I was at the highest point of the course and could have rolled, pushed myself around the final 10km and finished in second. At the time I was beyond tired, didn't know I lapped third place and the memory of The Red Centre where I carried the bike on my shoulders for 5km came back. I also wanted to get out of everyone elses' way.

 

40+ Solo

Place 5

Laps 13

Time 10:40:57

O/A  54

You Yangs Yowie 33km - First Race Back

The plan was to stay with the lead group at the start and see if I could hold on and to see where I am at now with my fitness due to Donna at (www.pcscoaching.com.au/).

There is the start and I get swapped. A junior next to me has trouble clipping in and drifts across the front of me. I had to wait before I can get going. The lead group are already 50 metres up the road before I have moved.

Head down and travelling fast. Too fast. My heart rate is above 90% and I am only 1.5km into the race.

Grit my teeth and ready myself for the first climb. The heart rate levels out and I know I get a chance to recover in a few kilometres when we go over the top. I am reeling people in.

Time for a breather and some single track. Out of Quarry and after a short fire road section past the toilets and car park I enter Vomit Climb. It has an average gradient of 11.4% but there are some parts that are as steep at 19.7%. It is 2:45 minutes of pain and pass a couple of people here. I am feeling strong.

Boulder Track comes and goes, not before I hit The Clam the highest, cleanest and fastest that I have ever hit before and there is still room for improvement. It no longer freaks me out.

Back past the car park which means back up we go. More climbing, you beauty. This time it is Lactic Acid. Whoopsie, the first bit of technical climbing and I stuff it up. Take it as a sign to focus. I clear the next technical section with ease.

Lactic opens onto a fire road and I use the respite to get food and fluids down. Notice that the leg has not given me any trouble. 

Another descent, this time Trav's Diamond. Wooden berm, rock drop, rock berm, rock wall, rock berm and I am through. Smiling. Awesome and the rider compliments me on how clean I rode that section. Thanks Norm (www.mtbskills.com.au) for the skills and confidence. Trav's is becoming a must do.

Drums? Ominous considering they are at the bottom of The Churn. The Churn is a three part rock section that can be painful if you get it wrong, but so much time can be made if you get right. First climb cleared. The hardest section cleared and the rider in front moves aside as I enter the last  climbing section. Done, cleared the lot and head down towards the final major climb of the day.

Idiot! Lose focus and get the entry wrong. Need to loop around. Idiot! now I am in the wrong gear and need to loop around again. Never climbed Cressy's but discover it is a lot easier than the road. That's it, I am now done with what I consider climbing for the day.

There are three distances for The You Yangs Yowie being run and start at different times. One of the elites catches me into the descent into Kurrajong. I follow Duncan and try to match his lines. For the most part he isn't getting too far ahead of me until I muppet one of the tighter switchbacks.

Let the bike run, focus on being clean into the fast section of the course and drive the legs.  Eight kilometres to go and there is someone 700m in front of me and there is a rider the same gap behind so I can ride my own race.

Out of a left hander. "That is strange" The log has been moved across the trail. "Jesus Christ! You son of a bitch" The Yowie took that moment to jump out from the bush. It scared the shit out of me. I continue, laughing hoping that my heart will relocate on its own accord from my throat back into my chest cavity.

I am riding as fast as I can but I can't get the heart rate up. I want another climb to take advantage of my fitness.

Onto the home-straight and I come in at 1:43:15. Holy crap! Got informed that I finished 8th. More than happy with the result. Average speed 19.7kmh

Race Data - Strava

Race Data - Garmin

The Road Back

The road back started even before I was injured. It started in Alice Springs when I was carrying my bike on my shoulders back to the start line after a mechanical on the night stage.  

Five kilometres gives you a lot of time to think. The Red Centre Enduro opened my eyes to what a little effort can produce. I was happy with my result but realised my training had no structure. A coach was needed.

It wasn't 'til a month and a couple of races later that I had to get my act together.

One day in June I woke with an extremely painful leg. Walking any distance just plan hurt and stairs were an absolute nightmare. People that know me, know that I don't bother to get things checked out unless it is broken. Not this time.

The doctor suspected stress fractures and an MRI was booked. Why stress fractures? Well my riding went from 300km a month, to 700km to 1400km all within two months. Yep, I had overdone it. Crap.

So into the MRI listening to U2 through semi broken headphones. MRI machines are nothing like the movies. They make a decent racket and are a little disturbing. Results produced nothing. I didn't have stress fractures so I was booked in to see a leg specialist at Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre to explain why I couldn't walk more than a 100m before stopping due to the pain. I described my symptoms to the doctor and he squeezed the spot with his thumb without searching for it.  Double checked the MRI and confirmed that I had Tibialis Anterior Tenosynovitis and slight muscle tear where it and the tendon are connected. "Hang on, its a what? Running injury? I shouldn't be able to get it from cycling?" "Oh, I walk like a cyclist"

So, over training and “closed”, tight hip flexors were the cause and the outcome was no riding, no walking, taking Voltaren 50's and a stretching program. The no riding turned into 4 weeks and driving the 3.5km to work for 3 months. Races had been paid for and now withdrawn from. Others came and went without me. So frustrating.

Time for the coach and the search was on. Most of them offered a set 13-16 week program. This was not going to help me, so I contacted the strongest cyclist I knew and with her massage therapy background Frixshon, I was hoping Jodie Willett, could get me back on the trail. Her decision was to put me in contact with her coach Donna Dall, PCS, Progressive Coaching Systems. After 3 months I cannot recommend the pair enough.

I was now on program and something to focus on. Problem was, it is now September and was limping again. Back to OPSMC for a couple of appointments. One with the leg specialist and the other for a bike fit. The benefit of getting a bike fit through OPSMC was the physio had my file and knew what to look for. The bonus is a rebate from your private health insurance. More exercises and specific stretches recommended and I could feel the results within a couple of weeks.

Now to get the riding sorted. It was always on the cards after The Red Centre Enduro but I was waiting for the You Yangs Mtb Park to reopen after the floor damage. A skills course was booked with MTBSkills.com.au run by Norm and Jess Douglas to sort out my cornering. Off to the You Yangs and after a day of tuition by Norm and finally by Jess the obstacles I had apprehension about no longer fill me with dread or instantly reaching for the brakes. The course have provided me with the building blocks for better riding and continued improvements. Even now I can hear Norm's sage like voice in head when out on the trails. "Keep your head up".

Where does this leave me? I find out tomorrow. It is my first race in four months and cannot wait. The head is right, the leg is 88% there and my balance is good. I don't think I have ever been as fit, strong or motivated as I am now.

The 15th October is now New Years Day. 

Thank you Dr Blackman, Jodie, Donna, Norm and Jess for each of your parts to make it happen. Thanks also goes out to all my friends for the encouragement when I needed it over the last 4 months.

Forrest 6 Hour Solo

...and I begin with a big thank you to Craig at Bicycle Inc for the invitation to ride for the day. My whole focus had been about The Red Centre Enduro and my legs were still feeling good, so I had the opportunity to exploit them riding a Giant Anthem SL1 for the day in my first 6 hour solo.
So here I am in a Giant kit, sitting on a Giant bike. Not totally unfamiliar, just unfamiliar in a mountain bike race. Forrest looks a little different to Beach Road.
Good start and try to stay out of the red. Too early to smash myself. I love how rear of the Anthem reacts. The front end is a little harsh for me though, but that could just come down to set up.
Oh, mud in the corner and I find that I am laying in it. The front end decided the line I chose was not correct.
Mariners just gets quicker and quicker. The Anthem is just railing through the berms. I can't understand why I avoided the rock up until now. I am getting some nice rhythm and people are quite generous in allowing you to pass. Neck is getting sore. May not have been a good idea to race a week after dropping the road bike and cracking my helmet.
Come through transition and Dom is smiling with his arms full, waiting for instructions. All I need is a change of bottle.

Now three hours in and I am in so much pain. Ross catches me and we ride together for a while and chat. Another first, normally I am fairly quiet on the bike. My neck gives in and Ross moves on.
Jess sees me come into the feed zone and jumps into support mode. Before I know it, I have a couple of Nurofen, some food and The Black Doctor into me. The encouragement from her, Conan and the rest of the Giant Crew was appreciated and lifted the spirits.
The pain eases and I am now going faster. Dom still looks like a street vendor trying to sell armfuls of crap, but by the time I exit out of the end of the feed zone I have fruit cake and a fresh flask of gel in the back of my jersey.
Mariner's is still fun and now that the leaf litter is gone from Foxtail, it is just an awesome day of riding.

The sky has been grey all day, but now it appears to be getting sinister. One more bottle change and that will get me to the finish. Where is Dom? What? He is sitting on his ass. Ha. Bastard.
The sky is now black. On my last lap and as I enter Foxtail, down comes the rain. The temperature drops and I still have half a lap to go. Rapid change of conditions change and not in a good way. No grip and never have I gotten so cold so quickly.  Still a little of 3km to go. Push as hard as I dare. All I want to do is stay upright and get back to the finish line so I can get into dry clothes.
One final corner and slight climb up the finish straight.
A big thank you to all that got me through the day, especially Dom for his selflessness, Jess for keeping an eye out for me and Craig for allowing me to ride such an awesome machine.

Race Data

Finished the race 100km later in 6:15 with 1846m of elevation gain. Total calories burnt 4529. Other than my neck giving out I was happy how the day went.  The numbers translate across well for marathons and improved mentally.

Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Red Centre Enduro

I came to the decision last year if I was going to get any better on the bike I would have to retire from indoor soccer. A decision that was fairly straight forward considering I played close to 700 games.

This year was also the year that I stepped up my training. It began in March with 700km and 1400km for April.

So today, I was to find out what all the kilometres in the leg bank have done for me.

Stage 1

Woke up this morning to discover it was only 5°C. Lovely shock to the system. I didn't bother packing any cold gear and hoped it wouldn't be an issue by race start.

The start was fairly rapid and by the time I was on the Stuart Hwy I had Joe Wall on my wheel and bit of a bunch behind, so I upped the pace to close the gap to the group in front. "You idiot, why are you smashing yourself for everyone else?"  Turn off the hwy and settle to a speed that I want to do and pull off the front. I notice the sand isn't as deep or wheel hungry as last year.

Up the hill, climb the fence and onto the first bit of single track for the day. Forgot how rocky the trails could be and got caught out. I was behind a rider who was getting used to the conditions and fell in front of me. She dragged a rock out and I was going to slow to get over it. so I landed on her. There we were both clipped into the bikes with me on top pinging her under hers.

Another incident happened soon after when I tried to negotiate an exit up a river bank and introduced my lolly bag to my stem. Breathe.

The rest of the stage was relatively uneventful. My descending skills through the tight switchbacks was crap to the extent I was wishing for more climbs as I was stronger than the riders around me and made up time and passed a few. Swapping out my bladder at the water point was costly.

Being fitter I found that I couldn't find time to get food and gels down. I used to use the climbs to do it. Now that I am riding those same hills and the single track needing full attention, there were limited opportunities.

Came in at 2.58, which was 40 minutes quicker at 3km/h faster than last year. 65th Outright

Race Data

Stage 2

Today's stage began with a rolling start through the streets of Alice Springs behind a Police car. Sirens sound and we are off along the Old Stuart Hwy.  The leading ladies are still in sight, so I know I am doing well. Onto sand, bugger, it is deep. Bum out the back and spin.

Double bugger. Now I have done it. I am still on the bike at the top of the 25% gradient, railway cutting climb. No more walking up it for me.

Now the riding becomes tougher.  Onto tight twisty single track and I am losing a stack of time. Classic rubber band riding. Vaughan is in front of me and gets away, but every climb I pull him back in.  Just wish the climbs were longer so I can grind him down.  At one point I pass him on a climb but he gets me on the other side. I am feeling good. I just can't get 'round corners.

I lose site of him until I cross the railway line for the final time and come upon the climb that has become known as Blair's Stairs. How did I forget about this? We went up it last year. I couldn't see how it could be ridden. Andrew Blair proved everyone else wrong.

Over the top and into the velodrome. Yesterday wasn't a fluke.  Averaged 3km/h today as well.  68th Outright

 

Race Data

Stage 3

The 300m hill climb sprint. In the large chain ring. 5,4,3,2,1 and punch it. Out of the saddle and stay in the big dog as long as possible. Over the last 10-12 metres I took it too easy. I didn't go back through the gears. My time is announced at 1.03. Even though I had beat my PB by 12 seconds I was hoping to crack the 60 second barrier.  I think I have found my ideal distance. Finished in 35th.

 

Race Data - Incomplete. I didn't start it on time.

Stage 4.

After the first couple of twisty stages I realised my best chance to move in the standings was the longer 77km stage. I started looking forward to it knowing I was going to hurt. Also knew so would everyone else.

Same plan as everyday. Position myself near the leading women and stick to them as long as possible. My other plan was stay in the pedals.

The stage started with a climb and then a blast through some back streets before hitting some flowing single track. 

Come to a punchy climb, near the water tanks and am so focused to stay in the pedals that I yell out to a rider walking that I was coming through. As I pass I realise I have asked the female yellow jersey wearer to move aside. I lose focus and need to unclip.  

When I get to the top I wait for Anna to come back through so she can attack the single track. Wise move, cause after a few turns I don't see her.  Into a area of climbing and I am closing gaps.

The 20km water point comes and goes. I am carrying a camelbak and plan to stop only at the 50km water point.

Onto the bike path now and can use the legs to punch out some speed.  Spend 5km on my own and catch I glimpse of a 3 person group behind me, so I take a gel and drink and wait. Vaughan is in the group.

Sit in behind for a few minutes before I take now turn on the front. All four of us are pulling our wait and work well together. I am feeling good and spent a fair bit of time driving the pace. Soon we pick up a couple of riders. Adam was on a single speed and was thankful cause now he wasn't cooking myself on his own trying to maintain some speed.

Off the bike track and onto the road section. The pace picks up again and I notice the last person to join the bunch is only pulling minimal turns on the front. Found out later he was racing me in the vets class. I get him before the end.

Spending a lot of time on the front, pushing, but staying within myself.

Five kilometres down the road and through Honeymoon gap and it happened. IBS induced stomach cramps. Two things now go through my mind. How long can on I go off and can I hang on to the bunch? My turns on the front are now short stints before sitting in the bunch.

Into the drink stop and I call out for toilet paper. The volunteers do an exceptional job.  Someone is tucking it into my jersey before I get my replacement camelbak on.  It is also the end of our little bunch. It blows up here.  Everyone is on a different strategies. 

I am still suffering and back off. I can longer hang on to Adam's wheel and the others and drop speed.  Try to keep the fluids up, but I also avoid food.

See Mike in the ridge line cross over and glad he didn't say how far I have to go.  At the start of the ridge line climb, my cramping has stopped. Awesome. I take in as much food as I dare and things turn around quickly as I am riding well up and down the rocky 4x4 track.

One last road section and drag a couple of juniors along with me into the BMX track.  The BMX track hurt. I am done.   61st Outright

 

Race Data

Stage 5

My favourite day and I am looking forward to the time trial.

Out of the blocks and catch Adam fairly quickly. He allows me by on the flowing track and build a small gap. He is awesome. Being a local he is calling out obstacles for me. The trail tightens up and he is all over me. Give him room and try to stick to his wheel. As if it ever was an option, but on the flow he can't get away from me on his single speed. We give each other room and swap positions a couple of times to allow each of us to ride to our strengths. I finally lose him when I got a corner so wrong that I had to unload the bike and straight line the corner through a bush. The only thing lost was time and branches for the bush. 

Ah crap, into the technical part of the course and my corning is horrible. Hills are attacked and push as hard as I can when the course allows it.

Up over the lat rise and let the bike run, while moving through the gears. Close now, drive the legs. One last obstacle and back onto the golf course. One more effort.  Come in at 1.12.09.  I don't know if that is quick for me or not. The TT has changed from previous years so there is no direct comparison.  It did feel more technical.  68th Outright

 

Race Data

Stage 6

Thunderstruck is playing and have a quick look around to see if I am where I should be.

We are off, and there is dust everywhere and I am only around the 50 mark. I have no idea how the riders at the back are coping.

Race plan for tonight is too smash myself 'til the "pipeline". It becomes a major bottle neck and can lose you a fistful of time. Point two is to try and ride the climb into the pipeline underpass. Didn't happen tonight. Not enough room and once there were a few people unclipped there was no other option.  I was not hindered getting under the pipe. No time lost.

Fast section of track over and up into the first single track climb.  Loving it.

Not so much now as I descend into the switchbacks.  I hear a voice, so I yell out "Is that you Adam?"  It was so at the first chance I move over. He is gone.  Still descending and I hear the loudest rock strike against my bike that I have ever been exposed to.

Ignore it and focus trying to get through the corners.

The trail opens up and I stamp on the pedals. What? The bike lurches once, the bike lurches twice and then finally the rear wheel locks up.

Audible swearing can be heard, not loud though.

Off the bike and access the damage. The bottom of my derailleur is cracked at the jockey wheel and the lower guards on both sides are missing. My race is over but I keep working on the bike for a few minutes to try and see if I can get it rolling.

So, 5.2km into a night stage, with my rear wheel locked there is only one thing to do.  Throw the bike over the shoulders and walk back to the start/finish line. Claire gently reminds me to dip my lights. I also come across John Jacoby clearing the track of markers.

The walk back would take just over an hour and I cross back into the path of the finishes.  I am seen by Jess and recommends running to the finish line. Yeah, that won't be happening. I am still a kilometre away and have now been carrying the bike for over 4km. The shoulders are sore and now have blisters on my big toes.  My focus is just getting back to the finish line.

There is a lot of support and encouragement, from other riders, volunteers and spectators for me to keep going and it is appreciated. I Love my sport and the people associated with it.

5,4,3,2 and done.

 

Race Data

Stage 7

As I was out of the race I decided to go to the finish and see the leaders come in.

What ended up happening though was I helped set up the finish line and then volunteered to collect the timing bands from the competitors once they crossed the finish line.

Easy enough, if you were on the ball. I dropped my guard and ran, I mean, RAN into a low lining branch of a gum tree that knocked me stupid and on my back.

Turned into a decent headache and graze. This was the only injury from the whole week and my bike was over 5km away in pieces.

What did I take from the Enduro this year?  I was 3km/h faster or roughly 18% faster. I will be back and I know there is still some improvement left in me.  It was also the first year I have raced. No shoulder, neck or arm pain. Legs felt good even after day 4.  Every other year has been about survival.