I have been back home since Sunday 6th December. Today is Thursday 17th December.
What have I been doing?
After the wonderful weekend in Bright, beautiful weather and magnificent riding, I have been re-inspired to get out on the bike.
Still no "specific" training, I would call it a hefty base. I think I am up for a circum-navigation around the world on bike. Brad, if you read this, your bike treks are inspirational!
one day...when I am 40 perhaps...
Freshly primed hill legs had me doing Hill Repeats with the MTB bootcamp group at the You Yangs on Tuesday, it was fun right?
Wednesday 9th even better, with a ride over the range and down to pick up Phil at skene's Ck, a sensational ride through to Lorne, coffee and a great 10km climb out of Lorne, through Deans marsh into a westerly wind and back home to Forrest. Poor Phil had to ride the 22km climb by himself back home to Skenes.
Finally a massage on Thursday from "the man" Bengt Carlson, Oh I needed it.
Then Friday, the end of the week for some, the beginning of my working week really.
To get into Colac, I rode the mountie in via dirt roads, only 29km away. Met the Forrest MTB womens group and did some more hills on the dirt just out of Colac.
1.5hrs later, I have to face up to the Junior boys and their dads for some serious hill repeats. A nice hill of 5km at around 3% but we did some nasty repeats that had me wishing I had a postie bike with a motor!
Having not eaten since 3:30pm, it did not take any convincing to agree to some pizza at la porcheta. 4 slices later I was well satisfied.
Total rest day Saturday. Sleep in, nana nap and an early night. Prepare for the course on Sunday.
Sunday 13th December. MTB skills course at the You Yangs. Great people, great riding, great skills. I always have fun doing this.
This race has been on the cards for a few months now and it was time to meet my "fears".
1. Road Racing in general. Fear of the unknown. How good are these girls? What if I cant keep up? 2. Hills, hills and more hills. Rosewhite Gap, Tawonga Gap and of course Hotham. Not my best leg of any race, would I be able to do it competitively? 3. Time Trial. Having done one ride on my TT bars over a month ago, all I knew was that I had to go hard. Scared silly!
Four of us took the trip to Bright.
Me, Norm, Saskia and Calum.
Me and Cal were the only ones riding(or racing), but Saskia came to watch and Norm to do bike maintenance and drive the car.
Arriving Thursday afternoon, Calum and I tested out the Time Trial course and then went up the easy side of Tawonga Gap to test out the descent.
An easy 55km in the legs, feeling happy to be here.
Pizza and salad for dinner tonight.
Friday was time to get the legs out again for an easy roll to ovens and back.
Another flattish 55km done, coffee and cake and a bit of recovery in Morses creek for the legs.
Pizza and salad for dinner tonight - again!
Off to bed around 10pm, ready to roll for an early start tomorrow.
So I am slack. Its been well over a month since I updated this blog...ooops.
Often its a mixture of forgetting or being too lazy.
Have been having trouble with motivation, inspiration and dedication.
Which sums it up that I am in need of a break.
Not unlike many other endurance athletes I have been chatting to lately about the same topic.
Instead of doing the Kona 24hr this year SOLO, I joined a team of 4.
Whilst it was fun to go out on a lap and not be tired or sore, the stop start nature of being in a team was hard work, still suffering from the hangover feeling two days later.
A chance however to chat with many other athletes and their support crew.
See what it looks like from the other side of the fence for a change.
This was one race I was thankful NOT to be doing solo.
In the lead up to this years Kona we had 2 days of torrential rain and it continued to rain on and off throughout the race.
Seeing the track, the riders, the support crews from other other side almost made me re consider ever racing another 24 hr solo again!
There were so many standouts for me, seeing some brand new solo female entrants have a crack at their first 24 solo was inspirational.
But most of all, it was so pleasing to see Phil Bickerdike finally crack the 24 hr in style and come 7th SOLO male and get his magical qualification for 2010 world solo champs in Canberra.
About to head off to Tour of Bright for a spanking in B Grade women(thankfully I am not racing those A grade girls and getting smacked up every hill). Will fill you in on progress shortly.
In the meantime, work to do...then a ride to colac, a gym session, a ride home..and more work to do.
Bye for now.
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Four of us took the trip to Bright.