My Blog
Vic Winter tour - The final night on the Goulburn River, Gear Run down, day 6 & 7
Jul 2021Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 6, Echuca to somewhere on the Goulburn River. I had a great sleep last night, and finally, after 30 years of marriage, we had worked out if the option was there, to stay in a twin room and wake...
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Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 5, Bendigo to Echuca
Jul 2021Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 5, Bendigo to Echuca It never stopped raining overnight, and there was no sign of it abating either. I remember now as I recall that morning, hearing the sound of rain on the tin roof, lookin...
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Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 4, Daylesford to Bendigo
Jul 2021Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 4, Daylesford to Bendigo Yesterday’s winds were hard but not impossible. Hard or difficult, or challenging, can be defined in so many ways. Was our ride challenging because we felt there was little re...
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Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 3, Skipton to Daylesford
Jul 2021Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 3, Skipton to Daylesford We had been riding two days, and already we had made minor changes to the route each day to shave off time or distance to get to our destination before dark. Being early July, ...
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Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 2, Colac to Skipton
Jul 2021Cycling Tour of the Victorian Winter - Day 2, Colac to Skipton The simple joys of riding quaint single lane country roads are what a cyclist lives for—encrusted with lichen that is free to grow due to the lack of traffic. Many of the...
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Cycling Tour in the Victoria Winter - Day 1, Geelong to Colac
Jul 2021Our last cycling holiday finished on Friday 14th May; 14 days later, the state of Victoria went into its 4th lockdown since the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Norm and I were relieved, to say the least, that we had managed to get away and...
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Cycling Holiday - Day 5 & 6. Southern Cross Station - Fingal/ Fingal - Geelong
May 2021In late April, I advised all my coaching clients that I would be winding down my business to take time out, which would be for the indefinite future. Decisions like this to people outside can seem sudden and rash, with little thought or perhaps ev...
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Cycling Holiday - Day 4. Beechworth to Albury
May 2021Burn out is what I have come to call it. I have had mini-episodes of ‘life fatigue’ and had short breaks to rejuvenate, but oh so quickly because there was always the next metaphorical mountain to conquer. Norm and I achieved so much in the...
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Cycling Holiday - Day 3. Bright to Beechworth
May 2021Norm and I spent a couple of years on the Gold Coast and had a heap of fun racing bikes on the dirt and the road. We were young, had no money and no real vision of what next week would bring. So it was the perfect time to discuss starting a fa...
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Cycling Holiday - Day 2. Mansfield to Bright
May 2021Norm and I have a good 31 years of memories together. Thirty of those are since we got married. The one year prior was a whirlwind interstate relationship whilst I finished year 12, and he was in the Navy, posted to HMAS Hobart, which was in refit...
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Cycling Holiday - Day 1. Tallarook to Mansfield
May 2021It is not just about the bike, but riding bikes has always been my first true love. The feeling I remember when I learnt how to ride a bike was one of adventure and discovery. Even as I grew older, every bike ride, even if it was to the...
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Are we there yet?
Jul 2020Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? No kids, we are not there yet. But when we will get there? Kids, we will get there when we get there, that's when! When, when? Soon. We, in Victoria, Australia at least are ‘Not Ther...
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Focus you say?
Jul 2020We work hard, don’t we? Forgive me, this is one blog that flits about a bit. We put in a lot of time, effort and even finances to make things happen in our home life, our sport and our family. As parents or caregivers may also have a habit of pu...
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Grey Hair, Tummy Tucks & Boob Jobs
Jul 2020Don’t get me wrong, I really like my hairdresser, in fact, she knows I am a no-fuss, in and out 2 to 3 times a year kind of customer. There is also a product she introduced me to, that gave the blonde highlights in my hair a bit of vavoom, without...
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What you want V’s What I want
Jul 2020Ever wake up with great intent to achieve? Your focus is laser-sharp and with that narrow intense focus. Maybe today your ability to get things done smoothly and enjoyable seems to be a challenge? Even though you have the best intentions.& ...
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Finding New Purpose in Lockdown
Jul 2020It is now July 2020. I don’t even know what the rest of the year holds. We are deep in the ‘pandemic’ of COVID-19 here in Victoria, Australia. I partook in a smattering of racing early in the year, won a few road races even. Norm and I were enjo...
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2019 - My year as a trail runner
Nov 2019Two months ago I was still reminiscing about the fact that I had completed the Surf Coast Century 100km ultra-endurance trail run. It has been a good few years since I let the seed of doing this event plant in my mind. I never threw the drea...
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Adventure Racing recap & Welcome to 2019
Feb 2019The last time I dutifully updated my website blog was August 2018. It seems periodically I fall in a writing rut and some sort of catalyst in life saps away all my creative juices. In June my maternal grandmother passed away, it hit me very hard...
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The Making of an Endurance Athlete
Aug 2018Aug 2018. I have been writing weekly articles for Bicycle Network to assist the Around the Bay athletes get a little bit of a kick up the butt each week with some coaching and motivation and guidance from me! A few weeks ago I wrote this piece on...
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2018 Cloudride Bikepacking mega adventure
Apr 2018I arrived at Cabramurra at 9:30am Easter Monday. 700 km in with 300 km to go until Canberra. I departed Jindabyne around 2 pm on Sunday after attempting to get my dynamo hub working again with the help of the mechanic at the bike shop. It was...
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Ironman Western Australia - finding my WHY
Dec 2017It has been a damn long time between blog posts. After a crash I had in the Cloudride with concussion upon hitting a wombat my purpose for doing ‘epic shit’ kind of wavered. I felt that I may never ride my bike again in anger, my brain fel...
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My Dirty Secret.
Jul 2017It is 11 am Monday morning. I have 1hr to write this, well that is my goal! It's a blog about my bike, it's a dirty secret I have. I take my road bike on the dirt and I do it deliberately and often. Yes, I have a CX bike, and 3 mountai...
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Being Fit and Able for anything that comes my way
Jun 2017The Story of the Surf Coast Trail Marathon. Back when I was 16 or 17 I did a 10km fun run around Eastern Gardens, it hurt like hell. But somehow I would go out for for random runs even though I was fairly bad at it. No talent scouts ever tapped...
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The 2017 Cloudride Bike Packing Experience
Jun 2017Its has been 7.5 weeks since my crash resulting in concussion and memory loss, time off the bike and all that drama at Easter on the Monaro 1000 Cloudride. My biggest regret is not riding along and giving myself 7 days to complete it, instead rush...
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2016 - The Year of Being Uncomfortable
Dec 2016FOREWORD: You might need to take you smart phone to the toilet or read this on your tea break over 2 coffees, much to divulge. Apologies in advance. In 2006 I started my journey proper on the bike, pushing boundaries to improve my skills...
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Avoiding the Victorian Winter with my bike
Aug 2016Norm and I returned home from Europe on the 30th July, for me it was after nearly 7 weeks of sunshine, bike rides, looking after other people, sleeping as much as I could and enjoying my time doing something different to the normal grind. Its now...
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Got Saddle Issues?
May 2016The “ladies” saddle to end soreness, chafing, red raw stinging and all that lovely stuff! My name is Jess Douglas. I am 43 years old, have given birth in the normal way (need I say more?), have a backside not too generous but the hip bones are s...
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Mega Miles - 24hr Oppy & GDT16 400km Bikebacking
May 2016Much too much to report...life is full and as I would have it, its busy and time is scarce. Let me fill you in. I had a great February, trained and raced really well in the 10th Giant Odyssey. Nothing to complain about there. Back on the bandwag...
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The 10th Giant Odyssey - 2016 Forrest, The Otways, Victoria, Australia.
Feb 2016 There was a big race I turned down to attend my 10th Odyssey, it was the World Solo 24hr champs in Rotorua and apparently it was a course the would have suited me..blah blah… Well back in 2007 I promised myself after hurting a lot on the inaug...
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This is not a race report ;)
Jan 2016There is no doubt I am not alone here, work hard in most parts of my life but put off the small things that end up mattering. Eg: Massage. I need one, but don’t have the time. Hair. OMG, it is so dry and brittle with grey hairs poking thr...
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More Reading
-- 2020 --
Are we there yet? - July 2020
Focus you say? - July 2020
Grey Hair, Tummy Tucks & Boob Jobs - July 2020
What you want V’s What I want - July 2020
Finding New Purpose in Lockdown - July 2020
-- 2019 --
2019 - My year as a trail runner - November 2019
Adventure Racing recap & Welcome to 2019 - February 2019
-- 2018 --
The Making of an Endurance Athlete - August 2018
2018 Cloudride Bikepacking mega adventure - April 2018
-- Before 2017 --
2016 - The Year of Being Uncomfortable - December 2016
Avoiding the Victorian Winter with my bike - August 2016
Got Saddle Issues? - May 2016
This is not a race report ;) - January 2016
24hrs at Stromlo, the most fun you can have in 24hrs! - October 2015
Red Bull Bushrangers 12hr SOLO fun time at Jubberland - September 2015
The Long Awaited Battle with Kate - September 2015
Shimano XTR M9000 Di2 - The Review - July 2015
Euro Adventure for 6 weeks - June 2015
2015 Forrest 6hr & Top Bike Tour of Corsica - May 2015
Times of Change - March 2015
The future looks BRIGHT! - November 2014
Scott 24hr 2014 - chapter 2 - October 2014
Soulful September - October 2014
More Sun, Less Rain...Beechworth 6hr - September 2014
Liv & Love Winter riding - August 2014
This takes guts... - July 2014
Sunny Nth Queensland - July 2014
A Liv/giant Odyssey - April 2014 - May 2014
Going back to Alice Springs - I can't wait! - April 2014
Bendigo Golden Triangle Epic – 100km March 15th 2014 - March 2014
Stage 3 – Cornhill Cranker Bike Buller MTB Festival - March 2014
Bike Buller MTB Festival - March 2014, Stage 1 (2) - March 2014
Bike Buller MTB Festival - March 2014, Stage 1 - March 2014
GMBC Gazebo 3hr - You Yangs 1st March 2014 - March 2014
Domestique 7Peaks Series - Mt Buller 22nd Feb - February 2014
Who is Jess Douglas? A life of learning. Chapter 1 - February 2014
Time to get racing Jess! 2014 a new year. - February 2014
Learning new tricks at Mt Buller - January 2014
Reflection on my year that was 2013 - January 2014
Hellfire Cup has been done! (6) - November 2013
My best 24hr EVER! how the race was won. - October 2013
Nearly there...race day looming - October 2013
Rest Recovery and Friendship in Townsville - September 2013
Riding the Lust 27.5 2 - September 2013
Mongolia Bike Challenge - The Last few days - September 2013
Day 6 & 7 in Mongolia - Stage 3 & 4 - September 2013
Day 5 in Mongolia - September 2013
Day 4 in Mongolia - Race day no.1 - September 2013
Day 3 In Mongolia - time to get to the race start! - September 2013
Day 2 in Mongolia - September 2013
The Trip to Mongolia - 28th August 2013 - August 2013
Old Advice & Still totally relevant... - July 2013
My Trip to France - Mont Ventoux - July 2013
The REAL me. - June 2013
K.I.D.'S Foundation Ride & Forrest 6hr - June 2013
Delirium 24hr Cycle Race - April 20-21st 2013 - April 2013
Bike Buller MTB Festival - March 9, 10 & 11th - 2013 - March 2013
Always the Deep thinker...but when you dig a bit deeper you find treasures that others give up on - January 2013
Forrest Festival Dec 1st & 2nd 2012 - December 2012
Forrest for the Trees... - October 2012
September 2012 - October 2012
Racing Racing Racing...and travel travel travel - August 2012
My Artistic energy returns...and some race form... - August 2012
I love the night...Chapter 3 - May 2012
The first 6hrs...a race in itself. Chapter 2 - May 2012
My world championship winning bike - May 2012
Day 2 - Finale Ligure - May 2012
Jess Douglas - Return to 24 SOLO...a job to be done - April 2012
Inspirational people...everyone has a hero! - April 2012
Face your Fears and suffer a little more.... - April 2012
What would Jesus do? - April 2012
The Big Wheels of life - April 2012
2012 Kona Odyssey - March 2012
Wildside - Tasmania Jan 2012 - February 2012
Giant XTC Composite 29'er. Meet Gina - February 2012
MTBA National Rd #2 - Mt Buller All Mountain Cup - January 2012
December 2011 - Forrest & The Otways, Mt Buller too...a time for social rides, summer and some fun! - January 2012
Crocodile Trophy. Cairns to Cooktown. October 18th - 27th 2011 - November 2011
Crocodile Trophy 2011 here we come. - October 2011
Life is Beautiful - Great Ocean Road Ride - June 2011
Australian Solo 24hr MTB Championships - Easter 2011 - April 2011
Terra Australis MTB Stage Race - Day 3 - April 2011
Terra Australis MTB Stage Race - Day 2 - March 2011
Terra Australis Mountain Bike Race 2011 - Day 1 - March 2011
Mt Buller ….how I love thee - March 2011
Terra only 2 weeks away! - March 2011
Terra Australis and whats next... - February 2011
February 2011 - February 2011
Let the fun times begin! - February 2011
Forrest New year Frenzy - January 2011
Tathra Holiday - January 2011
Adventure Race Training in the Grampians - January 2011
Fun times and more to come in 2011 - December 2010
Post Worlds - What does one do? - November 2010
Giant Demo Day - November 2010
Australian Mountain Bike Magazine cover - November 2010
World 24 Hour Solo Champs - Part 2 - October 2010
2010 World Solo 24hr Champ - a Long awaited goal reached! - October 2010
2010 World 24 hour Solo Champion - October 2010
Enduro Mag stories - October 2010
Kit for Worlds is on it's way...yippee - September 2010
Crazy training miles in the bank and the search for sun. (2) - September 2010
Crazy training miles in the bank and the search for sun. - September 2010
The Month of July 2010 (2) - July 2010
Good Days, bad days.... - July 2010
Vic Inter Winter Race #2 - Ballarat Mud Bath - June 2010
Winter riding antics - June 2010
Life in the fast lane - June 2010
National Solo 24hr MTB champs - April 2010
New Race Bike & other bits - March 2010
Training - week 4 started - March 2010
Otways Odyssey 2010 - Oh crap! - February 2010
Otway Odyssey - February and beyond - February 2010
Summer makes riding easy! - February 2010
A weekend with friends - January 2010
Post Nationals, Keeping Jason Fed, Living with the P & VP, Boot camp, Filming and road rides - January 2010
Forrest MTB Jnr Team camp and Jnr trip to Adelaide. - January 2010
40 degrees, 100km - I don't think so... - January 2010
Red Carpet Repeats x 3 on day 4 - January 2010
Day 3 - Apollo Bay to Forrest Fun Fest - January 2010
Day 2 - MTB Murder - January 2010
More December...more busy...more rides. - January 2010
December - busy busy busy... - January 2010
The week that still is... - December 2009
Tour of Bright - December 2009
Jess the Slacko - December 2009
Where to from here? - October 2009
The Scott 24hr - the long and the short of it...grab a cuppa - October 2009
Can Dr.Jessica Do it? - October 2009
Womens MTB Camp, Training and Scott 24 hr 2009 - October 2009
A long hard winter - September 2009
Gold Coasting - August 2009
Back Home and loving it! - August 2009
We are in Canmore! - July 2009
World 24hr Solo Champs - Here we come! - July 2009
32 days until WORLD SOLO 24 hr Championships - June 2009
Hurt Fest - Day 2 - May 2009
Hurt Fest - Day 1 - May 2009
Racing Schedule - life in General... - May 2009
The Real Mind Mutterings from the AUSTRALIAN SOLO 24HR CHAMPIONSHIPS, April 11th&12th 2009 - April 2009
Australian 24 hour solo champion - April 2009
Australian 24 hour Solo Champs - April 2009
Lead up to the SOLO 24 hr National Championships - April 2009
Mt Buller MTB Festival - March 2009
Mt Buller & more Mt Buller - no bull! - March 2009
Presents for me - and a Gold medal - March 2009
Sneak Preview - New BIKE...Giant XTC Advanced SL MTB - February 2009
Otway Odyssey 2009 - February 2009
Lazy Journalism - Busy on the bike though! - February 2009
2009 in full swing...and an injury! - January 2009
Holiday Riding - January 2009
Summer Riding - December Downpour - December 2008
Post Kona - Pre Otway Odyssey - December 2008
Kona 24 Hour MTB Race...in case you were wondering??? - December 2008
My year of racing coming to an end- YAY! - November 2008
Gravity 12 hour - November 2008
2 Weeks In Bright - November 2008
Scott 24 hour Oct 11th and 12th 2008 - October 2008
All setup and ready to race - October 2008
Race updates during the Scott 24HR - October 2008
New life - is it a sign!? - October 2008
Training for Scott and Kona - hurt box time! - October 2008
Bike Riding, sleeping and new stuff! - September 2008
Some sensational rides, great friends, good weather...finally! - September 2008
Sunday 7th Sept - Crazy Ruts and even Crazier uphills! - September 2008
What have I been up to you ask...? - September 2008
The Depths of Winter and Magpie season - August 2008
OTWAY'S 140km Road ride...my favourite gig. - August 2008
Norms famous You Tube vid from the weekends Race! - August 2008
The week after the 7 hours of fun and mud! - August 2008
Anaconda Enduro Series Round #3 - Lysterfield - July 2008
INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE! - July 2008
...another boring day at the office...ho hum! - July 2008
The latest in my neck of the woods! - July 2008
Lizzies story on "fun in Forrest" - July 2008
The week that was- rain hail and snow! - July 2008
Mid Week MTB Madness MILEAGE Meander with Mates! - July 2008