I considered entering the Anaconda Challenge in Alice Springs so long that I actually entered and just booked the flights! It’s nice to be planning another race to another part of Australia I’ve never seen. A 5 day stage race, the Anaconda has got some rave reviews and features up on everyone’s “Must do before I die” list.
Had a bit of a surprise with a second at the State Criterium Champs a couple of weeks ago. My legs didn’t explode so that was a signal that I’m ready to start training again – starting very conservatively though as am now quite gun-shy. My coach, Warren MacDonald, is pretty easy-going which is a nice balance to my neurotic obsessive-compulsiveness. Ah, the ying and the yang!
My riding is the one part of my life that’s well under control at the moment with work, while enjoyable, always challenging when you’re the only one driving the business. My daughter’s social life is more hectic than mine and playing taxi in Brisbane traffic is breaking me. As a last hurdle our washing machine broke down…on the Friday before a long weekend…with 4 kids and 2 adults in the house…who all do sport. Ironically we have 9 bikes, 3 fridges, 2 clothes dryers…and now no washing machine. What’s the line from that Alanis Morrisette song – “it’s like 10 thousand spoons when all you need is a knife…”.
It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Back on the trails
Well after a quiet Easter today was the first day on the mountain bike in 3 weeks. It has been cruel walking past the new carbon Felt MTB and not being allowed to take it on the trails – which are 5 minutes ride from my house.
It was wet, muddy, slippery…and I loved every minute of it! Two hours of single track and not another soul in sight. And that, people, is why I ride in the rain. My legs are feeling better every day even though the other symptoms are unchanged. While I’ll continue with medical investigation I can at least start a bit of training if I am not tired and sore anymore. I am considering doing the Anaconda Challenge in Alice Springs…just considering…
It was wet, muddy, slippery…and I loved every minute of it! Two hours of single track and not another soul in sight. And that, people, is why I ride in the rain. My legs are feeling better every day even though the other symptoms are unchanged. While I’ll continue with medical investigation I can at least start a bit of training if I am not tired and sore anymore. I am considering doing the Anaconda Challenge in Alice Springs…just considering…
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Health issues
Since the cramping episode in Ballarat in January I have been having a few health problems – just feeling like I am not recovering, constant fatigue, muscle cramps and rubbish performance. My life is pretty full with raising a 6 year old, running a business, training and (recently) university studies so I attributed it to partially overtraining and partially ‘overliving’. I tell my clients that recovery is the other half of the training equation but what do they say about plumbers never fixing their own taps…???
After 2 weeks of recovery after Oceania’s I feel possibly worse than when I was training. I have some strange symptoms such as muscle-twitching when at rest (which I have discovered is called ‘fasciculation’ – google it!) and a metallic taste in my mouth that I can’t get rid of. The latter by far the most distressing as I am now unable to taste red wine!!! A couple of doctors visits and blood tests and I am still none the wiser. My current supplements now include magnesium, zinc, Co-enzyme Q10, Vitamin C and I am thinking of adding Selenium…because, well you can just never have too much Selenium (actually I’ve found out more than 900 micrograms a day is too much). Every time I get my heart-rate up it feels like my legs are about to start the cramp-a-thon again. Luckily I am so busy I can’t dwell too much on it but yes, it’s starting to get me down. Just want to feel normal again L
So I am starting ‘abstinence April’ – cutting out alcohol (yes even the stuff I can taste like cider and beer), chocolate & standing up for long periods of time in high-heels in overrated establishments (read: Cloudland). My diet, which is always good anyway, will be full of antioxidants and I will get a full 8 hours sleep each night. Have to go now as I think a pig just flew past my window.
After 2 weeks of recovery after Oceania’s I feel possibly worse than when I was training. I have some strange symptoms such as muscle-twitching when at rest (which I have discovered is called ‘fasciculation’ – google it!) and a metallic taste in my mouth that I can’t get rid of. The latter by far the most distressing as I am now unable to taste red wine!!! A couple of doctors visits and blood tests and I am still none the wiser. My current supplements now include magnesium, zinc, Co-enzyme Q10, Vitamin C and I am thinking of adding Selenium…because, well you can just never have too much Selenium (actually I’ve found out more than 900 micrograms a day is too much). Every time I get my heart-rate up it feels like my legs are about to start the cramp-a-thon again. Luckily I am so busy I can’t dwell too much on it but yes, it’s starting to get me down. Just want to feel normal again L
So I am starting ‘abstinence April’ – cutting out alcohol (yes even the stuff I can taste like cider and beer), chocolate & standing up for long periods of time in high-heels in overrated establishments (read: Cloudland). My diet, which is always good anyway, will be full of antioxidants and I will get a full 8 hours sleep each night. Have to go now as I think a pig just flew past my window.
Catch up...
Gee it’s been a while since I updated so here is the short story…
Round 5 – Glen Orchy TAS
Finally getting to visit Tasmania was a highlight. The course at Glen Orchy was a lot of fun although my form did not really do it justice. Finishing 5th it was more a case of being glad the series was over. Losing the lead on the last day of 4 months of racing was disappointing, however Katherine O’Shea had ridden so well and consistently she was a deserving winner.
After travelling all around the country and not really getting to see anything, I finally went sight-seeing with a friend on Sunday. Port Arthur wasn’t somewhere I had on my list of ‘places to visit’ but it was beautiful and kind of fun to do the tourist thing (very informative guided walk and boat tour included). The guides certainly are passionate about their jobs and I swear one of them almost broken into tears when describing the lives the convicts endured, despite having given the story about a thousand times.
Oceanias – Thredbo NSW
Returning to Thredbo for the first time since I fractured a couple of vertebrae there last year was about putting some demons to rest and picking up some handy UCI points (there are double the points awarded at national titles). A quick trip I flew into Canberra Friday morning, drove to Thredbo, did one lap then put my feet up. On my reconnaissance of the course I found almost all of it had been changed from previous years – except the part where I had my crash! After riding the bridge obstacle successfully the first time I carried my bike back up and rode it again – and crashed in exactly the same way. Luckily someone had the forethought to cover the bridge railings with padding so no broken bits this time.
I can honestly say it was the most fun I’ve had in a race for a while. There was no series on the line and I had already made my decision not to do the European World Cup circuit so all the pressure was off. I raced as hard as my legs would let me but that was getting slower each race so I didn’t expect much. Coming away with 6th was fine and is my best Oceania’s result to date.
Round 5 – Glen Orchy TAS
Finally getting to visit Tasmania was a highlight. The course at Glen Orchy was a lot of fun although my form did not really do it justice. Finishing 5th it was more a case of being glad the series was over. Losing the lead on the last day of 4 months of racing was disappointing, however Katherine O’Shea had ridden so well and consistently she was a deserving winner.
After travelling all around the country and not really getting to see anything, I finally went sight-seeing with a friend on Sunday. Port Arthur wasn’t somewhere I had on my list of ‘places to visit’ but it was beautiful and kind of fun to do the tourist thing (very informative guided walk and boat tour included). The guides certainly are passionate about their jobs and I swear one of them almost broken into tears when describing the lives the convicts endured, despite having given the story about a thousand times.
Oceanias – Thredbo NSW
Returning to Thredbo for the first time since I fractured a couple of vertebrae there last year was about putting some demons to rest and picking up some handy UCI points (there are double the points awarded at national titles). A quick trip I flew into Canberra Friday morning, drove to Thredbo, did one lap then put my feet up. On my reconnaissance of the course I found almost all of it had been changed from previous years – except the part where I had my crash! After riding the bridge obstacle successfully the first time I carried my bike back up and rode it again – and crashed in exactly the same way. Luckily someone had the forethought to cover the bridge railings with padding so no broken bits this time.
I can honestly say it was the most fun I’ve had in a race for a while. There was no series on the line and I had already made my decision not to do the European World Cup circuit so all the pressure was off. I raced as hard as my legs would let me but that was getting slower each race so I didn’t expect much. Coming away with 6th was fine and is my best Oceania’s result to date.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
National Series Round 4 - Mt Buller
Writing retrospectively about the race at Mt. Buller is a bit surreal, considering the devastation from the bushfires in Victoria since then. I passed through the town of Wittlesea during my trip (due to a 140km detour – I have no sense of direction) and can attest to how dry and hot it was the weekend I was there. This expanse of brown with temps around 46 degrees a week before the ‘black Saturday’. Needless to say I spent most of my time there in my hotel room in 24 degree comfort, also making use of the spa and pool facilities – there are some perks to the travel!
My accommodation was at the bottom of the mountain so I drove daily to Mt. Buller village for practice, which was around 7pm when it was still 30 degrees. On the day of the race the bitumen had melted and I could feel it sticking to the tyres of the rental car.
They say you don’t get what you deserve, but what you expect. Well I expected to be tired and have an average race and guess what…? It was 36 degrees for our race and the course was twisty with plenty of climbing. The dust was black and at the end of the race you looked like you’d been rolling around in a campfire. At 1500m the altitude had an effect on those of us living at sea level, which we also get when racing in Thredbo.
Finishing 7th it was my worst result of the year but I narrowly extended my series lead and planned to have a week off training – my first in two years. The initial couple of days were the hardest then I settled into it, enjoying the sleep-ins, extra energy at work and lack of grumpiness. My daughter wondered who I was and what I had done with her mother J
The next and final round is in Glen Orchy, Tasmania which I am chuffed about. Tassie one place I have been dying to visit for about ten years, so to race there will be fantastic.
My accommodation was at the bottom of the mountain so I drove daily to Mt. Buller village for practice, which was around 7pm when it was still 30 degrees. On the day of the race the bitumen had melted and I could feel it sticking to the tyres of the rental car.
They say you don’t get what you deserve, but what you expect. Well I expected to be tired and have an average race and guess what…? It was 36 degrees for our race and the course was twisty with plenty of climbing. The dust was black and at the end of the race you looked like you’d been rolling around in a campfire. At 1500m the altitude had an effect on those of us living at sea level, which we also get when racing in Thredbo.
Finishing 7th it was my worst result of the year but I narrowly extended my series lead and planned to have a week off training – my first in two years. The initial couple of days were the hardest then I settled into it, enjoying the sleep-ins, extra energy at work and lack of grumpiness. My daughter wondered who I was and what I had done with her mother J
The next and final round is in Glen Orchy, Tasmania which I am chuffed about. Tassie one place I have been dying to visit for about ten years, so to race there will be fantastic.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
National MTB Titles - Canberra 25th Jan 09
Heading to Canberra I was a bit apprehensive about how the body was recovering. Backing off the volume and just working on short periods of intensity I hoped to avoid a repeat of Ballarat. The Mt. Stromlo track is one of the most technical tracks and the course used for Nationals is the same as the World Cup course I raced last September where I finished 7th and first Aussie.
Arriving on Friday morning I headed straight out to the course to cut a couple of laps before the midday heat. The main talking point was the second of two scratchy descents - the Hammerhead. Being the so-called 'A line' it is the most direct way down and the quickest - if you survive! The 'B line' was also pretty sketchy and longer. I had a small crash there (see, I'm now rating my crashes) in practice, just picking the wrong line and not paying enough attention. Although many people were riding the rock-face drop-off of the Hammerhead (a lot of them unsuccessfully I may add), I went with high percentage riding...ok, I wussed out.
After another couple of laps on Saturday afternoon and a relaxing and at times hilarious dinner with friends that night, I was feeling good for race day on Sunday at 11am. The coolest day in Canberra of our stay, it was perfect racing conditions. The start was fast, beginning on the bitumen criterium circuit before climbing the fireroad and into the singletrack ascent. After locking bars with another rider and ending up in the dirt I settled into 6th spot and started to work my way into the race.
By the second and third laps Zoe King and I were having a good tussle for third place with some friendly shouldering in the single-track - all good practice for Europe! By the fourth and final lap I'd pulled away and looked good for the bronze before almost being brought down by a kangaroo which bounded into my front wheel. I can't complain that MTB racing is boring!
Grabbing third place and getting the opportunity for another champers-shower from Rowena Fry on the podium was a great buzz near the end of a solid domestic season. I now fly back to Brisbane in time to see my daughter off for her first day in Year 1, before travelling to Mt Buller for another national round in 6 days.
Arriving on Friday morning I headed straight out to the course to cut a couple of laps before the midday heat. The main talking point was the second of two scratchy descents - the Hammerhead. Being the so-called 'A line' it is the most direct way down and the quickest - if you survive! The 'B line' was also pretty sketchy and longer. I had a small crash there (see, I'm now rating my crashes) in practice, just picking the wrong line and not paying enough attention. Although many people were riding the rock-face drop-off of the Hammerhead (a lot of them unsuccessfully I may add), I went with high percentage riding...ok, I wussed out.
After another couple of laps on Saturday afternoon and a relaxing and at times hilarious dinner with friends that night, I was feeling good for race day on Sunday at 11am. The coolest day in Canberra of our stay, it was perfect racing conditions. The start was fast, beginning on the bitumen criterium circuit before climbing the fireroad and into the singletrack ascent. After locking bars with another rider and ending up in the dirt I settled into 6th spot and started to work my way into the race.
By the second and third laps Zoe King and I were having a good tussle for third place with some friendly shouldering in the single-track - all good practice for Europe! By the fourth and final lap I'd pulled away and looked good for the bronze before almost being brought down by a kangaroo which bounded into my front wheel. I can't complain that MTB racing is boring!
Grabbing third place and getting the opportunity for another champers-shower from Rowena Fry on the podium was a great buzz near the end of a solid domestic season. I now fly back to Brisbane in time to see my daughter off for her first day in Year 1, before travelling to Mt Buller for another national round in 6 days.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Ballarat - National Road Race Titles
DNF - possibly the dirtiest acronym in racing. Did not finish. Although in Road Racing it's more common due to the strategy component and advantage of staying with the bunch, the only experience I've had with it is when I've seriously crashed on the MTB.
With a heavy program leading up to the MTB Nationals in a fortnight, I'd been feeling pretty tired and the legs were achey. I thought a week to freshen up for the road race would be enough though.
The Bunninyong circuit is tough with a 3.5km climb each lap for 10 laps. It was a hot day and with racing starting at 1.30pm hydration was important but difficult with so many riders going through the feed zone together. I missed two bottles which may have contributed to the cramp-a-thon which began on lap 4 in my left quad. By lap 6 when the pace was on I couldn't stand on the pedals without both calves and quads spasming. Having lost the lead bunch and wanting to fight another day, I rolled over the start/finish line and off the course. Making it to a rival team's tent, their director had to phone my director so they could push me up the hill to the team car - any remaining trace of dignity well and truly erased!
Time now for catching up on some sleep and resting before the MTB nationals in Canberra. I plan to overdose on massage and antioxidants (preferably from dark chocolate!) and to arrive at the start line relaxed, healthy and ready to tear it apart.
With a heavy program leading up to the MTB Nationals in a fortnight, I'd been feeling pretty tired and the legs were achey. I thought a week to freshen up for the road race would be enough though.
The Bunninyong circuit is tough with a 3.5km climb each lap for 10 laps. It was a hot day and with racing starting at 1.30pm hydration was important but difficult with so many riders going through the feed zone together. I missed two bottles which may have contributed to the cramp-a-thon which began on lap 4 in my left quad. By lap 6 when the pace was on I couldn't stand on the pedals without both calves and quads spasming. Having lost the lead bunch and wanting to fight another day, I rolled over the start/finish line and off the course. Making it to a rival team's tent, their director had to phone my director so they could push me up the hill to the team car - any remaining trace of dignity well and truly erased!
Time now for catching up on some sleep and resting before the MTB nationals in Canberra. I plan to overdose on massage and antioxidants (preferably from dark chocolate!) and to arrive at the start line relaxed, healthy and ready to tear it apart.
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