Merida 24 hour - Hiddenvale

Every time someone asks how I train for a 24 hour, I just laugh – I’d never want to train for one of these! Again, I entered on a whim as I finally felt fit after the Cape Epic, the track sounded fun, and I looked forward to the social atmosphere. I love catching up with riders and seeing familiar faces I’d missed when racing away from home. Meeting new riders is also great, especially the local girls who have been hitting it up (and snapping at my heels!). Unfortunately Rachel Edwards, the race favourite, withdrew early after battling a virus all week. A big thanks to her partner though who was a great help during my night laps when my pit crew had too many beers and went to bed!

The distance of the race was not my biggest concern, it was the concept of staying awake all night. I get very sooky when I’m sleep deprived and have actually curled up in the backseats of a Tina Turner concert when my eyelids just wouldn’t stay open. A coffee addict, I restricted myself to one in the morning and saved the double espressos for the dark hours. With two ipods I had a soundtrack of some lounge trance for the early evening which was magical. Railing the singletrack with a 700 lumens Niterider, possums, a sugar glider and some Armin Van Buuren – it doesn’t get any better.

At midnight it was time for some banging house tunes, pizza and chocolate – anything to keep me happy and awake. The chocolate turned out to be a mistake, although a delicious one. 3am to 6am was the hardest time to keep going. It was 4 degrees, my arms were smashed and I was regretting wearing bib knicks. Trying to undress to go to the bathroom with jacket, arm warmers, light and ipod cables going everywhere and being slightly delirious – it must have been hilarious to watch.

Sunrise brought a temporary new lease on life and I cranked out a quickish lap fueled on fresh Arabica. By 8am I was 8 laps up on the next female and 3 laps up on the open man. After an earlier crash my derailleur cage was bent so I thankfully took the opportunity to retire despite the lovely race mechanic threatening to fix it.

Seeming to escape too much damage I noticed I was a bit ‘puffy’ in my hands and feet and developed a bit of a headache. It wasn’t until the next day I realized I had a mild case of hyponatraemia. I’d run out of Shotz electrolyte tablets and injested 8-10 litres of plain water during the race, stuffing up my sodium levels so my body cells started retaining water, including my brain cells, causing the stabbing pain in my skull. On a steady diet of vegemite and restricting my water intake, it resolved itself in a few days. This can be fatal so I learned, the hard way, not to half-arse my nutrition.

I can say that I actually ENJOYED the race, which is a bit concerning! Thanks to the Merida Flight Centre, For The Riders for the flawless bike prep, Niterider lights and Shotz nutrition. You all keep my wheels rolling!

A very belated recap of the Cape Epic!

Foreword: For the record Naomi Hansen and I finished fourth after sitting in third until the last day. It was sub-optimal going into this race with zero form but this is the drawback to having to commit to a race 6 months before. Trying to stay in a positive frame of mind while working with what little fitness I had required a lot of soul searching.

The South African Adventure

Tough. That’s the best word to describe the Absa Cape Epic. There are many blogs and websites recounting the race itself, but I want to share the rest of the experience.

Used to ‘inventive packing’ to beat the airline baggage Nazis, it took some careful maneuvering (and my team-mates Q club membership) to get bike and gear on board for the long flight to South Africa. Brisbane to Cape Town via Perth and Johannesburg and finally we were in Cape Epic central. Unpacking at the Dolphin Inn, our beachfront B&B, there was a small hiccup when my bike got lost between there and Perth. Luckily we were within walking distance of the V&A waterfront. The redevelopment of this landmark is stunning, with quality restaurants and unbelievable food for a fraction of Aussie prices. At sunset we strolled down to the wharves to watch the seals lounging on the docks.

Adidas sure know how to throw a party and registration at the V&A was quite a spectacle. From a slack-liner (think tightrope walking with the lycra) to the world champion trails rider, it was a change of pace from the usual course run-down. Unlike other race venues where residents are generally unaware of the event, everyone we met kept asking “Are you doing the Epic? That’s crazy!”.

Issued with a hospital-like wristband I would, for the next 8 days, be known as rider 199-2. A feedpass on a lanyard (essential for entry to the meal tent) and a number plate with transponder attached were placed in a large black duffel bag into which you had to fit all your worldly possessions. I packed it once, but couldn’t zip it up. On the second attempt closure was achieved but unfortunately I couldn’t lift it. Another round of luggage rationalization and we were locked and loaded for the prologue.

Once ‘in camp’ things became logistically easier. If you’ve ever dreamed of having nothing to do except eat, sleep and ride then you will enjoy the everything-included nature of the Cape Epic. The baggies are a team of fun-loving incredibly fit, bare-footed (and bare-chested, ladies!) young men who look after the hefty bags, packing them on the trucks for transport to the next stage. If you smile nicely they may even carry yours to your tent after you’ve had a long day in the saddle.

The camp is a sight to behold with row after row of red dome tents to be occupied by the riders. My team-mate is a CE veteran so we picked a couple farthest from the ‘chill zone’ (read: bar) and closest to the bag drop for the next move. Accommodation is very basic with a BYO sleeping bag policy, but there is a plastic covered mattress to offer a degree of comfort. An inflatable pillow is highly recommended. The first night is the most difficult to sleep but can be made easier by eyeshades, earplugs, ipod – anything that blocks out the floodlights, the movement of trucks at midnight and the inevitable snoring and farting of your camp neighbours. After a couple of stages though, you sleep through anything, even a leaking tent as I learned from experience.

Revelry is at 5am. About this you have no choice as the CE soundtrack is switched on over the loudspeakers. A catchy version of “Over the rainbow” will now be forever associated with hideously early mornings and an aching body. Rugging up against the brisk morning we grab torches and trudge to the large enclosed marquee where meals are served. The usual fare is available – porridge, cereal, eggs, bacon and toast. Instant coffee is included but the Woolworths coffee cart fires up early for those looking for something more refined. As the week progresses this is where you observe the toll of the race. Initially there is a buzz with people socializing and speculating about the coming stage. In the latter stages it is a place of vacant stares, hunched shoulders and minds only capable of concepts such as “food goes in”.

Starts are staggered at 7, 7.15 and 7.30am, depending on your GC placing. With 1200 riders this helps a bit with congestion, as does the practice of sending the field up a massive berg at the first opportunity. Cape Epic is a pairs race and team-mates are required to stay within two minutes of each other at all times. Timing mats are placed on course to catch out those who stray too far from their partner. The 707 kilometres are far longer than they sound due to the 14,000 metres of vertical ascent across some of the wildest terrain in South Africa. Course marking is excellent which is fortunate when the brain is not functioning at the end of the day. Each long stage has at least three feed stations with lollies, fruit and home-made muffins. Hydration options include water, electrolyte and coca-cola, which proved to be a soul saver for many.

Fast forward 6 or 7 hours of loose fireroad, dizzying climbs, achingly beautiful views and some unexpectedly flowy singletrack, riders cross the stage finish to the applause of spectators. CE volunteers relieve us of our bikes and take them away for washing and securing in the bike park. A Woolworths lunch bag is thrust in my hands as I wander dazed and confused through the finish tent. Although I assumed I would have many hours to while away, there is precious little time to yourself. After I ate, showered, washed my clothes, had a massage and prepared my gear for the next day, it was time for dinner and presentations.

Collapsing in bed at around 7.30pm it made me wonder about our natural body rhythms. With no lights, my mouth became an extra limb, holding the torch to accomplish simple tasks like tidying and dressing, made more difficult in a small dark tent. This gets old after a while and being mindful of conserving the battery life, it was easier to go ‘lights out’ and drift off. I had a feeling of being broken down to my most basic being – and I mean that in a mostly positive way. Living in a techno-rich, brand-concious, million miles an hour society, here I was…in a tent, under the stars, no make up, no hair dryer, no electricity. A happy day was having dry socks!

The simple things. There was also a very tribal feel with the sojourn to the water truck with all the bottles I could carry and to the communal laundry tubs where I went armed with a bar of sunlight soap and an iron will to get my socks white again, or at least less-brown. Both occasions required co-operation, consideration and the performance of menial tasks which invited conversation with strangers. I’ve lived beside my neighbours for two years with little contact other than a cordial “hello” as we pass on the driveway. But here as the sun set over the western cape, I was engaged in jovial repartee with my fellow campers. Perhaps as a society we lost something when we were no longer required to go down to the river and beat our clothes against a rock?

If all this sounds a bit primitive there are certainly options for comparative luxury. Mobile homes are available as part of the race pack options, with locals ready to drive between stages. This is a better option for those wanting to be competitive in the race. Its also possible to stay at accommodation in nearby towns but a car would be required to reach them in most cases. The food onsite is basic and plentiful but those with particular dietary requirements or allergies would need to make their own arrangements. Every race organizer should experience the machine that is the CE logistics team. Everything just works and is realistically catered for the number of competitors. Waits at peak times for toilets and showers are not unreasonable. Race management seems responsive to rider feedback, installing anti-bacterial gel in toilets, race packs and meal tent after a string of stomach bugs in 2010.

Unfortunately work commitments required us to fly home the day after the race-end to the local’s cry of “but you haven’t seen the best bits!”. With 3 stages finishing in verdant wineries and ample time sampling the local reds, I assured them I would be back. It’s lucky the memory of my pain-wracked body was a short one, although perhaps the wine had something to do with that.

National XCO 2011 - Adelaide

Well I can’t say I’m happy about my performance at Nationals this year (6th place). In the post-race analysis there’s no one thing I can pinpoint to say “oh that’s what went wrong”, although I am now host to a most unwelcome virus so I can’t discount that as an underlying cause. The prerace week was fine although trying to squeeze 3 days of work in to one Monday was sub-optimal. I arrived in Adelaide a day earlier than usual to avoid the rush of assembling bikes and doing practice laps on the same day. Ok, so I came early for the awesome weather and riding…so shoot me.

Unfortunately, its becoming apparent which areas of my life which don’t support an elite training regime – a physical job, single parenthood. But the biggest difference has been brought to my attention by my new flatmate. At 18 years of age he is a clergyman of cycling – up at 4.30am, riding until lunch, eating, working, sleeping. I calculated he is getting at least a solid 9 hours sleep every night. I’d say I’m averaging about 6…maybe. How do I find an extra three hours in my day? What do I sacrifice? These are all good questions and after two glasses of a surprisingly good merlot, I still have no answers.

Success in anything, I believe, is about balance. Yes an elite cyclists’ life is heavily tilted towards training, but often it’s the other joys in life which give you the drive to keep going when the odds are stacked against you. I once read a journal outlining the psychological differences between male and female athletes. The bottom line was that men derive their sense of self-worth from their athletic performances. In contrast, women needed to feel good about themselves FIRST, then the good performances flowed.

It’s difficult to ride at max-intensity during a race if your head is cataloging all the ways you fell down in your role as a parent, a business owner and a friend. To devote so many resources to an activity you feel a need to justify it to the people who depend on you. To be able to point to a goal and say “that’s where I’m headed” is a way to make sense of the sometimes blinding obsession that is training. When these goals fail to be attained it calls for a reassessment – why am I doing this? Is this worth it? Is this making me a better person?

One of the things which keeps me going is the mornings I drop my daughter to school. I’m always in cycling kit, either post-ergo or pre-ride. They probably assume I don’t own any ‘real’ clothes. Her friends are very quick to ask where I’ve been racing and where I will be riding next. Before I can answer my daughter is already listing my schedule and accolades. She knows her mum is a bit ‘different’ (frequently tired and moody, certainly!), but for her different is a normal way of life and it will hopefully make her world a bit bigger in terms of possibilities.

I also have to mention the messages I receive in response to my blog or facebook. Knowing that what I do or write can have a positive impact on someone is the best thing I could hope for. Thank you for the emails and comments and thanks for reading!

Mt Buller - national series round 3

Sweltering away in a proper Brisbane summer (finally) I felt very odd packing an all-weather jacket and arm warmers for the third round of the national series at Mt Buller. After consulting the trusty BOM website though it seemed I had to be prepared for 30 degrees and fine, 15 degrees and raining then 6 degrees and clearing. Gotta love Victoria.

Getting in some practice on the course I found it interesting, with some flowy single-track, tough open climbing and plenty of places for passing. The final descent was a treat, although after heavy rain on Friday it was expected to deteriorate on race-day. As the temperatures dropped a Northern girl like me really appreciated the new custom Merida jacket from Champion Systems. Complete with rain and windstopping-goodness it really saved my weekend. It has definitely earned a place in my European Adventure packing list.

I ran a Schwalbe Rocket Ron on the front and a Racing Ralph on the rear because…well honestly, that’s what was on my bike and I was too busy to change it. Also, my motto is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. It turned out to be the perfect combo with a slightly more aggressive tread on the front to hook into the ample amounts of mud. I’m still running 3x9 Sram X0 drivetrain and am hanging on to my granny ring like a security blanket. It got a workout today but I’m looking forward to getting on the XX system on my Merida 96 at home.

As start time rolled around I reluctantly relinquished my jacket, but raced in arm warmers to keep the shivers at bay. After the usual insanity of the first lap I settled into 9th position, trying to get a rhythm going while appreciating the atrocious weather as great prep for European racing. The boggy, soaked course reminded me of Champery although at 15 degrees it was still a fair bit warmer than that slice of Switzerland.

By the second lap I realized I was on a bit of a creeper. Not unexpected as I’d just done a big block of base with zero intensity, but still disappointing as my heart rate hovered well below threshold. While everyone else was wishing our 5 laps would be shortened due to poor conditions, I secretly hoped we’d go longer so my endurance could kick it. I soaked up the technical experience as we don’t get to ride mud in Queensland due to the damage it causes to the public trails. Getting a bit ‘unusual’ in a few slippery sections would have been fine if it hadn’t been the spots where the national coach was standing…every lap!

There were some challenges to manage throughout the race as I was frequently blinded by grit flicking up into my eyes. My technique was to keep blinking really fast to try and wash it away. It would have been useless rubbing my eyes as my filthy gloves would have just worsened the situation. I had also unwisely invested in some cheap grips which I spent most of the time hauling them back as they attempted to slip off the end of my bars. The fixing properties of hairspray are neutralized with rain it seems – who would have thought?

On the final lap I was warm even though it was pelting down and managed to pick up a couple of spots to move into 7th. I was having a great tussle with my team mate Terri Rhodes, who was on a super ride and showing off the bike skills she’s learned on the world cup circuit in 2010. It came down to the last descent where she got the better of me and left me to sprint it out with Peta Mullens (Honda Dream Team) to cement my 7th place.

Riding back to the apartment in Buller village I jumped into the hottest shower, still resplendent in my now not-so-green kit and tried to wash away the evidence of a hard slog. The priority now is to recover so I can start the sharpening up before National Championships in Adelaide in 3 weeks. So I’m kicking back in bed, compression tights on, munching on a gift from Shotz proprietor Darryl ‘the genie’ Griffiths…I wished for gluten-free Protein Recovery bars, and they magically appeared on my doorstep. Awesome.

Dampened enthusiasm

Its been a while between blogs as I haven’t been racing and training doesn’t seem to warrant writing about…unless anyone is interested? I used the quiet time over Christmas and New year to do some bulk k’s that will hopefully carry me over the next few months. I usually enjoy this type of training – working on the bike tan, eating your body weight in jelly snakes and lots of thinking time. Its also a great chance to do some bunch rides with friends when I don’t have specific efforts to do. Unfortunately it rained non-stop in Brisbane for 2 months which sucked the fun right out of it.

Now I’m a north Queensland (Cairns) girl and am accustomed to a tropical summer, with the frequent warm downpours which keep it so green up there, but I can say I have never experienced rain like this. Just constant, unrelenting, pelting rain. The only comfort I could take was that it was warm and on my MTB rides I practically had the trails to myself.

After two months it was really getting me down. I read Ivan Basso’s blog where he mentioned that his measure of motivation was his willingness to get on the bike in poor weather. Well I’m not sure even he could maintain his enthusiasm in these conditions, and I know that mine was waning. Friends would turn up at the café in work clothes, having abandoned the hope of getting a dry ride in until Autumn, while I would turn up day after day alternately soaking wet or covered in mud. I got asked “what the hell are you doing training in this rubbish?” to which I replied “it not raining where my competitors live, so I still have to ride”. I did not miss one ride due to the weather, but I’d stop enjoying it weeks ago.

My last long wet ride was the Tuesday it all went pear-shaped up here. The turn-off for my hill efforts was underwater and I almost got stranded on the wrong side of a flooded bridge. Over the following week, well, I’m sure you all saw the TV coverage. Ironically, as the river kept rising we were having some of the nicest summer weather yet. I felt terribly guilty continuing to train while people were losing their houses, but I figured there is flood and famine somewhere in the world everyday and we just get on with it – so on with it I got. After losing one of my clinics and having most of my clients trapped in their own suburbs I also had a bit of spare time too.

So with a bunch of k’s in my legs and not feeling especially fast I’m looking forward to some short, sharp efforts to bring me up for National XC champs. I’ve also finally committed to the Cape Epic in South Africa at the end of March so I’ll be calling on the muscle memory of these base k’s to get me back to Cape Town in one piece.

National Series 2011 Round 2 - Glenorchy TAS

Hobart is the coldest, windiest place I have raced to date and it escapes me how anyone could live here, let alone train here. Its December for Pete’s sake and we got snowed on at the top of Mount Wellington! After taking in a few of the sights, it was down to the serious racing.
Although it had been raining the course is mostly hardpack – no need for mud tyres. Running a Schwalbe Rocket Ron on the front and a Racing Ralph on the back, my Merida O.nine was set up for speed. The descents were tight, rough and fast so it was up to the rider to have the confidence to just let the bike run. Climbing was split into two sections – the first being a long, dead fireroad drag and the second a twisty singletrack ascent with loads of switchbacks.
I wanted a faster start this race as we let the leaders go at You Yangs and the gaps opened up too much. At the top of the first climb I was in about 4th spot and we were all still together. Jenny King and Rowena Fry were doing battle upfront while Bec Henderson, Kath O’Shea and I kept swapping positions as we attacked each other.
On the third lap I lost O’Shea’s wheel in a rough section of trail where it was difficult to get out the saddle and respond with a sprint. Henderson then also came over the top and motored past O’Shea as well. The last two laps were spent chasing O’Shea just 20 seconds in front and holding off Anna Beck who was having the ride of her life.
Finishing 5th I was still happy with my ride. Sure my position was worse than last round be to top 5 finished just over two minutes adrift of Fry which is a great sign for women’s XC racing. It was definitely a battle all the way with the positions not decided until right on the finish line – awesome stuff!
Special mention goes to my Rockshox XX forks. These babies are 12 months old and I feel they are maturing like a fine wine. I’ve been getting more confidence in adjusting my bike settings and have been enjoying finding that sweet spot. If I told you what it was I’d have to kill you but it was just unbelievable how they were soaking up the hits out there.
Sponsors…where would I be without you? Merida, Flight Centre, SRAM, For The Riders, Shotz, Schwalbe, Adidas, Jet Black, Lazer…group hug guys! Merry Christmas!

National Series 2011 Round 1 - You Yangs VIC

After having a bit of time away from racing I was pretty excited to be jetting off to one of my favourite tracks at the You Yangs, just outside Geelong. All the locals swear that it never rains there, but every time I turn up it buckets down and this year was no exception. Cutting laps of the track on Thursday and Friday was less like work and more like just having fun on the bike. I put a 2.25 Nobby Nic on the front because…well I thought it would be super-fun on the descents, and I was right! There was not a lot of climbing but it was very technical so you had to ride at 95 percent so you had a bit extra in reserve to get up onto a rock ledge or through a garden of boulders.
The Saturday of the race it was all blue skies and 20 degrees – fantastic conditions. With a long open starting loop it was fast from the gun but at least there was time to sort ourselves out before we hit the singletrack. Two girls went out fast and were not seen again. It was an advantage to start fast as it was difficult to pass on the singletrack. National champ Rowena Fry was sitting in front of our group and I was pacing off her. By the second lap though I was feeling pretty strong and pulled in front of her, only to have my spare kit detach itself from my bike and almost get tangled in my spokes. Regrouping I settled in again behind Row and overtook her in the feedzone. On the first technical climb though I zigged instead of zagged and lost traction to end up behind Row again. Finally I passed and made it stick, riding strong on the fourth and final lap. Enjoying the fast and technical descent I finished third and very satisfied.
A week later and I’m back in Victoria for the Jeep 24 hour teams race. On the way down to Lorne from Melbourne it was too much of a temptation and Boothy and I pulled in for a muddy but super two hours at the You Yangs. Kicking back at the motel contemplating another weekend of smashing it up on the trails we both acknowledged how lucky we are to be able to do this. Living the dream!