Same old story with me, having lost fitness again after a few months off the bike I needed something to get me motivated again, after a Come and Try day out at DISC a couple of months ago I decided I wanted to get in to some Track riding and possibly racing, I headed out to Croydon Cycleworks a couple of weeks ago and checked out the Trek T1, within a week I was out at DISC doing a training session on it, decided I loved it and went out to DISC on the Tuesday night to get an hour in on the bike before the racing starts, another Sunday session, this time with another chick who had just started out and I was hooked, came out to DISC again last night to ride for an hour before the race started, didn't feel great at all, I think my legs were still suffering from the 3 hour session on the Sunday. I was heading off to the change rooms to get changed and watch the racing when a couple of the ladies I had met asked why I wasn't racing, I explained I was only new to it all and seriously unfit but somehow they convinced me to race, it really didn't take much, well I came up with every excuse but they had an answer for all of them, I figured I might as well have a go.

I waited around until 7.30pm and started my warm up with the others, my warm up hurt and I wasn't even up on the boards! Not a good start, I had just done 1hr of fairly steady riding so wasn't a great idea to be racing, also had no food with me and hadn't eaten well all day so was seriously unprepared, I had my number on though and I was committed to doing it so I just had to get out there and see what happens.

Now from those who have read my previous posts you will know I am fairly self conscious when I am racing, I think everyone is looking at me thinking 'look at that loser, she is so slow' etc. etc. when in reality nobody gives a shit at all, I tried to tell myself that before the first race but after I got dropped after the first or second lap I was totally embarrassed and very disappointed in myself for not being able to stay with the others, I just wanted to get the hell out of there, I pulled off and sat by the fence wallowing in my own sorrow when one of the guys came up and told me to just get out there, he pushed me off the fence and back in to the race, struggled to get back on to the bunch so went as hard as I could for the last couple of laps, as much as it hurt and as bad as I felt not being able to stay with the bunch I actually felt quite good about it all, it wasn't as scary as I thought it would be and I actually enjoyed the pain for once! What!? Kat enjoying pain? I know very unlikely words from me but it is different to anything I have done before, road and mountain bike racing especially is very easy for me to slack off, pedals stop turning when I want them to and I can be lazy and stop for a breather if I choose, here I just couldn't, well I did attempt to give up in the first race but to no avail, the second and third races were interesting, the second race had 2 sprints in it so I knew I had no chance of hanging on at all, I went out this time without worrying about anything or anyone and just figured it was good training even if I did get dropped, on the start line they announced we were doing 10 laps, what? we only did 8 for the first race, I figured it would go down each race, wasn't to be, I got dropped very early on, hung back for a lap and attempted to get back on again but they just flew straight past me, I rode the rest of the race on my own, the last race was a 15 lap scratch race, we went from a group of 9 to just 5 and I felt a bit better about riding with the others and rolling turns so I stayed with them until I was nearly on front but the guy in front of me was just too fast when he was on the front so I got dropped here, stayed out there and went as hard as I could for the rest of the race, hurt a lot and sounded like I was having an asthma attack but I really enjoyed it so didn't care at all.

I am really happy I decided to get the bike and have a go, hopefully I can build my fitness up for the Summer XC season and hopefully finally get my first XC win.

Thanks to Croydon Cycleworks for their continued support and many thanks to everyone I spoke to out at DISC last night for encouraging me between races

Until next time, happy biking

Kat

Nemesis Marathon Avoca

I travelled up to Avoca on Saturday afternoon to register and have a quick spin around the start and finish of the course, wasn’t feeling great on Saturday and just hoped I would come good by the morning. I awoke on Sunday morning to beautiful blue skies and sunshine and most importantly headache free.

I arrived at the course at 7.15am and had a chat to a few of the riders then decided I needed to go to the ladies before the start, I lined up at 7.45 and next thing I knew it was nearly 8am and I was still waiting to go when the announcer was calling for all riders to head to the start line, luckily I made it on time and before I knew it we were off and racing. My tactic early on was to get a good a lead on the girls I knew were in my race on the flat section of road before we hit the hill, that really really big hill I was dreading. I stayed in front of one of the girls in my race and then got passed by a female, as it was a mass start of all categories I had no idea if she was in my race or a longer distance, in any case there was no hope of me catching her on the hill so I had to let her go and just carry on at my pace.

After what seemed like an eternity I made it to the top of the hill, or so I thought, had a quick downhill section followed by more climbing! My legs we already feeling it and I hadn’t even made it to the half way mark yet, I struggled through the walking trail section of the course, as it turns out all of us had to walk it, apparently a bunch or horse riders had come through the day before and made a mess of the course, I was with 2 other riders at this stage and one was determined to keep trying to ride it but was going slower than us walking so we just kept walking until we got to the next section of fire trail and headed in to the feed station, now this race has the best feed station of any race I have competed in, it is all laid it out for you, doughnuts, slices, lollies, coke, water, hydration products and best of all, Oranges, ever since I did this race last year and had the oranges there I have made it part of my race nutrition, just seems to give you a really good boost, I downed a few oranges and had a little chat to the crew manning the station and suddenly remembered I was in fact in a race and I should probably get a move on, at this stage I had no idea where I was coming, only that I was still in front of my arch nemesis Megan, I saw a few riders heading up the hill and took off in front of them, after the feed station it is mainly downhill with some seriously steep climbs thrown in, my legs were just really flat at this stage and I didn’t think I would be able to maintain a good pace to keep my lead. I did what I could and managed to get through the seriously fast and sketchy downhill section unscathed and finally came across a sign telling me I only had 5k to go, I was so excited to see the sign until I saw the next sign, 4k to go, I seriously thought I had just pedalled 4klms and would only have 1 to go, not to be, the next 3klms went very slowly, or so it seemed and then finally the finish line was in sight, as a cruel twist they send you down between the grape vines along the grass and then up a slight incline before you cross the finish line, all the pain stops when you cross the line and all of that hard work is finally worth it, I was told I had come either 2^nd or 3^rd, I was pretty happy with that as I was hoping for a podium, I hung around for presentations and was pleasantly surprised to get top spot on the podium, I ended up winning my category by 47 minutes and just missed out on top 10 overall with 11^th overall, very happy to beat a whole bunch of guys and very happy with what is finally my first legitimate podium, nobody pulled out in order for me to win and I wasn’t the only female so I am happy to say I have finally actually won a race!

So where to from here? Well unfortunately my study is keeping me really busy so I have no big races planned but will be out and about at some of the enduro’s and club races and hopefully getting a good amount of training in for my goal race in November at the State XC Champs, next summer I hope to be competitive in the B Grade womens St Kilda crits and hopefully get in to some track racing at some stage this year.

If you haven’t raced this event before I suggest you give it a crack, it is regarded as one of the toughest marathons in Aus and for good reason, whether you do the short, middle or long distance you are in for a tough day in the saddle, it is run really well and the organisation cant be faulted, well all bar the toilet queue.

Once again I would like to thank my coach, I know he hasn’t been too happy with my training of late, uni seems to be getting in the way at the moment but I am doing as much as I can

Thanks to Croydon Cycleworks for their support, I will be dropping my bike off for some much needed love some time soon

Until next time, happy trails!

Kat

Lake Mountain Granite Grind

Trek Superfly Elite 100, Gary Fisher Collection

I headed up to Lake Mountain on Saturday for the Granite Grind race, there was the option of 1,2 or 3 laps of a 10k course, I chose the 1 lap option, I figured after the Otway Odyssey last week I probably wouldn't be up to more than that. Now 10klms doesn't sound like much but on that course it is more than enough, well for me anyway. I had ridden some of the course before and it was pretty tough, mainly due to the amount of climbing, it doesn't go straight up as such but winds its way up the mountain, you get a nice little downhill section but its not long before you are climbing again.

The day didn't start off well, I was sick on Friday night after having eaten out, I was hoping I would be fine by the morning, when the alarm went off at 5am this was not the case, as soon I stood up I was going to be sick, I laid back down and felt ok while I was laying down but as soon as I moved I felt sick again, I managed to drag my butt out of bed and have some breakfast, didn't stay in for long though, I decided to go to the race anyway, luckily I had a chauffeur for the day so I was able to relax in the car on the way up, I couldn't stomach too much water and was probably already dehydrated so was not going to be a good day on the bike. I started to feel ok when I got out of the car and went and registered, as I started my warm up I spotted the Trek Demo bikes next to the Croydon Cycleworks tent, I asked to take a 29er for a spin, he organised the Gary Fisher Superfly 100, he then mentioned I could race on it, well it didn't take too much convincing and next thing I knew I was on the start line on top of a $7000 bike. I took off up the hill and it made its way over the loose gravel rocks on the first climb really well, I realised I didn't have granny gear like on my bike but luckily the gearing was pretty good on it so was not too much of a difference, on to the singletrack now and when I started hitting the rocks I was amazed at how easily it got over them, even at a slow speed, where I would usually come to a stop if I was on my bike, it just rolled over the top and easily back down the other side, not sure if I was just a little more confident being on that bike or if it really made that much difference but in any case it was certainly nice going over the rocks and I seemed to not have to stop and walk my bike over anything too technical, although there wasn't anything too technical about the course, sure there were plenty of rocks around but nothing like the more technical tracks at the You Yangs.

About half way in I was really feeling the heat and was very thirsty, it was pretty warm out there so I made sure I stopped to drink a lot, yes I had to stop, the bottle holder was really awkward and the suspension was in the way so I couldn't just reach down and grab my bottle. I made it to one of the last climbs before the finish line and was very pleased to be finishing, until the marshall sent me up towards the first climb we did at the start, I was devastated, as I pulled back up to the the car park I thought that was it for me and now I had to go and climb that bloody hill again we climbed at the start! As I was having a whinge to the next marshal as I started climbing he laughed and told me I was heading the wrong way and that I just had to hang a righty and I was a couple hundred metres from the finish, phew, just as well, I don't think my legs would have liked doing that one again. That was one tough hour and 40 minutes on the bike! I actually felt worse after this race than I did after the Otway Odyssey and that was 40klms longer, well 37k longer, the Granite Grind was advertised as being 10klms per lap but it was actually 13klms, so more bang for our buck I guess, although that's one value added extra I could have done without!

I managed to come away with a first place in my category, it would have meant more to me if my only other competitor had finished the lap but she pulled out so I still have to wait for a legitimate win, I was faster than a bunch of guys though so at least I wasn't last.

I did manage to learn another lesson in racing this race, don't change bikes on race day and probably not a good idea to race when you are crook, not that they are excuses for my performance on the day, I am sure if I was feeling 100% and had my own bike my times would not have been much different, as good as that bike was its just not a good idea to make drastic changes on race day, by this time next year I hope to knock off a fair chunk off that time.

Well that's all from me for a little while, I may do the Oceania Champs at Shepparton on the 18th of March, if I cant do that my next race wont be until the 17th of April, not due to lack of races being run but courtesy of my uni scheduling classes on the weekend, thanks PSC!

Until next time,

Happy biking

Kat

Otway Odyssey 2011

Well this was the big one for me, I entered the 50k race for the 3rd year, all I really wanted was to finish it, when I not only finished it but I did so 2 and a half hours quicker than last year I was very surprised, I went in to the race treating it as a training ride, I knew I wouldn't be able to be competitive in it but I was hoping to do it in 5 hours, I thought 6 hours would be achievable so I made that my goal, after having had a long time out of training and only 9 weeks of my training program under my belt I was not confident of even finishing it but tried to remain positive and not put any pressure on myself.

I took off right at the back of the field of 500 riders and just cruised along with the bunch at the back, my legs were feeling great so I slowly started overtaking riders on the gradual 10k climb to the to top of the Red Carpet descent, by the time I made it to the top I had passed quite a few riders and had my sights set on a bunch of girls I was confident of overtaking on the descent, as we descended I passed a lot of girls and guys for that matter and was going along well until we all came to a complete stop in the middle of the Red Carpet track, all my hard work passing the riders was undone as we stood there motionless for what seemed like 20 minutes but was probably more like 10 between the time we stopped and started to get some flow happening again, with all the riders behind me I had just passed I knew I would be in for a tough time trying to stay in front as we hit the next climb again at the end of the descent, what a climb it was too, I got passed by a couple of the girls so tried my best to keep them in sight, I managed to pass them again when we got to a flat section and kept that lead for the rest of the race. I pulled in to Forrest at around the half way mark in under 2 hours, I had nearly half of the course to go and my legs were feeling great, I thought this might change as I hit the first climb but my legs were cooperating today and they stayed strong and I didn't lose any time on the 2 girls in front of me, I stayed with them for about 10klms and managed to pass one with the aim of passing the other, at the 40k mark I was getting very hungry, I saw the girl in front stop for food and knew I would have to stop soon too as I had staved the hunger flat away for as long as I could, I stopped to down a gel and half an orange, just as I did she came rolling past along with another female so the chase was on again, I managed to pass one of them but didn't see the other girl again.

I made my way through some very sweet singletrack and with the memory of the race still very clear in my head from last year I was very surprised I was as close to the finish as I was, my memories from last year were not good ones at all, I liken it to childbirth, not that I have had this experience but from all accounts of friends that have given birth I believe I can compare it to that, maybe a little dramatic but you get the idea, it was tough, last year was a 7 hour slog for me and the last 10klms especially was very difficult, this year the rain made the loose soil on the last section nice and firm and grippy and much easier to pedal along than the hot and dry conditions of last year, I figured I still had about 7 klms to go when i pulled out to a marshal point, I was pleasantly surprised when he told me I only had 3 to go, well the legs went in to overdrive and I sprinted for as long as I could, which was when I managed suffer a serious case of chain suck and there was no way that sucker was coming out! I was 1klm from the finish so resigned myself to the fact I would be walking across the finish line, as I got to the last descent I figured I might as well roll down on my bike, as I clipped in my chain popped out and I could pedal the last section to the finish line, luckily I didn't get passed, just lost a couple of minutes. I came through in 4 hours 30 minutes, that's 2.5 hours quicker than last year and over an hour quicker than my first year, so a PB for me, now I just have to beat my time again next year.

Each year I have done the Otway Odyssey the course has been changed, this years course was by far the best, a good amount of climbing and a nice chunk of singletrack made for a very enjoyable race, I will definitely be back next year and much better prepared than this year with the vision of being towards the pointy end of the open womens category.

Vital stats

603 entrants
512 finishers
455 final placing overall
42nd out of 65 females that completed the race
One bruised knee
and one very big grin at the end!

I know now there was more I could have done but I also know that I didn't know that at the time, I will put that in the memory bank and I can only improve on things as I learn from experience.

Great race, great location, great weekend spent with great friends, just bloody great!

So another Otway Odyssey done and dusted, I am already looking forward to the next one, which is a nice change, as if you had of asked me straight after the last 2 if I would be back my answer would have been 'probably not'

Congrats to all that completed it or attempted it, its one hell of a race, I cant wait until I am fit enough to attempt the 100 for ultimate bragging rights!

Many thanks to my coach Damian Mason and FTP Training, I can see the benefits of the hard work paying off now, I was wondering whether it was all worth it for a while there but now I see the results I have motivation to keep up with it, after 9 weeks on the program if he can get me through a 50k Otway Odyssey in half decent shape then I cant wait to see what the next 9 weeks brings, next goal is the Nemesis Marathon Challenge on April 17th, want a podium in this one, the countdown begins........................

Thanks as always to Croydon Cycleworks for their continued support

Until next time, Happy Trails!

Kat

Critters

I am now at the end of my 7th week of my training program, had a bad week this week in regards to motivation, I decided to head out to the GMBC crits at the You Yangs on Friday night, was fairly happy with my effort, I stayed with the 2 girls in the group I wanted to but got dropped on the first climb (which was hardly a climb more of a gentle incline) still mananged to finish only a minute behind them after the 3 laps of the course, was a lot of fun and great for my confidence.

This morning I dragged my butt out of bed at 5am for the Latte Laps (skills session) held by Rob Crowe together with SKCC, after the skills session I raced in the E Grade crit, with a field of about 40 riders I was especially nervous with all the novice riders around me, also not having had much experience in bunches like that so stayed right at the back of the group and managed to hang on for the first 10 minutes, then they decided to up the pace a bit, we were sitting on 30kph as it was then it got amped up to 35kph, this proved too much for me, one of the Specialized riders was helping me along by getting me to sit on his wheel around the corners but I had too much ground to cover to try and catch the riders on the straights, I ended up getting dropped and cruised around for a lap until they came around again, I stayed on for a few more laps but got dropped again so decided to do the laps of shame and ride along on my own and finish the crit rather than pulling out, afterwards when I caught up with Nursey who had come along to watch I mentioned I should have just ridden past the finish line really fast each lap where everyone was watching so it looked like I was the lead breakway, probably wouldnt have worked but I am sure a few people would have been really confused by it.

I will do another couple of crits before the season finsihes and hopefully hang on for the entire race next time, apparently it was so much faster than normal today due to the larger number of riders, will keep you posted

Next week is a recovery week for me, still plenty of riding but shorter and less intense, only 3 weeks until Otway Odyssey, getting nervous now, I hope what I have done these past 7 weeks is enough to get me through

Quote for the day

You know what makes a good loser? Practice!
Ernest Hemingway


Until next time happy biking!

Kat

Training Update

Well the promised report on the XC race at Beaconsfield didn't happen due to not racing, no the track wasn't washed out due to the rain, a fire didn't go through the day before, I just decided not to race, I rode the course the day before and realised how out of shape I am and figured it would be bad for the confidence to race in that state, so the next planned race is the Enduro at Beaconsfield on the 22nd of Jan, a lot more relaxed than the XC races there and I can just treat it as a training ride.

As for the training, I am on to week 4 of my program, week 4 is a recovery week for me, this doesn't mean I don't ride at all, still 6 days worth of riding just lower intensity than last weeks training, the first 3 weeks has gone really well, I have only missed 2 days and that was due to enjoying the festive season a little too much, now that I am back at work and in to a normal routine again I will get back on track with it all. I must say I am really enjoying my riding at the moment, I had serious motivation issues and really struggled with knowing how unfit I was and how much work I had ahead of me to get it back, my coach is telling me it will come quicker than I think and to keep at it, well I hope so, the Otway Odyssey is only 45 sleeps & 36 training rides away, with an average ride of 50klms that means I will have about 1800klms under my belt or knicks for that matter, surely that will be enough to get me through the race, right? I bloody hope so, I rode the first 20 odd klms of the course the other day and I could barely pedal my sorry butt back up the hill back to the car (which you could hardly call a hill anyway) so it might be a $95 Red Carpet run for me come the 19th of Feb.

Quote for today

It never gets easier, you just go faster.
Greg LeMond

Until next time happy trails!

Kat

Another boring update

Not much has been happening and nothing exciting to report as I have not been racing but I am working on it and will report on the XC race at Beaconsfield on the 19th of December. In the meantime here is a little update on what I have been doing the last few months, well I have been riding a lot, well a lot compared to what I was riding, have completed my studies for the year and now have a couple of months to concentrate on training for the Otway Odyssey. I was struggling with my training and lacking some motivation and direction so I enlisted the help of Fenner's Total Performance Training http://www.ftptraining.com/ I met mark Mark Fenner a couple of years back and had a good chat to him over a burger when he was in Richmond giving a talk at the Specialized store, he really knows his stuff and finally now I have made the move to have a training program set up for me. So I have an initial 12 week training program now which will see me though to the Otway Odyssey, it is mainly working on building my base fitness again after so long out of structured training and set me up for the next year and the 11/12 XC Season. I am actually looking forward to starting the program next week and hopefully now I will start seeing some improvement in my fitness and strength and will give me more motivation to keep up with it. It will be a pretty full on 3 months for me but will be well worth it.

Until next time happy trails!

Kat