This would have to have been the hardest race I have been involved in to date. The rain didnt stop all day on Saturday and driving out there Sunday morning was hard to see out the windscreen for all the rain, was sort of hoping I would get there and they would have cancelled it, but nope I got there about 8.30 and it was all happening.
So I rock up to the Croydon Cycleworks tent and ask if my 2 other teammates had dragged their butts out of bed to compete in our mixed triples team, I had spoken to Mick about one of my teammates the day before and found out he was pretty crook and most likely would not ride, this was confirmed in our conversation this morning and that I would be doing a mixed double team but about 20 minutes later we found out the he was no show too, so the discussion was made to combine the 2 other Croydon Cycleworks teams and put me in a mixed 4 which I quickly knocked back and suggested I do it solo, seemed like a good idea at the time, race didnt start off on a good note with my chain coming off twice going up the hill on the start line and passing my sponsor Mick at the Croydon Cyleworks tent about 30 seconds after the slowest riders so looked like the biggest hack 1 minute in to the race and then headed straight into a big mud bath, with my logic before the race that the rain was good thing as in my crazy mixed up mind I thought it would slow me down allowing me to pace myself for the race and conserve energy. Conserve energy???? Yeah right, What was I thinking, must have been having one of my moments I seem to be having alot of at the moment. Riding in the mud really takes it out of you, and added extra kilos to my already heavy big metal thing I am getting around on at the moment, not only that but my forks siezed up quite a while ago now and the ruts and rocks on the course were really taking their toll on my wrists and shoulders. Anyway enough whinging from me, on to the good stuff, uuuummmmmmm, ok I finished and didnt crash.
The course was made up by 9klms of mainly single track with rocky sections and 'the rock' that the race name comes from, which I had no chance of getting over and just stood there in amazement when I watched Paul Randell go over it so smoothly. Was a pretty technical course made even harder by the heavy rain, luckilly the rain held off for most of the race, with a fairly heavy downpour heading in to my second lap not far from the comfort of the tent I definitely let out a couple of swear words and got the sooks up big time and just wanted to ride back to the tent but it was short lived and the rain eased off and I was happy again, well perhaps not happy but settled down a bit anyway.
The course really did my head in and yet again had me doubting myself and whether I should or shouldnt be having a crack at the racing and just sticking to riding the trails at Lysterfield, I could do that but that would take out the best bits of Mountain Biking, the challenge of racing a course like this is one thing, riding it for 6 hours is another and as much I was getting down on myself for not being able to do what I wanted to do out there the great sense of acheivement I felt when I crossed the finish line for the last time was plenty of reward for what I had just put myself through and when I think about it I was one of only 3 girls to attempt it solo and managed to be the 2nd best solo girl on the day so that has to stand for something and is motivation enough to become the 1st best female in the years to come. I certainly have realised that it is going to take me a long time to get to where I want to be with my racing so for now the aim is just to relax and have fun with it until that time comes.
So I am struggling up a climb and one of the riders posed the question to me as to whether I would do another solo enduro, a quick No from me was the response as was the same response given after the Anaconda Enduro last week but I figure if I can do 6 hours on this track in those conditions then for sure I can do the next Anaconda Enduro solo, so decision made, my next race will be at Lysterfield on the 1st of June as a 6 hour solo compettior.
Overall was a good race and was great to have the Croydon Cycleworks guys there, they made sure I did the right thing with my eating and drinking this race, I was a bit of a mess after Lysterfield and felt heaps better at the end of this race today no doubt by doing the right thing by keeping hydrated and fed.
Thank You's
Croydon Cycleworks, Mick made sure my bike was good to go before the race and all the guys kept me motivated to keep riding.
All the riders that gave me encouragement when I just wanted to sit on the side of the track and throw a tantrum.
And Thanks to my photographer mate Gary Trounson for coming out in the cold to snap away at us and thanks for the photo above. Check out http://www.gteephotography.com/ to see if he got any of you.
Quote for today
"That's the beauty of mountain-bike racing - there isn't a f-ing pill available out there that helps you ride down a mountain faster."--Adam Craig
Until next time Happy biking
Kat
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