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