Outline of the event is a cross country run (6-7kms) followed by a 20km mountain bike ride, and then a smaller cross country run of (4kms). Lysterfield National Park was the venue, and a stunning one too, as you drove into the valley and into the morning fog that filled it! (even if it was around 8C!!)
I did it with some mates - Mike Kerklaan & Damien Eley (of 24hr and Otway Odyssey fame), Mark n Dave Bubner and Louise Flaherty (of 12hr enduro fame).
The keener ones moved forward at the start while the rest of us were content to hang back in the pack, and at 9am away we went into the trails of Lysterfield. I have to admit that I was a little surprised at the pace set by the front runners, who are more used to longer adventure races, but to me this was an endurance event.
Unlike the half marathons, I had no 'plan' for this event except to just do my thing and get through it. I was looking forward to the bike leg as this is more of the reason I did this than for the cross country running. I spent most of the first leg being overtaken as I wasn't really pushing myself - I'll say "saving myself".
I do wish I had a camera for it though, especially when we emerged from the forrestry to cross the dam wall of Lysterfield Lake! Looking across the glassy water with the morning mist lightly coating it, and the sun just above the surrounding hills was a pretty spectacular sight!
Anyway, scenic pleasantries aside, it was then onto the mountain bike (MTB) for the 20km ride through the trails, including a good portion of the Commonwealth Games MTB course. This is where the grin both emerged and grew! My turn had come to do some overtaking as I made my way through the fast flowing singletrack. Despite there being some slippery and muddy sections it was nice to know that even after a month off the mtb I could still ride it - "like riding a bike" I guess… While not meaning to sound like I'm bragging, I was surprised at the number of people struggling around the trails on their bikes. I suppose Adventure racers aren't really mountain bikers like me, but then again, I'm no adventure racer! But, who cares, I was enjoying myself and just chasing down the next rider I saw in front of me. I didn't feel any of the effects of Saturday's little 70km jaunt either - such a handy thing this adrenaline!!
Unfortunately, while "riding like I stole it", I'd forgotten all about the final 4km run that was still to come, so yes, coming into transition I got that sinking feeling…
Off came the mtb shoes, on went the runners and off I went for the final run. Just not as quickly as that sounds as my legs suddenly felt quite heavy. "It's just a short 4km run" I told myself.
Things didn't go too badly for the first kilometre, but when I reached a rather steep hill they certainly go right… This steep section was just nasty - in 200metres the path went up 20metres! Despite what I wanted, my legs decided that this wasn't their thing! Unfortunately, I lost out to their wishes and had to slow up considerably - even struggling to catch they guy in front of me who was walking!!
Once at the top we compromised as I convinced them to let me move at a far more reasonable pace. This worked well until about the last 700metres when they decided that some cramping would make life interesting. I'm not sure just how interesting the cramps were for my legs because I thought they were just outright painful! And, if you're thinking that I was regretting Saturday's ride about now, then you'd be thinking correctly!
It's funny how your head works when you find yourself in such a position. You actually seem to argue with your body - not out loud, but certainly internally. "Your biggest competitor in cycling is yourself," said Lance Armstrong, and he's right, although it's not just cycling that this applies to! (And I'm not ashamed to say that some of what I got from his autobiography came in very handy through this last section of the event.)
With thoughts of still trying to "run" (simply because it meant it would be over sooner!), despite the reduced pace I managed to get across the line. Time to find the others and see how they went.
It was a lovely sunny day to be out in this National Park and it's bushland, and I'm smashing myself in it - what on earth was I thinking?!
Honestly, I was thinking all sorts of things while doing it, and believe it or not, it was a great way to start a sunday. Pushing your limits, doing something new, discovering and getting out amongst it. All Good.
*Results here
I did it with some mates - Mike Kerklaan & Damien Eley (of 24hr and Otway Odyssey fame), Mark n Dave Bubner and Louise Flaherty (of 12hr enduro fame).
The keener ones moved forward at the start while the rest of us were content to hang back in the pack, and at 9am away we went into the trails of Lysterfield. I have to admit that I was a little surprised at the pace set by the front runners, who are more used to longer adventure races, but to me this was an endurance event.
Unlike the half marathons, I had no 'plan' for this event except to just do my thing and get through it. I was looking forward to the bike leg as this is more of the reason I did this than for the cross country running. I spent most of the first leg being overtaken as I wasn't really pushing myself - I'll say "saving myself".
I do wish I had a camera for it though, especially when we emerged from the forrestry to cross the dam wall of Lysterfield Lake! Looking across the glassy water with the morning mist lightly coating it, and the sun just above the surrounding hills was a pretty spectacular sight!
Anyway, scenic pleasantries aside, it was then onto the mountain bike (MTB) for the 20km ride through the trails, including a good portion of the Commonwealth Games MTB course. This is where the grin both emerged and grew! My turn had come to do some overtaking as I made my way through the fast flowing singletrack. Despite there being some slippery and muddy sections it was nice to know that even after a month off the mtb I could still ride it - "like riding a bike" I guess… While not meaning to sound like I'm bragging, I was surprised at the number of people struggling around the trails on their bikes. I suppose Adventure racers aren't really mountain bikers like me, but then again, I'm no adventure racer! But, who cares, I was enjoying myself and just chasing down the next rider I saw in front of me. I didn't feel any of the effects of Saturday's little 70km jaunt either - such a handy thing this adrenaline!!Unfortunately, while "riding like I stole it", I'd forgotten all about the final 4km run that was still to come, so yes, coming into transition I got that sinking feeling…
Off came the mtb shoes, on went the runners and off I went for the final run. Just not as quickly as that sounds as my legs suddenly felt quite heavy. "It's just a short 4km run" I told myself.
Things didn't go too badly for the first kilometre, but when I reached a rather steep hill they certainly go right… This steep section was just nasty - in 200metres the path went up 20metres! Despite what I wanted, my legs decided that this wasn't their thing! Unfortunately, I lost out to their wishes and had to slow up considerably - even struggling to catch they guy in front of me who was walking!!
Once at the top we compromised as I convinced them to let me move at a far more reasonable pace. This worked well until about the last 700metres when they decided that some cramping would make life interesting. I'm not sure just how interesting the cramps were for my legs because I thought they were just outright painful! And, if you're thinking that I was regretting Saturday's ride about now, then you'd be thinking correctly!
It's funny how your head works when you find yourself in such a position. You actually seem to argue with your body - not out loud, but certainly internally. "Your biggest competitor in cycling is yourself," said Lance Armstrong, and he's right, although it's not just cycling that this applies to! (And I'm not ashamed to say that some of what I got from his autobiography came in very handy through this last section of the event.)
With thoughts of still trying to "run" (simply because it meant it would be over sooner!), despite the reduced pace I managed to get across the line. Time to find the others and see how they went.
It was a lovely sunny day to be out in this National Park and it's bushland, and I'm smashing myself in it - what on earth was I thinking?!
Honestly, I was thinking all sorts of things while doing it, and believe it or not, it was a great way to start a sunday. Pushing your limits, doing something new, discovering and getting out amongst it. All Good.
*Results here
1 comment:
I am glad that you managed to cross the line. Your life in Melbourne sounds like quite different with your life in London.
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