Wow, what a race! I agree with Crummy - I'm sure there must have been more up in it than down! The track was good, but I would have liked to spend my hard-earned uphill kms more slowly with some
gradually descending singletrack, rather than all those screaming fast downhill firetrails - mind you, those wild descents were fun - at least they were until I had a bad off at pretty high speed at about the 60km mark. Over the bars, mouth full of dirt etc. Was pleased to emerge from it without a broken neck! Cleat was damaged and pushed through my shoe though. Uncomfy from then on.
It was great to see some SCUM on the ride. I rode behind Dianne from about the 40 - 50km mark (she was always just around the next corner, which kept me going). Good to chat with Dave at the halfway too, because even though I was feeling pretty ordinary, seeing him sunbaking, relaxing and generally being SOFT made me feel tough just for heading out optimistically for that second 50km - thanks for that Dave! ;D
But oh, dear, that optimism was misplaced. A couple of kms into the 2nd 50, I started cramping and had to get off to stretch a lot. Nothing seemed to help until Kev appeared like a knight in shining armour at the perfect moment with a container full of salt tablets. What a hero! Actually, I was mostly impressed by how quickly he could locate them in his back pocket, get them out, unscrew the lid one handed and dispense one for me, only to have done up the lid and replaced them in a microsecond. Cool! I had enough trouble just finding the food I wanted - like, OK, this is a good easy bit of track, better eat something - slow down a bit - careful now, watch that bump - ooh, yes, its quite a big bump isn't it - better put two hands on the steering wheel for this - now where was I - back to digging around my food pouch, I can feel what I want, why can't I get it - oh, my hand is between the plastic bag and the pouch - woops, now my hand is down the other side of the bag - why can't I get
into the bag! - oh, track's going uphill now, need to change gears - right, hand back in pouch to repeat all of the above - finally, there's an apricot delight I could eat, that's enough calories for about the next 30 seconds! Wow, no wonder I didn't eat enough - a steep learning curve there - not only what to eat, but how to remind yourself when to eat and how to actually do it without falling off or riding really slowly for an unacceptably long way to justify what you managed to eat.
Anyway, Kev kept me company for a while (we started to enjoy the really steep hills because there's no shame in walking up those
) but I couldn't keep up with him or his salt tablets and had to let him go on. No more cramps now (thanks again Mr Bristow), but a terrible lack of energy. Had to stop every now and then to check I was still alive - lucky I had my stethoscope with me! ;D
You look at the speedo and it says 65km, then you ride what feels like a really long way, then go down a big hill, thinking, ooh, this hill is really chewing up some kms, then some time later you look down at the speedo again and it says 65.6km! What!
No! It can't be!
Walked up some lame slopes that were barely even hills, bravely rode up others at 4km/hr only to wonder whether walking them made more sense after all.
Didn't want any of my food, even though I knew I needed it. Drank less than half of what I'd planned. Pretty much gave up all hope and just hoped to make it before dark! Then came that brilliant 79km feed stop. I could stay here all afternoon, I thought cheerfully!
Never tasted Redbull before, but I slammed it down, lollies, bun, bananas, it was all good. Rested for ages, then resigned myself to having to get going again. Wow, couldn't believe it. I had legs again! Felt great now, powered the last 20km and actually enjoyed it again. As I arrived on the oval, I saw Kev just crossing the line - wow, nearly caught up to him again. I've just checked the results - beat you Kev!
that timing chip worked in my favour I guess. Regretting that salt tablet changing hands now? Ha ha
A great event, but Duncan has it right - train, and drink (I would add eat). Didn't do enough of any of those but learned for next time. Managed to fluke the right category to get on the podium though, despite finishing an hour and a half behind Ben. Poor Dianne was heaps quicker than me too but the other vets were the faster crew this time.
My left hand still has two numb fingers and I'm walking kind of funny, but with a less than stellar performance, I somehow jagged a nice new jersey and a nifty little Pedros chain tool as well as a weekend of family accomodation for being best-dressed, plus a photo and interview with the very friendly Australian Mountain Bike mag guys, who I rode near and chatted with during the day - so it was all good!!
The nurse will be back!
) but I couldn't keep up with him or his salt tablets and had to let him go on. No more cramps now (thanks again Mr Bristow), but a terrible lack of energy. Had to stop every now and then to check I was still alive - lucky I had my stethoscope with me! ;D
No! It can't be! 
Didn't want any of my food, even though I knew I needed it. Drank less than half of what I'd planned. Pretty much gave up all hope and just hoped to make it before dark! Then came that brilliant 79km feed stop. I could stay here all afternoon, I thought cheerfully! 
