Only 9 days to go until the start of the 24hr National Champs and I do have another cold.
Same pattern as before the Kona 24hr race 2007 and my first 24hr race in 2006.
What the....
Since the 'Dusk till Dawn 12hr race' race in Queensland more than a week ago, I do my best to rest up, sleep and eat well. It doesn't seem to help, my coughing attacks keep at least my stomach muscles in action...
Fingers crossed that it will soon be over and I will be better in time.
2008-03-13
2008-03-07
Juzzy - the star!!
Justine Leahy, a Mountainbike Endurance racer in her own right, just offered me her help to support me at the 24hr MTB Nationalchamps ...how good is that!!!!!!!!!
Her and her partner Evan(who is better known as a MTB event photographer), will be there and facing the cold night and taking shifts with Andy to look after me.
Currently, Justine is recovering from knee surgery, which doesn't make her very happy, but it is to my benefit because she can't race...! Thumbs up for Juzzy!
Have a look at her blog: http://justineleahy.blogspot.com/
Know, I got to love her and Evan forever!!! Thanks so much, guys.
Her and her partner Evan(who is better known as a MTB event photographer), will be there and facing the cold night and taking shifts with Andy to look after me.
Currently, Justine is recovering from knee surgery, which doesn't make her very happy, but it is to my benefit because she can't race...! Thumbs up for Juzzy!
Have a look at her blog: http://justineleahy.blogspot.com/
Know, I got to love her and Evan forever!!! Thanks so much, guys.
Support needed!!!
"Australia's most gruelling solo mountain bike race takes off this Easter weekend, bringing together the nation's best endurance riders. This is one of the Australian qualifying events for the 24hr Worldchampionships 2008. "
The 24 hr National Championships will be held again at Easter(22nd-23rd march - yeah, great date!....) and again in Canberra.
Currently I do have one person(Andy, my man) looking after me, but I do need someone looking after my bikes and just to share the load would be great.
Why not spending the easter weekend up all night and watching people riding around in circles...Help would be very much appreciated. We will either drive or fly up(and I would pay for your flight and accommodation).
Please drop me an e-mail if you would love to help out(just click on letter symbol below)...I most certainly would love you forever.....
Cheers, Alex
2008-03-04
'Ay up Dusk till Dawn' 12 hr MTB race
photo:
solo winners Bellie and myself with sponsor Andrew Patten 'Ay up'
Just one week after the Otway Odyssey, I saw myself packing up again. Race no 5 for this year, which is a bit crazy really.
This time I had to fly to Queensland, lucky I wasn’t on my own. Andrew Bell(Bellie) picked me up Friday afternoon and together we started our mission to race 12 hours from dusk till dawn. Ay up lights, our sponsor was so generous to invite the two of us up to race. Thanks so much!!
I finally met Andrew Patten, the brain behind the lights, for the first time and it was good to see the man behind the best mtb lights on the marked! Riders were able to borrow lights for the race; all afternoon he and his team were busy attaching light mounts on helmets and handlebars and giving instructions.
The race wasn’t going to start before 7pm, so we had a couple of hours to kill…..
Bellie had this great idea of doing a practice lap, while they haven't finished to mark the track yet. We ended up going through thick lush bush, water and riding through spider webs, which made me freak out a little bit and letting Bellie ride ahead. There they were, colourful spiders of the size of my hand, sitting in their webs across the track. This is Queensland! I even saw my first Cane toad, apparently there was a snake and a Lizzard too(riding behind Andrew ‘disadvantaged’ me in seeing those creatures).
As most of the times before a race, I get quiet and would prefer to hide under a blanket.
I, myself can never believe that I am going to ride for 12 hours and would rather be somewhere else... As soon as the race has started, those thoughts are gone, luckily! It helps to have a good support team and to not worry about this part. Matt, the ‘Kona’ Queensland representative, was down to take over this part and to look after Andrew and me. All sorted!!!
After a few laps into the race, I knew this track was going to be fun and that I could ride a fast, but still comfortable pace.
Unfortunately I could never quiet figure out how far the second girl, local favorite
This time I had to fly to Queensland, lucky I wasn’t on my own. Andrew Bell(Bellie) picked me up Friday afternoon and together we started our mission to race 12 hours from dusk till dawn. Ay up lights, our sponsor was so generous to invite the two of us up to race. Thanks so much!!
I finally met Andrew Patten, the brain behind the lights, for the first time and it was good to see the man behind the best mtb lights on the marked! Riders were able to borrow lights for the race; all afternoon he and his team were busy attaching light mounts on helmets and handlebars and giving instructions.
The race wasn’t going to start before 7pm, so we had a couple of hours to kill…..
Bellie had this great idea of doing a practice lap, while they haven't finished to mark the track yet. We ended up going through thick lush bush, water and riding through spider webs, which made me freak out a little bit and letting Bellie ride ahead. There they were, colourful spiders of the size of my hand, sitting in their webs across the track. This is Queensland! I even saw my first Cane toad, apparently there was a snake and a Lizzard too(riding behind Andrew ‘disadvantaged’ me in seeing those creatures).
As most of the times before a race, I get quiet and would prefer to hide under a blanket.
I, myself can never believe that I am going to ride for 12 hours and would rather be somewhere else... As soon as the race has started, those thoughts are gone, luckily! It helps to have a good support team and to not worry about this part. Matt, the ‘Kona’ Queensland representative, was down to take over this part and to look after Andrew and me. All sorted!!!
After a few laps into the race, I knew this track was going to be fun and that I could ride a fast, but still comfortable pace.
Unfortunately I could never quiet figure out how far the second girl, local favorite
Prue Oswin was behind me; so every time I came through Transition, I got different information… “you are 18 min up, after another lap it was actually 8 minutes, a few laps after it was 10 minutes, then 15 min and before my last lap it was down to 5 minutes.” ohhh, I could feel my grey hair growing. I just couldn’t get rid of Prue Oswin, a girl from the Gold Coast, which competes ins Ironmans.
I finished 7 minutes ahead of her, I could have done one more lap but rolled into the finish actually before the 12 hour mark…ooops….I thought the race was over. Luckily the race organizer didn’t mind. But to be honest I would have liked to do one more lap and to be one lap up to the second place…
Bellie won his solo race in style, with 24 laps one lap ahead of second place and 8th place overall in the race(and he could have done one more lap)...he is a machine!
People in QLD are a very friendly bunch of people and the race was very well organized. Comparing to Endurance races in Victoria, there weren’t as many serious Elite Teams chasing each other around the track. Over all I had another fantastic race and feel very good about my form in the moment and I am curious how this will translate into my goal race for the year - the upcoming 24hr Nationals at Easter…. Fingers crossed!
2008-03-03
Lowan Otway Odyssey 100km Marathon
What a hype around this race, every rider I met within the last three weeks asked me “And, are you going to the Otway Odyssey?”, “Yep, sure I’ll do”…knowing that it will hurt and that I didn’t want to get constantly reminded. But after having done the ‘Trans Germany’ last year I was confident that I was prepared for it all!
The weather forecast promised some good rain for the area and it didn’t disappoint us – it rained almost all afternoon and the night before race start. Everybody was looking worried on arrival Friday night, whereas I was actually thinking that a mud fest could be to my advantage and that I don’t want to worry about the rain…
Being more of an Endurance racer, I do have that lack of sprint strength and I can’t really explode from the start; my race plan was to ignore this fact and to smash myself from start to finish. Get the heart rate up quickly and let the adrenaline kicking in early and keep going on a wave of endorphins (natural!) through the single track …
After the start in Apollo bay, the first long climb up Wild dog road was so much gentler than the climb last year; I managed to pass many girls that usually do leave me behind… I passed Jaci Low, Jenni King and Kathrin Van der Spiegel. I was a bit worried that I was pushing too hard, but my legs just kept going and I was comfortable. As soon as we hit the dirt, I was in my element and passed many people that seemed to be very scared of riding in mud.
Soon after there was no riding anymore, the track had become slippery and not rideable anymore after all the rain. For the next 30-45 min, it was more of a hike than a ride…on the bike…off the bike …
I guess that demoralized a lot of riders and added to the suffering of cramps and early fatigue.
The only thing, that I was worried about, was who of those fast girls behind me, were going to hunt me down soon…
Norm Douglas informed me that I was on 7th position, which made me very happy, because I thought that anything top 10 would be a big achievement in this race.
But that made me be on the run, convinced that I will get run down soon…
During the race I only had minor cramps and felt strong, was hydrated and ate enough to stay on my bike. Coming through the oval in Forrest after the first 65km loop, I refueled with the help of my lovely support team (Thanks to Katie, Ali and Juliette – unfortunately none of them able to ride this time - next year, girls!!). And for the first time I thought it looks like I might stay in top ten!!
I could hear my name through the loudspeaker and that I was doing well. YAY!
The tracks around Forrest are absolutely fantastic and I had a ball, I almost got dizzy from all the cornering, burms, jumps – those track building guys up there have done a great job!
Before I got onto the last 13km loop, I got passed by Kathrin Van der Spiegel….”oh no, you can’t pass me now’, I hear myself saying, thinking that I was never able to beat hear....
As she told me later, she didn’t have much left either anymore and just wanted to break me on those last long fire road climbs….and she did.
I was very happy coming 8th in a field of some very good female riders(although there is a bit of a time gap….).
I had an awesome race and can recommend to anyone out there to do it if you feel comfy on your MTB and don’t mind the pain and lots of climbing uphill...
Results – 100km Women’s Open
1st – Jennifer Smith (USA) – 6:24:56
2nd – Emma Colson (VIC) – 6:34:36
3rd – Jaci Low (VIC) – 6:44:18
4th – Tory Thomas (VIC) – 6:49:09
5th – Naomi Hansen (QLD) – 7:03:24
6th – Katrin van der Spiegel – 7:05:40
7th – Rebecca Locke (VIC) – 7:07:04
8th - Alexandra Kiendl (VIC) – 7:08:58
9th – Jenni King (VIC) – 7:23:19
10th – Deanna Blegg (VIC) – 7:29:17
The weather forecast promised some good rain for the area and it didn’t disappoint us – it rained almost all afternoon and the night before race start. Everybody was looking worried on arrival Friday night, whereas I was actually thinking that a mud fest could be to my advantage and that I don’t want to worry about the rain…
Being more of an Endurance racer, I do have that lack of sprint strength and I can’t really explode from the start; my race plan was to ignore this fact and to smash myself from start to finish. Get the heart rate up quickly and let the adrenaline kicking in early and keep going on a wave of endorphins (natural!) through the single track …
After the start in Apollo bay, the first long climb up Wild dog road was so much gentler than the climb last year; I managed to pass many girls that usually do leave me behind… I passed Jaci Low, Jenni King and Kathrin Van der Spiegel. I was a bit worried that I was pushing too hard, but my legs just kept going and I was comfortable. As soon as we hit the dirt, I was in my element and passed many people that seemed to be very scared of riding in mud.
Soon after there was no riding anymore, the track had become slippery and not rideable anymore after all the rain. For the next 30-45 min, it was more of a hike than a ride…on the bike…off the bike …
I guess that demoralized a lot of riders and added to the suffering of cramps and early fatigue.
The only thing, that I was worried about, was who of those fast girls behind me, were going to hunt me down soon…
Norm Douglas informed me that I was on 7th position, which made me very happy, because I thought that anything top 10 would be a big achievement in this race.
But that made me be on the run, convinced that I will get run down soon…
During the race I only had minor cramps and felt strong, was hydrated and ate enough to stay on my bike. Coming through the oval in Forrest after the first 65km loop, I refueled with the help of my lovely support team (Thanks to Katie, Ali and Juliette – unfortunately none of them able to ride this time - next year, girls!!). And for the first time I thought it looks like I might stay in top ten!!
I could hear my name through the loudspeaker and that I was doing well. YAY!
The tracks around Forrest are absolutely fantastic and I had a ball, I almost got dizzy from all the cornering, burms, jumps – those track building guys up there have done a great job!
Before I got onto the last 13km loop, I got passed by Kathrin Van der Spiegel….”oh no, you can’t pass me now’, I hear myself saying, thinking that I was never able to beat hear....
As she told me later, she didn’t have much left either anymore and just wanted to break me on those last long fire road climbs….and she did.
I was very happy coming 8th in a field of some very good female riders(although there is a bit of a time gap….).
I had an awesome race and can recommend to anyone out there to do it if you feel comfy on your MTB and don’t mind the pain and lots of climbing uphill...
Results – 100km Women’s Open
1st – Jennifer Smith (USA) – 6:24:56
2nd – Emma Colson (VIC) – 6:34:36
3rd – Jaci Low (VIC) – 6:44:18
4th – Tory Thomas (VIC) – 6:49:09
5th – Naomi Hansen (QLD) – 7:03:24
6th – Katrin van der Spiegel – 7:05:40
7th – Rebecca Locke (VIC) – 7:07:04
8th - Alexandra Kiendl (VIC) – 7:08:58
9th – Jenni King (VIC) – 7:23:19
10th – Deanna Blegg (VIC) – 7:29:17
The Otway Gang: Ali, Turi, Katie, Russell, Erica and I
2008-02-27
Tinker in Australia - meeting a legend!
Tinker Juarez was in Australia last weekend to race the "Otway Odyssey". A 100km Mountainbike race, held in the beautiful Otway ranges near the Great Ocean Road.We started Saturday morning at 7am in Apollo Bay and finished in Forrest some 7 hours later.
Tinker is a three-time U.S. National Champion, a two-time U.S. Olympian, a Pan Am Games Gold Medalist, and a World Championships Silver Medallist. He was inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2001.
And I was hugged by him....
More about the hard and cruelling, but fantastic race:
http://www.rapidascent.com.au/asp/Main.asp
I had an awesome day and finished 8th in a very competitive field of Australias best female riders, I am very happy!
Race report to follow soon...
2008-02-20
Hard Day At The Office 8 hr Enduro
The first Enduro race of the year and one that I didn't missed out on doing during the last 3 or 4 years. Unfortunately the number of participants a bit cut down due to the busy race calendar and the Otway Odyssey coming up the weekend after.
On Saturday night everybody went up to the pub in town to register for the race and to have the much needed pre-race meal. Thumbs down for the pub not being able to care for the number of people and for the worst Raviolis I had for a long time after waiting for 1.5 hours....!
Ahead of us 8 hours of combination of heat, dust and challenging race tracks. Unfortunately I saw myself more or less without competition, as only one other female rider entered the female solo category. Hard to keep motivated when there is really no point, but I my goal was to race for 7 hours and to use the race as a race preparation for the 24hr National race coming up in Easter. Admittedly my mind was more challenged than my body. I felt a bit bored by the lack of race excitement in my category and even sat down for 'afternoon tea'.
After 12 laps and 7.5 hours, I decided to call it a day and to leave work earlier. I could have pushed it harder and spent less time in transition cooling down under a so longed for ice-water shower. But racing in extreme heat and facing the technical, switch back single tracks and sometimes demoralizing climbs and fast descents was a fair demand on the rider’s concentration and energy. And I was never really challenged which was little bit boring.
Well done to everybody out there!
The best was still to come that afternoon - jumping into the cold river afterwards with Katie, Tom, Ali and Vinca ........ ah, I forgot to mention that I won the race.
On Saturday night everybody went up to the pub in town to register for the race and to have the much needed pre-race meal. Thumbs down for the pub not being able to care for the number of people and for the worst Raviolis I had for a long time after waiting for 1.5 hours....!
Ahead of us 8 hours of combination of heat, dust and challenging race tracks. Unfortunately I saw myself more or less without competition, as only one other female rider entered the female solo category. Hard to keep motivated when there is really no point, but I my goal was to race for 7 hours and to use the race as a race preparation for the 24hr National race coming up in Easter. Admittedly my mind was more challenged than my body. I felt a bit bored by the lack of race excitement in my category and even sat down for 'afternoon tea'.
After 12 laps and 7.5 hours, I decided to call it a day and to leave work earlier. I could have pushed it harder and spent less time in transition cooling down under a so longed for ice-water shower. But racing in extreme heat and facing the technical, switch back single tracks and sometimes demoralizing climbs and fast descents was a fair demand on the rider’s concentration and energy. And I was never really challenged which was little bit boring.
Well done to everybody out there!
The best was still to come that afternoon - jumping into the cold river afterwards with Katie, Tom, Ali and Vinca ........ ah, I forgot to mention that I won the race.
YOU YANGS VSS#3 XC RACE
I shouldn't have raced....I should have stayed in bed instead and have crunchy, yummy bacon and eggs for breaky........as easy as that!
But what do you do if social events clash with the race calendar, I refuse to become a social retarded bike nerd!
I am not 19 anymore, which I had to realize that day feeling a little bit sick with my Extraordinary race preparation(see picture).
My body and mind didn't want to wake up until late afternoon, when -after the race- we rode some additionally 2hrs of sweet single track with a few 'race left overs', as there were Tory Thomas, Rohin Adams, Jack Lamshed, Ben Rendall and his girl Mel....I am sure there were more of us, but can't remember.
Looks like I had a pretty good night and a pretty cool and long day!
But next time, I stay in bed..........Prost!
But what do you do if social events clash with the race calendar, I refuse to become a social retarded bike nerd!
I am not 19 anymore, which I had to realize that day feeling a little bit sick with my Extraordinary race preparation(see picture).
My body and mind didn't want to wake up until late afternoon, when -after the race- we rode some additionally 2hrs of sweet single track with a few 'race left overs', as there were Tory Thomas, Rohin Adams, Jack Lamshed, Ben Rendall and his girl Mel....I am sure there were more of us, but can't remember.
Looks like I had a pretty good night and a pretty cool and long day!
But next time, I stay in bed..........Prost!
2008-01-29
Four days, 140km of competition and 60km of cruising at Tasmania's Wilde Westcoast
I raced in the women veterans class, here is a shortlist of what happened to me during the 4days:
Stage 1 Cradle Mountain: the weather is good giving that there are only 10 days of sunshine a year in this area. - 2nd place Stage 2 Que River: flat tyre, which goes down to 18psi again, after 'fixing' the puncher...In my distress I forgot to check the tyre for thorns....yep! - 3rd place
Stage 3 Stirling Valley: great downhill!! I forget to unlock my fork and riding down with 50psi in my tyres(still pumped up from last cruise stage on bitumen) - 2nd place
Stage 4 Montezuma Falls: 1 flat tyre + 1 tyre that went down to 18psi + 1 lost cleat of shoe on top of best single track(Montezuma Falls), I wasn't very happy to see my podium place going after losing so much time to mechanical. - 6th place...bugger! That day my teammate Craig finished the last 15km on a bare rim
Stage 5 Spray Tunnel: 5km Time trail, due to my lost time from the last stage, my start is within a group of people that are significantly slower than myself. Therefore I am constantly passing at the tide single track, the guy that didn't let me pass, crashes right in front of me and I do have to walk around him at the downhill section. But still - 1st place! YAY!... and no mechanics!
Stage 6 Granville Harbour: absolute fantastic tracks and riding, I have a blast and race head on head with Naomi Hanson, which eventually wins having the better climbing legs. Awesome, fun riding! YAY - 2nd place
Stage 7 Hell's Gate: mostly flat, fast and furious. Exciting drafting if you manage to catch a group of riders. The beach section offers some great view if you have the time to look. Finish here! 2nd place Even that misfortune, I still managed to come 4th place over all in Vets and gained some new experiences in my old days.... in how to change tryres or better maybe using reall tubeless tyres, fixing cleats to shoes and checking your equipment more often.
I had lots of fun with my team Sam Maffett, Craig Findlow, Chris and our Team suppot Justin Riedy, those guys made my days really enjoyable!
Justin Riedy from 'bike beyond' took care of us and did an awesome job...I didn't even need to clean my bike...very much like a princess...
2008-01-07
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008
I hope you all had a nice and relaxing break over Christmas and new year.
I am looking forward to an exciting season with lots of riding and some hard racing!
I still have to work on my climbing an overall strength to face the growing group of very talented and fit female endurane racers.
See you out there!
I am looking forward to an exciting season with lots of riding and some hard racing!
I still have to work on my climbing an overall strength to face the growing group of very talented and fit female endurane racers.
See you out there!
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