Doing Hard Labour

Despite the best laid plans, injury, illness oh yeah and a Grade 2 assessment plagued our merry team of wannabes for a labour weekend Sat expedition over Goats Pass. So I found myself driving up to Mt Sommers on the gorgeous spring morning that greeted Christchurch, ready to undertake my first ever solo mission.

I decided to be cautious and head over to the ‘other’ side of Mt Sommers – taking the Miners Track past the first hut and up to the saddle, before the decent to Pinnacles Hutt begins. As I signed into the DOC intentions book I did ponder how long it would actually take me – this being a reccy for the Teva Run in late November which I am doing as a team with the flying Scotsman.

Due the rain we’d had during the week it was quite wet underfoot – to a point where there was a stream running down the track – a great way to wear in my new off trail shoes – ok so I may have stood in some muddy patches I didn’t need too! :)

It dawned on me throughout this hike/run which I guess kinda equates to a ramble (can it be called rambling when done outside of the UK I wonder?) that I have a bit of work to do on my running between now and coast. In reaching the saddle some 2.5 hours later I was rewarded with a sense of achievement and snow (and the knowledge it was pretty much downhill from here!)

So a successful solo mission complete, 4 hours in the saddle all up, injuries sustained - just 3:
1. Cut my finger (opening one of the farm gates on the way in) 2.Another smaller cut sustained on cutty cutty grass (or is it just cutty grass – hmm not sure)
3.Final injury – scrambling off trail to take a short cut and my leg got taken out by some falling debris – a wee reminder to stay on track when on your own!

Monday saw my first venture out on the road bike properly…probably since coast this year lol taking on short bays and shaving off around ten minutes on my usual time (still dam slow up those hills though!! J) I had a combined session where had to hit the hills running straight after – so of course I thought it would be a ‘great’ idea to head into unknown territory – so I headed up Farm Track – doh!

So much for running –the first 20 or so minutes was really uncomfortable – simultaneously my legs were screaming out me ‘you’ve got to be joking’ whist my brain was doing the math for Coast and telling me ‘you’ve got to be joking’, thankfully things started working again and it was great to get to the top of the Mt Vernon Track – take in the views and head off home.

This weekend is my first proper off trial run – The Flagpole Run Up – my aim for the day is to have lots of fun (and maybe take a few photos?? Lol)

Keep ya posted

Expecting the unexpected

Don’t you think that sounds like something Steve Gurney WOULD say… :)

My first Multisport race as an individual and what should I have expected?

1. Needing a nervous pee can sometimes actually be a sign you should ‘go’ before the start of the race and the sound of a rushing river forces a pit stop 10 minutes into the run

2. Whilst your number one rule in the kayak is never follow the person in front of you (pick your own lines), learning that having others (or their wet foot prints) to follow on a trail run is helpful…perhaps even vital… to avoid getting lost and losing precious time backtracking

3. Cycling along at 35km and suddenly having a knotted pain take hold of your calf muscle – so this is what cramp feels like!! – quelling the panic and trying to focus on the road ahead (and not wobbling off ones bike) getting it under control only to have the other calf follow suit – yikes this hurts!

Some may read this and think what a total mare of a race, but as Richard (my coach from Complete Performance) has taught me – you can learn from every experience and hence why we race!

So as I ponder in reflection of the day that was I remembered I managed to stay upright in my first ever attempt at multiple river crossings, I now appreciated there is no shame in power walking when running would blow yourself up on steep terrain and most importantlyI realised when the chips are down you just have to chillax and treat the experience as a training run (don’t tell Richard that)!

Next adventure – weather gods permitting, planets aligning and a stroke of good luck, we plan to get over Goats Pass this weekend!

Keep ya posted!

Blasting the 6 hour barrier

Donning my favourite pair of gummies I set off through the mornings drizzle to Mcleans Island for the Blue Dog Events 6 hour blast. Thankfully the weather gods had gotten out of the right side of bed as whilst wet under foot the rain had stopped although damp clouds were blanketed across the sky.

As I started gearing up it dawned on me the potential enormity of what I had chosen to do on this particular morning - to ride my mountain bike for 6 hours – non stop. Some would say I’m from the school of ‘throw yourself in the deep end’ – others perhaps just that I’m a bit loco – whatever the reason at 10am on that slightly grey day I found myself at the start line surrounded by 100’s of other keen mountain bikers.

Considering the rain we’d had over the recent wet week conditions were ok. It was a slow start with the mass of bikes crawling along the paddock, choking at the sides and spilling out riders left and right. The route itself was a great mix of 4WD, single track and a bit of the ‘new’ section which could only be described (to the uninformed such as myself) as a mini BMX track – with lots of rollovers. There were of course a couple of climbs up stops banks thrown in for good measure – just in case your legs were actually starting to recover after flying fast on sections of slick single track.

First lap - 34 minutes and reminding myself to not get caught up in the flurry and to pace myself (no easy task), laps 2 – 5 actually very pleasant and I could feel my confidence building in that I would achieve my objective of remaining on the bike for the whole 6 hours. Laps 6 – 7 feeling a bit tired now but continue with momentum knowing I am only getting closer to the point I no longer have to turn these pedals around. Lap 8 – its getting dark now – no hang on that’s just me almost passing out! Lol well perhaps not that bad but by this time some 5 hours into it I am in a whole world of hurt and having many conversations with myself about the meaning of life, endurance and convincing myself I need to push on through the physical and mental barriers. Lap 9 – pure magic, a fist full of Sharkies later, energy reserves I didn’t know exsisted and even overtaking people again – determined to make this last lap count. Finish – smiling – unbelievable ache in my legs – not sure if I want to sit, stand or perhaps just cry!

Awesome event, will back next year (but perhaps with some training under my belt). This weekend Frostbuster out in Methven – here’s hoping the hail stays away this year.

Pic below on the Waimak Sunday morning - days like this makes it all worth while!

Keep ya posted

Lazy n hazy

An ‘easy’ training week - admittedly sometimes I translate this into a ‘lazy’ training week, alas a habit that I need to kick this close to Coast. Running along Mt Vernon Valley track was a struggle, as I fought for air to my tired lungs I had to push down the anxiety in the pit of my stomach which called out to me ‘are you sure you are going to be ready’ and reassured myself it was ‘just one of those days’ …instead of feeling sorry for myself I should have spared a thought for those folks over in South Africa doing the legendary Fish Marathon – two days of the craziest paddling you’ll ever see!!

Sunday saw the inaugural race of the newly formed Down River Kayak Club Inc –The club has been born out of a passion for moving water racing, the desire to see the sport supported and the continuing development of both safety and its club members paddling skills. I bowed out of the racing aspect to help out doing tail end Charlie – coming in along the back of the field to ensure no ones left behind….despite the light flecks of snow that fell on our noses (that’s all we were prepared to poke out the window when arriving at Rakaia Bridge) the weather played nice – a bit of wind for good measure (just to separate the men from the boys) and everyone was greeted with a roaring bonfire and hot sizzers from the BBQ!

Amped by our success in the 6 hour challenge and wishing to ‘capitalise’ on my staying power in a moment of ‘non’ lucidness I thought it would a be a fantastic idea to enter the McLean’s Island 6 hour blast!?! So took my new pride of joy out for a wee spin to try and get myself in 'endurance mtb'ing mode lol' …watch this space for a full report from the weekend

Keep ya posted!