You are hereBlogs / Brian's blog / 2013 Convict 100 "Happy Days"

2013 Convict 100 "Happy Days"


Brian's picture

By Brian - Posted on 05 May 2013

Re: This ride meeting: 
Convict 100 2013
Status: 
Finished
Time: 
04:33:36
Position (Overall): 
48
Race Category: 
100km Male Sub Veteran
Position (Category): 
10

What an awesome race.

For those that don’t know, I raced the Australian Marathon Championships 2 weeks ago in Atherton. I had a week up there prior to just dedicate to riding and relaxing, the race was unbelievably hard taking over 7 hours to finish so I knew I had a pretty good prep coming into this race.

One week prior I did a 95km mtb ride averaging 20km/h which felt good so I just needed to avoid getting sick in the week leading up and I should be good.

Friday I was working from home so I packed the car and headed off mid afternoon. I arrived around 4pm, sorted a camping spot with Anthony and Kyle (although Anthony wasn't camping), registered and started preparing dinner etc. Even though the start list was still quite full it seamed very quiet as night set in. Wayne arrived later and it was about 9pm when I decided to go to bed. Despite it being cold I had a pretty good sleep which is a bit strange. Normally I spend the night thinking about the start, food etc.

Morning came and the alarm goes off at 5am. After a coffee and breakfast I start getting everything ready for the race. It always seems to go so fast and not before long I’m lined up in the first group. No warm up as the roll along the road in the peloton does that.

The gun goes and we’re off. It’s amazing how fast you travel along here with what seems very little effort. My main aim is to stay out of trouble and get close to the front for the hard left heading towards the first climb. We hit the first climb and its Wayne, Michael and myself all in a row. As it starts to steepen riders are dismounting and walking. I can’t believe people position themselves up the front to then walk the first hill and some even walk where the best line is.

By the time I get to the top I’ve been dropped by Wayne and Michael which was no surprise but with my HR already in the high 180’s I couldn’t push any harder. It was time to settle down into a steady pace. It wasn’t long when Gazza passes me, I ride with him for a while but he passes a few riders just before a descent and before I know it he’s dropped me. Gazza’s really nailing the descents and sprinting up the pinches. I’m starting to think, WTF, with being dropped I feel like I’m going slow but my HR is high and my average speed is just above 24km/h so I just continue on. I ride through the first feed station and it’s not long and I’m back riding with Gazza.

I get to Sullivans where you turn right and start the technical riding. I’ve dropped Gazza but knowing he is strong on the techy stuff I knew I’d be seeing him again. Guess what happened next, Gazza catches me and we’re riding together again Smiling

I get to the 50km stop and ride through and start the climb. Gazza must have stopped as I couldn’t see him behind me now. As I start to climb the Ten Mile Hollow hill I spot Michael just a little bit up the hill. I didn’t think I’d see him again so I up the tempo and we climb the hill together. He tells me Dicko is one minute up the hill. Towards the top a go to push slightly harder and bang, my first cramp. This was not good because every time I’ve cramped here its been hell on the GNR and I’ve always ended up lying on the side of the road to the Womerah Range. We hit the GNR section and any time I have to get up a step up I’m cramping. First in my quads then my calves. By now I’m trying to eat and drink even more and I’m back to just spinning but the pace still seems ok. As we get off to walk up the big step ups I have to be careful as my cramps seem to be under control while I’m spinning. Michael over takes me here. I ended up catching him again and got a small gap to the Kayak bridge. Even with the cramps I was still going good and was only 2 minutes behind the splits I had for a 4.5hr finish.

Here I needed to stop for water. As I bend down to fill up my legs cramp again. This is not good. By now Michael has passed me and also what I didn’t notice was Gazza passed me here. I get myself together and walk the bridge. I’ve ridden this the past two years and both times I nearly went in so there was no way I was riding it this year. Walking it with cramps was a challenge in itself. I get to the road and just take this section easy trying to get more food and water down. This is when a group comes along and tells me to jump on but this wasn’t going to happen. What I did notice though, my other riding buddy Dave “doc” was in the group. I tried to up it and catch them but my legs weren’t behaving. We hit the Womerah climb and they were probably 100m ahead. From here I just kept trying to catch Dave but he would be approaching the tops of the pinches as I would be starting them. The good thing though was he wasn’t getting away and in actual fact I was slowly closing the gap.

I can’t remember exactly but I think I finally caught Dave as we enter Jacks track. Here you start descending but there are still some pinches before the final big mother of all descents. It was on one of the first descents on a corner where Dave runs wide and I take the inside line. I hear him say a few profanities and I take this opportunity to make a break. By now I’m running on empty because without knowing, I had lost one of my gels. As I’m trying to get a gap I spot Michael again. As I pass Michael at first I don’t say anything except “on your right”. I let him know Dave is not far behind me. We descend and make it to the road. It wasn’t long after when Dave catches back up. From here we keep pushing, get across that last creek crossing and roll across the finish together 5 seconds separating us. Gazza finished one minute ahead.

My time was 04:33:36 and 10th in my category. I’m so happy with how I went. It was also awesome because I was either riding with or chasing someone I knew.

A big thanks to Wayne, Anthony, Michael, Dave, Paul, Gazza (and the list goes on) who all keep each other motivated.

The Convict 100 was my first 100km I did in 2010 so its a good measure how I'm going. Below is how I’ve finished each year so my times are going in the right direction Smiling

2010 - 07:32:53 (239th in category)
2011 - 06:27:49 (106th in category)
2012 - 05:14:16 (40th in category)
2013 - 04:33:36 (10th in category)

obmal's picture

well done, sensational time.
improving your times in great leaps, perhaps in a just few years you should be finishing before you even start? Smiling

Blades_Utd's picture

Great work Brian, it was a pleasure to be able to come into St Albans with both you and Dave, a few moments on the run in I thought you were both going to ride away, I was doing all I could to keep up with you both. You can enjoy a well earned break now...

Fatboy's picture

Well done @brian. Keeping up with your trend and having a time next year with a 3 in front may be a stretch but judging by your progress over the last few years I wouldn't bet against you!

ps's picture

I just wish I was a bit faster to see more of it.

doc's picture

Another gutsy effort and well done. I was guessing it was a big ask for you to jump on the group after the kayak bridge and I was willing you on to keep chasing. I had to dig in to catch you and Mike up again after you passed me on that loose corner.

I will certainly remember riding into the finish together. Bloody magic !

GAZZA's picture

Knowing I had a familiar face close by to egg on and try and chase down at times.
I must admit, you've certainly got more power than me on the fireroads and hills.
I can't believe how much you've come along in the last few years.
You've just got to harden up and learn how to eat and drink more energy stuff without gagging! Eye-wink
I thought you were just stopping for a fill up before the bridges. I had no idea you were cramping etc.
I was sure I was gonna see you come flying up behind me soon after.
Well done Bri.
I can't wait to see what unravels next year?

Brian's picture

I definitely can't do sports drinks so its plain water only for me. I do use power bars and for this race I used some gels as well. I actually wasn't feeling good on Friday so I didn't eat much. Saturday morning I felt a lot better but didn't drink much before the start. Also, the intensity of the race was just that notch higher so I think it all combined to cramping.

jp's picture

Well done Brian. You've obviously worked hard and you deserve this result. Keep going!

Dicko's picture

Brian

First thing i can say, is well done, you have put in the work and its great to see the results. Its great to have a training partner and friend that has similar goals and discipline.

To our broader training group - you know who you are - it is great to see the level of success this year across the board - the way the group came in across the line this year we could neally have our own peleton start to finish.

We definitely seem to have found a great combination to push / pull each other without alot of ego. I think that has whats made us step up that notch, because it ver y hard to find that right cmbination / mix of personalities.

Look forward to more successes. With next years Cape epic ony 321 days away, the hard training yards have only just begun.

Keep up the good work !

D

garyinoz's picture

Love seeing the yearly stats, show's what can be achieved. Keep it up. Well done mate.
See you for a social ride soon Eye-wink

Brian's picture

Thanks Wayne. It will be interesting to see what our times are next year coming off the back of the Cape Epic.

Gary, I thought I would put the times I've done each year because I know after my first few full marathons I was left wondering what the guys were doing to achieve sub 5hr times and how long it would take for me to get there.

Antsonline's picture

That was such a great read.
I agree with Wanyes point too - you have a group of people that all seem to be setting new benchmarks, motivating each other, but also without ego's and with such mutual support.
Its extremely healthy.

Your time was excellent, as was the control you showed in the ride (letting riders go, but pulling them back later on). Its a testament to your hard work and new status as the 'silent assasin'. Your're just out there, getting it done without much fanfare.

Cape Epic - sure. But for the moment, enjoy the break, relax, give your body and mind a rest, so that when its time to get serious again you are fresh and wanting to do it.

p.s. with that progression, you'll win it next year Eye-wink

philberesford's picture

Top 10 - Get in there!

Eye-wink

Disassembled's picture

Awesome time Brian. 7:02 here, kept the cramps (mostly) at bay this year though, and 30min faster than 2012. Beautiful day too!

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Best Mountain Bike