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MTB Marathon vs. 3 hour exam


Tristania's picture

By Tristania - Posted on 16 November 2013

Now in the middle of my final exams of my second year of Electrical Engineering, I thought I'd share a rather amusing comparison between the course of an engineering exam and mountain bike marathon and realized that they are basically the same thing! I got to compare these close up having my first exam at 9:30am the day after the Highland Fling last week and hope you will find it funny. Enjoy.

FLING: Spend all the previous weeks in intense training.
EXAM: Spend all the previous weeks in intense studying.

FLING: Most of my non-cyclist friends think I'm crazy for voluntarily punishing myself in such a tough race.
EXAM: Most of my non-engineer friends think I'm crazy for enrolling in such a tough course.

FLING: Try to integrate my training into my commute - i.e., ride to Hornsby station.
EXAM: Try to integrate my study into my commute - i.e., read notes on the train.

FLING: Spend much of my riding time thinking about all the darn study that I should be doing.
EXAM: Spend much of my study time thinking about race tactics and wishing I could be on the bike.

FLING: Try to go to bed early the night before and end up in bed half an hour later than planned.
EXAM: Ditto

FLING: Up at 4:30am to eat in sufficient time. Nervous.
EXAM: Up at 5am to be at uni for sufficient time to read through my notes at a relaxed rate. Nervous.

FLING: Hydrate like crazy three hours before the start to avoid cramping.
EXAM: Hydrate like crazy three hours before the start to avoid drowsiness.

FLING: Stand in front of a tree six times the hour beforehand and get every excess drop out.
EXAM: Stand in the men's room - ditto.

FLING: Shove down a gel and mandarin to give me energy as I begin the ordeal.
EXAM: Shove down six pieces of dark chocolate to give me energy as I begin the ordeal.

FLING: Listen to the briefing and rules intermittently, but really trying to be focussed on how I'll approach this - I've READ all the rules to the session!
EXAM: Ditto.

FLING: 100km (or thereabouts)
EXAM: 100 marks

FLING: Begin at the back end of the pack, struggle to get a good start.
EXAM: Nasty surprises are seen on the paper once we are allowed to begin.

FLING: Riders are required to give assistance to other riders experiencing strife and will have their time adjusted accordingly.
EXAM: If you attempt to give assistance to another student you are given zero for the exam!

FLING: Hold out for the first 80km but struggle to stay motivated after that.
EXAM: Ditto for the first three quarters of the paper

FLING: Leave centre physically exhausted.
EXAM: Leave centre mentally exhausted.

FLING: Piss like a hose the minute when I leave the event centre.
EXAM: Ditto when I leave the room.

FLING: Results told to us that afternoon.
EXAM: When do the darn results come out? Not for a month? You kidding me?

FLING: When's the next race?
EXAM: Gosh! When's the next bloody exam?

MORAL: If you can complete a 3 hour exam, you can compete in an MTB marathon! (Conversely if you are competing in MTB races you should sit some exams!)

Lach's picture

for the HSC. I'm glad all that exam stuff is well behind me... but I'd probably go the dark chocolate in either circumstance.... mmmmmm.

Rob's picture

That is rather amusing. I was playing squash at uni so never had this insight (squash is really a 'sprint' sport more than 'marathon' one).

All I know now is, as much pain as it now causes, I'd much rather ride a bike for many hours than sit any kind of exam! Eye-wink

Hope your academic results are as good as your Fling ones!

Pete B's picture

Ha ha, I like it. Smiling

Little-Ditty's picture

Ah yes, procrastination knows no limits. But good luck anyway.

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