Jonny's blog

The Convict is always a race I look forward to. It was my first 100km race in 2012 and one I have done every year since. For me it’s a benchmark of my progression, and one of the few races where I know my race times off my head!
With a new bike this year I started putting the pressure on myself a couple of months out. Had I made the right decision changing bikes? Would I be quicker? Was I as fit as last year? Each year I feel I am at my peak for this race, so the pressure to repeat the performance seems higher each time.

The convict was my first ever MTB marathon race in 2012, I remember it being hard and hating every hill with a passion. I eventually rolled in after 6.5hrs (ish).

After this I focused on hills as the core of my training - every hill I could find I went hard at. Last year I felt much stronger and pulled a 5:06, which I was super stoked with. I still felt the back end of the race was a let down (I hit a wall around 85kms), so made a note to increase core fitness and focus on nutrition.

I was originally signed up for the 100km but a nasty accident a couple of weeks ago left me with 11 stitches in my chin and a busted shoulder. I was doubtful of racing at all, so decided to hedge my bets and do the 50km.

It was the first time I've done a 50km, with all my previous races being the 100km's.

Only one training ride in the two weeks leading upto the race didn't fill me with much confidence. The only ride I did was a slow lap of the dam to test the new wheels which had been express ordered to replace the tacoed ones after my crash.

First 100km ever, was very nervous before the start, especially as I had been without the bike for 8 weeks leading upto the race (long story short an issue with my Scott dealer meant me rear shock service took 7 weeks longer than expected!!). I rode with a mate (you probably all saw him - the only guy with white tyres on the 100km course!!), and had a blast.

We started at the back of wave 2 - and quickly found our road riding came in useful working our way through the pack until we reached the big hill. After conquering about 25% of the hill we walked the rest mindful of the legs!