Antsonline's blog

How do you begin to talk about a stage race without things just getting boring? In normal single day race, a typical marathon, there are hundreds of little moments that all contribute towards the final outcome.
The Otway300 has had me scratching my head since finishing, and wondering “How can I possibly share what went down out there, so that people understand how good it was, and what tight racing we had”.

The numbers are a good way of starting.

After a last minute call (Tuesday afternoon, with the race on Saturday am) to race Elite Nationals XC Champs, I was feeling a little nervous. My old age, allied with the fact that I have been training solely for marathon racing, meant that any ‘raw’ speed might be lacking.
The one thing you know about XCO Nationals – its all about raw speed.
The other thought that you have is about the course. World Cup courses are becoming increasingly technical, and the National Champs aspire to be as close to a World Cup XC course as possible.
Oh great….

Hi all,
I have been thinking a fair time about the decline of Marathon racing in Australia, and what can be done. I look at what is growing in popularity here and overseas and it would seem like pairs racing is really where things are happening.

There is an awful lot to like about it.
I put down some of my thoughts in an article for MarathonMTB.com - and thought you would enjoy the read too...

http://marathonmtb.com/2016/02/15/the-beauty-of-...

Really happy to have a discussion about it here, or on the forum link I made...

Reader warning: Settle in - this will be a long one!

Lets start with the specifics - I came 7th, which turns out to be my best finishing position at The Fling. I also had the most in any bike race I have had for years. Any previously lost mojo seems to have been returned, with interest, and along with it came good(ish) legs and a carefree spirit.

But there was so much about the race that wrong. Furthermore, almost every aspect of this event was contrary to how anyone would advise you to go about it.

The last two weekends have been races for me, the first in Queensland at the Flight Center Epic, and then the Kowalski Classic.
I have been pretty fit of late, and have avoided the various sicknesses and ailments that have been shared in my office, so was in pretty good spirits heading up to QLD.

Hey all - a quick preview of the Kowalski Classic that I wrote for the event promoters.
Hopefully it will inspire you to sign up if you already havent....

https://www.bikeexchange.com.au/blog/kowalski-cl...

So - a very different experience for me - today I rode with my wife and her best mate, in their 'dare' to ride the 3 Ring.

Wifeys friend is pretty well known cycling journo and previous World Champ on the track, so she has seen some races in her life. My wife has been to so many supporting me, that she also knows how it all works. The first thing I noticed about them both - was how nervous they were.

I wake up, and test my muscles whilst still in the safety of my bed. Tense my thighs – ok, tense my calfs – ok, roll my neck – feels good.
I push back the covers, and stand up.

I collapse, I feel like I have had my lower back punched by Tyson for 5hours. I go to the toilet – darkest urine ever.

That’s right – it’s the morning after the National Marathon Champs! This is how you are meant to feel!

A week late, but a great race....

This is a proper marathon MTB race.
My race calendar each year takes shape around 4 key races. These are races that I consider to be the ‘Classics’. Monuments in Australia Marathon MTB.
The Giant Odyssey is the first of the year (for information, the others are the Convict, the Flight Center Epic (Qnld), and the Highland Fling). So heading down to Victoria is always something I look forward to.

A new event on the calendar – and quite a good one at that!

The Snowies MTB Festival was held at Lake Crackenback resort – a little holiday camp style place halfway between Jindabyne and Thredbo.
The resort host the start and finish of each of the 4 stages over two days.