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Janaury

Given the important racing really kicks off in March, through to the end of April and start of May, January is about setting yourself up with some solid strength. From my perspective, I took December ‘off’ from training seriously. I rode my bike a bit, and over Xmas went to stay with my Fiance’s family in New Zealand. I got to ride most days on their local trails, and also went over to Rotorua for a little break at the end. I just rode my bike. Not fast, no stress, baggy shorts, camelback and an ipod. Solo MTB mileage.

After being told that we (my mum and I) were going to Jindabyne after one night in Canberra, I wasn’t sure whether it was worth the hassle of taking the bike. Sure, I loved riding Stromlo and Kowen Forest, but I didn’t think it’d be worth extra effort and expense in fuel to cart it down all that way, considering that the lack of information I had received about bike tracks around the Snowy Mountains was due to a lack of trails. I mean, I knew there was a great DH track at Thredbo, but figured that there wasn’t much more beyond that.

A little reflective piece on the year gone past, thought I‘d put it up for anyone who's interested.

The last race in the Single Track Mind series at the great and exciting trails of Kinross near Orange, proved to be a great way to close out the race calendar for the SXC Racing Team for 2013.

Leaving a wet and cold Sydney, to sunshine and dusty trails of the Central West was an easy sell, and we had our Masters team primed to close out the series with another win, and our Mixed team going for bragging rights as they had already secured the series win from their consistency in the previous 4 races.

Hi all,

I'm thinking of a MTB week away soon and wondered whether Ourimbah, Awaba, Glenrock and Taree/Kiwarrak each get reliable Optus mobile reception?

Thanks in advance,

KT

The Highland Fling is the highlight race of the season, everyone who is a marathon racer is there and everybody wants to do well. I was no exception, and with the added incentive of having the SXC Team at the event in numbers we all wanted to perform well.

My fourth fling and another great wkend in the Southern Highlands!

Have loved reading all the other blogs on this - def my favourite race of the year (not that I have a terribly wide base!). Since my first fling in 09 I've knocked 50 mins off my time...just another 8 to go and I will retire happy)

Here's a brief overview of my weekend
- I think I've trained harder and smarter for this year's race than in previous years. I was more confident going in and had set myself an ambitious target of sub 3 hours

I first rode a mountain bike about 12 months ago and mistakenly took it along with a couple of other also middle aged newbie mates to Manly Dam. Sorry to anyone who was behind us that day. Thankfully we started at the golf course sniggle and I was hooked from the moment my knobbly tyres hit the first berm.

So that was 12 months ago and about 15 kilograms in weight loss ago. I've since tried to ride most weekends even now forcing my 7 and 10yo boys to join in.

After feeling crap due to a virus at last years Fling i was determined to beat my place and time of 11th in Masters and 5hrs 10mins.
I knew i had a sub 5 in me somewhere. I just had to dig deep and find it.
Although I'd consider myself the fittest I've ever been ( having done 34 races to date this year) I knew i didn't have the distance in my legs as most of my training and racing have been sub 2hrs. Which in turn has brought my top end through the roof but has done very little for my endurance.

In order to do to justice to my whole 2013 Highland Fling saga, I would have to explain a careful analysis of decision to enter the event at all due to firstly having exams at that same time and later realizing the poor prospects for the weather on the event day and deciding whether I should do it at all. Instead, I’ll simply confess that I will NOT do it justice and leave you to read only the best parts.

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