Enjoyed it a lot more this year

Given my memories of last year (severe cramps and taking a wrong turn / getting lost) I had a different plan this year which was to take it easy in the first 50kms and really try and enjoy the single track and the whole event. With the forecast being 30+ I spent the Saturday trying to drink a fair bit so that I would be well hyrdrated on the day.

Sunday came and I started off at a leisurely pace in group 3 letting heaps of riders overtake me ahead of the first singletrack. The first 15kms were going to be the hardest so I really tried to keep the legs and heart rate working at comfortable levels rather than at full race pace. I also found that the nobmob skills day at Ourimbah was paying off in the singletrack corners and I felt I could rail these tight corners at much higher speeds than last year. I pulled into the 50kms about 5 minutes behind my Garmin virtual partner (my ride from the prior year) which felt about right and the heart rate was averaging 90% of max (160bpm) so felt good. Filled up with fluids, grabbed a red bull and kept going - no cramps yet.

The second 50kms was pretty uneventful. A few cramps started to come on around the 70km mark but I found that if I pushed a bigger gear the cramps would disappear. My lower back also felt pretty good this year due to the pilates classes I have been doing. Passed heaps of riders on the long climbs but they would sometimes pass me in the singletrack as I was getting a bit tired and not quite as quick through the corners. Another water stop and some bananas and pulled into the finish at 6:23. This year there was no taking the wrong turn as they had taped it off with bright orange tape.

Overall pretty happy with the ride - 20 minutes faster than last year plus way more enjoyment despite the heat and dust. The course appears to have been a bit different this year and perhaps and few kms shorter so not a real comparison but a great day and a well run event. Fluid consumed - about 3.5 litres of GU20 & Red Bull. Food - 3 GUs, 1 banana and a 3 kids fruit bars.