2009 Highland Fling
My goal was to beat 8 hours and I did that easily.
The time includes 16+ minutes of penalties which I'm not too happy about - I didn't think I hung around at those transitions for that long. Not to worry though as my Cateye said I completed the race 8 minutes longer than the official time.
I had a really good weekend. My mate and I did the Dash on the Saturday, but took it very easy so we didn't risk anything for the Sunday. Sunday morning we chatted to a few people. Was a good vibe on the start line, although it bewilders me why we all started at once and not in timed groups - that would have helped the bottlenecks on the first bits of single track. And I still can't work out why the Elite riders start 1/2 an hour later than everyone else. That just made for all these stops and uneasy situations when they all had to make their way through the field.
Compared to the Angry Doctor this race was a dream. I can't believe it but I didn't cramp once. I didn't feel sick in the stomach and I just had a really good day. My only concern towards the end was a fair bit of pain on the outside of my right knee. That slowed me down a bit.
It looks like I'm moving forward with my nutrition, so I'm really pleased with that.
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Sounds like a good day out.. Save the knee pain.
Interesting you mention the outside knee pain. I used to have tracking problem and associated behind the kneecap pain. That is now fixed but have developed what might be a similar niggling problem to yours that's been in my right knee for a few weeks now. When it comes on there is a terrible sharp pain on the outside of the knee, at a level that seems just below the cap. Trying to pedal standing when this is there is just not an option. Doing ITB stretches helps and gives almost immediate relief but this has been hanging around for a bit too long for my liking. I want it gone 'cos resting up for a few days after each ride is becoming annoying
I'm going to be really concentrating on stretching daily and do some strengthening exercises on the surrounding muscles to try and sort this.
Found these two links on ITB pain, does this sound like your issue?
http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/kn...
http://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/index.php/physio...
Thanks Rob, I’ll check those links out. My pain only became an issue in the last stage where at some hills I had to walk up where I would’ve ridden them otherwise. The pain is pretty much in the same place as you describe, but then yesterday the pain was in the middle, under my knee cap. Sounds like we're sharing the same pain.
I don’t get this usually – only on the long rides. Previously the pain was at the front of my knees, but since raising my saddle height it’s gone from there. My bike frame is a medium and I should be on a large so I’m not sure if that’s related or not.
EDIT: Just read in the 2nd link that a saddle height that is too high could cause ITB. I might drop it a bit and see how I go. Too low and I get pain in the front of my knee, too high and i get this. Hopefully I can find a pain free medium.