Fling 2011

After a year of constant chest infections I've finally had 2 months of good health so came to this event feeling positive despite the extra 5 or so kg I'm carrying (thanks for noticing my gut on the start line ps, I'll have to go to Jenny Craig now!). My goal this year was sub 6hr - I did 6:28 last year.

I had a good start but as usual watched about 1,000 riders go past me in the first half hour. I felt good and came into the first transition in 1:12 which was 5min better than last year. I rode straight through and met Liz at the car in our usual spot the other side of the train line. I swapped bottles for Camelback then set out for the 55km second loop. I was having a great time. No hold ups anywhere this year and the single track all seemed faster than previously. I was also using bar ends for the first time which I think look gay but really helped. I found I wasn't getting my usual neck pain as I could vary my hand position and my usual back pain was non existant.

The elite guys caught me just on the climb to the halfway water stop. There were 6 of them followed a couple of minutes back by Matt Flemming who looked spent. Towards the end of the stage on the last climb Jenny Fay and another female caught me half way up the hill. I sang out to her to give it some and she did...that was her defining move as she smashed her competitor up the climb.

Coming back to transition I was stoked that everything was going to plan. I finished the stage in about 2:53 which was 20 min better than last year so my sub 6hr was looking easy. It all turned to crap when I arrived at where my car should have been!!! I saw Gordo wandering back from being bottle bitch for his Rockstar team mates so asked if he'd seen Liz. No joy. He said the front group of 6 had become 4 and they had dropped Dylan. By now a few minutes had passedand I wasn't thinking clearly. I had no gels and was supposed to have swapped my empty Camelback for a couple of bottles of electrolyte. Suddenly I realised in my panic that there is actually a water stop at the oval so I can keep going so I did. All up I wasted 9min.

By now though I was starting to worry about Liz, worry about the fact I had no carbs to get me through the last stage, no electrolyte, it's getting hot .... It's amazing the effect your mind has. I was feeling so strong at the end of stage 2 and knew I'd smash the 6hr mark then a little later in stage 3 I lost the mental strength to climb hills, had an over the bars on a fast downhill but with a soft landing and then when I got to one creek decided wtf I may as well have a swim so left the bike and went for a quick dip. I had really given up.

Finally I got to "your choice" and realised I was almost home so smashed it from there realising I still had last year's time to beat which would be close. I crossed the line in 6:25, about 3min better than last year but most importantly as I approached the line all I could see was Liz and our 2yo daughter waving madly. All's good, I'll do the sub 6hr thing next year...

Shaun Lewis filled me in on the events at the front of the field. The leading 4 had stuffed their transition timing allowing Dylan Cooper back in touch and he made them pay for their mistake...

Overall I'd say this course is now the best course of any enduro and has the slickest organisation. Well done Wild Horizons!