Fling Minus Some

Two weeks after The Mont and back we go to another field full of tents for some more race fun. Here's how the 2007 Fling went for Rob...

Aside from not getting a decent nights sleep (due to roasting hot sleeping bag inside chilly tent - too hard to get the temperature 'just so') everything ran smoothly on Saturday and Sunday morning. Seemed to be timing things just right, from arriving, setting up and giving the bike a once over to rolling up at the start with 10 mins to go.

The Mont chainring bite from couple weeks earlier had become infected (annoying as I asked the medics to put Betadine on it and they said it wasn't required) so I'd been on antibiotics and a strict, 'keep it clean' regime since then. This meant coming to the Fling without riding for two weeks. Not the best prep. but not to worry as there were various bail out options - one of which I was pretty sure would be taken.

Given this relaxed attitude and an almost guaranteed 'DNF' I was more than happy to chat with Andy (there for support) at the back of the grid with his mate, Ev and Greg. In fact, we hardly noticed the start and eventually sauntered over the line and away.

Had fun on the way, in and around Penrose. Some great views in the early morning light and easy riding. Well, what would have been easy riding - the wet ground was a little tacky and probably made things harder than they felt. Thankfully the weather was warm though so wading through knee and then waist high (and I'm 6' tall) creeks wasn't an issue. Couple of sections of deep mud, but nothing to be too annoyed about. And although much of the first year's sniggle was gone from Penrose, had some fun in what was left, especially when the Elite riders came by - managing to get on their train and fly round for a few minutes until not making it past another slower rider. Think he was a bit puzzled when he pulled over a couple of corners later and I leisurely trundled by, no hope of catching the train of course.

Transition came along soon enough and was feeling fine - no bailing here and no skipping stage two will be required. Into Wingello we head and it's all easy still. Hit some top sniggle that's all new to me. Loving it. The plan for this race was energy conservation so was trying to keep the HR in 130-140s on the fire trails - this was going well and although more energy was burnt in the sniggle didn't feel that much of a strain.

Sadly though, even before leaving these great single track sections I began to feel nauseous. Had been drinking heaps of water and a bit of Gatorade/Endura mix. Probably had three gels by then. Stopped and ate some of my peanut butter/honey/banana sandwich and felt a bit better. Nibbled on the remains of a Powerbar started earlier too.

Got to the 55Km water station and felt pretty rough. Well over four hours gone now and took a big break here. Refilled the hydration pack, plenty gone from there, hydration is not a problem (as many visits to the forest had proven). Ate some more sandwich but felt decidedly sick.

To be frank, I don't like feeling ill in races - it's not fun. At this point I knew exactly where we were and figured I could bin the course and ride back to Wingello in 30-45 minutes. Considered this for a while but thought that was a bit soft as the rest of this stage wasn't so hard so would at least do that. There were free bananas on offer at this stop and wanted to eat one or two, but just couldn't face it. Brain thought, "No food == no energy == slow ride to transition and an early end for me".

Ev was looking a bit tired at this point, but Greg was motoring - we let him go and bumped into Don and Keith so rode with them. Downhill and uphill - in fact I climbed 'halfway hill' and the following pinches without any real problem - the other guys were pushing some of this. The legs are fine but stomach is not, stopping is silly, the nausea just comes on stronger but entering 'The Wild West' section even the legs hit 'empty'. I'd been slightly ahead of the other three at this point but from then on I have to thank them for dragging me in - I was in a pretty sorry state and brought up the rear. We stopped at one particular corner for a few minutes where I lay in the shade and felt like death.

If this is all sounding a bit familiar, don't worry - it wasn't quiet feeling quiet the same. No dizziness and just a different kind of agony

Not much more to add then, we got back to transition (80.7Km by my reckoning) where I jumped straight on the Sag Wagon back to race HQ. This was after 7h24m elapsed but only 6 hours exactly moving time. I don't suppose that's too bad an effort but not what I wanted. Ate the free feed back at the event centre and began to feel better. Waited for what seemed like an age for the three guys who left me to roll in, and when they did thought I'd made the right choice. Good on you (and everyone else) for finishing, but not for me this time!

I can't help think that there's something very wrong with my stomach. I know one can't survive an all day ride on gels alone, but eating four of 'em and riding 40Km should not make one feel that ill, subsequently screwing up the feed plan. Or maybe I'm just wrong - I'd be more than happy to hear what anyone could suggest as a better fuel strategy.

FWIW, after the comments from Dirtworks ate smaller (2 x museli bar + banana) breakie after decent sized (but not enormous) pasta the night before. During the first stage ate 2 gels, drank 2l water + standard bottle with 1 scoop Endura, 2 scoop Gatorade mix. Second stage ate a Powerbar, 2 more gels, peanut butter/honey/banana sandwich (wholemeal bread) - all before 55Km and drank another 5-ish litres water, plus half bottle of mix before topping that up with water (no more powder) and finishing it.

And profile as it turned out:

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4404289