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A painful but enjoyable Fling


bmar560's picture

By bmar560 - Posted on 10 November 2014

Re: This ride meeting: 
2014 Highland Fling
Status: 
Finished
Laps: 
1
Time: 
06:47:21
Position (Overall): 
153
Race Category: 
Full/Male/Veterans
Position (Category): 
42

Phewww glad that race was over. After the Half Kowalski in September I was looking forward to riding the Fling. I decided to go the full, training involves riding up and down the Oaks for almost 5 weeks in a row, but that wasn't enough as the hills on the Fling are just nastier, longer and there's always another hill around the corner.

I drove down on Saturday arriving at Bundanoon by 7pm and the town was transformed into a MTB town! I wish my local suburb was like that, went to have a quick dinner and then went to the camping grounds. Sleeping in the back of my car wasn't as bad as I thought, the cool wind at night was nice and to wake up to the sound of bagpipes was a first for me.

Down to the race, Stage 1 was uneventful and it was over fairly quick, I watched the Elite steam train rode past at around the 20km mark. Quick water fill up at the first transition area and I was off riding Stage 2. The singletracks I was familiar with, so no issues there. The hills were another matter, rode up 2/3rd of "THE WALL" and walked the rest. Halfway hill was when my thighs began to cramp up, but I managed to ride that without getting off the bike, followed by the kicker. The race organizers sure know how to dish up some punishing climbs. At the 72km mark, I suffered a massive cramping after washing off my rear wheel in a climb, my legs were locked up and looking very deformed, had to stop for a good minute before I could get going again. Arriving at the transition area it was time to fill up the water bottle again. I must say I was glad I was on a 29er, those long firetrail sections would've been much harder on a 26", I wished the engine driving the Epic machine was stronger though.

Stage3 was 31K my expectation was to do that in less that 2 hours, but it was one tough stage, rollercoaster wasn't as fun as the rollercoaster at Stromlo, I had to walk most of those steep pinch climbs. The Magellan KOM section was fun and techy, that section would've been fun to ride in a fitter/fresher condition. At your call I went left and just managed to ride that up. Down to the final km and I could see the finish line and that's my first fling.

Surely this is the toughest ride for me ever, glad it's over. After the race I wasn't feeling so bad. Worst feeling is those sore points at my quads where they were cramping up, and still sore until now.

It was a well organised race and one that really tested your will power.

Tristania's picture

That was one big step up from the 1/2 Kowalski. 6:47 is not a bad time at all for that type of course. I clocked up 117km on my computer (generally more accurate than a GPS), and with more hills and a new singletrack segment, it tested everyone from beginner to world champion - Jason English commented to me how painful the climb was as he passed me on Halfway Hill, so be very satisfied for your achievement of finishing, particularly with your relative lack of experience to 100km racing. Hopefully you recover well and are ready to Punish yourself in a few months time (or before).

PS, I have now a massive bruise on my leg to remind me of the fun times yesterday Eye-wink

Brian's picture

Well done Mario. That's an awesome effort for your first Full Fling.

jp's picture

That was a tough course Mario - you have my full respect. Well done mate.

bmar560's picture

Thanks guys!

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