My day at the DW

The race started off pretty well decided to jump into the front section of the 2nd pack of 50km riders.

I managed to get in a train of 10 riders and we flew down the first 10km of dirt and gravel. Not having a speedo or any technical wizardry or anything like that I estimated it was 28km hr average as we reached the start of the first hill in just over 20mins which was 10km away. Until the first hill that dreaded first hill!

Everyone had said don't ride it. I struggled just to even walk up that hill with the whole lower legs in lots of pain. Jumped back on the bike just pedal it off. By that stage most of the second pack had started to pass me. Doh! Once the we hit the top section I started to pull back some riders until the chain snapped, spent about 5mins putting in a new power link back in. I was dreading that the rest of the nobbers who started in the third pack would overtake me. I jumped back on the bike and felt great the heart rate had dropped and then I really started to overtake some more riders.

Got to the water station and felt pretty good but had a twinge of the cramps coming.

Had to slow down for the rest of the top section and manage those cramps, bugger, bugger bugger! Hit the road and quickly wound up the speed but had to stop for a bio break and then cramped up big time. Managed to jump back on and finish.

Clocked a time of 2:38 which was kind a ok but if i didn't have any cramps, broken chain, stopped at the 1/2 way point. I reckon I could have taken another 15mins off that time. Next year I won't worry too much about carbo loading its going to be about salt and electrolytes! and fast training rides. Perhaps a faster bike as well.

Thanks to Christine who organised the church, sorry I couldn't hang round and see everyone finish.