2016 Convict 100

Last year was the first Convict I missed in its 11yr history due to injury so this year was my first attempt in the reverse direction – we did climb Jacks Track in the first year of the event but it was a different course then (harder!). I estimated this direction would be 20-25mins slower so my aim was sub 5:30.

The weather forecast was for 10-20mm rain so I added some weatherproofing to the bike and decided to carry more weight in the Camelbak rather than on the bike but when I arrived it was light rain and warm so I didn’t wear any of the wet gear I brought along.

In the start chute I was aiming to be in the group behind the elite’s as I find they start at a reasonable pace being more experienced (not too fast) but I missed getting into the group. When we started in the next group it was like a sprint to the first climb so I quickly found myself dropped and alone all the way to Jacks Track with a large group smashing it ahead and the group behind not making any ground on me. Doh!

The climb wasn’t too bad but except I had to push hard on the steep bits which sent my lower back into spasm and prevented me going hard for the rest of the race. I was able to control the pain but when I’d push it hit me again so I just raced at high cadence with minimal effort to manage the pain.

All the way along Woomerah I felt weak like I’d burned all my matches climbing Jacks and watched my average speed at just over 16km/h which messed with my head as my last race here I averaged 20km/h. I eventually descended to the road back to the canoe bridge. Alone again so just dug in and grinded away.

I was on a one-stop strategy so straight past the drink stop, across the canoe bridge then on to Shepherds Gully all alone. With my back playing up I just spun it up the hill and was passed by at least 10 riders. While I was hurting a text message came through on my Magellan from my 9yo son wishing me luck and telling me he’d scored 3 goals at soccer. That picked me up.

I had an ok ride along the Convict trail but found the techy bits really hurt my back and when I stopped at the half way drink station I was at 2hr48. Crap I thought, that means I’m looking at a 6hr race. What the heck is going wrong? This caused me to do something I knew was stupid – I normally remove my bladder from the Camelbak to ensure it fills properly but I just unscrewed the cap, filled it quickly then took off pleased I had only stopped for about 1min total and that would get me home.

Just after Clare’s Bridge at the 50km I was in a group of 4 but they dropped me on the climb about 1km later and I found myself totally alone for the next 35mins. Had I not known the course I would have been concerned I’d taken a wrong turn as there was no sign of other riders in front or behind.

The closer I got to the final drink stop the more gutted I felt as my average speed just wasn’t climbing and I knew I was having a crap race. I was slow over the baby head rocks and through the overgrown sections and didn’t feel like I was in a race being all alone. When I arrived at the drink station I stopped long enough to throw a small cup of Coke down my throat and took off as quickly as possible.

I climbed for the next couple of km and just before I reached the top I received a text from my 7yo daughter telling me she was thinking of me, which really picked me up. How coincidental that both kids sent a message just near the top of climbs? I then realized my wife was probably following me on my iPhone app and I had most likely been out of range and she was sending the messages as I popped up on screen.

When I finally reached the top of the climb I grabbed my Camelbak mouthpiece for a big swig and sucked air. Doh! 25km to go and I had run out. I started being shitty at myself for that rush at the halfway stop and obviously not filling it properly. So what do I do now? Fluids are a big issue for me when I ride as I am a major sweater so need to drink a lot more than most. I thought through the situation – once I hit the top of Blue Hill I have an easy 13km to the finish and the free beer so all I have to do is smash it out for 12 more km and then the adrenalin etc will help me through so I kept going.

I actually rode very strong for that 12km and yelled out with excitement when I hit the top of Blue Hill. I smashed it out to the finish riding past the 68km & 44km stragglers like they were standing still with my parched mouth driving to the finish. I was about 15 mins slower than expected but was still happy with the achievement, as it is a decent ride.

Great event. Can’t wait to punish myself all over again!