Highland Fling 2008

My weekend got off to a bad start. While I was putting up the tent a crazy black inch long ant bit me on the finger. Boy did that hurt. Thanks Pikey for the Stingose. It helped a bit!

Onto the race. I started way down the back of the pack as we got to the start pretty late. I started with Paul, Pikey, Gary and Jeff. Off we went slowly and weaved our way down the road. Gazza soon sped past and was never to be seen again. I hadn't done a whole lot of training in the lead up to the Fling (got lazy after completing the Mogo) so I was happy to cruise at an easy pace. There was the usual traffic jam as the pack entered the single track off the paddock but nothing too major. The guys I started off with were nowhere to be seen so I had to settle for a long lonely race. The first stage was pretty uneventful. Just went along slowly and finished in around 1hr 40min from memory (could well be wrong).

Saw Tien at transition and headed off down the road to the rail crossing soon after. Such bad timing. The gates close JUST as I rolled up to the line. Was a good wait too as it was a long coal train! After a minute or two we were off again. I found the 2nd stage very difficult. The Wall was a bit rude. Had a good walk up that. I walked a lot in the 2nd stage! I stopped for a good 10min at the water station at this stage. Feeling a bit down that this was only half way! Anyways eventually headed off onto Halfway Hill. Another walk for me We finally got back onto the gravel roads which was a welcome rest and I picked up the pace back to transition. Was a bit happier once I got back into transition. Finally I could get off the killer Selle SLR saddle. Popped a few neurofens for good measure as my bum was killing me!

Again I saw Tien at transition. He tells me he couldn't stomach much so I gave him 2 GUs for the last stage. I sat around for a bit longer before trundling off down into the 3rd stage. Boy was this stage a welcome relief for tired legs. It was mostly firetrail and the pace picked up a bit. When I entered the Yacht Club I knew the end was near and I was a happy camper. I still walked some hills but definitely less now. Seeing the 5km to go sign was heaven! I hit the dirt road, put it in the big ring and cranked it home. Gave the roid boys a wave as I passed the campsite and overtook 4 people on the last corner before entering the oval for the finish

I think the clock stopped at something around 7hr 30-40min. Official times should be out soon. Overall I was quite happy with the result. I hadn't trained too much for it so finishing was my only real goal. Next on the shopping list is a new saddle!

If anyone's interested I had mainly just liquid food the whole race:
7 scoops of Hammer Perpetuem
2-3 Hammer gels
and one banana that I picked up at the drinks stop.

Now to do the Dirtworks 100km and I'll retire from 100km races......maybe