first timer.

08:10:00 for first timer, really just glad that I made it

Pretty sure that I said G'day to a couple of the nobmob folk at the top of the first hill? I still cant actually believe that anyone could ride that hill!

I had no idea this would be so tough, having only been riding for about 6 months.. I was pretty sure at the 30K mark that I would be a DNF, legs just were just not strong enough as I had already started to try to walk out the sore legs on the bigger climbs from about the first water stop!

Made it to the 1/2 way ( I was just so happy to be 1/2 way through ) had a longish stop there, a banana, hand full of jelly beans, a gel and a power bar.

Then I had a fair bit of trouble getting started from here ( the 4K climb up from ten mile hollow ) but made it to the top by ignoring the pain in the legs and then the next 20K's to the canoe bridge was actually enjoyable.

I ran out of water just after the canoe bridge and things went downhill from here, silly me only used about a 2L to the 50K and then stupidly thought that I had enough left in the camel ( i clearly did not ), by the time I got water at the 75K stop I think I was too dehydrated to be recoverable and anything that resembled a hill was a real struggle, cramps and no strength, so much so that even walking was hard and I remember thinking at the 80K mark that there was only 20K's to go ( thats just a short training ride away from the finish right? ) made it the road and was overtaken by a whole bunch of riders on the last gravel road section.

Inhaled a heap of dust in the last few K's caused by the car traffic on the gravel road and the very last hill, well its not really a hill but I just did not have the energy to ride it, it took about 2 or three stops and then the last k or so to the finish line is a blur.. all but passed out on the finish line, assisted by the medical team ( diagnosis dehydration ).

After about 10 min ( a beer, a lot of water and a gatorade ) I was human again and very happy to have made it

Two points that I will take from this:

1> Next year I will clip in.. I rode this one flat peddle !
2> Hydration.. apparently its important.