... OK, Slight exaggeration to those non-cycling enthusiasts but anyone who enjoys getting around on two wheels will agree, today is one of the most important days on the calendar!
After a couple of rest days post TT, which saw the running of the National Criterium Champs , it was time to put the game face back on for the RR. My prep over the last couple of days consisted of plenty of motor pacing, down time at the coffee shop, massages, recovery and plenty of mental rehearsing for the race (if only I put this much effort into my school work!!! :p). I had driven over the course numerous times and knew it like the back of my hand... but unfortunately for me, knowledge of the course would be the least of my concerns!!
The Women’s race kicked off at lunch time and by then, it was already over 40C on the road. Perfect race conditions...if you’re a desert camel. I warmed up in an ice vest and had a biddon glued to me at all times in attempt to keep myself hydrated. My legs were feeling great during the warm-up and when my coach asked how I was feeling, I gave him a very confident “9-10/10” today was going to be a good day in the office, or so I thought. I rolled to the start line with my game plan and as always,excited to start racing!!!!
When the gun went off, the girls set off at a pretty solid pace up the first climb. Last year’s race was one of attrition but also about your position in the bunch so I forced myself into the top 10 on the climb. 1st time round and I was feeling good, happy with my bunch position and with the legs. 2nd time up the climb and the pace was on, but this time I was drifting back... and quickly at that. My body suddenly felt like a bag of lead and i was dagging on the back of the main group...not a good feeling when you have 8 laps remaining!! Made it to the top of the climb and forced myself back into the top 10 on the decent, hoping my legs were just getting warmed up. 3rd time up the climb and same story, except when i went to get out of the seat, i had a sharp pain in my lower back and left leg...what the???
(at the end of the race, i remembered that I changed my cleats the day before the race, thinking i was doing the right thing by ensuring my equipment was all up to scratch... but i hadn’t ridden them under load and realised that my left one was slightly out of whack. I had no float in my pedals and so after a few laps riding in the cleats; the poor position was having a negative effect on my already sensitive lower back.... rookie mistake!!!!!! Note to self, and to anyone for that matter: do NOT change your cleats just days leading into a big race, but ensure plenty of time so you can make necessary adjustments to avoid feeling like a complete idiot and sacrificing your chances of performing well).
So I was scrambling back onto the pack yet again playing survival, which was not my intention at all!! Leading into the race, I was hoping to be aggressive in the early stages of the race knowing my fitness wasn’t where it should have been so that I could help set up a good result for my ACT teammates. A few more laps went by and I got dropped but was determined to finish. The temperature had increased to what felt like a million degrees and I was getting biddons every lap but nothing seemed to be helping me. It literally felt as though you were melting! I took a mouthful of food and couldn’t stomach it because of the conditions (I learnt later that eventual race winner Ruth Corset was throwing up in the closing stages of the race!!!! What a legend!!). I was catching groups of riders who were also feeling the effects of the weather but realising that there was nothing major riding on their performance at Nationals, took the option to pull out. I had worked my butt off, like many other riders going into the race and I would have thought giving up would never be an option for me... and usually it isn’t. I was dagged solo off the back about 15min down on the peleton with 3 laps remaining... I dragged my butt up the highway climb to the feed and broke down. Saw my soigny and pulled the pin. If I had been still in contention in the race, sure I would have kept going, after all it is only pain, but i was near last and the pain in my back was increasing rapidly...There was more for me to lose from continuing than to gain.
So that was the end to a rather disappointing Nationals campaign. I went in with such high expectations and put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well that I guess my goals for the race became a bit unrealistic for my current level of form and fitness. I guess the bottom line is, i just didn’t have it on the day.
Although disappointed that i’d gone against my number 1 rule and that was to “never, never give up”, I was pleased that amongst all the emotions running through me, I was able to stay focused on the bigger picture and that is the importance of my health in the longevity of my cycling career. Race to finish over 15min down and risk losing all of the positive work my support team and I have done to ensure the full recovery of my back, or pull the pin and although to have to live with the consequences, be fit to fight another day.
My results at Nationals may have not been what i'd hoped and what i'd needed to get some offers for racing later in the year but I was still able to go away from the trip with a whole load of experience and new found knowledge!
Full results can be found at http://www.aorcc.com/images/Women's_RoadRace_Sat_9_%20Jan.pdf
I was fortunate enough to be able to pick the brains of some of the Nations most elite cyclists in Vicki Whitelaw and Tracy Gaudry and I'd like to thank them for sharing their experiences with me and putting up with all of my questions over the past week... It is much appreciated and the tools you have provided me can only help me to achieve my goals in the sport!! I believe that I still have a lot to learn about the sport and having people like Vicki and Tracy around to 'mentor' me is definitely invaluable.
So thanks for hanging in there with me and sorry I haven't got some more happy news to report, but hey, you have good days and you have bad ones... that's life, and it happens to the best of them!
Until next time,
xx
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
a bitter/sweet Nationals TT 2010
The ACTAS team headed down to Ballarat on Monday a few short days before we were due to start the TT so we could get settled in and familiarise ourselves with the course one last time before D day. I was lucky enough to be sharing an apartment with Vicki Whitelaw and her husband Dave, Alex Carle, Bec Doolan/Laura Meadley and our new soigny extraordinaire Sarah Page.
For the couple of days before the TT we had a good time just relaxing and gossiping (as you do!) but when Wednesday morning rolled around, the once relaxed atmosphere of the apartment suddenly felt icy and cold. Having 3 TT specialists in the same apartment meant that it was game on. Not being ‘renowned’ for my TT ability (lol) i was lucky not to have the same expectations which were placed on my roommates but regardless i was still a little anxious coming into the event, determined to prove to myself that i could in fact do a 28km TT and show those who doubted my ability wrong. Leading up to the TT, people questioned my decision to race the TT and the question ‘are you serious??’ and laughing were generally accompanied with it...Great confidence booster!! :s
Alex and I rolled over to the course together around lunchtime to begin our warm up. I was starting a mere 1min in front of Alex which only meant one thing...I was bait!!! Haha. I completed my warm up in what i thought was more than enough time to get to the start line however i rolled to bike check to realise that Sally Robbins, who was starting 1min ahead of me, was already on the start line! Oh well, i got there in time so i guess that’s all that matters but note to self: it pays to be organised.
I rolled off the start line pumped on adrenalin (maybe from my near start miss???) and smashed it up the climb up the highway. My coach said that previous results showed that the person with the fastest time up the hill generally pulled up well overall as there weren’t many other places on course where you could make up time. I caught my 1min marker near the top of the climb and began the ‘flatter’ section of the course trying my hardest not to throw up my breakfast. Yep, think i may have been a bit too ambitious up the climb but oh well, i just had to limit my losses on the downhill! Just over half way into the course i was thinking i was on a good one and was happy with how i was riding when i heard the all too familiar sound of the disc wheel coming up behind. Just at the moment when Alex came past me i heard the sound of a punctured tyre. For a split second i thought it was Alex but then quickly realised it was my front wheel. Dammit. Unfortunately, it is a battle between you and the clock, so sadly this basically meant game over for me. We had some troubles with the wheel change but once that was done, I tried my best to relax and get straight back into the swing of things. I was impressed with how quickly I managed to regain my focus as I was determined to finish what i’d started in as best of a position I could.
In the end, I finished 27th and 8th in the U/23 classification. Disappointing result on paper, however I was thrilled with my performance pre and post puncture and both amazed and proud of myself for actually completing a 28km TT!!
The ACT crew got some great results also with Vicki Whitelaw placing 4th and Alex Carle 3rd in the u/23 category as a first year senior...Awesome ride girls!!!!
Full results can be found at http://www.aorcc.com/images/Day1_Womens_Time_Trial.pdf
My hardcore TTing self:
For the couple of days before the TT we had a good time just relaxing and gossiping (as you do!) but when Wednesday morning rolled around, the once relaxed atmosphere of the apartment suddenly felt icy and cold. Having 3 TT specialists in the same apartment meant that it was game on. Not being ‘renowned’ for my TT ability (lol) i was lucky not to have the same expectations which were placed on my roommates but regardless i was still a little anxious coming into the event, determined to prove to myself that i could in fact do a 28km TT and show those who doubted my ability wrong. Leading up to the TT, people questioned my decision to race the TT and the question ‘are you serious??’ and laughing were generally accompanied with it...Great confidence booster!! :s
Alex and I rolled over to the course together around lunchtime to begin our warm up. I was starting a mere 1min in front of Alex which only meant one thing...I was bait!!! Haha. I completed my warm up in what i thought was more than enough time to get to the start line however i rolled to bike check to realise that Sally Robbins, who was starting 1min ahead of me, was already on the start line! Oh well, i got there in time so i guess that’s all that matters but note to self: it pays to be organised.
I rolled off the start line pumped on adrenalin (maybe from my near start miss???) and smashed it up the climb up the highway. My coach said that previous results showed that the person with the fastest time up the hill generally pulled up well overall as there weren’t many other places on course where you could make up time. I caught my 1min marker near the top of the climb and began the ‘flatter’ section of the course trying my hardest not to throw up my breakfast. Yep, think i may have been a bit too ambitious up the climb but oh well, i just had to limit my losses on the downhill! Just over half way into the course i was thinking i was on a good one and was happy with how i was riding when i heard the all too familiar sound of the disc wheel coming up behind. Just at the moment when Alex came past me i heard the sound of a punctured tyre. For a split second i thought it was Alex but then quickly realised it was my front wheel. Dammit. Unfortunately, it is a battle between you and the clock, so sadly this basically meant game over for me. We had some troubles with the wheel change but once that was done, I tried my best to relax and get straight back into the swing of things. I was impressed with how quickly I managed to regain my focus as I was determined to finish what i’d started in as best of a position I could.
In the end, I finished 27th and 8th in the U/23 classification. Disappointing result on paper, however I was thrilled with my performance pre and post puncture and both amazed and proud of myself for actually completing a 28km TT!!
The ACT crew got some great results also with Vicki Whitelaw placing 4th and Alex Carle 3rd in the u/23 category as a first year senior...Awesome ride girls!!!!
Full results can be found at http://www.aorcc.com/images/Day1_Womens_Time_Trial.pdf
My hardcore TTing self:
Friday, January 1, 2010
So i know, its been a while since i’ve updated my blog but as part of my New Year’s resolution i’ve decided to dust of the virtual cobwebs and start to re tell my story, and what perfect time to start with Nationals due to commence next week!!!
But first i think it’s only fair that i take a short trip down memory lane in attempt to justify my lack of blogging and explain what may have happened for people to start to raise eyebrows at my fitness and ask ‘what happened to you? You’re slow.’
So i left this blog rather rudely half way through a very successful tour for the Aussie National team, i’m not going to even pretend that I remember the finer details of the stages however Tiff Cromwell went on to a well deserved stage win after being in a break for the last part of the race and Ruth managed to come away with a very respectable 2nd on GC For those who are at all interested in finding the rest of the results for the tour and reading probably a more detailed race report than my own, there was quite good commentary streaming via the web on http://radiomeilleursjours.musicblog.fr/r44705/Tour-Cycliste-Feminin-Limousin/
Limousin was my last race in Europe with the Aussie team so after another epic car trip home, i was left with just under a week to tick a few more things off the ‘to do’ list before heading home to Aus. I took a few last rides through the hills, ventured to beautiful lake Como and ate my weight in gelato before saying goodbye to the team and commencing my journey home (after a quick detour past London to visit Dad who had moved there just after the Giro).
My time with the Aussie team could only probably be described with one word: unbelievable. I’m wouldn’t be lying if i said that whilst i was over there, i was living the dream. The only responsibilities i had were to ride my bike and look after myself to ensure i was able to do my best come race day. Boy now i think of it, i have definitely forgotten how relaxing it was not to have to think about money, work, house, pets etc...oh well guess that’s just reality! Of course this wouldn’t have been possible without a fantastic support team. I’d like to thank Beth Duryea, Dave McPartland and Laura Garvican for all of their invaluable help and advice which enabled me, i believe, to come away from the trip as a better, wiser and more rounded athlete.
When i got home, my instructions were simple ‘do not get back on the bike until your back has fully recovered’. I was having around 3 physio appointments a week, massages and doctor’s appointments to try and get myself sorted but it seemed as though one problem was ‘fixed’ another one was waiting around the corner to show its ugly head. If it wasn’t my back, it was my neck or a random 8mm tear in my hamstring tendon??????? I was taking advantage of my forced break off the bike to get a job and try and earn some much needed dollars! I ended up scoring a job at the Uni pub/nightclub in Canberra which probably could have been what helped get me through the recovery. The team of people i work with are amazing and i love working in the nightclub!! I know, not ideal for recovery as i would start at 7/9pm on Sat night and if i do close then wouldn’t leave until about 4am on Sunday morning but you got to live a little!!! I have to admit it has been a bit of a juggling act trying to find the balance between working (so i can earn money = buy food = live) and training and sure i’ll admit it, i failed on numerous occasions leading to more time off the bike due to illness/overworking and ultimately putting me well behind the 8 ball in terms of training which i found out rather harshly on the AIS camp which was being run in Canberra. I was getting smashed everyday by these girls, and it wasn’t fun.
These may have probably been some of the most emotionally challenging months i’ve experienced in my sport to date but i’m now confident that my injuries are well behind me and i can continue to move forward. I've got a fantastic network of support looking after me at ACTAS and feel as though i am on my way to achieving my goals and ambitions in the sport.
Things have also changed rather drastically at home as well. My sister finally moved back home and it's been great having her around, i didn't realise quite how much i missed her!!! She is my best friend and only wish the best for her in this New Year! My Dad moved over to London for work during my stint with the Aussie team and in early December Mum moved over to join him. I'm so happy for them both, I know it has been hard for them spending so much time away from each other but i'm glad they are able to finally get on with life with each other again. So it's just Bron and I at home for the next 18months or so... which has definitely proved interesting...Let's just say its a bit of a learning curve ;)
Bron and I :D
So that's whats been happening with me over the past few months or so. Next week I leave for Nationals where I will compete in the TT (yeah, i'm shocked myself) and the Road Race. I am happy with my current form considering where i've come from and i hope that it will be enough to get me the results i am after!!!!
Until then, hope you have a wonderful start to the New Year
Cheers,
Miffy
But first i think it’s only fair that i take a short trip down memory lane in attempt to justify my lack of blogging and explain what may have happened for people to start to raise eyebrows at my fitness and ask ‘what happened to you? You’re slow.’
So i left this blog rather rudely half way through a very successful tour for the Aussie National team, i’m not going to even pretend that I remember the finer details of the stages however Tiff Cromwell went on to a well deserved stage win after being in a break for the last part of the race and Ruth managed to come away with a very respectable 2nd on GC For those who are at all interested in finding the rest of the results for the tour and reading probably a more detailed race report than my own, there was quite good commentary streaming via the web on http://radiomeilleursjours.musicblog.fr/r44705/Tour-Cycliste-Feminin-Limousin/
Limousin was my last race in Europe with the Aussie team so after another epic car trip home, i was left with just under a week to tick a few more things off the ‘to do’ list before heading home to Aus. I took a few last rides through the hills, ventured to beautiful lake Como and ate my weight in gelato before saying goodbye to the team and commencing my journey home (after a quick detour past London to visit Dad who had moved there just after the Giro).
My time with the Aussie team could only probably be described with one word: unbelievable. I’m wouldn’t be lying if i said that whilst i was over there, i was living the dream. The only responsibilities i had were to ride my bike and look after myself to ensure i was able to do my best come race day. Boy now i think of it, i have definitely forgotten how relaxing it was not to have to think about money, work, house, pets etc...oh well guess that’s just reality! Of course this wouldn’t have been possible without a fantastic support team. I’d like to thank Beth Duryea, Dave McPartland and Laura Garvican for all of their invaluable help and advice which enabled me, i believe, to come away from the trip as a better, wiser and more rounded athlete.
When i got home, my instructions were simple ‘do not get back on the bike until your back has fully recovered’. I was having around 3 physio appointments a week, massages and doctor’s appointments to try and get myself sorted but it seemed as though one problem was ‘fixed’ another one was waiting around the corner to show its ugly head. If it wasn’t my back, it was my neck or a random 8mm tear in my hamstring tendon??????? I was taking advantage of my forced break off the bike to get a job and try and earn some much needed dollars! I ended up scoring a job at the Uni pub/nightclub in Canberra which probably could have been what helped get me through the recovery. The team of people i work with are amazing and i love working in the nightclub!! I know, not ideal for recovery as i would start at 7/9pm on Sat night and if i do close then wouldn’t leave until about 4am on Sunday morning but you got to live a little!!! I have to admit it has been a bit of a juggling act trying to find the balance between working (so i can earn money = buy food = live) and training and sure i’ll admit it, i failed on numerous occasions leading to more time off the bike due to illness/overworking and ultimately putting me well behind the 8 ball in terms of training which i found out rather harshly on the AIS camp which was being run in Canberra. I was getting smashed everyday by these girls, and it wasn’t fun.
These may have probably been some of the most emotionally challenging months i’ve experienced in my sport to date but i’m now confident that my injuries are well behind me and i can continue to move forward. I've got a fantastic network of support looking after me at ACTAS and feel as though i am on my way to achieving my goals and ambitions in the sport.
Things have also changed rather drastically at home as well. My sister finally moved back home and it's been great having her around, i didn't realise quite how much i missed her!!! She is my best friend and only wish the best for her in this New Year! My Dad moved over to London for work during my stint with the Aussie team and in early December Mum moved over to join him. I'm so happy for them both, I know it has been hard for them spending so much time away from each other but i'm glad they are able to finally get on with life with each other again. So it's just Bron and I at home for the next 18months or so... which has definitely proved interesting...Let's just say its a bit of a learning curve ;)
So that's whats been happening with me over the past few months or so. Next week I leave for Nationals where I will compete in the TT (yeah, i'm shocked myself) and the Road Race. I am happy with my current form considering where i've come from and i hope that it will be enough to get me the results i am after!!!!
Until then, hope you have a wonderful start to the New Year
Cheers,
Miffy
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