Attempted and finished the Back Yamma Bigfoot
today. This was my 2nd 50km race I have done to date. Time shown on Strava was 3:27:55 and my Endomondo screwed up.
The Official time was 3:33:29 and came in 38th in the Masters class. This race was my
second last race in this class. The next will be the Highland Fling which will be the last and the Husky 100k will have me move into
Super Masters.
So I travel up from Sydney for the rego from 1400, and found organisers a bit vaig. was issued my arrival pack and saw a competitor be issued a Jersey and asked if they were for sale or issued to peps that have paid. Apparently they were left for someone else from last year. OK! Anyway I guess I'll get $85 back in the bank then. Headed into town and arrived at Motel (Parkview), and settled in. A few riders had arrived there as I headed off into parkes to find a Pub meal. I ended up with YUMMMM.
Ok a little about the race, we'll it started of great, a good night's sleep, slow drive out to the track and parked next to a guy from Canberra (Glenn Columbine) who just happened to have a sweet setup, that i was talking to my misses about only 3 weeks earlier and a setup I really want later down the track. It was a VW caddy. Had a bit of a chat when he pulled his Giant XTC (2014) out. This completed my dream. Glenn rides for Onya Bike in Canberra and ended up finishing 2nd in 100k behind James Downing from Cannondale Racing who was parked on the other side of me at the beginning of the day.
As the the two guys were prepping I noticed about 15mins before they headed to the start line that James pulled the tyre off the back wheel as he was worried he picked up a bull burr, and after deflating and removing the tyre couldn't find it. So he changed the complete tyre, threw some sealant in and a shot of air and he was off. The next time I saw either of them was at the start of the 100 and first James as he zoomed past me and gave me a wave as he slipped into the gullies around the 30k mark of the which is in the second half of 50k, next to pass me was a little group of Glenn, Brett Bellchambers and an other rider. It was a blur and I was battling to get up the hill with my now stuffed Lateral, this was about the 41k mark of the 50k, being there @90k point. I was battling my own demons then.
Anyways back to the start we go, Ok the 100k left at 0745, 27k left at 0815 and we left at 0845. Lots of dust at the start and pace was furious until we hit the creek gullies, where I past at least 20 peps who wanted to walk. WTF. This track is predomantly a flat course with a few minor hills which really sucks the life from you as they just keep going at a low grade.
There's One big hill @ 22k which I walked, just to steep and long, even a few of the locals said they have never gotten to top yet in one go and they have been on this track quite a bit, but once at the top there's nothing but sweet downhill. Launched the bike twice like a crazy MoFo and got some really sweet air. Had a stop at half way tent and had a banana, a mandarin and a good drink, this was the start of my knee troubles and when I stood up, my blood pressure dropped through the floor and nearly feel over. Took a knee (the bung one) and then sat in the shade for a bit. Was at the half way mark for some 15mins and counted 11 riders who now had stopped and past me. Ok so had to catch that bunch, half way was behind me and the knee really started playing up (left lateral) and by the time I got to the finish line my leg was killing me to a point I could not stand on it properly.
The second half of the course was just a piss me off half with twisty low grade rises which never ended across open country and a slight head wind and reverse rutts, which are now my new hates other than sand. Once again my blood pressure dropped again, so at the end I couldn't stand on my bung leg and couldn't sit. So a beer, a steak sanga and a can of harden the fuck up fixed it all.
Oh well, at the end of it all, I finished and I might stick to 25km for the rest of the year but cannot guarantee that. Nah I think I have already rego'd in the Half Fling...Whoops to late.
Oh and a Happy Fathers Day !!
So I travel up from Sydney for the rego from 1400, and found organisers a bit vaig. was issued my arrival pack and saw a competitor be issued a Jersey and asked if they were for sale or issued to peps that have paid. Apparently they were left for someone else from last year. OK! Anyway I guess I'll get $85 back in the bank then. Headed into town and arrived at Motel (Parkview), and settled in. A few riders had arrived there as I headed off into parkes to find a Pub meal. I ended up with YUMMMM. Ok a little about the race, we'll it started of great, a good night's sleep, slow drive out to the track and parked next to a guy from Canberra (Glenn Columbine) who just happened to have a sweet setup, that i was talking to my misses about only 3 weeks earlier and a setup I really want later down the track. It was a VW caddy. Had a bit of a chat when he pulled his Giant XTC (2014) out. This completed my dream. Glenn rides for Onya Bike in Canberra and ended up finishing 2nd in 100k behind James Downing from Cannondale Racing who was parked on the other side of me at the beginning of the day.
As the the two guys were prepping I noticed about 15mins before they headed to the start line that James pulled the tyre off the back wheel as he was worried he picked up a bull burr, and after deflating and removing the tyre couldn't find it. So he changed the complete tyre, threw some sealant in and a shot of air and he was off. The next time I saw either of them was at the start of the 100 and first James as he zoomed past me and gave me a wave as he slipped into the gullies around the 30k mark of the which is in the second half of 50k, next to pass me was a little group of Glenn, Brett Bellchambers and an other rider. It was a blur and I was battling to get up the hill with my now stuffed Lateral, this was about the 41k mark of the 50k, being there @90k point. I was battling my own demons then.
Anyways back to the start we go, Ok the 100k left at 0745, 27k left at 0815 and we left at 0845. Lots of dust at the start and pace was furious until we hit the creek gullies, where I past at least 20 peps who wanted to walk. WTF. This track is predomantly a flat course with a few minor hills which really sucks the life from you as they just keep going at a low grade.
There's One big hill @ 22k which I walked, just to steep and long, even a few of the locals said they have never gotten to top yet in one go and they have been on this track quite a bit, but once at the top there's nothing but sweet downhill. Launched the bike twice like a crazy MoFo and got some really sweet air. Had a stop at half way tent and had a banana, a mandarin and a good drink, this was the start of my knee troubles and when I stood up, my blood pressure dropped through the floor and nearly feel over. Took a knee (the bung one) and then sat in the shade for a bit. Was at the half way mark for some 15mins and counted 11 riders who now had stopped and past me. Ok so had to catch that bunch, half way was behind me and the knee really started playing up (left lateral) and by the time I got to the finish line my leg was killing me to a point I could not stand on it properly.
The second half of the course was just a piss me off half with twisty low grade rises which never ended across open country and a slight head wind and reverse rutts, which are now my new hates other than sand. Once again my blood pressure dropped again, so at the end I couldn't stand on my bung leg and couldn't sit. So a beer, a steak sanga and a can of harden the fuck up fixed it all.
Oh well, at the end of it all, I finished and I might stick to 25km for the rest of the year but cannot guarantee that. Nah I think I have already rego'd in the Half Fling...Whoops to late.
Oh and a Happy Fathers Day !!
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