Training Log Archive: simmo

Event: MTBO - Banyowla
 

Banyowla event. Didn't see the wide bitumen route to no. 1, so set off tentatively through very soft pea-gravel. Haven't been off-road for several months, and then it was only a short control-collecting ride, so felt very insecure on anything soft. Unfortunately there was lots of soft! Missed a turn on the way to 1, bad route choice to 2, wasn't sure I'd really found the overgrown track to 5 so went on 100m before coming back. OK from then, until I hit the bitumen on the way to 10 then realised that the road back through the Start was out of bounds, so had to head back into the pea gravel.

Wasn't surprised at the number of dnfs, especially on the Medium, so really glad I did the Short course. Lost by 30 secs to Mike S, but he went through the OOB, but got totally thrashed by Sten on two feet instead of wheels. My time might have been a bit quicker without the bike too, as I was pushing it instead of riding it far more often than I would have liked.

Maybe the end of my MTBO career, certainly won't be going to any more events where there's pea gravel.

Short - Splits

Kings Park sand tracks. Started slowly but got into a good rhythm after a few hundred metres. Managed to maintain the rhythm (but not quite the 5:20-25 pace) going uphill on the deep sand of the central firebreak - 7-8 mins of pure running hell.

Just before I started a large flock of 100+ black cockatoos flew over Hale oval heading East.

Around the river, detour due to freeway path closure adds a few hundred metres and several minutes. The Daily crowded as usual.

Hyde Park laps.

Nedlands, Claremont, Curtin Ave as far as the Marine Pde roundabout then up the coast, Swanbourne and back along the railway.

Kings Park short loop.