Almost a year ago, I was on a road trip to Vegas for my second Moonride. It was my third 12 hour solo and I felt like I was getting the hang of them. So much so that I hadn't really thought specifically about any race plan. It was all super relaxed and a bit ad lib. I was gonna pitch up on the startline. When I got hungry I was gonna eat some rice pudding. After 12 hours I was gonna stop pedalling.
Moar rice pudding
With the race planning ticked off there was plenty of time to chat during the drive to Vegas. Interspersed with the sort of tunes that can only be acceptably played loud by two chicks on a road trip, was the topic of 24 hour solo racing. I was firmly set in my position on that one. The answer was no. Seriously, why would anyone want to do that to themselves? I've done team 24 hour events, surely that counts? After all, extending myself to 12 hours solo had only happened by accident for the first time in 2009 and was enough of a step up for a once upon a time XC jeygirl.
So, during my sifty training ride (and safe in the knowledge that I'm gonna eat my words along with mud and rice pudding this weekend) I had to chuckle about my shortlived adamance. Sometimes I'm not as stubborn as I think - dammit. But I guess the last year has been a lot about exploring new challenges. I spent all winter excited about the not so gentle pitter patter of rainfall on the morning of race day that was going to lead to the inevitable 'cross mudfest while I aimed to keep the A grade fellas honest. There was a lot of learning. And heaps of fun.
Yey! I went and rode around in some mud!
It seems kinda fitting that this next new personal exploration of where the edge of the envelope lies may provide a similar muddy environment if this weekend's weather forecast is anything to go by for my batispm into the world of 24 hour racing. Maybe all my best lessons are learned that way.
So, what changed my mind? Well, I'd always said I'd look at racing the Worlds when they were back in the Southern Hemisphere after moving to the other side of the world. This year South Africa plays host to the World MTB Champs and it turns out it costs the same to get there on your own from little old New Zealand as it does to get yourself and two mates to Canberra. I guess you could say I went for the value for money option. Plus, those are two of my best friends in the world. And, let's face it, if (as succinctly described by Mr Ricky Slackboy Pincott) you're going to "roach yourself for retarded amounts of time on a bicycle" you may as well let your best mates point and laugh at you as you do it while reminding you at regular intervals that "this was all your idea". I'm pretty sure this weekend is gonna be a perfect dry run.
Random awesome race pic... I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna look like this after 24 hours
Huge thanks to my awesome sponsors who have provided me with heaps of gear for the weekend ahead and all the great peeps who have let me borrow stuff as well as generally sending awesome vibes my way. Good luck to all the guys and gals out there with particular big ups to youngster Ryan Hunt who will no doubt be gunning for it and keen to see me a few hundred bucks lighter by the end after our little wager. If I can still type on Monday, I'll post a nice story.
PS I do hope I haven't given too much of my nutritional strategy away with the blog post title.
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