Soggy Bottom

Hello again everyone, looking outside the window here in CyclingSi towers I think we can safely say that winter has finally arrived with a huge wet slap in the face, not that I am complaining I just wish that is was a little dryer and colder right now.

Despite the wet weather we have enjoyed recently this past Sunday was absolutely lovely, the sun shone from dawn to dusk and despite a cool breeze at times it stayed warm and very pleasant, the great weather made the running, or rather the riding of the Soggy Bottom XC race here in Plymouth all the more enjoyable.
In the past the race has been a full 3-4 race series but this year it is a single race so I made sure that I had my entry in nice and early, I think i was the first hehe. In past years I have helped out at the event with marshaling and taking photo's for the riders, it was a great way of spending some time out in the fresh air and indulging my love of photography whilst at the same time supporting a much loved local race scene.
I awoke nice and early on Sunday, and took a nice leisurely start to my day, sadly a little too leisurely and I ended up running late and panicking, my own fault but it meant that I forgot to pick up my backpack containing my tools, supplies, helmet cam and Garmin unit, great start! So after a quick warm up I stood on the start line enjoying some banter with the others and despite the mad start I was feeling relaxed and in a good mood. Unfortunately everything went to hell on the first climb and having used too large a gear from the start my legs were not ready for the massive gravel track climb up towards the top of the course and I was forced off the bike to hike up.. okay fact, I don't like walking in my cycling shoes, my feet roll and it puts strain on my ankles, something that made the rest of the race hell.

I struggled through the rest of the first lap often stopping to release the tension in my legs that were steadily getting worse to come through in a 51 min lap....shocking for 3 miles, but things started to improve a little as I pointed the bike up the gravel climb once more and apart from the steepest bit about two thirds up the climb I rode the beast and up and over the top RAWR!
The rest of the lap went pretty well too and I spent much more time on the bike and less on my feet as my handling skills slowly came back to me and I finished my second lap in 45mins, again not great but I was happy, I elected not to head out and do my third lap, I think I could have done it well I could have done it but given my speed I would have finished around the same time the next race was coming through oh and I was out of water too.

Looking back at the race I can take much away from the day, firstly is to prepare for it better, to get all my gear ready the evening before as I used to do, I was also impressed with my mental strength....the old me would have climbed off after the first lap but today the idea of quitting was not there and as such I have already signed for my next race a 40km enduro at the same track on January 2, so time to get my ass in gear and work it!

I had intended on writing this blog a couple of days ago but I have been awaiting the arrival of a new tool to help my fitness, a Pedometer.

This one seemed pretty well recommended and had a good write up so I ordered myself one, I am a fan of anything I can do to help me get fitter, loose weight and keep me motivated through the months ahead, plus it is one more column I can fell in on my #gothedist record sheet!

Well that is all for now I am looking forward to getting back on my bike tomorrow seeing as my legs are finally back to normal, going to get some miles in.

Simon.