The Milestone Ride

“When you reach that milestone do it on a special ride, not on a commute.”

With those words from Stu Downs echoing in the vast space between my ears I set about determining which ride it would be that I would surpass the milestone on. If I did some training, I could make it to Feilding and do it on the Manfeild ride, and so the target was set. It was time for a ride to remember.

It’s now been 4 years since I discovered this thing called cycling. I’ve been all over the place with it. As far North as completing the TelstraClear Challenge including riding over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and as far south, sadly only as far south as Wellington’s south coast. In between I’ve done the lake Taupo Cycle challenge 3 times, The Taranaki Challenge twice, Ridden most of the Desert road, climbed up the side of Ruapehu (from Ohakune to the Turoa Skifield), won a few races and generally had some pretty great times.

During all this there was one mental step I needed to get past, and that was the ability to ride faster. I wanted to be able to stick it with the faster riders for a while, and had a desire to ride 100km in under 3 hours. This weekend, this ride would be my chance.

Each year Bike Manawatu put on a 6 hour endurance challenge on the Manfeild raceway. My great friend Tim lives right next door to the circuit, so it was going to be pretty hard to turn down the invite to ride it. I was however feeling pretty precious after last year (I didn’t ride it last year) where they had strong winds and driving rain to contend with so much that they cut the race short by an hour. This year however the weather was looking great, and so I booked myself in.

I set myself the following goals for this ride:

1)      Ride with the lead bunch as long as I was able (sensibly though).

2)      Break my Personal Best for 100km (3 hours 12).

3)      Break the 3 hour mark for 100km.

4)      Break the 5 hour mark for 150km (I allowed myself to slow down).

5)      Surpass the milestone I have cunningly not told you about yet.

So the goals were set, the car loaded and Charles and I set off for Feilding, where we mere met with a fine restaurant quality meal, followed by a little guitar playing and a good night’s sleep. It was great to stay at Tim’s place and not have to get up till after it was daylight!!

Anyway we were off to the track, Tim, Charles and I. Oh, I should mention here that this is the same Tim who 4 weeks beforehand had hip replacement surgery! Two right hand turns later we are at the track. A quick warm up lap told me all I needed to know…it was cold.

And so we were off. I’d estimate about a hundred riders mostly hunched behind this 4wd that was to do the first lap at 25kph. Slow. Too slow. But it would pull off after the lap was done. Out of the pits, and around a long sweeping left hand corner, down the back straight to another long left corner, up the middle straight to a right hander, left, right, a couple more lefts and we were on the back straight. Now I know what you’re thinking, but hang on to your steak and cheese mate, this is where things get interesting.

The pace car left the track and immediately there was a surge from 25 to 45kph and the tight pack that had maintained 25kph blew apart. Fortunately in line with my goal I was well up the front and got myself into a prime position in the lead bunch and just worked my ass off. Turning the pedals as hard and as fast as I could to keep with the bunch, yet without getting into the red zone. There were attacks coming fast and frenzied across the track and back with the youngsters at the front wildly diving from side to side trying to make a point. It was obvious that something was going to happen to settle this down, and on lap 4 (I think) it did. The sound of crashing carbon and a half dozen riders disappeared from the peloton. Thankfully I was on the other side of the bunch and rode on. There was enough people to help, so after looking back once more I jumped back on with the pace and kept my position. I never did hear if anyone was injured too badly, however a lap later the ambulance nearly passed us, and I never saw any more of that incident.

The pace had settled to about 43-44kph and the size of the bunch depleted with a second bunch now forming behind. I considered dropping back here, but thought no, I want to push on with the fastest bunch for as long as possible. I worked through as I could and taking the inside line on one of the corners led me to a point where I was at the front. Yup!!! I was the race leader. I was about to put my hands up in celebration and get me a yellow jersey, when another attack was launched and 1^st became 10^th in about 2 seconds….But I held on. The pace went on again and this time it would start to hurt. As it so turns out this next lap was to be my fastest of the race at an average pace of just over 46kph, but that was it. A look at my computer was showing me nearing the red zone. I knew it would be folly to attempt to keep this up for much longer, and so I made the decision after 45 minutes to slide off the back and ease up a little.

It didn’t take long for the next bunch to come past and I jumped in and stuck with them. The odd thing was we were now about 400m off the lead bunch and closing fast, yet riding slower. The lead bunch had actually slowed.

The net result was us getting to about 200m from the front bunch before some guys launched off the front dragging us right up to the bunch. It was here that my legs were telling me this was silly, and I needed to ease back. I would not be able to handle the surges and so I slowed.

Sometime – presumably after 1 hour- the 1 hour mark passed and I had done over 40km so I was well on towards my goal of 100km in 3 hours.

About now I’ll skip lots of laps and lots of time because nothing interesting happened. It was just lap after lap, eating & drinking and watching the clock tick by, keeping the pace up and calculating if I would make the 100km in 3 hours. It became obvious that the 3:12 was going to be beaten, but the 3 hours was in doubt. Given that most of the 2^nd and 3^rd hours I was riding solo just catching on to groups where I could it was not so easy.

Well, I did it. 100km in 2:55!!! Yes. That was one of the big goals done. Now it was time to change bottles over.

I’d left my extra drinks on the pit wall in the sun. Something really odd happened. My drink mix bottle which should be filled with orange coloured stuff had gone clear. Going past at 35kph it was hard to tell. I thought the bottle must have a leak, but as I came back around and grabbed it, it was full! The mix was the same, the taste was the same, just the sun had bleached out the colour!

I caught up to Tim and then rode with him for a few more laps through to the 110km mark, and so knowing I had achieved what I set out to do speed wise, I opted to head in at the same time as him for a break.

While I was stopped I remarked that I was just going to carry on now and see what would happen, but that I’d given up on the 150km within 5 hours, all I wanted to do was to reach the 140.1km mark.

I set back out feeling a lot better and just casually circled ticking off the laps waiting for the 140.1 mark to pass ! YES!!! Milestone reached!!! I celebrated my success for a moment and continued on pedalling.

At about the 4.5 hour mark it became obvious to me that the 150k in 5 hours was going to be done easily and at the 4:45 point it was. I had nothing left to achieve. I could stop now and I’d be happy.

A couple of weeks beforehand Paul had said to me he’d shake my had the next time I did the ‘ton’ (or 100 miles – 160km), and so on I pedalled, earning that handshake!

Things were starting to hurt, there wasn’t long left, so it was time for another break. I set off into the pit spot when the Potato Guy team were, unclipped my left leg, stopped and just as I was about to unclip my right leg Nick says, right Matt, that’s enough of a break, lets get going! And so I did. I was swearing and cursing under my breath (hopefully) but we set out and chatted and rode the rest of the time out together.

I should point out here that Nick is a real inspirational guy. To get to ride with someone who in training would finish work on a Friday, get changed, got out for a ride, and get back home in time to go to work on Monday is an experience. He is off to the Race Across America shortly, and I am looking forward to following his progress.

I really enjoyed these last few laps. We were chatting away and generally having a very relaxed time, sprinting for the S/F line each time we went past, till eventually we got notification we were on the last lap. We carried on joking around and put in a couple of efforts to catch a young kid who we’d let get away ahead, but then came the final straight for the final time in a winner takes it all sprint, and I don’t know if he tried really or not, it sure looked like it, but this time bragging rights go to me.

The day was done. 174km had been clocked up in the 6 hours and I was shattered. Riding the last km back to Tim’s place after the prize-giving would be among the hardest rides I have done. When the final results were published I’d actually done one more lap than Nick too, maybe next time Nick.

I guess a couple of final things need to be said. I’m always hassled for a comment I flippantly made some time ago about the Manawatu being flat. Well, just to keep things straight, on a typical training ride I will ride 100km and do 1,000m of climbing. Surely with 174km we could therefore expect 1,740m of climbing????  I did just 183m of climbing in that 174km, thus proving once again that the Manawatu is still the flatawatu.

The other thing to say is to Tim, who’s always an inspiration, it’s great to see you back on the bike. Treat you new hips well, keep on the mend and I’m looking forward to hearing stories of your rides as you desperately seek out some hills in the Manawatu.

Oh, the Milestone….I nearly forgot….I have now passed the 25,000km ridden point in my cycling.     

Battling the demons within

OK, before I launch into this, I'm not talking about demons as in the angels vs demons kind, but rather the memories that we all have, and have to battle with. You know, the ones that say we're not good enough, cant do it, and always will be how we always were.

One of the reasons I went on this whole weight loss and fitness drive was because I was walking along High St in Lower Hutt one evening and saw my profile reflection in a shop window, an unpretty, big, hanging gut on an obese frame. This is a pretty tough memory and one that I fight with often. When I look in the mirror it is that image I still see. Despite having lost 42kg and having clearly visible muscles, no longer covered by inches of fat I still fight with the images in my head. This may be a good thing, but also my be a bad thing.
The one thing I don't want to end up with is an eating disorder that see's me go the other way, but to be honest with my love of bad food I can't see that happening anytime soon. I have, however, been told I obsess about my weight too much, and yes I am a 41 yr old bloke, not a teenage girl!

This morning I realised I have changed. It may be just a small mental thing, but for starters rather than drive to the shop to get a new battery for our doorbell I opted to walk, and then chose to go the longer way. This way took me past another set of shop windows, and I glanced. I didn't stop to spend time thinking, or admiring, all it was, was a quick glance (or 3) and you know what?  it's not there anymore. There is no hanging gut, in fact I think my chest is visibly larger than my gut (there goes that teenage girl thing again- and no I don't need a man-bra!).

I guess it was just one of those small moments when you realize that you're no longer the person you used to be. Like a bad hair commercial, it didn't happen overnight, but it did happen.

I don't know if I'll ever forget the haunting images of what I used to look like. I don't know that I ever want to, for as long as I remember the image the more I remain determined to never let it happen again.

If you've been working on something for ages and feel like giving up, don't. Life is not about giving up, but about beating the odds, sticking with the challenge and seeing it through to completion. Quitting is the fools way out (unless you're quitting a bad thing!). Stay focused, keep your goals in mind and keep on battling those demons within.

~Matt
 

The Race of Truth

It's been awhile since I have popped a blog update here, but it seems the page is regularly viewed, possibly by people who have read my book. I don't update this site very often now, but to catch up with what I am doing you can also drop me a note and become friends on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nzMattO)

Anyway, tonight I did something I do a couple of times a year and that is to participate in one of the Kapiti Cycling Clubs Time trial races. It's a 12km flat circuit and one that I had a point to prove on.

First up....I did this same ride / race a few weeks back and put in a respectable time of 20.34, at an average pace of 34.97kph. It was a windy(ish) evening but the wind was southerly which made for a very tough ride home. I should have been pleased with it, and I was, but I have previously averaged 36.47kph for a time trial on almost the same circuit, so there was still something to prove.

So, tonight came around. I'd had a good half hour run at lunch. The pressure was building on me through the afternoon, though not from anyone else. Getting home I was trying to relax, and also uploaded my previous ride data onto the Garmin as a course to track against. This would mean for every moment of the race I would be able to see exactly where I was compared against my previous ride.

I went out for a warm up on the course and as suspected there was a headwind outbound which would mean a tailwind back. I set myself a target time to be at the turn around point no more than 60 seconds down to allow for the wind.

The heart rate started climbing well before starting, nerves were showing, and it took a bit to get settled into the start position. Go! and I went. The time was immediately showing 4 seconds down, but this is quite normal. I climbed up to speed as quickly as possible, sat down then eased forward onto the tri-bars. The time was steadily dropping and I was not feeling great. Perhaps the run had taken too much out of my legs. Around the corner and onto the long lonely stretch heading north. There was no-one in sight. We had set off at 1 minute intervals so I should really be seeing anyone but it would be nice to have a target. Up the small rise and out onto the straight....two riders ahead of me, 36 seconds down and still dropping. A big gulp from the bottle then it was head down targeting those riders.
Just before the next turn I passed one, the other must have been the rider who set off 1min before me. He was not letting up. For the first time ever I continued pedaling around the 90 degree corner onto PekaPeka road. I was keen not to lose any inch. Along the straight and up the hill. I was still loosing time. +46 (or was it 48) seconds. I screamed at my legs. "Come on legs, get on with it!" I was really screaming at myself. 46 seconds was going to be too much to chase down and I was hurting. It briefly showed 53 seconds and I nearly gave up. NO! No giving up. If it doesn't kill me it'll make me stronger (thanks Bruce Lee). I pushed even harder up to the top corner where I allowed myself the briefest of breaks as I turned at the top cone. 36 seconds down. This was going to be tough.
Clicking into a bigger gear I pushed even harder I wanted to catch that rider in front. I wanted my time. All was now focused on getting every bit of energy I could into the pedals. The time was improving but not fast enough. back to the 90 degree turn, 25 seconds down. Tail wind. I clicked into the next gear and pushed on. 20 seconds, 15 seconds, I was going to win this race against myself now, but by how much. Could I break the 20 minute mark. 0:00 I was even but didn't have far to go. I pushed on harder, remembering that last time this was into a stronger headwind. I caught and passed another rider and had the buy before me in my sights. He was too far away to catch, but I sure as heck wasn't giving up. 20 seconds up, 30 seconds up, 40 seconds up....I made the final turn. could I beat the previous by over 1 minute? I knew I would break to 20 minutes now but was it going to be enough. Another gear, the final push The line is in sight, and quickly coming close. 3 - 2 - 1 done.
Everything had been given. The job was done. The tank was empty, but had I done enough.

A couple of quick clicks later and I had recorded a 19:31!!! Now there was just the wait for the official time, which also matched. That was a 1 minute and 3 second improvement over my previous, and now that I check the stats at home, the average pace was 36.86kph and a new Personal Best!

I have never felt like this after a such a short race before and it is entirely possible that tomorrow I may be taking the lift at work......I shall sleep well.

2011 Some goals achieved, some goals missed and a couple of surprises.

365 days ago I set myself a bunch of goals for 2011. I’m normally a pretty goal driven person so it’s unusual for me not to have achieved them all, but looking back I think I’ve done OK. The main goals were to ride 8000km (failed), complete a sub5 Taupo (failed) be able to run 10km (achieved) and get my weight to 80kg(failed). What I didn’t know was those unpredictable things that come along to test and try us and whereby we see directions change. This is why I set goals and not make New Year’s Resolutions.

You see resolutions are just that. Resolute. They are generally hard and fast rules which are easy to break and last perhaps a few days, maybe a few weeks before becoming too hard and get forgotten. Things like “I’m going to run every day,” or “I am going to quit chewing my fingernails.” As soon as you miss a day of running, that’s it…been, gone, resolution broken along with the fingernail.

I started the year with a stressful change of work with me arriving to work one day (at the customers site) to an email saying I didn’t need to go in there today and to instead travel an extra 25km to my base office as I’d be working there from now on. There was no notice, no discussion, no nothing…the end result was a few weeks off (gardening leave) followed by starting a new role with the Police. The team I now work with are great, the location is excellent, and the facilities are way above what one could expect for a normal work place!

I had a pretty rough year with my cycling. I don’t really know why. I think I have just got so busy with other things and I’ll take the opportunity to blame the weather too, and so I ‘only’ rode 6,476 (and a ½) km’s. I simply did not train properly for the sub5 at Taupo. Again this was due to weather, and business. As for the running, I’m pretty happy with that. I have not done a lot of it, but achieved my 10km run and can quite happily go out and run 5k at the drop of a hat now.

When it comes to my fitness however the outstanding performer of the year has got to be swimming! It took a few weeks after arriving at the Police before I decided to brave the water, but once I did, and with the expert help of Barb, the swim coach, I learnt that I couldn’t swim. I mean sure I could swim to save myself, and even managed to do 2 whole lengths, but I couldn’t really swim. 10 weeks later and I did my first kilometre. My longest swim to date is 2.5km and I am about ready to get out of the pool and into the ocean.

I guess about here I ‘should’ mention my weight since that was one of my goals. Ummm….it hasn’t changed really and is fluctuation around the 90kg mark. This is not what I wanted, but it means I have remained static for the whole year and that in itself is good given my history. I think I may work on it a bit more though as I am still carrying too much fat around my midriff.

So it wasn’t an outstanding year for my health and fitness, but that’s fine. I am healthy, I am fit, I just could do with putting in a bit more focus. Perhaps I’d give myself a C for the year. Some objectives achieved, but could achieve more if he tried harder (sounds pretty similar to my school reports).

2012…..

Assuming the Mayans were wrong and the world doesn’t end, I think I’d like to see if I can crack that 8,000km ridden in a year goal. I’d sure like to have another hack at the sub5 for Taupo, and I want to complete an Olympic distance triathlon. Oh, I guess the 80kg weight target still exists too. But that’s it.  Happy New Year and if you work hard you’ll be able to achieve your goals too.      

The TelstraClear Challenge.

Something more positive - The TelstraClear Challenge.

With the horrors of Taupo behind me I found myself on the start line for another challenge, and once again it was windy. This time it was Auckland and a chance to do something as a kid I'd dreamed of many times.
I was born in Auckland and spent most of the first 15 years of my life there, so as such had been on many trips across the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Many of those were in the old days when there was a toll to pay at the northern end. I'd been across and back in a single trip when mum missed the last turn off, I'd been across in a bus with my first love (Justine). ---I asked her to marry me when I was about 5. I'd been across with the caravan on the way to Orewa (which used to be waaaaayyyyyyy out of Auckland and is now just a suburb). I'd been across on the way to several youth group camps, but all that time I'd never been across by bike, so when the chance came I leapt at it. I signed up on the day the registrations opened, and got number E5000 which was the first number for the 'E' starting group.
I was fortunate enough to be able to combine my trip to Auckland with a work trip, so they met some of the cost which was nice. I got to stay with Justine (and her family - nothing dodgy here - carry on) on the Friday night, then had work in town on the Saturday, followed by getting to my motel room where I set about getting my mind in order to right the wrongs of Taupo. It started with eating better, getting more sleep, and making sure I had a proper (decent) breakfast, not just the 4 of slices of toast I'd had at Taupo.
The place where I was staying was just a few hundred meters from the start, so I left it about as late as possible (to avoid a huge wait) and rolled on down to join my starting group. There were cyclists and bikes all over the road. They were meant to be there, but there was no hint of any starting groups or similar so I just found a spot that wasn't at the very back and sat and waited, and waited, and waited. Occasionally you could here muffled tones of some PA system down the road but there was nothing audible and no messages passed on. We just sat and waited. I got a bit grumpy as it was early and cold. I took a few photo's on my phone and posted them on Facebook, but generally we waited. People around were getting grumpy as well. It so turns out that the delay was due to a crash earlier in the morning blocking part of one of the lanes. Typical car driver holding up a cyclists dream.
The time finally came and we were off. I was feeling great. The trip up the bridge was fantastic with a helicopter hovering out to my right and views all over Auckland. This truly was all that I had dreamed of experiencing. The delays were out of my mind and a smile must have been on my face.

This moment was a dream come true!

I was one of about 5000 people who were part of the first group to ever have legally ridden across the bridge and I sure was happy about it.
Descending the other side was a windy affair but once we passed the official time start point and got into the bus lanes on our designated route we seemed to be sheltered. the pace picked up and groups started to form. I kept an eye out on what was happening around me as I was easily travelling at the fastest pace I had been in bunches and people were being spat out the back, left, right, and centre. Eventually things settled and we had a reasonable bunch working, keeping the pace high. I was feeling good and was really enjoying the ride even with the wind that was making it's presence felt again.
Not long into the ride the houses thinned out and we were soon on rolling country roads that were to form the rest of the ride. Things heated up a little and I realised I was over-dressed, although was wondering how cold I would have been at wait at the start if I'd worn less. I was eating and drinking regularly and the kilometers were rolling way till we found the unsealed surface.

Maintaining race pace on gravel is tough.

It was on the gravel that you could tell who had read the article about riding on gravel and who hadn't. those who hadn't slowed to a crawl, struggling to keep upright, meanwhile those of us who had just kept on going almost as if it was still a sealed surface. Sure you slipped and slid around a little, but nothing major and it was only a couple of k's long.
From there the story of the day was rolling roads. Up & down, up and down, around the corner, up some more, down a bit, around a corner, another up, another corner, a gusty cross wind, another down....I noticed we were doing way more climbing than the 800 odd meters the ride supposedly contained. Still I was enjoying it and was hoping for a time of under 4 hours for the 110km. My only problem was I was running out of drink. I'd only taken 2 bottles despite knowing it wouldn't be enough, and I was going too fast to stop at the half way point where there were drinks. I was kinda thinking this is Auckland right....there'll be a shop on every second corner, but alas no. There were none. I ran out of drink and ran out of energy not long afterwards. It looked like the last 15(ish)km were going to be a drag.

One of the fast 'downs.' I was doing about 65 when this excellent shot was taken.

After about 5 of those k's a lady come up next to me who had a camel back on, and two full bottles. Seems she was well over prepared for this and after a quick chat, like an angel in the middle of nowhere, she offered me a drink! I gladly partook of this, taking a few large gulps down knowing I had enough to get me through to the finish. A couple of years back I'd been on the other side of this being the one offering a drink during a Taupo ride...perhaps karma does exist.
I was struggling though. It had been a tough ride and lots of people had said there was only 1 more hill, which there was...just one more, followed by another, around a corner, then another hill, then some lady cyclist on the side of the road who promised this was the very last hill (she lied!). but finally the finish was in sight and the ride was done. I clicked off happily at 4 hours and 6 minutes, being well spent. It was a tough 1km ride from the finish to the Kumeu show grounds, where I collected my medal (the only medal I have ever got for anything!) and shortly afterwards caught up with Ben and Sarah from Roadcycling.co.nz. After that I lay down on the grass pretty much knackered. After a while I heard someone call out to me. It was Gordon McCauley (GMC coaching) who was up there to watch the race after doing the Taupo 1/2 IronMan the day before. He was the one who advised me about the cause of the delays being an earlier crash.
After a while I decided that it would probably be best to catch the bus back in to town, however since I had not organised this I needed to find some way to pay and get the tag thing. I couldn't find anything, so just set off on my own riding back towards town. Fortunately someone else caught up to me who knew the way and so I rode with them. I would probably have taken a very different route otherwise, but it was great to chat with him and just take it easy back to town.
After splitting with him I was on the looking for a coffee shop with an outside table suitable for me to stay near my bike at. I found one and the best thing was they served ice cream! I had a GREAT coffee (it even rivaled Taupo's Body Fuel) and ice cream before heading back to the car, getting organised and then headed into Newmarket for a swim in the 50m pool! I thought I said I was stuffed earlier?
The last time I was in there it was an open air pool and was quite a stunning place to be. It is looking decidedly run down now and could do with a decent clean, but I managed to knock out 8 lengths (400m) before calling it quits and sitting in the spa for a while, followed by a brief shower and a trip out to stay with friends before heading south on the long drive home.
So a dream realised, a great, tough ride and I was a happy lad. The wrongs of Taupo had been righted and now it was time to start winding things down for Christmas. It's a ride I wont seek out to do again, but if the wheels of fortune so turn that way it's one I wouldn't say no to. Any Aucklanders reading, I highly recommend this ride!!! Just treat it as a fun ride and enjoy the scenery. It's great.

Taupo 2011, a delayed review.

I've had a couple of people ask why I haven't written up a ride report for Taupo 2011....well, quite simply it's because it sucked. Badly. Admitting failure is something I'm not good at and this time I failed, but...

Sitting here now I'll tell you about my weekend....

Ruapehu looking as majestic as ever.

I left home early on Friday morning to avoid traffic and the heat of the day. It had been a pretty sleepless night due to the noise of the ever present wind. It would seem that wind was going to be the summary of the weekend, but I didn't know this yet. All I was hoping and praying for was for it not to be quite so hot as last year, where I climbed the last hill at 34 degrees. If only I'd prayed for the wind not to be there instead. The memories of the wind are not as nice as the memories of the heat!

Arriving in Taupo early I found that my motel room was not going to be ready for a few hours, so I tootled off into town for a look around, starting with my customary coffee at Body Fuel which has to be the best coffee shop in the country. Actually I don't know about the shop itself, but the coffee is always excellent. I looked around the events centre, picked up my race pack, watched the 4 lapper (nuts!) leave and caught up with my good friends Tim & Lis. Everything was seemingly OK except for the wind which was hopefully blowing itself out prior to my ride. I went for a warm-up ride, got back to the motel and set myself up, checked I had everything ready and  at some stage fueled up on pasta and went to bed.

Whangamata Road

Whangamata Road (looking the other way from the same spot) 

Kinloch, windy and wavy! 

After another seemingly sleepless night I got up, ate, got everything ready and headed out for the couple of k ride to the start. It was blowing! Strongly! I'm from Wellington, so I know a good stiff breeze when I get one, and this was a good stiff breeze and a bit more thrown in on top. What's more with it's direction we were all going to be in for a very tough ride.  Making it to my prescribed start area (group 2 for a 430-4.50 ride) I considered pulling out. Seriously.

While I was waiting I heard a number of comments like bugger this...followed by someone lifting their bike over the fence followed by themselves, having called it a day before the start. Not long later over the PA I heard that Gordon McAuley (GMC Coaching) had pulled out. I thought oh well if I start then I've gotten further than him, and if I finish it'll be the only race the two of us are ever likely to be in that I'll beat him on. Thanks Gordy, I think that was probably enough motivation to get me across the start line, which finally arrived.

Off over the control gates bridge and up the hill, hanging a left to a seemingly well-known road for me. I'd been out here yesterday to take a look at 'Kinloch' a place I'd not been before and to take a ride up Whangamata Road which was the changed section of the course.

The end of Whangamata Road (taken on my warmup ride)

The start had not been too bad, I'd settled in to a large bunch just keeping an eye on people dropping off from in front to ensure I remained in that bunch. As we turned into Whangamata Rd the wind hit, but it wasn't so bad here as there is a long gentle descent. That descent doesn't seem to last too long though and the hills soon arrived. It was here just about 20 something k's into the ride that things started going astray for me. I was not feeling too great and seemed to have no energy. Getting out of the saddle on the climbs was just too hard, so I sat back and watched the bunch disappear, then caught them on the down, disappear on the next one, caught them on the down, disappear on the next one, never to be seen again. 40k's into the ride and I was alone in a sea of cyclists, heading into a block head wind (mind you so was everyone else), knowing it was to be a long day out. I was behind on my target and if I can admit the truth it was probably here that I first considered flagging it.

The rest of the ride down the western side of the lake was just a grind for me. Lots and lots of people

passed me, and so they should have, and I just did my best to keep focussed, keep eating when I could and keep drinking. A rider came past at some stage who must have noticed I was struggling and said to me "It can be a pretty lonely day out among thousands of cyclists when it isn't going well." Those words were so true.

The 80km mark, and the next chance to quit, was getting close. I was out of energy and struggling. It seems despite knowing what I should have eaten for breakfast, and the day before, I didn't. I may have written a book about this challenge, but that doesn't mean I actually followed my own advice! What could I do? Should I pull out? Should I push onwards? I needed food and a lot of it quickly to be able to make it to the end.

My thoughts turned to a commute. On my regular commute to work I have one reasonable hill to climb in just over 30km of riding. I mostly do this on an empty stomach and some days I have been feeling decidedly ordinary. It was 'only' a commute from here to Burger King. Was I really ready to give up on my sub 5 goal? There's only one more climb, then it's flat for 40km, if I get in a good bunch I could still do it....

Of course I knew that I was spent and despite putting on a brave face for the camera, attempting to push onwards was never going to result in the time I'd been hoping for and the truth was I was looking at a 6+ hour ride, and so the decision was cemented in my head. Failure was not to be an option if I wanted to finish the race that Gordy didn't start, so I would push on up the final few hills then stop at Burger King.

The wind had remained ever present and on the big descent in to Tokaanu it was strong enough that I did not need to brake at all. From there it was a slog through to Turangi where I took my break at Burger King.

I got some food and sat down hardly able to eat, but as I did I could feel the impact of the salts and sugars quickly restoring my energy. I sent a txt to Julie saying that was without a doubt the hardest 110km of my life. She asked if I would finish. I said yes.

About 20 (I guess) minutes later I resumed my ride, catching a few bunches between being dropped a few more times, but I was feeling ok. I was going to make it to the end and that is all that counted now. Hatepe came and I just cruised on up, not putting in much effort, but just content to avoid any cramping and make it to the top, which I did. On the way up I passed a larger guy on a Mountain bike. I was surprised at this so had a chat to him. It turned out he was doing it as a personal challenge, and knew it was going to take a long time, so had departed at 6.00am. He said it was hurting but he was pleased to know the end was in sight and he was going to complete his goal of 'making it round.'

So I guess that was my story. I finished off the ride making it back to Taupo before having a well-earned rest and catching up with friends. It may have not been what I desired, but that is 3 in a row now. The ride was finished and no-one can take that away from me. The time may have been 6 hours 20, but that's fine. It's done, it's finished, and it's over with for another year.

3 times done and dusted.

Oh, and the final word goes to mother nature who outwitted us all....the following day for the long drive home, it was a calm clear day!

Tick this off the list

When I read ‘No Opportunity Wasted’ by Phil Keoghan and initially set my goal to ‘make it’ around Taupo I had no idea that simple action would change my life and change my willingness to work towards what seems to be ever tougher goals.

One of those goals I set was to do a double loop of the Aka’s. This was a goal that had eluded me for some time, with my first attempt failing before I even considered which day of the long weekend (last Easter) that I was going to do it on. It’s been in the back of my mind for quite some time and with the double lap of the Tour de Manawatu (approx. 230k) standing out more and more each week on my calendar I knew I needed to get in at least one long ride. Sure I’ve been doing the training recently, numerous (29 I think) climbs of the Maungatuks, commutes via Paekak hill, and a few aka’s loops but nothing had been more than 125k. My weak point has always been the climbs, so I’ve really been focusing on these in working towards Taupo this year.

Yesterday everything worked out and the double aka’s loop was to be done, and it was. It may not be pretty, and it certainly was long but it’s done. Tick it off the list, and write up a story so I can tell this to my grandchildren…..”when I was young (ok, not young, but younger) I rode 189k just for the hell of it….”

The day actually started a few weeks before with a friend and colleague (Jon) chatting about our various training rides and I mentioned that I was thinking about a double aka’s loop in preparation for the TdM and he decided to work that into his plans and join me. The date was set, and nerves (for me anyway) started building. I was pretty careful about who I told about this latest plan because I really didn’t know if I could achieve it.

As things progressed another colleague (Fiona), who’d never done the loop, decided that she would join us on the second lap, and so times were organised, and suddenly I found myself at Friday night preparing the bike and going to bed early for what I knew would be a near sleepless night. True to form the clock slowed down and each time I looked at it time felt like it was going backwards but eventually the magic hour of 3.00am ticked over so it was time for breakfast.   

On to the ride

Just before 4.00am I had a final check of everything (including my shoes) and left home checking I was happy with my tyres and gear changes. This was my first ride since popping on some new tyres and changing my chain ring shifter cable. Everything was good so I quietly wandered up to the station where shortly after Jon arrived and we set off at a sedate pace in the quiet, still darkness. It was great chatting and cruising down SH1 with very little traffic and being able to stay in the traffic lane instead of the shoulder.

Paekak hill soon arrived and this was treated with the respect it well deserves as we chatted up into the clouds. About all I remember of this was the way Jon’s lights shone through the clouds and the hazy view of Paraparaumu from the top.

The descent was a sedate affair but picked up pace as we got back out of the clouds and onto the straight roads. About the only other thing of note here was that we did not see another moving thing between Paekak and Pauatahanui.

There’s not much more to say about this part of the ride, Haywards was as it always is, the descent was as much fun as always, and soon enough we were heading up the valley towards the first bottle refill spot at the church. That job done we set off, and Jon made it all of 10 meters before puncturing. I chose not to wait for him to fix it, so just left him there alone, meanwhile I continued up the road for a required pit-stop of my own.

Business dealt to it was off into the Aka’s for the first time, we were still chatting and I remember wondering how I would be feeling in another 4 hours time with another 100km on the clock. It was really a very casual affair the whole way through to the summit and then on to the descent. That was a bit of fun. Jon was following me down and I think we were taking it easy, but suddenly it was like I’d lost control of the bike. It took what seemed like forever in a massive spike of adrenalin for me to work out that I had a rear wheel puncture. Things went into auto drive as I called out “Puncture, Stopping, Stopping” to ensure that Jon was on his brakes behind me. I came to a safe stop, then walked to the next clearing to change it, and continue on down the hill. Unfortunately these two punctures had seen us drop behind the planned times, and so when we pulled in to Waikanae (for the next scheduled bottle fill) we flicked a txt away to Fiona who was to join us for the second lap letting her know we were delayed.

At this point I think we both realised that having someone additional joining for the second lap kind of meant that we ‘had’ to continue, and I wonder, if I was doing this solo, would I have called it a day then.

Paraparaumu came, we joined up with Fiona and set off south again with a feeling of de ja vu. It was an interesting feeling watching the clock tick over 100km and realising that I was only just past half way and Paekak hill was waiting for us. Still, it came, it went as did Pauatahanui for the second time, and just when Jon was getting mentally set for Haywards again….”Pssssshhhhhh.” A second puncture for him.

That fixed we were on our way again and Haywards came and went, I had a fast descent this time, hitting somewhere over 76kph (I saw that number) but can’t tell exactly as my Garmin 500 says my max speed was a mere 233.1kph. I somehow doubt I did that but I’ll take it. J 

Heading to Upper Hutt and beyond was normal and boring and we made it back to the church for the bottle stop and I suggested a short break, which no-one complained at.

Then it was off into unknown territory for me. By now we’d covered just short of 150km and still had the mighty Aka’s to go. I know I’ve had some bad times in there mentally and physically and this time I was tired. The legs were feeling pretty good with only a couple of minor cramps, but nothing to worry about. My head was tired though, and so into the hills we went. This is about where things did become tough. I was finding the short climbs tough and willing to freewheel all the downwards bits. One thing that did go well was my remembering to eat and drink at regular intervals and it seems I got this pretty right because the food stocks were nearly empty and the bottles were also getting down.

I dropped well off Jon’s pace but managed to keep up with Fiona for most of the final climb, however with 2km to go I had come to the end of my mental capability. I was tired and wanted it to end. The hill dragged on and on, and yet the one thing I remember is that my legs were still fine. All I was feeling was in my head. I was just mentally exhausted and wanted each corner to be the last. I thought lots about stopping for a break but knowing the other two were just up the road waiting meant I couldn’t really stop. Finally I was certain I was at the top and rounding the last corner revealed another corner or two to go, with Jon’s words echoing in my head “When you think your at the top there’s 3 or 4 more corners to go….” This was a tough wee section and one I know I will have grown through. I made it to the top and almost collapsed, but after a short break was prompted to move again and we set off down the hill. Jon reminded me that it may be another cool descent so I popped my jacket back on, and off we set for a sedate paced tired descent. Just a couple of little climbs to go into Waikanae and we’d be done.

Those little climbs proved and interesting point to me. Heading across the bridge at Reikorangi another cyclist overtook me, followed soon after by Jon. At the bottom of the hill I found I naturally rose to the challenge and powered up passing Jon back and on to the other cyclist. We had a bit of a laugh when I caught up next to him and said “Caught Ya!” But then I let him go off as I was more interested in Jon, Fiona and I all staying together. There is one final little climb going in to Waikanae and although I was leading the 3 of us Jon shot past, later noting I didn’t respond, and I nearly didn’t respond but had to! I caught him just short of the top and he could not stop me getting past. I put this in here not to gloat about beating him, but to tell myself that here I was with 180k in the legs and I was still willing to push myself in a couple of little sprints. My legs were tired, but fine. It proves that the only suffering I had was mental. The pain was only in the top 2 inches (so they say).

I took off my jacket in Waikanae (it was MUCH warmer now), and there was just the straight between Waikanae and Paraparaumu to go. I rode this solo as Fiona was a bit further back and Jon came past on his way home. Going along there I knew I was tired, but also knew that I had achieved the double loop. I’d eaten right with no food left. I’d drunk right as I has no carb juice left and less than ½ bottle of water. I’d done it and this was something no-one could ever take away from me.

I slowed up a little and waited for Fiona to catch up so we were both together rounding the last corner, sharing congratulations for what we had achieved, left her at her car and wandered on home.

It had taken 9:31:14 of elapsed time from home to home, and a riding time of 8:10:54. We had covered 188.94km with 2075m worth of elevation gain in there. Although most of the ride was done on wet roads it never rained on us. There was very little wind and the conditions were perfect.

Another goal has been reached, another item ticked off the list and another ride I am unlikely to attempt again has been completed. Today (the Sunday after) I’ve been to church where I caught up with a great friend having his first outing since major heart surgery, I am sitting here feeling good, the legs are tired, but good and I’m about to go and mow the lawns…who needs a recover ride when there’s lawns to be done.

I guess a final note here goes to church where Murray spoke about choices and decisions made, and about perseverance, finishing with a verse from Philippians commonly translated as “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I know a lot of readers of this may not share my faith, however this was written by a dude (Paul) who’d been in shipwrecks, prison, times of plenty, times of nothing, he’d been beaten and abused, and yet he maintained his faith in persevering towards his goal.  He also said “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” And near the end of his life he attributes more to this saying “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith….”

Goals, and achievement of them are important to many people, and I am one of these people. I often say to people You CAN do it! It’s true, you can. Be it a sprint or a marathon, I challenge you to run your race with perseverance and in doing so achieve your goals. As for me, this is another one I have ticked off. Right now there are some dishes waiting for me, lawns to be done and a bike that’s in serious need of a clean. Though one race may be done, life continues and the next step in my story is just around the corner.

A special thanks here to my wonderful, beautiful wife who allows me the freedom to spend countless hours tromping off around the place in an effort to achieve my goals. Your love and enduring devotion mean the world to me. I love you so very much!