Thursday, October 16, 2008

Croc Countdown


Less than a week to go and I will be in a four wheel drive, just like in the above photo.
What an amazing experience it will be.
Mareeba to Cape Tribulation... the long way.
The riders will each cover around 1300 kilometers in 9 days. I will be happy to do it in the airconditioned comfort of a support vehicle!...

I am so excited to get the chance to see the race 'up close' this year... it is almost like getting a chance to be in a support car at Paris-Roubaix. Reading the race reports from John Flynn last year gave me goosebumps. I can only begin to imagine what it will be like to actually be on the sidelines of this tough outback race. The scenery, of course, will be spectacular. But I am also very keen to see how each of the riders deal with the race in their own way.

Each of the competitors will be facing their own tough personal challenges. Regardless of whether they are a previous TDF stage winner, or a previous winner of the world solo MTB champs, or just out there for the experience of completing the Croc, every rider will be confronting some of their fears, and finding their own induvidual ways to stay motivated and encouraged to continue.

It will be an awe-inspiring 9 days.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Heating up


This weekend it's time for the 8 hour Enduro MTB race.
Not even summer yet, it is predicted to be 32 C on race day... the challenge will be not only to stay smooth and comfortable on the bike for all 8 hours, but to stay well hydrated and cool.
The conditions will be a huge contrast to the 24 hour Insomnia MTB race that my partner & I did in 2007. It was the middle of winter, with freezing cold rain and so much mud!

The Enduro will also be the last racing hit-out for my partner before he lines up at the start of the 2008 Crocodile Trophy on October 21st. There is no doubt that this race will be tough. However, he has done so much training towards this event that I am sure he will achieve all of his personal goals for the race.