THE 100Ker

The day begins at 5am, i awake to some world cup soccer blurred by my roomies bling 29ers, with my TURNER FLUX tipping the scales at around 11.2kg, it was surely a very different pre race setup with no taper no pasta the night before, no weetibix for breakfast.
My pro roomies from clarence st whipped up some muesli and banana not sure what else was added, i guess that was later to be realised (thanks jen a true winning breakfast)

Driving over to the start, to a race ive only had a week to mentally prepare for, a race with around 90kms ive never seen, my first day on dirt since dirtworks and damaging my thumb..no nerves what so ever, but no race excitement either it was a strange feeling but i did have my mind set on just a sunday ride, there was no water bottle, no tools, limited food, but i was truly rugged up with skin longs on and a skin shortsleeve top on under an under armour longsleeve heat top (the red u see me in) my fav piece of cycling gear. and that very subdue green racing kit on the outside..
The warm up was a few kms out on the track i decided to drop pressure in my front tire a little to softer thumb pressure.

A very short race briefing and we were on the start line, matt reekie suggested to go to level 11 of hurt today which i was not to fussed about, but in my head i thought well im just gona pedal at full power till i have nothing,, will it last 20km 60km 80km did i have enough for a 100km.
The first 10km was loose sand and rocky when i seen the 10km marker i head sunk as i felt like ive been racing for an hour, we soon lose touch with the leaders, but me and anthony shippard with some other guys really keep the pace cranking, passing shaun lewis on our mission was a bit awkward, i just didnt know what to say to a good rider hurting so early.
20kms we get a glimpse of the leaders, it was so tempting to bridge the gap, at full throttle it looked very achievable and i was just out for fun and it was hard not to have a go at it just to see if i could get to them, the single track then began and i pulled right back as it was loose and very steep and i didnt wana hurt my dodgy shoulder.
It takes me a while to catch back up to anthony after the single track but when i do, we all stopped as a rider hit the deck pretty hard, hes was not to bad so once on his feet we ride off.
now with mark tupalski (sir chat alot) im cool with talking and riding but its my job during the week sundays are my day off and with dealing with my nemisis of sunlight flickering through trees i was at full focus in leading us through the single trail., By halfway mark had dropped of matt was back with me and anthony, poor matt with so many race kms in his legs soon drop off,

60km water stop took a while to show up which really hurt anthony running bottles he pulls in to refill i roll on by jump a puddle and chew a torq bar down, i was happy for him to catch back up so we could work together, the big wheels roll up with a heavy breathing rider on top.. we work n ride together, but the turner gets a gap on the next hill.

condoo single track soon approaches righto then something i know i gotta keep anthony at bay knowing i was in 4th was a good buzz but i just knew he could reel me in on this track, so how do i keep a rider away but recovering here so my legs have more power come the roads...

80km im still all alone and as each 50km rider approaches quite quickly i know im getting closer to the finish, the fear of my camelback going dry builds, i wait and wait for big wheels to catch up i constantly wonder if im still going as fast as i was 20km earlier, am i fading???? so i continue to chew on my torq bar.. saving my gells for a kick in the final 10km.

90km hmmm i hear wheels i look to see big wheels but i had to totally do a double look and i see its kyle ward and we put some hurt into each other up a long climb.. He then rides away and all i can think to say is "well played sir" he seems to have the power to finish the day off, but as we zipp through some single trail the 50kers cheer the battle on, and it gave me a real kick to catch him, i soon roll up beside kyle, "lets do it buddy" i say, he hangs his head and gives me a lil tap to say he was done!... so i stand and attack like a bull at an open gate never looking back.. bush bashing to over take 50kers, then seeing a mud puddle i knew was very close to the finish i give it all i got flying out onto the golfcourse, and now burying myself into a dark place to hold my position as i did not want a sprint finish with a gutter hop..
A big smile from jenni english as i ride through the carpark my legs could barely jump that dam gutter. 4hrs 16min i was astonished with my time as i come to a stop and just lay on the ground in a desperate attempt to find oxygen the race announcer says congrats on 3rd place...!!!

I was just all confused as i was riding my heart out for 4th how am i 3rd did i hear right? i struggle to even put a sentence together to talk to anyone.., i pull my phone out of my back pocket(forgot to leave it in the car) so i ring jemma to tell her the news still trying to catch my breath, i was completly trashed from the race i emptied everything i had in me, i received a very concerned hello as i did such a good time she was not expecting a call to say a result let alone 3rd.
I truly felt bad as she was not there to see the result of all my training..

A week on it still feels weird to see 3rd next to my name in elite and against the whole field.

a shout out goes to matt flemming>>> bad luck champ on a day that should of ended in your favour not mine..

So hows the expectations i feel for the next time i race???

ONE HAPPY CHOP :)