Time moves on, dates change, but some things remain the same. My racing and travel calendar is morphing into a 2012 format, involving lessons learnt from previous years, but maintaining a strange penchant to return to suffering. Certainly each season is linked to the last – as previous performances and the desire to either prove or improve must be human nature.
Evidence, both physical and mental, is still keeping 2011 fresh in my mind. Red bull dust buried deep into every nook and cranny of my Scale 29er Premium harks back to the 10 days of the Crocodile Trophy. Any time that I’m cold or wet on the bike is triggering a turn around response, after the absolute meteorological nightmare that was the National Park Bike Marathon. But there are great times too – riding trails or great road routes at pace with mates, or even suffering up climbs in a road bunch are an easy reminder of the fun you can have in partnered Stage Races, or at the best Marathon Mountain Bike races where the fields are huge, and talented.
One of those great memories was racing the ABSA Cape Epic with my team mate Will Hayter. Sure, the finish wasn’t so good, with Will taking an early exit on the closing descent of Stage 5. But getting to ride your bike fast with some of the worlds best cross country racers, in such a huge event and amazing location is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Or twice if you’re lucky.
So here we go again. Will and I will be racing together again, as Subaru-MarathonMTB.com. The Prologue is kicking off on March 25th 2012, and then it’s back to back hard days for another week. No rest for the wicked, as we line up for a UCI Marathon in Laissac the following weekend.
I seem to receive daily updates from Will about his low race weight, huge sustainable power output, death march single speed training sessions and general A grade preparation. Seeing as Will lives in London and works a reasonably demanding full time job – his dedication is stunning.
Living in a warmer clime, I am curious as to why it always takes me a long time to get started. I blame Christmas and a devotion to seasonal baked goods. Obviously, home made fruitcake, fruit mince pies, panettone, summer pudding and ginger bread have been a bit too high on the agenda, and a few long days on the bike don’t really even that out. But the daylight is still long, and having my Garmin off for service takes the plug out of plug and play. More play is always welcomed!