Race Three of The Bike Hutt Cyclocross Series

Crazyman Race Report -Chasing My Own Shadow

I had a few issues with my new toy (Gopro 2 Outdoors).  As they say, never try anything new on race day, guess the same applies to digital gear as well :)  Hopefully have the fogging issue sorted now so looking forward to the next race.  I can't imagine the Wellington Marathon will be as exciting though.

Race Report

I grew up reading about Steve Gurney and how he was willing to try new things during multisport races, so when the new course was announced for the 2012 Crazyman, I’d thought I’d push the boundaries.  To cover myself, on the Thursday before the race, I emailed Michael Jacques (the Race Organiser) asking if I could switch bikes, he was very supportive of my idea.  He replied, “No rule against it Ed... Yet  :-)  I like races that leave things open to a bit of tactical manoeuvring...”

Hmmm, wonder what I can do next year?

I knew I didn’t have the leg speed on my mountain bike to stay with the front bunch as they raced up the Hutt River Trail, so I decided to start on my cyclocross bike and switch bikes at the start of the hill climb.  There was no point in using the cyclocross bike for the entire race as my mountain bike would be both faster and more ENJOYABLE on the downhills.

The 2012 course was switched to the other side of the Hutt Valley.  It started in Petone and returned through the hills of the Belmont Regional Park.  The bike leg started with everyone spread out across a soccer field which soon narrowed to a gap under a bridge.  A great way to start a race and it must have looked impressive for the spectators.

I don’t know about everyone else but my heart was red lining right from the start.  I managed to slowly work my way up to the back of the front bunch just in time for the first major obstacle, a sty.  There were a few of these, on one hand they were frustrating as they allowed the bunches to split, on the other they gave us a chance to catch our breath.  These little stops worked out perfectly for me because it gave me a chance to get my heart rate down.

At the bottom of the Dry Creek climb, Greg was waiting with my mountain bike and ready to attach my new camera to my helmet.  It was a smooth transition and the last chance to catch my breath before the most challenging climb of the day.

While climbing up Dry Creek to Boulder Hill the weather was stunning!!!  The views were fantastic and the downhills were superb.  I spent most of the ride chasing my shadow.  Sadly the ride had to come to an end and it finished with a fast descent then a short ride beside a creek to transition. 

As I neared transition, runners were going the other way.  A few people that I didn’t recognise shot past.  Then I heard those spine chilling words in an American accent, “Go Ed!”  Bugger! Matt was in front and he was looking strong.  How far was transition?  How long would it take to get my running shoes on?  How long would it take to run back to this spot?  These were all questions that were running through my head which was crazy.  Matt and Jeff were a team and were a sure bet to beat me, yet I still hoped Matt’s, ‘lack of fitness’ would slow him down.  It didn’t, we ended up running similar times.  Next year boys!!!

The run started off by going down the same track that I had just biked up.  It was a nice warm-up before we had to start running up the Belmont Trig Track.  Luckily it only went for 1km, the whole time I was thinking, don’t walk.

Once we turned left, we were running along a narrow walking track, mainly downhill to Korokoro Dam.  It was a fantastic track to run on, beautiful forest and lots of small creek crossings.  From the dam I thought we just had to run out Mills Stream Track (a track the follows Mills Stream until it almost reaches the harbour).  Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware that a detour had been included.  It meant that about ¼ of the way out, we took a right and had to scramble up a hill face.  It was a fun detour, one I hope no one else was able to run as I found it difficult.  The descent was great, a fast open track with slightly wider stream crossings.  We popped back out on Mills Stream Track and it was a case of holding my position.  There was one person in front of me that I tried to run down but we seemed to be going the same speed. The gap remained the same until the finish line which was on Petone Beach.

Xterra Rotoura Festival Race Report - Coked!

Race report to come.
Long story short,Gary and Susie "Coked" me, meaning they smashed me and I now owe both of them a can of coke.

“Emergency services, what is your emergency?”

Still jaded from the Traverse, I thought I’d check out the Crazyman bike course.  It was another beautiful Wellington day.  I parked at Dry Creek, which is at the bottom of the Haywards between Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt.  There, two ladies were also getting ready to practise the same ride.  After a bit of small talk they wished me well and I gingerly made my way up the gravel track.  About half way up I stopped to adjust my cleat and a guy rode past.  I had no interest in chasing him so I didn’t think I’d see him again.  Fate would say otherwise.

Just before the top of Boulder Hill I saw the mountain biker in the horizon. I continued to climb, hoping to catch him on the downhill.  I caught him sooner that I had expected ... only he was lying flat on his back.

Long story short, he had a broken collar bone and needed to be airlifted out.  The two ladies I met earlier (Jo and AJ), arrived and very kindly stayed with us while we waited for the helicopter.  The pilots and medic were great and  AJ kept eveyone entertained. 

Once the helicopter left Jo, AJ and I carried on practising the course.  In the end we took a wrong turn so didn’t really get to ride the course like we had planned.  Maybe in a few weeks I’ll get another chance.  

I never had my GPS watch with me on the ride, I wish I did as one of the first questions I was asked was, "What is your location?"  Trying to tell someone in a call centre in Auckland that you are near Boulder Hill in Belmont Regional Park wasn't very helpful.

The next day when I ran up to collect his bike, I'd thought I'd have a look.  South 41.15, East 174.93.

Porirua Grand Traverse Multisport Race Report

 This race has to be one of Wellington’s best kept secrets for both its stunning scenery and relaxed atmosphere.  I chose to do the duathlon option - mountain bike then a mountain run.



Riders decending after the first little climb



The start was at Battle Hill Farm Forest Park just north of Porirua.  At 8am we assembled in a paddock for the race start.  We funnelled onto a gravel road, which led us over a little hill, followed by the first of the two hill climbs and this is where the racing really began. 



34km mountain bike course



The first climb seemed to go on and on.  I was hanging onto the back of a bunch going up.  On the downhill I was able to ride away from this bunch and catch the next.  We crossed the main road at Haywards and headed up Belmont Road in single file.  Unfortunately this bunch was able to climb faster than me. 

I continued to climb to the top alone.  The mist rolled in hiding both the riders in front and behind.  It was an amazing feeling.  I was glad to have raced this course before so I knew where I was going and what to expect.

Unlike Battle Hill which was dry, dusty and covered in pine trees, Belmont Regional Park was mainly wet grass due to fog.  This made the descent rather tricky.  It’s easy to go fast on dry grass, but to go fast and make tight corners on wet grass is slightly more challenging.  Low visibility was an added extra.

My running gear



Towards the end of the descent, my old friend ‘Cramp’ showed up.  I tried to walk it off but he wanted to stick around.  As I got to the single track which led to transition, three of us formed a bunch and we rode out together.

Transition was at Whitireia Polytechnic where you ride straight to where your support crew is waiting.  Danielle and her parents had all my gear laid out perfectly for a quick transition, unfortunately I was in no hurry to start running as my cramp was lingering.



22km off road run

 I jogged the best I could to the start of Colonial Knob where I hoped to walk off the cramp.  Turns out it was a great excuse not to run up all the steps!


One of the small hills that 'got me'



The run is simply awesome!  Once at the top of Colonial Knob you head west towards the coast, running down two huge grass hills and then crawling up the other side only to run down again until you hit the coast.



Mana Island in the distance



 Once on the coast you head north, either along a tiny sheep track or over rocks.  As it was high tide, I stuck to the sheep track like most other people.  At this point I noticed my quads were gone, any little rise and I was reduced to walking.  There were a few competitors around me who I kept yo-yoing with, I would pass them on the flat and they’d pass me on the hills.  Luckily, the race finished with a 3km run along the water front to Whitireia Polytechnic.

Another glorious Wellington day made for another memorable Porirua Grand Traverse.

A Taste Of Adventure Racing And It Was Delicious!!!!

Greg and I don’t get many chances to race together so when an adventure race in Otaki was advertised, we jumped at the opportunity.  The first thing we discovered about adventure racing is that you need a lot of things, equipment and a fantastic support crew.  We enlisted Danielle and her parents who did a fantastic job!

Map given to competitors

Race briefing and registration, which involved a very thorough equipment check was held Friday evening. The organisation was superb to get over 60 teams checked so quickly.  At the briefing we were told where the race would start and that’s all we knew.

Lemans start

Saturday morning, we arrived just in time to receive our map and supporters pack.  We quickly assembled our bikes and headed off down to the river for a Lemans start.  I really like these types of races, lots of people in board shorts, sneakers and borrowed gear, all there just to give it a go.

At the back again

We thought we got off to a good start but judging by the number of people we passed in the early stages of the MTB we obliviously didn’t.  The mountain bike course was on a private farm, one big loop to the top of the ridge, along then down.  We soon discovered unless you are absolutely sure where you are going, which we weren’t, it doesn’t pay to be near the front.  As we reached the highest point a few teams were standing there trying to figure out which way to go.  After a few minutes of discussion, people headed off in all directions; luckily we went the right way.  It only took a quick glance back to realise all the effort we put in to pass people on the way up was lost with a solid line of riders following.  The ride finished with a neat down hill and time trial up the gorge road to T1.

Running along the river

The second stage was the run.  We started off running along the river to two different check points, then headed straight up the face of a hill/mountain to the top of the ridge. 

We happened to be at the right place at the right time as we were able to take advantage of following some other groups as they bush bashed their way up. Once at the top, it was a leisurely run along the ridge on a DOC track then down to T2.

Perfect shot Greg!

Danielle and her parents had all our gear laid out so it was a quick transition and off to the second challenge - gumboot throwing into our tubes before we started our tubing adventure.  Greg was spot on, I missed.  For every person that missed, the team had to sit in the penalty box for three minutes.  Bad luck if you were a 4 person team and all missed.



In the penalty box





The tubing was the highlight for me, we were neck and neck with three other teams as we 

This is the way to race!!!

entered the river.  Most people were happy to straight line it across the river bed but I chose to stay on my tube and enjoy the ride.  At the end of each set of major rapids were life guards in case anything went wrong.  They were surprised so many people were walking.  It soon became apparent, big tube = fast in the water but hard to carry across the rocks and a smallish tube = slower in the water but easier to carry across the rocks.

Possible short cut

Greg was able to dig deep and we came off the river in front of the other teams we started the tubing with to finish in 5:13hrs.  Overall it was a fantastic event and a great way to spend a Saturday.

Cross Training

They say the best way to keep motivated during the "off season" is to cross train. The last two days have been fantastic due to a once in a lifetime snow storm.  To top it off school was closed today and will be tomorrow so I plan to get as much "cross training" in as possible :)

Monday afternoon Greg and I took our downhill bikes up Tunnel Gully to play in the snow.

Tuesday morning Greg and I took the quads up Mt Climie.  We got about 3/4 of the way up when the snow became too deep and we were just wheel spinning on the steeper sections.  Fantastic time and it'll be recorded as a core workout :)

 

Tuesday afternoon with the snow coming down thick and fast I felt compelled to go up Canon Point.  The cyclocross bike was the first option but taking into consideration the amount of snow that would be up there I pulled out the cross country bike (tomorrow will see the downhill bike have a turn).  To be biking up Canon Point in powder snow up to my hubs and not a soul in sight was very surreal.  

  

Tuesday night was finished off with a cold can of Coke and a deliciouls meal of fish and chips from Brown Owl, the best inUpper Hutt!

Wednesday brought the rain so it was another quick trip up Cannon Point to enjoy one last downhill run.  I was surprised to see that the logging trucks were working so I decided to come down the Zig Zag.  Slow going but a lot of fun!!!!

Click to see a video of Cannon point Zig Zag being ridden in the snow

Thursday was back to work to share our snow stories.  After work I also visited the surgeon for the last time, he gave me the green light to start walking/running.  My physio would like me to start next week so I will follow his advice as an extra week won't make much difference.

Friday jumped on the indoor trainer for an hour                                               

Saturday gentle road ride with Greg around the valley, nice to feel the warmth of the sun.                          

Sunday quick swim then in the afternoon dusted off my cyclocross bike and took it for a spin up the logging track, video recorded my run down and it came out much better than the Zig Zag.  Hope to post it on YouTube soon.