Chasing Bunnies

Well, after re-naming the caption in my blog title I thought I had better explain.

It was 2006, I was riding in the CORC Easter solo only 24 hour race. This race is the solo race to do if you are going to do one, and this was my first time at the event, but second 24 solo.

I was there for the fun, just wanting to see how far I could push it. It so such a relaxed, no pressure, go at your own pace event, with great people out for a long hard ride. I was trying to keep consistant throughout the race and my tactic was working pretty well. I stopped once at about 1am for a hot chocolate, bigger than normal feed, and headed back out. Also at this stage it did start to get cold and it got down to about -6 that night. I kept pushing through, and tried to keep warm. Throughout those early morning hours I could hear the commentator calling me in saying hear comes Hugh, here is Hugh Hefner the man that is chasing down the bunnies. Hearing this every lap, being fatigued, I was a little confused until I worked out what he meant. I really had no idea of where I was placed but with the comment of, here comes Hugh I knew I must have been going well.

Kendra soon found out for me that I was in 6th place, and getting very close to 5th. I was stoked and it was nearly sun up. My legs were feeling good and keen to have a good crack when my lights came off. The light was here so came off came the lights, and off I went. During that lap I was watching what I thought fog come in, after all it was a cold morning. But the fog just kept getting worse, to the point that at the far top corner of the lap I knew it was not fog. The fog I could see was my cloudy vision, I was going through dips where I could just see the entrance and the trees at the exit it was scary. I was lucky I knew the course back to front and every little bump by that stage. I rode to the end of the lap, dumped my bike frustrated, to tell Kendra the bad news. Seeing only a few feet in front of me, but feeling really good physically I could not go out. I hoped they would get better but never did, the first aiders could not do anything.

I went back in 2007, the commentator remembered me, called me Hugh, I came home strong but did not perform as good but finished.

Lately, I have noticed there are alot of Rabbits/Hare's around the place, it seems like were having a bit of a plague, and these guys are huge. Kendra even has one outside her office window named Thumper. A few months ago I was riding home from work on my road bike, one came out onto the road. I had no time to react and before I knew it I had hit him, he throw me and the bike in the air, but luckly I kept it upright.

With what had happened it made me think back to Easter 2006, and being called Hugh, chasing down the bunnies. I guess that is what I have been doing the last 6, solo 24 hour races. This year I want to keep that reputation, but hopefully at a higher level.

So the moral of the story is: If you know if I'm behind you, careful I might just make you out as a bunnie and run you over ;).