Ed McDonald

Ed's blog who smashed it out on his SS at his first solo 24 hour
http://monocog-ed.blogspot.com/

On the road again

After one goal comes and goes you must start to re-focus on the next. Now I am really looking down the barrel to the Worlds. I have enjoyed the week off the bike but it is time for my next 12 week plan. So with some higher volume and some high intensity training ahead, it will be a huge 12 week block for both Kendra and I.
Also it is time to assess my racing and do some planning for what is ahead. There is the Fling, Angry Doctor, the Scott, Kona 24 lots to choose from and category’s to choose. It will be tough and all I really want to focus on is the Worlds, but with the way entries sell out I need to get in early.

Spoony

Here is Craig Armour's Blog. I hope we see him over in Canmore.
http://spoonboy.solonutter.org/blog/

24 hour Solo Nationals 2009

Thursday came Jase and I had sorted a great position, for our support we checked out the course and I liked it.
Saturday came had some early nerves but I felt ready. Started OK I did not have quite the enthusiasm that I usually start with but that is OK, early days. 3:30 PM came, and begun to get acing joints. From 3:30pm to 6:30pm I drank 6 bottles of fluids an Up & Go, and a Red Bull. Something was not right, I was running out of fluids on the bike 6 k’s into the lap.
I was hurting and it was not from riding, but I wanted to keep trying so I pushed on. It was not long and the weather came in and it was raining. Lights were on, but my body was switching itself off but I kept at it. It was very hard I knew I was fighting something that was not going away, and every lap was an effort. It was close to 12pm and I decided enough was enough and pulled the pin. It was a hard choice but one I needed to make. I did not want to compromise my lead up to the Worlds, and I was not prepared to put myself in a big hole for the Nats. So after 17 laps of slogging around Majura with rain and lots of mud, that was it.
Monday morning came and I woke up with joint soreness all over and fever. So I am heading to the Doctors to work out how to get well again.
Kendra did a fantastic effort and really kept me going out there. Even if I did surprise her with those extra transitions, she always had bottles and food ready. Adam and Neil did really well with my bikes that never missed a beat. Kyle was always there when needed to offer help and anything she could, plus the fruitcake was awesome. Brett, who is always keen to make sure everything is OK and help out when he can. Plus everyone else who came out to watch, or asked how I was. It is always great to have people around wanting the best from you.
Well done to all that made it through. It was tough out there in the rain and mud. Jason did really well 1st in his age group and 5th overall. Clayton pushed well to finish 3rd in his category, well earned.
I feel I did learn a lot for this race, and funny enough when the weather came in I actually did not mind it, I liked the rain. I learnt a lot by riding in the mud and slippery conditions that we very rarely have here. So hopefully these things will help me with things to expect in Canada.
So, with some rest I will be back.

I can smell something

It smells like anticipation in the air. It has come up very quick, and it seems as though it is going to be a hot one.

The National Solo 24 is on this weekend, and it looks like the competition is going to be big. It seems many riders are after a top 10, and with English, Claxton, Fenner, the pace will be huge from the start. Another rider who maybe entering is Craig Gordon the 2006 World Champion and he is a machine when he wants something. There are also lots of other riders that will be out to make impressions, including people heading to the Worlds this year and wanting to see where they are at (this includes me). I expect this one to be the strongest field in any Australian 24 hour so get out there and have a look.

Me, I will be out doing my own thing, pushing my own pace, and riding for my own goal. Hopefully I will poke my head out the other side in good form. It is strange I feel prepared to tough it out and every time I do solo’s I seem to get that bit more comfortable with it. No doubt my support has something to do with this, well experianced now. But they are always hard; everyone put’s in so much effort for the race it is hard but not to hope that everyone out there has a good run. So good luck to all who is racing and tough it out.

Mont 24 hour 2009

Wow what a weekend I don't really know where to start.

Friday we headed out to claim a site and get semi organised. But driving through I managed to see Paul who had a nice big area next to his setup so we claimed it and setup.

Saturday morning came and I had the car packed ready to go, but we had a little issue. Kendra had a blocked ear and could not hear a thing. So on the way we went to the chemist brought what we could to try and fix it and headed out. Unfortunately we just could not clear it, so we booked in at 2:40pm to the medical centre, after all this training she was not going to miss out on this one.

Anne was starting our mixed team of 6, really nevous she headed out with a Mumnut (Jenny) and had a blast. I don't think I have ever seen anyone over the age of 15 so excited when Anne came in. It was great, she handed over to John, who was really impressed with the wings and halo he had to wear I just had to take this shot.

Kendra and I headed off to get the ear fixed, and after a long wait we headed in. The doctor we had was a bit concerning not really giving us much hope, and more telling us that we could create more problem by using a syringe to clear it. We thought we would give it a go and I was really happy to see to my amazment some lumps come out (sorry no pic's). Kendra was really happy to hear again and we were off.

We got back in time for Kendra to get a day lap in. So she got ready to go and some encouragement from Anne she was away taking the baton from Brett. Now it was my turn to wait for her, this was a first. But she came back in all smiles she had lots of fun. It was so good to see as this was the biggest thing she has ever done. She has always been apart of it helping me out, but first time out riding it.

So the race went on laps went passed and Drew was all ready to head out on the fully ridgid SS for his second lap. About the time he was meant to swap over with John he came in looking a bit green he sad he could not do it and had ate something that did not want to be in his stomach. So I rushed to head out on my first lap in the night.

Got to transition waiting for John to come in waiting, waiting. Next thing John appears from nowhere handing the baton to go out. Seems as though he had been waiting a while with no one there for him. Anyway away I went with a glance of my watch. The track was fantastic packed nicely from the rain it was a really smooth run I was having a ball. Feeling like a wanted to make up for lost time I pushed it fairly hard and made the most of the fire roads. The lap went by really quick and before I knew it I was back in looked at my watch and it was 3 min less than an hour. I was happy I wanted a sub hour night lap even if it was unofficial it was my goal done for the race. Just the team goal to go, all we had to do is finish.

Kendra was getting worried her first night lap in a race, she headed out on her second lap. But came back in a bit dissapointed. She found it pretty hard out there at night, but she still had a clean run and did not have to go back out till the morning.

Straight after her I did a 2 lap stint and I was fighting the sleep monsters as it was something like 2:30am. The monsters did try to drag me into the forest but I was fighting off. I was using the method on keeping momentum and not really using much brakes and started to come around the ice dam. Going to hard I ended up using the rocks around to edge for a berm. It was working great for a while till the unavoidable happened. It was all good and I was back on again but strangely enough I was more awake than ever and kept going. I cruised through the next lap and a half enjoying the course not really worring too much about pushing hard just enjoying that nice track. Came into transition and handed over to Anne for her 2nd night lap.

John and Brett finished off the night laps which was great and with those 2 laps done they were done finished leaving me to head out again. I took it pretty easy, I socialised with lots of riders just rolling around I came back in to my surprise it was Kendra ready to go. She had another great lap to end her race on a high. She did have a little off an OTB experiance but with only little graze's and some bruising it was all good. Drew finished us off for the day and having a good run he finished it off early.

So thanks to the team for a great event it was fun and everyone put in a top effort. Drew even made his traditional pancakes in the morning. It was lots of fun camping with team's I cycle on and the Mumnuts, there was always something happening and someone to talk to who was happy to hear how you went. Nice work guys and well done.

Hear is a picture of Jen, who had a bad accident a few months ago but still

managed to get out there. I also hope that Merryl gets better soon. She came off on the last lap about 2k's from the end and damaged her shoulder.

But a huge thanks to everyone who made the event happen really good work, I'm really hoping the tracks will be just as good next year.

Arran Pearson

Fellow FTP rider heading to the Worlds:

http://web.me.com/arran_pearson/Arran_Pearsons_Blog/Blog/Blog.html