It has been a slow update I know, but the past week and a bit has gone way too fast. After the muscle strain the other week and some Chinese medicine my lower ribs did get better. The strange thing was that it transferred to my lower back which was not good. Dennis from the miracle clinic did ask me on the Thursday of last week how my back was feeling and it was pretty much when it started there. I had 2 visits to Dennis and although he did do a great job, the pain had moved.
So Friday I was off to Fenner’s house of pain. An early rise and a quick 3 hour trip we were there. I meet the crew (Jase and Arran also going to the Worlds, Josh an XC rider, very quick, and of course Fenz). Not long and we were off for the 115K mountain bike ride. This was a great ride up over a mountain range to Kangaroo valley, around to some Glengarry single track with is apart of the Scots college. The singletrack was great, although there was a slight hiccup on 1 section; I soon got comfortable with the tracks. They were wet, slippery, but lots of fun. Then it was time to head up the next range up to Fitzroy falls, this was a great climb, but it was where my back really started to hurt. I knew it would but I was not expecting it to start this early, and kept at it till a little stop to top up at a petrol station. The next section was down hill back into Kangaroo valley down the Cannonball run. This was a great trail very fast with some log rolls. Back through Kangaroo Valley and I knew the next climb was not far away and I was dreading it. I kept at it but it was hard and painful rolled over the top knowing we still had a good way back and the climb up to Fenners house. The last climb really did hurt me, but I must admit there was no way I was not going to push through and finally made it. A great day out but time for some recovery with some electro therapy and some of Sally’s fantastic cooking.
Saturday was not good, bad night sleep due to back pains and the only relief was that we were on the roadies for a flat road ride. Today we had a crew of 7 of us and we had a nice fastish cruise into Nowra, to Husky and finally some lunch in Jervis. It was great timing really as it was not long when we stopped that the clouds rolled in and started raining. The rain was short lived and we were on the road again. The ride home was slightly different including a little climb over to the naval base at Nowra. I knew this would hurt me and it did. But kept it going and then the climb back up to Fenners road and to the parked van we left for ourselves. I have to say I have never been in so much pain on the bike my back was screaming, it was definitely a few day’s of mental toughness for sure, but I made it. Good new was that night one of the riders brought his wife over, who does massage therapy for me. This made a huge difference, and I could feel every knot being pushed out. Di said if it hurts just let me know, but there was no way I was going to stop her getting rid of those painful things ;). Thanks Di that was the best massage and I really needed it.
Sunday I woke up with a slightly different pain in the back but it was all good. The day was heading down to race at the SCUM XC, which I did not know if I would do or not due to the injury. The 4 of us road down to Cabbage tree and did a lap of the course. This place rocks it was so smooth and fast with lots of flowing corners it was great. But with my back and another full day of riding I decided to take a back seat and watch to boys smash it out. Smash it they did Josh (even after 2 days of riding) broke the lap record twice on his last 2 laps where he dropped Fenz at the same time, good effort. Then it was a ride into a great café in Nowra, then the ride back up the hill to Fenner’s. I went OK this time a dull pain all the way did not hold me back, so the massage did the trick.
Monday was a recovery day with some flat road riding into Berry. This was great but I did feel as though I had lots of go in me so I tried to do lots of work at the front for the boys who raced yesterday. It was a nice run into Berry, and found another great café, the banana toast and crumble was fantastic. Heading out of Berry Fenz decided we could not go home till we climbed Mt Berry and up to Bellawongarah. This was a great little test with steep gradients and slow cadence’s we made it up Berry. But it was not over it still stepped up all the way to Bellawongarah, I loved this section as we put everything we had left into the last climb and the final hill my legs started to shut down. It was a good effort, and the remainder of the ride was all high speed, I have no idea what speed we hit as my meter magnet came off at Berry but it was pretty quick considering there were some wet oily patched at the top. So my back held out and it was all good.
That was the camp summed up we did go through some theory and I learnt allot more than I did in all my 7 solo race’s. It really opened my eyes to areas where I went wrong in the past. Hopefully it will put me into a good position to go through Worlds with a smooth run. No doubt I am due for one. So thanks to all it was a fantastic camp lot’s of fun. Fenz and Sally really put it all on and pulling out a great 4 day weekend. Fenz really has the knowledge behind him for sure, so if you get a chance to do one, don’t knock it back.
So now my back seems all OK, and good to go, happy day's. I don't know how that worked but it did. I went into the camp with an injury and came out the other side with it dissapearing.
Count down is on not much left to do in training just get some speed into those legs and some nice Enduro rides to finish me off.
If I did not stand out on the road before, I am sure I will now. The new Club Lime/Pink jersey has turned out great, combined with my new FTP bib's this maybe the combo I will wear for World's, I may wear my skins knicks instead. But it must be good gear, as I went out and did a new PB in my FTP test.
