There is a commonly heard saying in the sporting world “Train Hard – Race Easy”. I think it should be “Train Hard – Race Faster – Hurt Just as Much”. We finished the AROC Olympic Park Race in just over half the time it took me to do my first race just two years ago but I still have the same subsequent weakness-leaving-the-body.
Selina Stoute and I had been joined by speed machine Adrian Keough for this
race, Adrian unable to resist the temptation of a last hit out before heading
to Tasmania for XPD. After leaving our bikes at the bike drop we headed to
registration to check in amid a sea of competitors. The number of unknown
legs and controls meant there wasn’t too much preparation that could
be done but it was still fairly hectic with the limited time before the start.
Selina and I set to marking out our course while Adrian went to mark controls
off the master map, Selina all the while fielding questions from curious spectators.
The start involved a short sprint to retrieve an orienteering map with 20
controls to be collected in any order. A quick assessment to find a flowing
loop and we were off. A slight flaw in our route emerged when we were confronted
by a 2.5m high fence blocking our path. Over the fence with a number of other
competitors we claimed the next control, went back over the fence and on our
way to the transition, picking the controls off along the way. Setting about
making up the time we had lost climbing fences we pushed hard on the first
bike leg and were surprised to see only 3 sets of bikes at the transition.
Paddling hard we caught the Control Freaks (the clever girls had noted the
fences on the first leg and blitzed the field) and started the next orienteering
section on the heels of Millie Too and the Betty Allstars. A good transition
onto the bikes saw us hit the front, yelling warnings to bewildered pedestrians.
A moment of chaos was to follow when a local managed to lodge a kite in a
tree, the cord dangling across the cyclepath, fortunately just above head
height, however the squealing tyres behind us indicated it had caught a few
competitors unawares. We continued on our way, Selina and Adrian doing a fantastic
job on the bike navigation, nailing every control.
The next intended obstacle was the mountain cross track which I carefully
rolled around, having fitted narrow tyres which offered zero grip on gravel.
On to transition and the inflatable obstacle course, waterslide and whirlpool
in the Aquatic centre which provided spectators, volunteers and fellow competitors
with much entertainment.
A short ride leg saw us starting a Rogaine with 100 points to collect, the
midpoint of which saw us faced with a checkpoint in a tower, the gate of which
had been locked subsequent to the race start. Adrian, never one to let minor
details get in the way, climbed the fence to punch the control before we continued
on. We had almost made it to the end of the leg when my HID battery gave out,
leaving me in the dark (4 hour life my butt). I swapped to a head torch while
Selina steered us through the remaining controls and back to the transition
where Adrian copied the controls for the final leg and we peddled with everything
we had left to the finish to record our first outright victory.
Thanks to my awesome team mates, Selina and Adrian and Congratulations to
the Control Freaks and Mirage Terra X who took out the Female and Male categories.
Congratulations to Tom and Alina on an awesome sprint race season. Thanks to everyone who volunteered - it was cool playing “Spot the Adventure Racer” with Michael Merriment, Christie Sym, the Prestons and others all out on the course helping out.
Thanks to our personal sponsors, the Street, Foster and Keough foundation
and to Cam from the Lonsdale St Cyclery for keeping our bikes running flawlessly.
Good luck to everyone doing the XPD, hope to see you all at the AROC 24hr.
I can’t wait for Mt Buller.
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