Lisa Morgan - Kiwi Mountain Biker

Wow - where do I begin?  The unusual plan of attack… the wet and mud… the super low pressure I ran quite unintentionally… the sugar and caffeine fuelled drive home… the pain all through my body this morning???  So many choices it’s like a blog buffet!

I think I’ll start by saying this:  I’m very, very tired.  And very, very happy about it.

Saturday

I’d heard there had been a fair bit of rain for a while, and it rained much of the drive up and over night so decided it was finally time to put the Medusa’s on on Saturday morning.  If I was going to be running them in the race I needed to know how they rode and reacted, and it was an opportunity to find out whether the trails really did warrant muds.  Since I was changing tyres I also decided to convert back to tubeless (which involved a quick trip to Rotorua Cycles to drill out the rim hole since it was a new rim since I was last tubeless - the guys were great - gave me the tools I needed and chatted to me while I got the job done).

I headed out to ride the last 3rd of the race with Shane and KC - I chose this section as it wasn’t too far out from the carpark and included some of the trails I don’t know so well but could be covered in an hour.  As soon as we hit the first bumps I knew I had too much pressure so dropped some out after a few minutes.  After slipping on a few roots I decided to drop a bit more out and while I no longer had any problems with roots I knew I’d gone a bit far when I could feel the rim hitting the bumps… woops!  Easy to fix - added pressure back at the motel.

So, fun ride over, happy with the muds and the trails, bike cleaned and prepped, Lisa fed, bring on race day!

Sunday

Sunday dawned cool but clear.  As with the last race, I cut the warm up short and got to the start early where Jude (who wasn’t racing) had saved me a spot.  As the minutes ticked by I focused on the plan - to go out as hard as I could saving nothing.  In fact, if I blew up I would see it as a positive that I’d pushed to my limits.  When the gun went I went for it.  I lead the women for the first minute by which time I was nearing my max heart rate and felt the need to throw up, which stayed with me for the next 15 minutes - most of the way up the first climb.  I wasn’t sure at the time, but upon reflection I think this inhibited my ability to really work the legs and once again I felt like I didn’t give it my best up the first climb.  I’d really felt I was going to take it to that hill this time and I’m disappointed with that part of my race.

Next up we were in to 3 pieces of singletrack, the first of which always poses problems for many riders.  I was so far back in the field I had no choice but to sit behind and lose more time.  I would have loved a clean run here as the Medusa’s were doing the job well.  By the time we headed in to the next trail things had cleared a bit but I was still held up.  Single track is my forte and where I usually make up a bit of time but it was several minutes before I had clear track to ride and then just a few more until the main junction area where we headed back on to 4wd.

This section had a bit of undulating 4wd and it was when I realised I’d lost a bit of air from my rear tyre - not something that is conducive to good rolling on gravel road, but I treated it as an opportunity to have to push a bit harder and dig a bit deeper.  Heading up the climb I was definitely feeling it but wanted to keep pushing.  I told myself if I reached a point where I really couldn’t go on that I would opt out at the nearest exit and roll home.  It was a mind trick and enabled me to keep digging instead of feeling like I had to hold back for what was left to race.

Heading up the last climb to the start of Hot X Buns I was really digging deep but unlike in the past where I’ve succumbed and backed off, I forced myself to just keep pushing.  I was doing something I hadn’t done in a race since summer which is mentally checking in to make sure I’m giving it everything.  I was starting to feel it on the pinches but had a long downhill coming up to recover on (sort of).  Once through HXB and BRN2 it was back to climbing on Lion Trail.  Somewhere near the top I hit the 2 hour mark and felt as if I was going cross eyed.  This was good - I think!  The final 3rd of the course was mostly undulating with a couple of consistent climbs I rode a lot faster during nationals, some techy pinches I was determined to clean despite the fact I didn’t have much left in the legs, and of course finished off down one of my favourite trails that means you always finish on a high.

I was starting to break.  My strategy moved from pushing it at all times to pushing it on the climbs and trying to recover on the rest.  I think it was more a struggle to focus mentally.  The only parts of the course I seemed able to focus on were those I knew had the potential to really hurt.  At around 2.5 hours I went a bit numb mentally and was preparing to crawl the last few k’s.  I didn’t have much left but was nearly home and was through the worst of it.  I was sure I’d lost the ability to speak, had definitely lost the ability to think, and by the time I crossed the finish line standing was a struggle and I was pretty convinced I was fluent in a few languages not recognised in any country with a flag (dribble was one of them).

After regaining the will to move I gave the bike a clean, had a shower and waited for prizegiving while eating a sandwhich the size of an atoll.  There was a bit of confusion in the results and they still show me in 4th but apparently one of the boys somehow snuck in to our results.  Sonia took it out (she also told me a story about blowing up in a marathon recently but I’m a bit vague on the details or even which one of her was doing the talking), ‘Posh Spice’ Kavanagh who has placed in all the short course races took 2nd and I somehow crawled across the line in 3rd. 

Reflections

On the drive home I wasn’t sure if I’d really pushed hard enough.  Could I have done more in the sections towards the end where I’d let off?  I don’t know.  Usually I know where I could have gone harder so I think I can take that as a sign I really couldn’t have given it much more.  I don’t know if the cold I had recently affected me, and I’m also a bit perturbed about the nausea at the start - it’s not the first time it’s happened in Rotorua (sulphur perhaps? Maybe I should have asked the young boy who literally was throwing up on the first climb).  And how much time and energy was lost due to the self-deflating rear tyre?  I think, some.  I wasn’t particularly fussed about it yesterday, but I’ve entered a state of being happy with my placing too, simply because I’ve been racing the series for 3 years and have never placed before.  I’ve raced better in the past but missed out on top 3.  At least I’ve got that under my belt now!

I’d kind of planned to guage my efforts on how I felt during the drive home.  But whilst I felt tired and my speech was a bit slurred early on (talking on the phone, not to myself!) I remained awake and alert.  On reflection I think it may have had more to do with a couple of doses of caffeine, something I seldom have these days, and a pretty high intake of sugar (mmmm, finger buns…). 

Certainly the mental and physical state I woke up in this morning suggest I managed to waste myself pretty well.  It’s still bloody raining but they say it will clear later so I’m hoping I can get outside to spin the legs in the fresh air.

Next up: The local series begins!  PNP race 1 next Sunday just down the road at Makara Peak.  Give me a few days and I’ll be ready to race again - at least no travel for a while.

Well it took a little longer than I’d hoped or expected, but I’m definitely on the mend.  The lungs have cleared up, now I’m just waiting for the legs to come back!  I’m never a happy camper when I’m unwell but I think I coped pretty well knowing that the best thing I could do was rest until I was well enough to train again.  I had more sleep last week than any other week this year!  And it seems to have done the trick.

I managed to put in some solid rides over the weekend, including a couple of laps of the Mt Vic course which I hadn’t ridden since the summer.  I’d forgotten how brutal it is! I still love it, I’d just forgotten how steep some of the climbs were - but the downhills were as much fun as ever.  And I’m pretty impressed with how well the Larsens ride even in the wet conditions, but I think I’m going to be breaking out the Medusa’s for the local races.  I’ve been carrying them to every race since Dunedin back in January and as yet haven’t needed them.

So, racing.  It’s about to start.  N-duro number 4 this Sunday, then the first round of the PNP series the weekend after - nice and local on my home trails of Makara Peak (although I think this year the time has been spread evenly between MP and Mt Vic).  PNP means the start of Priority 2 racing.  In my first year of structured and planned training I’m interested to see exactly what this will mean as I’m almost due for my next programme block.

I managed to get through my 3 weeks of IO - it gets a bit tough by the end of the 3rd week but it felt strange not going there today.  Unfortunately somehow I didn’t feel like I’d gained an extra hour!  Work-wise I’m handing over a significant portion of my role this week to a new colleague.  Of my 4 ‘hats’ this is the 3rd one I will be dropping as each of them has turned in to a full time role in itself.  Each area will now be getting much more focus and an improved level of service to the clients, and I’ll be able to focus on the area I have chosen to keep - a role that should keep the hours down and retain the flexibility I need.

Well, some intervals tomorrow should test the legs out nicely and then on Friday I’ll be hitting the road.  Rather looking forward to getting away for a couple of days again - it’s been so long! 

Even in the highly structured world of an athlete there will inevitably be occassions when things don’t go according to plan.  Gear gets lost in transit, you get injured, you find out there has been a change in dates.  Whatever it is, you have to make all your plans as if nothing will interrupt them, identify risks and mitigate them where possible, be flexible when things don’t fit the programme, and for the rest there is an element of hope like hell that what you’ve done will be enough!

So, I have a cold.  There are two things that really grind my gears (pun intended).  One is gear failure - mechanicals make me angry, so I work hard on my bikes to keep them in tip top shape and 99% of the time it pays off.  The other is my body letting me down.  As an athlete your body is your #1 tool.  If that’s not working you’ve got problems.  The training is tailored to make the most of your abilities and potential.  Diet is carefully planned to ensure your body gets all the energy and nutrients it needs to support the training and competition in taking you towards your goals. 

Training through winter is always going to increase the risk of catching something (as does working in air conditioned offices where other sick people come in).  I’m not big on supplements but to mitigate the risk I include a lot of items known to boost immunity and fight colds and flus in my cooking - fortunately they taste good too!  But some sneaky bug has worked it’s way through my body’s natural defences and I have a cold.  And no, I’m not happy about it!

Yesterday I was told ‘day off!!!’.  I was partly relieved given I was feeling pretty crappy.  But as has been established previously, I’m an addict.  I need my fix.  So I was only to happy to report last night that I was feeling much better and could I please do my hills today?  In the end I was told yes, on the condition I peg it back to a light spin if I wasn’t feeling good. 

Determined as I was to feel good, I was less than half way up the first hill when I realised this wasn’t a good idea.  So I pegged it back for the rest of the climb then attempted some spinning before cutting the whole session short.  At least we’ve learned I can make that call - there were serious doubts, even on my part.  But when I realised this thing had hit my lungs I knew it was time to peg it back.

It’s a week and a half before my race schedule goes crazy and I know there is a sensible way for me to approach things and a really stupid way.  If I do anything stupid (with regard to getting over this cold) I give you all licence to hide my bikes from me until I am better (and I know some of you would do this!  Only for my own good of course.).

So, where are the positives?  Well firstly the season hasn’t even begun and I’ve got a bit of time to fully recover.  Priority 1 racing is a fair way off yet so that’s not at risk.  Secondly I was able to make a sensible call and drop off where in the past I no doubt would have kept pushing - thats major progress to me and tells me I’m learning as I go and I am truly commited to my long term goals.  Thirdly I’ve been a lot healthier this year than in past years so I’m optimistic that once I shake this good and proper I’ll be able to stay healthy again. 

Not so long ago a day off was something I struggled with.  Now I know one every now and then will only serve to make me faster.  Of course I’m still not happy about unplanned time off but the best thing I can do is take the time out my body needs so I can get back to it as quickly as possibly and continue carving up the roads and trails.

Until then, my apologies in advance if I get a little grumpy.  I’m an addict after all…

A friend brought to my attention a couple of days ago that I got a mention in Mark ‘Cabin’ Leishman’s column in the latest edition of NZ Mountain Biker Magazine.  The article centres around how much racing this guy manages to pack in to his schedule, both domestically and overseas.  Year to date he’s competed in something like 40 events including a combination of XC and off-road triathlon.  I bump in to him every now and then and he’s always got something interesting to share.  Most recently I saw him before the last N-Duro race.

His comment in the column is:

“It’s not like I’m the only person who race’s all the time. There are many in the same boat. Take the case of Lisa Morgan for example. A super enthusiastic member of the Wellington MTB fraternity, who frequently refers to a personal race calendar so full; she finds it easier to remember which weekends remain event free. And she isn’t alone. One of the beauties of the Kiwi mindset is our willingness and desire to get out and partake in events.”

He’s right - in 3 weeks I’ll be entering a pretty busy time that hardly gives me a break until March next year.  And of the few (2 before Christmas) weekends I’m not racing I already have plans and will of course still be training.

Cabin got me thinking… On face value I’d probably have to say I couldn’t quit any time I want to.  Does that make me an addict?  So, what is an addict - what are the criteria I need to meet before I have to accept what people have been telling me for years and has now been put in public print for all to see?  Well, what makes an addict?  I did a little web search and quickly found 1 among many definitions that seems to fit:

ad·dict (ə-dĭkt‘)
tr.v., -dict·ed, -dict·ing, -dicts.

…To occupy (oneself) with or involve (oneself) in something habitually or compulsively: The child was addicted to video games…

Although if it didn’t include ‘habitually’ I couldn’t say for sure that I meet the criteria (though perhaps the fact that I wouldn’t be prepared to stop to find out tells a story in itself…).  And on top of that I couldn’t help but think of some of the thoughts and feelings I’ve had while riding lately.  I’ve had endorphin rushes that don’t compare to anything I’ve experienced before, I begrudgingly end rides because the programme says 2 hours even though 4 would be nice, and I asked a friend in an email just 2 days ago if she also sometimes wishes she could just ride all day (her answer was yes).  I was on the bike only an hour ago and sure enough I got that feeling that I never wanted that ride to end.

I guess I’d be hard pressed now to convince anyone that I’m not addicted.  But in an age when the term ‘addict’ is usually linked to so many things that are destroying the lives of individuals, families and indeed whole societies, I’m a little bit proud to be addicted to something that is so positive. 

What I do is healthy, it’s given me a greater awareness of and love for nature and the environment than I probably would have otherwise, it’s provided me with amazing experiences and there is so much more to come yet.  And there isn’t much better than people telling me I’ve inspired them, just by doing the thing I love!  That’s cool.

So what does all this mean?  Not a lot.  But it prompted me to think a little bit about what I love in a different way.  And since I had a couple of hours on planes today I even managed to progress the thinking all the way through to what you’re reading.  Ultimately, I guess it’s merely reconfirmed what we all already know - that I love this game :o)