Nelson – National Hill Climb Champs – 26 January 2007
I never thought I would enter a hill climb race let alone get to the top and proclaim ‘That was awesome!’. The commisaire also said he’d never heard anyone say that at the top before either. Firsts all round then!
I made a silly mistake though, and missed the start. I thought I was timing it to perfection - my watches are fast and it wasn’t 5pm yet and was just getting off the trainer when someone came racing down saying they were calling me up - unfortunately I missed it by about a minute according to Ricky. Worst thing was it meant I had no idea who, if anyone, was in my grade. Sharon ’s name was on the entered list so I went with the assumption that she was up ahead somewhere. They’d also suggested there might be some on-the-day entries.
If anything, I think that mistake was a bit of a blessing forcing me to give it everything I had just in case someone was just up ahead of me. I started passing people just after the single track started. The course is quite gentle for the first 20 minutes give or take so I kept it in a solid gear and focused on staying smooth and keeping up a good pace and gaining on whoever was in front, passing them with good smooth pace.
I spent about the last 5 minutes of the single track without seeing anyone up ahead and thought that might be it for people to catch, but coming out on to the 4wd I caught glimpses of a couple of people. The real gruelling climb started now too - granny gear, and unnaturally forward on the seat! Concentrating on putting in powerful pedal strokes I closed the gap up the first couple of pinch climbs and then saw more people. Same again, just concentrating on closing the gaps as people were in front of me.
Soon enough people up ahead were off the bikes and pushing. Self talk became really important not to get caught up in the group mentality that it was too hard to ride, and I continued to pick people off, getting shouts of encouragement as I rode past the walkers.
About 10 minutes before the top there were 2 people in front of me - one guy, one woman. I had no idea what grade she was but she was walking. I was suffering up the steep rocky stuff so set my sights on the guy. It took me until nearly the top to finally catch and pass him which I did on the only section I came undone on (which I later found out was the order of the day for the guns too), ran to the top of that, jumped back on and set my sights on the girl who was still walking. Up the next pinch I called ‘rider’ and was frustrated to see her step in to my line forcing me off the bike on a smooth line.
Again I ran and she started to run also. She got on the bike first and I lost precious seconds clipping in - there were 2 more pinches before the finish, around the next corner I heard some cheering and my name. I looked up and saw Gav and camping neighbour Maryanne Avery urging me to get in front. A couple of good power strokes finally got me ahead and from there I could see the finish - the last little pinch felt like flat road as I got a spin on and crested the top on to the finish line!
I got off the bike with a heart rate of 200 and staggered over to the shade to lay on the ground. After rain in the hour or so before the start we were fortunate to have it sunny and dry ? and very hot!
I soon learned that I’d unfortunately not had any competition in my grade, but am pleased I didn?t know that. I was 3rd woman to the top, about 3 minutes behind 2 elite riders, closer than I would have expected.
Within a few minutes I was feeling fantastic! Adrenaline is a wonderful thing :o) I had been quite apprehensive the last couple of days about whether doing this was a good idea. Robyn had said it would be good and she’s always right. It’s actually just before 10pm and my legs feel good. It’s now given me a bit of added confidence for Sunday, knowing just how hard I can push on the hills and recover quickly.
Double thumbs up I say! (it feels a bit fraudulent, but I can actually say I’m a national hill climb champ?)
Gav doesn’t seem anywhere near as excited as I am after tonights events, but he came 3rd overall, 2nd in his grade and behind only Cabin who won, and Hiskey, who’s burgling masters! Top effort IMHO.
