Currently in Yorkshire, training hard, thinking about life up here. Harsh. Seasonal. Weathered. And such things.
Last weekend was Matt Page’s XC Marathon Champs in Llandovery, more specifically the Crychan Forest, totalling 94km, ~3000m climbing. Imagine a hilly, wet, Welsh event, and you have it right there. Super tough, (as it should be), longest day out for me in a long time. Testing both man and machine, psychological, physiological and mechanical failures abounded. I certainly had my fair share of each.
It was my first mountain bike outing in a couple of months, I felt a bit green at times. Coming to the end of a big block of training for the Cyclocross 3 Peaks, I was fit but not fresh. Eventually coming in at 3rd Vet and 6th overall, I was so happy to finish it. Talk at the end was non-stop as we all offloaded our anxieties and efforts experienced during the race, whilst barely recognisable under the layer of wet Welsh mud. Thanks to Rhys for his patience such a long event. Though I think he was suitably entertained by the campsite customers… Thanks to Paul for the looking after the mtb, it needs a good strip down now.
This weekend sees the start of the cross season. It wasn’t my initial intention to go for it this season, but after a virtually non-existent mountain bike season, I am having it.
Verity Appleyard 