I had a 2nd row call up thanks to an early registration and no thanks to my prior Australian Cross Results points which had now all expired. I had a good start, wanting to settle in around 5-8 and up ahead Clark took a nice holeshot. Clark and Clay would swap off for the early part of the race and set a nice tempo that stretched the field. Early on the 2nd (I think) lap Clark had a little mishap and slipped a chain so Clay took over the pace making duties.

On lap 3 a couple of young whipper snappers took off and would not be seen again. Ah the fountain of youth. Meanwhile I was sitting in maintaining a very healthy heart rate of 192bpm (a 20 minute all time). Despite the high heart rate I was feeling relatively comfortable until my old nemesis leg cramps hit me running up the stairs. It took all I had to stick on John’s wheel for the remainder of the race, stoked to come in for 5th.

After the wide-angled podium presentations it was back to the air bnb and straight into the photo editing whilst others prepared the evening’s feast, what gems. Oh, I also had my first White Claw, #hotgirlsummer lives on.

Day 2

Walking down the stairs for breakfast on day 2 was quite the struggle with the crazy knots left in my legs from the cramps from the day before. The hill again secured I settled in for another day photographing, heckling and (eventually) racing. 3:45pm start for Cat 3? I thought the days of late starts were well and truly behind me. Oh well.

The weather was definitely a lot hotter on Day 2 and despite a few token stretches my legs just wouldn’t loosen up. Before long I was back on the trainer with Down with the Sickness for comfort ready to go through another 45 minutes of my heart trying to pop out of my chest.