Mainpeak makes 12races/13days of racing in 14weeks and it's not about to stop. I'm possibly looking at another 6races/9days of racing in the next 6weeks. Mainpeak was always going to be one of the toughest though, and I was not mistaken.
The logistics for this race are massive with run/ride/run/ride/paddle/paddle legs. I was blessed to have Chris, Duncan and a little later on Nigel to help me out as my support crew. They did a fantastic job. I was up till 11pm on Sat night having worked a 12hr day Saturday putting the Tri gear on my road bike, setting out all my gear and getting all the info together for my support crew, getting food together and mixing up drinks 18 drink bottles with various cocktails in order to make it all run smoothly. Up at 3am to pick up the boys at Chris' house for a 4am departure to Toodyay for a 6am race start. Duncan got pulled up by the SWAT team on the way to Chris' house mistaken for someone in a similar vehicle ram raided a chemist (thanks for the sudafed BTW Dunc......kidding!). Set up the bike in T1 in the dark then up to the main street of Toodyay for the start line. Hello's to Billy, Bresa and Pocket, I was very nervous. I was expecting a 11hr day.
Leg1-7.5km Trail Run
Long day ahead, long day ahead, long day ahead.....was the thought I was repeating in my head. Fairly easy with a few little single track bits and a decent hill. Back into town and to the T1 bike transition on the river.
00:42:03 o'all84/120 o'all indiv33/46 category19/23
Leg2-58km Road Ride
Long day ahead, long day ahead......still trying to keep the pace easy to leave some in the tank. It was truely freezing when we hit the bike 6degC and no gloves. Did the first 10km on my own before latching onto a couple of guys who seemed to be about my pace. worked with them until about the 35km mark when they seemed to weaken and I was starting to feel stronger. Hopped on with a group of 4 and we worked together to the finish. I was a little worried I hadn't seen my support crew pass me and they weren't at the transition, releived to find they were there at T2 at Chittering Valley Estate. A nice undulating course, mentioned to Chris that it had gone really well, felt like I had made reasonable time without pushing too hard, the leg I was worried about was up next and the time for pushing was on the next bike leg after all the running was done.
02:01:40 o'all74/120 o'all indiv24/46 category16/23
Leg3-24km Trail Run
Been busting for a pee for about an hour by now. Stopped when out of sight and very releived. As you would expect the run started with a 4km climb.....I decided to run (very slowly at times) to keep my rhythm. All was going pretty well until I hit my old enemy the 14km mark. This is where it all went a little pear shaped for me. The pace slowed and I walked all but the slightest hills from here on in. The last few km seemed very lonely as there was just no-one around. The course was all fire trail with a fair bit of elevation involved. Out to the Avon River at Moondyne and back. The back bit seemed to take forever! Finally into T3 back at my bike the boys were waiting. The one small hicup in the logistics the boys didn't relise a had a separate bag of gear for the finish of the run. Luckily the car was closeby and Dunc grabbed it.
02:56:09 o'all87/120 o'all indiv25/46 category14/23
Leg4-33 Road Ride
Back on the bike I thought this was going to be sheer hell, but as soon as I clipped in and tucked down on the Tri Bars I am still surprised how good my legs felt. The boys passed me in the car shouting encouragement....I think. A relatively flat course with a gentle climb for the first half then a gentle descent in the second half and a little climbing into Walyunga and T4. I pushed a little until I hit the descent and then gave it a crack, managed to take quite a few people right up to Walyunga NP. Into transition I racked my bike and looked for my gear....I couldn't see it or the boys anywhere.
01:10:06 o'all56/120 o'all indiv11/46 category9/23
Leg5-7.5km White Water Paddle or 10km Trail Run
I had a horrible realisation the boys weren't here. Just as I was about to start bashing myself over the head with a seat post a lady mentioned they could be down by the ski's at the river edge. Oh yeah, why didn't I think of that. on this leg you could chose which option you wanted to do. With the water levels up similar to when I did the Avon I never even considered doing the run. As I trotted off to the ski's I was so releived to see the boys walking up the track with my gear in hand. I changed at the ski and made a graceful entry in my plastic ski with the rubber chicken on my helmet, unlike the guy who jumped onto his boat from the riverbank. I was very happy to be off the leg burning parts of the race. Straight into the rapids from above Walyunga I was loving it, the only issue was the massive cramps that started immediately I touched the cold water. overtaking a few down into Bells I was feeling good as I was remembering all the lines from the Avon. I was a bit nervous approaching Bells. I had been going too well, and had memories of all those rapids without a rudder in the Avon and copping a pounding. Breezed through Bells, and was leaving all the other paddlers around me for dead. Managed to stay in the boat, chuffed!
00:56:09 o'all47/120 category6/23
Leg6-16km Paddle
The boys were at T5 at the State Equestrian Centre to make sure I hadn't come to any grief in the white water. All was good so I waved and paddled on. That made this leg a 23.5km paddle and by about 15km I was getting very weary and getting a really sore butt. A guy I passed in the white water had changed to a fiberglass ski with a flip up rudder and sailed past. I could now see how much of a difference a lighter ski made. I was still getting the leg cramps but was forcing myself to paddle through them. I passed a number of people who were stopping to sort theirs out. Eventually I struggled into T6 at Middle Swan.
01:36:08 o'all53/120 category8/23
Leg5+Leg6
02:32:18 o'all45/120 o'all indiv13/46 category8/23
Leg7-12km Paddle
T7 and a flat river paddle I changed into my fibergass Fenn XT ski. I had never changed from one to the other before and I was astounded at how different they were to paddle both in stability and seating position. This one was so much more comfortable, no more sore butt! Off I went and immediately started passing people. It was short lived though as fatigue quickly took a firm grasp of my arms and shoulders and my technique went south. Again I was really struggling. Somehow with about 4km to go I found something. My arms lifted and my technique followed. I was gaining on the only guy to pass me since Middle Swan and in the distance I could see the only individual I had seen for ages, the guy who changed boats early and passed me. The closer I got to the finish the quicker I got, yes it hurt. I passed a heap of people in the last 2km including the 2 guys who had passed me. On hitting the beach at Ascot Kayak Club I managed to stand.....just and plod up the beach. As I hit the finish chute, I slowly loosened up and managed a jog, which eventually became a run. The announcer was egging me on to finish inside 10hrs 40. I did my best...and made it! 10:40:59.
All in all a very tough day. I knew I'd finish but it hurt.....a lot. I take my hat off to not only the superhuman winners but also the tail-enders out there for 13hrs 36min finishing in the dark. Summary; more training.
