But not the sort of form I wanted.. ☹
Coming into this year's K2 (according to Strava stats and my own
anecdotal evidence) I've never trained harder, done more climbing or ridden
more distance, than any previous year of training. I'm also as light in
weight as I've ever been, I had a good strong taper, so mentally came in with
plenty of confidence (maybe too much?).
As always, I had a rough plan and targets for the ride, like how
long I should I stay with the first bunch and time check points along the
route. Carl and I had agreed to ride together but also said if either of us was
feeling especially good (or bad) then not to wait for the other. The first plan
was to hang onto the bunch up and over the first 2 climbs and get a good tow
down the coast to Kopu, then play it by ear from there.
The weather forecast for Saturday had been horrid all week
(although improving) but race day dawned surprisingly warm, dry and calm. So we
lined up in normal cycling jerseys with no warmers required, starting in group
5 (6.10 - 6.20). Our target was sub 6.30, having done 6.41 last year. The pace
from the gun was easy until the climbs up Manaia and Kereta. The climbs were
ridden hard but it didn’t seem too hard, Carl and I made our way towards the
front of the group. Climbing out of the Kereta saddle (after that small decent
at the top) I got the first signs that my legs weren’t happy but I put it down
to having just done two relatively hard 10 minute efforts and that the legs had
just cooled on the decent. I let myself drift back a little in what was left of
the group, knowing that I’d close any gap on the main decent.
Hitting the coast I was on the very back of the bunch, trying to
recover as best as possible while the group sorted itself out. But try as I
might, my HR wouldn’t come down as much as I would have liked.. and any rollers
in the road would see the HR going above 160 (and with hindsight, I should have
sat up here and waited for a slower group and rested.. but I didn’t). Soon
enough the bunch had some order and was rolling turns so I did my bit.. but this
obviously didn’t help me recover and it also seemed like the bunch pace was
increasing as we went along.. (which our Strava segments along the coast
indicate that was indeed the case).
I was quite relieved when we hit Thames and the pace dropped.. and
I had already decided that the next time the road went up, I’d let the group
go. I was sitting just behind Carl, so I moved up and told him I was pulling
out of the bunch but if he was feeling good he should push on (and happily he
did). At this stage our ride average speed was just over 33kph so we were well
ahead of schedule (I had expected about 31 – 32kph). I managed the Kopu climb
fine on my own and kept the HR at 160 and under but had the feeling I was in
for a long day and was already in damage control. A few small groups came along
after the Kopu decent and I latched on, only to let them go again whenever the
road climbed more than a roller. This pattern of holding and releasing groups,
repeated all the way to Tairua (with twinges of cramp in both legs coming and
going) but I still was making reasonable time, reaching Tairua with an average
speed of 29.5 and about 3.5hrs gone (for 104kms).
Just before Pumpkin hill I got that horrible soft bouncy sensation
at the back of my bike and sure enough I had a rear puncture. I was certainly
getting that old feeling that K2 just isn’t my race. In the 10mins that it took
to fix the flat, a few bunches came past but I was soon on my way again,
resetting my goals to still hopefully Sub 7hr. From Pumpkin to Whitianga I rode
mostly alone, as the groups passing me were K1 fast guys which I had no chance
of hanging onto them. From Whitianga to the finish it was simple survival,
every rise in the road causing more cramp, each downhill a blessing where I
could spin the legs out. Not long before the Kuaotunu climb, Trace and her K1
DOC bunch caught me.. I told her I wasn’t having a great day and she should
ride on.. but she was having none of that and wanted to ride together (and I’m
sure I was great company ☹).
Not much to tell from here to the finish, other than I had the odd
good patch where the legs came back briefly but mostly it was just turning the
pedals over as best I could. Trace was trying hard to tow me along where ever
possible and for the first time in my life, I was wishing she was a foot taller
and 10 kilos heavier so I could get a better draft 😉. Climbing Whangapoua wasn’t pretty (but it never is) and I nearly
fell off the bike a couple of times when my legs locked up with cramp but
eventually made it to the top.. leaving me about 5mins to get to the finish to
achieve a ride time of Sub 7hrs. Needless to say I didn’t make it and missed by
1 minute.. which sums up my day.
So a disappointing result but certainly not my worst. Was it just
a bad day or the classic ambition over ability? I’m not sure…but I certainly
paid for going too hard, too early, for too long (a lesson I should have
learned already? History repeating? The definition of insanity, repeating the
same process and expecting a different result? )
I’m now looking forward to Taupo, especially as I’ve agreed to be
domestique for the day to help Trace and the DOC bunch achieve a Sub 5 hour
time.. and hopefully we’ll have a great day out and it will be nice to pay
Trace back for all her hard work.
