South Island Adventure

Along the East Coast heading to Kaikoura 

Training has been going well and the recovery is getting better and better. I have now ventured down the South Island on a road trip to race and watch the South Island Mountain Bike Cup and be part of the action at Challenge Wanaka.

The first of the South Island cups were in Dunedin and so far the racing was a no go. The track was brutally steep and on a practice lap, it was a quick and sure decision not to race. I got maybe half way up the one and only steep climb and already NEEDED to stop, have a break and stretch to try and release the tension in my back and get the legs feeling again. Only the tension was there for a solid few hours after only that one cruisy lap.
I didn't want a repeat of the Tauranga North Island Cup last year and this race be the end of me for another year. And with a positive feel for the Christchurch course having ridden it a few times on the way down to Dunedin with no issues training, I am looking forward to having a hit out in that race.

Looking down at the race HQ in Dunedin. Standing up
the climb only a fraction of the way up. 

The plan in Christchurch is to take it easy as it is my first race since my last attempt and try have some fun without the added pressure to perform that top level racing puts out.
Now Dunedin is done, everyone makes their way to Christchurch for the next battle. Huge congratulations to Anton Cooper, Carl Jones and Karen Hanlen, super performances!

Some of the Elite Women
heading up the climb.

But for this week, till Saturday afternoon, I am in Wanaka with Olly Shaw where he is preparing for a different kind of battle in a half Ironman at Challenge Wanaka. For me, it is training and play time in the sun and wicked trails to keep improving and moving forward towards Christchurch on Sunday morning.