CRC Marathon weekend

BY: phil Morris

Published: 12th April, 2011

CRC Double marathon weekend!!

First up was the ELBNO which is a regular calendar event for me and this year was a good practice of night riding, before the 12 hour champs in Newcastleton.

Penmaenau Farm was the event base, which is just up from the Royal Welsh Show

Site at Builth Wells. Unfortunately, due to living in Builth I did not get full use of the great facilities provided at this event village, but im sure the majority would agree that facilities were top class! There were various stands on display, including Exposure which displayed their latest models that keep getting more powerful!

I signed on, picked up my number boards and goody bag and headed back home for a few hours. I headed back to the event village around 7pm ready for the scheduled 7.30pm start.

The Non-competitive ride!! Finally got underway about ten to eight, due to the sunny weather and light night. The first few miles involved following the lead car on the road. Once the car pulled away, we hit the first climb and the pace was extremely hot! Very quickly 3 riders (Nick Craig, Jon Pugh, Ian Leitch) got away, followed by myself. The climb was a monster, which felt endless and by the top of it I was in a group of four, including Oli Holmes, Matt Page and Werner Van Der Merwe. The decent was scary fast, especially with the darkness setting in good and proper.

At the bottom of the descent Oli punctured and this put him out of the group. The 3 of us left pushed on. I was going hard to try and get a gap, but couldn't gain an inch!!

On the next road section there was 2 short, sharp climbs, on the first one I gave it my all and managed to get a gap and thankfully was successful to gain more on the second climb! This gave me about a 100 meter gap now. Knowing there was only one climb left I just wanted to hold the gap I had to finish in fourth place. Which im pleased to of achieved!

After a short interview at the finish, it was time for tea and cake, topped off with a massage, in hope of reviving/preserving the legs and body for the marathon the next day.

Finally I hit the sack about midnight.

Morning came pretty damm quick and I was sat with my bowl of oats about half seven. The marathon was around the 80K mark. My plan was to not get carried away, but to ride at a good pace I could maintain, instead of chasing after the faster riders.

The weather was stunning, perhaps that was our summer!! Like arctic conditions today (in comparison) the sky was blue and temps in the low 20's. The ride was superb, loads of natural single-track, with a mix of real tough climbing.

I managed to stick to my plan, I didn't blow a gasket, I didn't jib for the 50K and I actually managed to come home in sixth place.

Overall, the weekend was top notch and for me doubled up as brilliant training on my doorstep!

Thanks to John Lloyd and team for another cracking marathon, probably the best CRC/Merida I have ridden, apart from Selkirk.

Also thanks to my friends, family and anyone else for cheering me on!!!

Phil Morris (XCracer.com)

Finally to my sponsors

Exposure, with whom I managed to have a cracking night ride!!

XCracer.com

Gateway Cycles

Accelerade

Mt Zoom