XC Racer Blog Post

Failure to launch...

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BY: Oliver Herdsman

Published: 13th July, 2012


Despite how it may sometimes seem, I am, on the whole, a very optimistic and positive person but the last week of illness, which led to me having to DNS at Newnham Park, has left me feeling really down.  I had been looking forward to the Bontrager Twentyfour12 for a long time - it was my first 12 hour solo race back in 2008 when I was completely new to mountain biking and it's what really got my excited about endurance racing, I've ridden at Newnham park plenty of time since then and always love it!

Who's that lady in my clothes, sorting out my bike?

The last month or so has been pretty good, cycling wise.  I had a reasonable result at my first ever Bikefest 12 hour solo, coming a respectable 8th place off the back of a really lousy start. I felt strong during the event but the best thing was that I came away from that race feeling like I had a lot more to give. It seemed like all my training was coming together and that my main goal for the year, a top 5 finish at the Bontrager Twentyfour12, was at least slightly possible.  It wasn't to be though, a spanner was thrown in the works in the form of my cousins stag party the weekend before.  After all my diet control, abstaining from caffeine and alcohol and getting in some good sleep, I had a weekend of no sleep, nothing but junk food and a modest but, for me large, volume of alcohol.  

By Sunday evening my nose was running, my throat was sore and my head was throbbing.  As the week went on any hopes of recovery were thwarted by a stressful and unpleasant time at work.  I had booked the Friday off so headed down to Newnham regardless, in the hope that I'd make a miraculous recovery but it wasn't to be.  I went out for a lap in the afternoon after having set up camp - 1 hour later I made it back and I was feeling terrible!  I was able to gently roll along but when I tried to push, even a little, I had no strength in my legs nor any breath in my lungs.  Continuing to ignore the obvious, I swapped my tyres out for some mud tyres and had an early night, still hoping I'd feel better in the morning.  Morning came and I awoke in a puddle.  Needless to say I was not better, weird.

Late night tyre swap

It would definitely have been a bad idea to even try to start the race so I broke camp in the morning drizzle and left, just catching the start of the race.  So my tally now stands at three Twentyfour12 races not finished.  This year tonsillitis, last year a crash and a night in hospital at seven hours, 2010 tonsillitis... either I have my tonsils removed or give it a miss next year, I'm clearly cursed. 

As close as I got to the start line

I'm still unwell now so just trying to rest up and get better.  The next races up are the final round of the Fully Sussed SW Series on August 4th, followed by a 12hr solo at Torq in Your Sleep on August 26th.

Thanks as always to my sponsors and sorry for being such a frail let down.

Chin up Oliver. 

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