SSS4 Ryde

Again this week it was a wet event. The location was Ryde. All the
training that I've been doing seems to be working. The controls down along the creek made fro some interesting times under foot. :-) A few slips and slides to get the heart rate up a couple of beats.

I was very happy to clock up 410 and come in with 2 minutes to spare. It's started me thinking that I could start pushing towards the mythical "500"... It's early days yet but you've got to have a goal.



SSS1: 370 (71)
SSS2: 430 (73)
SSS3: 350 (67)
SSS4: 410


Next week we're off to Parramatta.

Coming soon.... "The Fling"

Less than 2 weeks before the Higland Fling (9/11/08) is back. After
last years effort, it's time to exorcise the demons. :-) Bring it on.

AROC Cattai NP

After a wet week, it was a sunny and warm Saturday for the first AROC
sprint event for the year at Cattai National Park. Expectations were
high. The Dan, Al and Myself made up Deceptively Slow for this event.

The race started (leg 1) a little late and in a line start for the
kayaks. It was a washing machine start, and the narrow inlet saw a
bottleneck situation. Leg 2 was a rogaine section that required a
points collection of 250 points before the 3rd leg could begin, on our
return to the kayaks it was good to see a good number of kayaks still
there. After running through the bush it was nice to rest the legs for
a bit for the paddle back to TA3. Leg 4 (TA3 to TA4) was line course
collecting 4 controls back to the bikes (TA4). After a bit more bush
bashing the heat of the day could be felt, we arrived at TA4 (the last
leg of the mandatory legs). Buoyed by the news that we were the 25th
team to get on the bikes we were confident on getting to do the bonus
leg. Our confidence was short lived! with in 10 minutes we encountered
our first puncher. First Al, then myself, then Dan! By the end of the
day, we had experience 13 punchers between the 3 of us. and lost at
least and hour in the race. We weren't the only team to experience
some bad luck, the road was littered with teams and upturned bikes
busily working on tyres. It was very frustrating. We eventually, got
going and finished the race (there were a couple of stops to
re-inflate a tyre every couple of kilometers). :-)

It was disappointing and plain bad luck too. But then that's all part
and parcel of racing.

Unfortunately my GPS battery died in the ride section (Nth/West) of the course.

SSS3 Meadowbank

It was a blustery and wet Wednesday evening that greet me for the start of this weeks event. It's a favorite because it's only 5mins away from work. :-)

The weather cleared up enough to be a lovely 45 min run. Unfortunately I ran for 47 and change (30 point penalty). But bagged 350 points, a little disappointed but felt good. this course is a little challenging as there are only 2 points where you can cross the rail line (which splits the course in two). As per usual i went anti clockwise, next time I'll have to try counter clockwise.





Next week: Macquarie Hospital (Ryde)

SSS2 Iron Cove

Round 2 of the Sydney Summer Series was held on my home patch last
night. I think it may have even been my highest score to date. 430
(with a 2 minute penalty... bugger).




Next week: Meadowbank

SSS1 Summer Series 08/09 Season opener - McMahons Point

The first of the series has begun last night. It was a perfect spring evening and
a good start for myself. 370 points gathered, 0 penalites.

Next week: Iron Cove

Le Tour de Rock

The inaugural "Le Tour de Rock" (Nundle to Hanging Rock) was held on the 5/10/08 as a charity fund raiser for the Westpac Careflight Helicopter. A 13 km ride with a elevation of 520mtrs and average gradient of 4% (but effectively 8.3%).

I managed the ride in: 62min:12Sec (6th Place)
Michiel and Phil completed the "King of the Rock" run in 77min:11Sec (9km)
Tanya completed in a time of 82mins.