The tinkle of the opening front door, whining and barking of dogs, phones ringing, drip pumps beeping, children knocking things over, and so many questions. Why am I finding this so testing today I ask myself, and then I look out the window where the answer lies. It is Wednesday and I haven?t yet ridden my bike, today is my half day at work. The remainder of the day will be spent under blue skies with the ocean in full view and the wind rushing past. Suddenly I am calm again its time to spin those pedals.
As my legs get into their rhythm I glide past the rolling hills by Bells beach, those sandstone cliffs get me every time, my heart flutters, their ever changing colours are just so beautiful, coupled with the feeling of speed as you descend its hard to beat. Now its time to get my head into gear and make sure I?m prepared for those hill efforts up Bennys from Lorne. But first as its holiday time I have to play dodgems with the endless queues of poor holiday makers who are trapped in their cars on this hot day as I sail past on my freedom machine.
As my legs are screaming at me towards the end of my intervals up the climb I have visions in my head of all the women who inspire me in world cycling, each time I do an interval I will imagine a different person I?m chasing dreaming that one day it might be a reality.
Nationals were drawing close, so I began to think about all of the girls I would have the opportunity to race against in Buninyong and that would drive me to push that little bit harder, push out those extra few watts, suffer that little bit more. Because that?s what it would come down to on a punishing climb like the one we were to face seven times on Saturday.
Suddenly the pain would fade as I flew back down the hill round the sweeping bends and watched the ocean grow closer, and sparkle like topaz. By the last leg of the journey home my fighting spirit is beginning to fade, a few more sharp bursts are required to complete this training ride and I?m not quite sure where I?ll find them, but as the beats of dance music drum in my ears with the words ? all the tears, and the pain?.? Sing out I suddenly find that little extra to push for those last efforts, and spin out the last kilometres of another journey along the great ocean road.
Home. Recovery shake on the balcony and the greatest feeling of satisfaction, all efforts are completed, my legs are tingly, ready for rest. My stomach ready for a hearty meal, and before long it will be time for bed, rest those legs, for it won?t be long until the next session before it all starts again?
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When the big day arrived I was feeling full of energy, we had a race plan ready to execute, with nothing to lose. Time to put those legs to the test! Half way up the first climb on the Midland highway I launched my attack, and pushed to break free from the group. After not long a small breakaway of four of us had formed. Myself, Lisa Jacobs (VIS), Rebecca Werner (Specialized-securitor), and Jessie Maclean (Orica?AIS) did work together, but it took some nudging.?
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However if the big teams didn?t continue to be represented in the break, my initial efforts would have been doomed. I kept thinking we must be losing ground, but gained a little confidence every time I heard that our gap had extended a little. When the time gap drew out to over 3 minutes, I thought there might be a chance that our group would stay away, if only we pushed on.
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However with three laps to go the time gaps were coming down and the bunch from behind were pacing down on us, was it going to be one or two riders, or the whole field? Time to make a move, it was now or never, did I still have enough time to make it clear of the rest of the field and stay away? Again nothing to lose, if I didn?t Miranda was there in the group ready to react as soon as I was passed.
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I heard from the Orica-AIS car that two of their riders were bridging across, then heard that Tiffany Cromwell was drawing close, but then suddenly Ruth Corset sped past me on the climb. I jumped to catch her wheel and after some time managed to tack onto the back of her, but before long the drag of the climb took its toll, as I watched her rear wheel fade into the distance.
A little time to recover before the remainder of the splintered peleton appeared and I managed to hold on over the top of the climb and get a free ride back down to the start of the next loop. But as the attacks started thick and fast on the climb once more my legs were unable to respond, and I was once more in no mans land holding my steady pace, not long now till the race was finished, I just had to concentrate and get to the finish now. ?
I turned my attention to strain and hear the commentary going on- where was Miranda and what was happening out front?
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?I was so excited by the time I finally reached the finish line, to see where Miranda was, 4th!
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From all the changing of the leaders in the last lap, she was part of the decisive break as usual and crossed the line with them! The other girls had done a stellar job of looking after Miranda in the bunch, Steph was ready for her counter attack in the early part of the race if I had been brought back. Poor Kristy suffered a puncture in the first lap and wasted heaps of energy chasing back to the bunch, however she made it and finished in good time! What a day for Holden! And I came away with the QOM jersey, a giant mars bar and a bunch of flowers, result!!??
