Covid disappointment

I've been on the bike a lot in the past three weeks, enjoying more hours in the saddle than any when previously this year. Crunching through the autumn leaves, making the most of  the dry Southdowns trails, as I built up to the Brass Monkeys winter series. 

After a 4 hour ride on Sunday I was feeling physically well prepared. The bike was totally dialled and my order of SIS gels and Peanut Butter Cliff Bars had arrived ready to scoff during the races.

I was going to take it easy in the week building up to the first race with just a couple of short rides planned, so I was refreshed and ready to go! This would be helped by the fact I was starting a new job on Monday that required me to be in the office 5 days a week. 

After nearly two years working from home, getting up at 6.15 and spending the day in a busy office came as a bit of a culture shock. Then at Thursday lunch time I received the worrying news that I'd been in close contact with somebody in the office who had tested positive for Covid. 

I took a lateral flow test immediately which was negative, but by the time I got home it felt like my head was in a vice and I was getting short of breath. Another lateral flow this time came back positive. 

I'm now waiting for my PCR result, but I am really disappointed. The Brass Monkeys are great races to keep me focused on training through the winter months. I've also had some good series results, but this year will be the third in a row that I've been unable to compete in all the rounds and challenge for an overall series position. Gutted.

Gorrick Autumn Classic

Arriving at Frimley I was still on a bit of a high after the surprise podium at my previous race. However, this week it was back to the shorter XCO (Cross Country Olympic) race format. After my warm-up lap it was clear the 3 lap race was going to be done and dusted in about an hour. Quite different to the 6 hour battle of endurance that had seen my recent success.

The course was what we've come to expect at Highlands farm, comprising almost entirely of flowing singletrack. As I said in my last race report for the venue, brilliant fun for a Sunday social, but it can be frustrating when racing, due to the limited opportunities to pass. 

So it proved after the first mad 100m dash off the line. We all followed the leader in a long snake for the first 3 or 4 minutes. I could have, and would have liked to go faster, but we were all stuck in a fast moving convoy. Initially I didn't worry too much as everyone was still tight up to the wheel in front, but gradually the frustration grew as gaps started to form in the queue of riders ahead. 

A space started to open in front of the rider about 4 ahead of me in the snake. One by one the riders ahead slipped past until finally it was my turn. Trouble was the damage was done, this had spread us out and it was immensely hard and would take a massive amount of effort to close the gaps back down.

In fact I rode 95% of the race stranded in 11th place with the same riders in front and behind. I've well documented my recent run of finishing just outside the top 10, so there was no lack of determination to catch the rider ahead. After 60 minutes the finish line was in sight, but about now my slow twitch muscles and diesel engine were just beginning to warm up! The guy in front had his family along for support and twice each lap they would lean over the tape and cheer him. As we passed them with only a minute or two of the race to go, I was closing in on his wheel. They shouted "Go, go Daddy" and " You've got him covered Rich!" In fact I almost felt bad for them when a few minutes later I saw their eager, expectant faces at the finish line and I was in front! 

So 10th place! Not a podium, but it is my first top ten XCO result since I started racing in the Veterans category 3 years ago. Which meant I drove home with a contented smile on my face.

It had been great to race, but I'd also really enjoyed meeting up with familiar faces before and after the racing was done. So now I'm not so sure about sitting out the next XCO race in a couple of weeks as I had originally planned. I had intended to focus on longer rides in preparation for the Brass Monkeys winter series that starts on the 28th November. I'll see how I feel, watch this space.