A weekend of fun! 23rd January 2008
Afternoon everyone,
Well my first weekend of fun is over... Some would say it wasn't much fun at all, but I had a blast!
I competed in a three day cycle tour in and around the beautiful Hawkes bay area. It was always going to be hard for me as I have done nothing but strength endurance work during my first block of training. But if there was ever a time to raise the heart rate it was now!
For me personally getting amongst the best cyclists in New Zealand, is not only about challenging myself but about getting out of my comfort zone. then trying to remain as calm as I can to still complete the task at hand. I have ventured here a lot over the past three years and have learnt so much along the way from all the guys and teams I have raced with. It's also served me well during my triathlon career to be tactically better. And so the learning went on.....
Number one lesson, Racing these boys when they are firing and I'm not hurts!! but then if it was meant to be easy everyone would be doing it.
Number two, The young guys coming up in this country are a credit to some fine coaching and great infrastructure's that allow them to excel at an age that leaves the world at all there feet. And brings a smile to my face watching them better themselves day in and day out.
Number three, Never stop learning as every race I do I learn more tricks from these guys. Not to mention getting hurt over and over again with the old ones I already knew.. Dummy!
All in all the tour went well for myself considering where I'm at. Its hard to understand that you cant win everything you set out to do. But once you do and can put it into prospective you will get great gains both physically and mentally. I was down on GC ( general classification ) but stayed and finished with the main bunch when I was able to do so in every stage. I gave my Avanti team corsa its last hurrah before my new weapon arrives very soon! and when I get my new TT bike ( time trial ) I may be able to give some of those boys a closer run in the prologue too. I also want to say it was a really great ride by all the subway boys and of course Joe for winning the tour overall.
Now its back to triathlon training as per usual But, I have yet another chance to learn for these guys again this weekend in the Wellington two day tour run in and around Martinborough. So can't wait!
32 here in Palmy today go the Manawatu.
Cheers,
Kris