Well it’s been a while since my race in Sardinia. I have licked my wounds and got myself back on the horse.
So yesterday evening I did another rcae this time it was just a mountain bike race in Hog hill. That was FUN, hard, but fun. I have never seen my heart rate so high on a MTB…cor.
Nothing really much to say on the Italy experience I was not in it with my mind and body and the result were 2 X falls with the latter being the worst. I was out cold for a few seconds and lying there on the ground thinking ‘oh ow that is it for the season I am a gonna’. The officials were called and grabbed me and my bike , I then had to prize them off me and grabbed my damaged bike and rode off to complete the 2nd lap ( this was at the end of the 1st lap and I should/could have retired there and then ). I stopped briefly at the aid station where they doused me and my bloody body with water and I carried on.
My back brake however was badly damaged and was locking badly. I made it half way round and then a puncture stopped me getting any further. I managed to mend it but could only inflate with a c02 canister with a little air which was unridable. I decided to throw in the towel with my arm bleeding so badly I was feeling faint. I then had to wait in the searing heat for 20 mins for the ambulance who dressd my wounds then then left me in the middle of the mountain side…eh?
I then had to try and get a ride back- but no joy so began to walk ( the wrong way) to the short cut down to base.
No one could speak English and my Italian is only food talk, I guess I should have ordered some pasta??
So by then the race had almost finished and I was still stuck up a mountain 2 hours later. There was a lovely German older man who stopped and gave me his pump. So I was again on my way on the course and home
My poor mum was still standing at the empty space where my shoes still lay, she was in disbelief that I would ever return. She was manic by then as no one had told her what happened. I could have done the run section but I would have been dead last!!
We had to catch a plane that eveniong and had a 2/12 hour car journey to the airport to do only 1 hour later…phewww what a day.
It was not one of the most memorable races and experiences I have been through, think I lost the ‘love ‘ momentarily. Too many races too early in the season.? Maybe.
Here is the view from the mountain on my pre ride on the course.
