Sussex CA 50

[Tamar Collis]

Keith and I couldn't be arsed to drive up to the Finsbury Park 50 so got up at the relatively leisurely hour of 5am and were on the road by 5.30 for a nice 7.17 start on the not so quick course around Dial Post/Bolney/Cowfold/Henfield/Washington.

It was not a bad morning at all, clear and warm...but the little climbs and rolling bits make it hard to settle into a rhythm (OK, so I'm getting my excuses in early alright?)

Actually, there is no excuse. I just didn't ride hard enough. Was haunted by memories of blowing in last 50 and grovelling and feeling utterly cr*p. And then remembering just how much my last 25 had hurt....and now couldn't quite bear the thought of half-killing myself for the next 2+hours. But that's not the attitude to win races. I argued with my feeble mind for a brief while and we eventually struck a deal - ride fast but not so fast it hurts for the first half, and then put the hammer down and ride 25 pace for second half. The it will only be an hour of hurting....and you can handle that.

The first hour rolled by and I had averaged a less than impressive 21.6mph. Time to up the ante. Only something went a bit wrong. Bargains were forgotten and my heart rate stayed resolutely below 160bpm.

Pootled round the second half at exactly the same average speed and rolled across the line in 2.18.37 - wasn't even out of breath although back and shoulders were aching and I was looking fwd to getting off the bike. Not a sparkling performance.

Keith got 2nd with 1.53 but Steve Dennis of East Grinstead stamped his mark on the event with an impressive 1.49.

[Keith W]

Good Ride on a hard corce -- Keep it up -- Joyce and My self think you will be flying SOON on a faster one --- From -Joyce AND the other Keith. Keep up the good work !!!!

[Tamar Collis]

Thanks Keith - kind of you to say so. But it wasn't a great ride and I know it. My heart just wasn't in it. I just really couldn't face inflicting the kind of physical and mental torture upon myself that is required to get a good time.

Still there's always next time...

[Snoop Doug]

keep 'em coming Tamar - sure that it'll all click for you soon.

Snoop

[Andrew G]

Doesn't matter Tamar, most of the 10s I did last year I never got my head on 'til about 4 miles in and then thought "sh1t you haven't even started trying yet!" In a 10 there's obviously no way back.

Any ride you do that you don't "click" on is still a good training session for the next TT.

And I'm never doing a 50 so 2:18 is still damn fine in my book especially when you weren't "on it".