SpoonBoy

I’m at home today deciding not to head into work. I’m at home because I’m feeling pretty crappy, I get up, do something for 15-20mins, then go lie down again completely spent! And so dear readers, between this post and my last one you can probably figure out my Highland Fling didn’t go so well, in fact it went pretty horribly…

I wasn’t exactly feeling brilliant to start with but I wasn’t feeling crook really either, not like I was on friday at any rate. My back and shoulder were still playing up but I figure and hour or two and they’d loosen up a bit. Started fine, joined the bunch as planned for the run to roller coaster and well, realised quickly I didn’t have the legs I was expecting. Arrived at the first transition on target give or take but not feeling too great, I suffered a little heading through the 2nd stage just trying to keep heart rates in check. About 7mins over target into the 2nd transition, I was starting to think then whether heading out for a 2nd lap was a good idea. Turns out it wasn’t and rapidly starting to feel worse and worse I bailed out about 1/3rd around the 2nd loop to head back to Wingello. By the time I arrived back I was completely wasted, and with thanks to the Tyno Sag wagon, I spent the rest of the afternoon curled up on Fi & Joe’s couch.

In hindsight, I should have perhaps not even started, or as soon as I realised I wasn’t havn’t a great day, back off and dawdle around for a lazy 100k but oh well…

Pat did amazingly well though, looking super strong through the forest and apparantly, a mere 10secs of podium. Liam equally as well coming back after a bit of a hiatus to come in just under the time limit (on a single speed no less!)

anyway, that’s all for now while I go lie down… again

Happy Trails

Cheers
Craig

I was just sucking a few files off of my polar before this weekends race and had a look at the graph for a road crit I did last saturday:

Now I see why that race hurt a little; some 70% of my time above 180bpm (90%) maxing out at 196 for a sustained period! Mind you I was pretty silly, sitting on the front for long periods and driving the pace, attacking and chasing breaks the whole day. It was certainly a lot of fun but counter productive to actually winning the thing ;) I raced B because I’m still not sure about this whole road thing and what grade I actually sit in, but probably could have raced A without any trouble, just not sitting on the front for so long.

Highland fling this weekend and I’m pretty stoked to be going. It seems I’m a marked man with comments on forums, emails and other chatter going on. Kind of makes sense given I finished 3rd last year, have been riding well and am more realistically beatable compared to Jase and the Van Terminator ;) Helps fuel the ego a little too! All is not rosy in camp spoon though. A back & shoulder issue is plaguing me still, and I woke up yesterday lethargic and tired with all my glands swollen up. While that has somewhat abated today I imagine whatever is lurking about in my system isn’t going to go away overnight so we’ll have to see. A light spin once I get to Bundanoon today and an early night will be order of the day me thinks.

Anyway, if you’re heading down this weekend, be sure to grab me and say hello. And if you are racing, good luck and have a lot of fun! The parts of the wingello stage we road last week were fantastic (if but a little skatey) so should be a great race.

Happy trails!

Cheers
Craig

Well I’ve just thrown on a set of new tyres, I have a fresh chain still to break out and I’ve worked out the splits I need to finish in my goal time. Sitting on the couch with a wee beverage I started to replay last years course through in my head with somewhat disturbing vividness. I can still recall some fairly large sections of the course and I’m quite sure regardless of how I feel on the day I’ll settle quickly into a rhythm.

So how am I feeling? Ok, a little flat but I’ve been tapering well I think. Coupled with a healthy dose of various remedies I’m hoping all will come good! I have had a few niggling musculoskeletal aches and pains I’m a bit concerned about, mainly my perennially problematic shoulder and mid back but hoping regular stretching and a few hot tub sessions will keep them at bay. We shall see!

There’s 20 or so of us this year and quite a few quick guys give or take around my pace so could be an exciting race. I’m definitely looking forward to it!

Anyway back to the couch and the sultry sounds of the cranberries while I dream of Southern Highlands mountain biking…..

Happy Trails

Cheers
Craig

Congratulations Craig on your first Imperial Century! In a little over 7 hours (excluding pie time) and a few little hiccups along the way, one very tired Craig Pullen rolled into Bundanoon to (finally) take a turn off the front ;)

Just think, Another hour or two and we could have broken 200km’s!

It was such a nice day for a ride though, We had an awesome run down through the forest lined roads of Stanwell Tops only to pop out on the start of the coast road to Wollongong.

An unavoidable section of highway from the Gong to Albion park and one very dead road section had us at the base of one my most favourite climbs around; Heading up Macquarie pass with the prospect of a pie shop as the reward is always a pleasure. All in all, it was just a really nice day to be out on a bike. Finish the weekend off with a few (very spongy) hours of Wingello singletrack and head home a very happy man! Good times ;)

Happy Trails!

Cheers
Craig

Ooops I did it again! I’ve had a pretty big weekend with 3 hours of hills on the saturday and the club champs on sunday proving to be much tougher day at the office than I was hoping for. Heading out for this mornings bunch ride though, I thought I was feeling pretty good! Well I was untill I dropped the hammer and well, my legs turned to lead! Off the back of the first bunch lets try the 2nd… nope not them either… oh well into recovery mode and spin my way home…

…time for a couple of easy days I think. Just getting back into it and I’ve already over done it.

Ooops! ;)

Happy Trails

Cheers
Craig