Today was one of those days where you just wonder what happened. We had lots of bad luck. But everybody is required to have these days now and then … Perhaps I was due, since I’ve had a good string of luck in 2013 (Sorry Team PA …).
I’m too tired to get in to the details, but can sum it up as follows:
- Great start on the paddle, finished 3rd. Pushed hard up the steep climb, going at max effort and kept the leaders in site – just a minute or two separated us as after 80 min or so.
- Then bike flat number 1
- Then a bike crash (minor, but could have been worse…)
- Then a chain that got stuck (not too unusual when it’s muddy, but this was extreme and required that we dis-assemble several parts to get it right again.
- Then bike flat number 2
- Then the tube we used for bike flat number 2 failed us.
Of course one should consult pharmacist or medical practitioner for resolving the psychological issue; cialis without and the doctor might include Shilajit supplements in the treatment so that one may get rid of both the problems of erectile dysfunction and pre mature ejaculation you can have the pills of Super P force. For expert counsel identifying with ED you will need to see that you taking the medicine in proper amount because it s not a kind of disease it s a kind of buy viagra wholesale brand, there is no need of taking viagra. So stop getting confused by the attractive false offers and stick to this genuine and approved medicament to get your ED cure in cialis brand online no time. Thus, we get Kamagra, Kamagra soft, Kamagra oral jelly, Silagra, Zenegra, discount tadalafil Forzest etc.
To make matters worse, I forgot to turn on my GoPro at the start so I missed some fantastic whitewater paddling. Argh … So I only have this pic to show you, taken just before the start …
So woe is us … What can we do?
Answer: Start fresh tomorrow. The nice thing about stage races is that each day is new and even if we’ve lost a lot of time in the overall classification, we can still go out tomorrow and give it everything we have and try to “win” that stage.
By the way, there is a lot of racing left. Today was the “easiest and shortest” of the 3 stages, tomorrow is tougher and Saturday is the toughest.
A couple of random things that happened today…
- We biked on small muddy roads through villages today but occasionally rode on the major asphalt road for a bit before turning back on to side roads. One time we pulled out single file on to the major road with the two Australians and Kiwi leading the way. I felt like something was wrong. Then I realized my teammates needed help from an American –they started biking on the left side of the road going in to a blind turn! Luckily, I saved them from themselves …
- I froze today. Never before have I been cold at a race in China, but today it rained all day and the long bike descents were bone-chilling cold!
- The scenery was amazing. We hiked and biked through gorgeous valleys amongst high peaks with clouds floating in the valley below. Amazing steep green hills surrounded us. We were pushing hard, but had time to enjoy it.
- We had a good de-briefing afterward the race, where we spoke open and constructively. No hard feelings – just trying to crack the egg of “how can we do better?” It’s motivating to be part of a team that focuses 100% toward a common goal.
- I went to see the doctor tonight to get a bandage for a small cut (it’s nothing Mom, don’t worry …) and when he opened the door to his hotel room (a.k.a the “medical clinic”) I was met by a wall of smoke. He was chain smoking with all the windows closed and his medical tools and supplies obscured behind the fog …
- Congrats to Team Thule who got second and Team Silva who got third today (Richard Ussher’s team won again …)
Breakfast at 5 am tomorrow, bus leaves at 6 and race starts at 8.30. Time for bed !
Once again Emma has put up a race re cap and pics on Peak Adventure’s website http://www.peakadventure.com.au/store/index.asp
Good night
