So Run and Ride fans, my first ever XC National and it’s only my 3rd propper XC race, nervous! I was even more worried when I saw the packed field of ringers and racing snakes.
Unfortunately I wasnt seeded for the start so it was a mad sprint to avoid the barriers and the opposition. I managed to slalom my way through the field with a bit of help with on starting position from "the danger frog" Matt Williams with inspirational advice to start from the right. In all honesty thats pretty much all I can remember – the rest was a blur of lycra and shaven legs! I have small fragments of memory when I was coming through the feed zone and remember being told to drink more and pedal faster! Thanks for that!
What I do remember is the last 100 meters as I crossed the line with no idea no idea of my position until the comentator told me it was 3rd! It’s fair to say I was pretty pleased with that, if I’d have known before I would have wheelied along the finishing straight
All in all – good & fun times, congratulations to Matt Gee for the win and good hustle to my buddy, tall Paul Williams for finishing 10th. Till next time… stay tuned.