Climbing into Adventure

The You Yangs X Duo was the final in the series of three races held by Tri X Series for 2009.

The 6km run, 22km mountainbike, 5km run course certainly proved to be the toughest of the three courses. I don't think I've ever been up and down so many hills in the space of three hours!

The gorgeous views from the race headquaters at Turntable Car park was a nice way to spend my Sunday morning. Gearing up and registering as usual, I was glad to not be having to get into my swim suit in this race.

The pre-race briefing warned competitors of the fast downhill, and therefore long uphill sections of the course, particularly the first run leg. Strategically placing myself at the back of the pack at the start line, I was setting my position for the rest of the race. A friend from work was also standing beside me, competing in his first adventure race in some time.

As the starter gun went off, we all went down. Quickly forming a single file to scatter down to the flat grounds and a 5km circuit. Nice running, however the whole time i was running on this flat ground, I couldn't help but think of that horrible hill I would have to go back up to get back to the bikes. The run soon turned into a walk as the calves and butt had their first major workout for the day.

I undertook my fastest ever transition as all I had to do was put on my helmet and camel back and race off down the bitumen hill. What a relief to be able to breath properly......just for a little while. The off road sections soon appeared and my trusty $15 mountain bike did the best it could on the often corrugated, slightly uphill tracks. Onto single tracks, up and down the hills of the You Yangs we went, with me actually having a closer inspection of the ground as I turned a corner and had a great stack - directly onto a rock! After a quick brush of the knee and a re-jig of the bike front wheel, I was off. The stockyard proved to be a highlight for those who called themselves mountain bikers, however, for us other folk, it improved our skills on how to walk your bike up rocky hills. The final stretch of the bike leg was a 1.5km gradual climb on bitumen back to the car park. Gear 1 all the way but I managed to pass two people on the way up :)

Transition to the run was quite slow as my legs were not ready to move in a non circular motion. As I cheered people across the finish line, I made my way up the hill (walking of course). The 'track' was not very kind to runners as rocks and boulders obscured its course. As the legs were having enough trouble putting one in front of the other, maneuvering around rocks was a slow and steady affair. Whenever possible (to get through the pain) I took in the amazing views that surrounded me.

A full traverse of the mountain and we were back around to the front, with a quick downhill 'sprint' to the finish line. My usual fanfare (of no-one) greeted me as I crossed the finish line in just under 3 hours.

As the presentations took place with the usual competitors taking 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, I was lucky enough to receive another spot prize (Engine goggles and an AUS swimming cap).

Definitely a challenging race to remember.......and i think the last for my poor old green bike.

To see more photos (the professional ones) click here

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How to Climb into this Adventure:

• click on www.trixseries.com.au for more info on this specific race

• if racing at the You Yangs, make sure you train on hills

• get yourself a camel back to ensure good hydration on the bike ride (that way you can keep both hands on the handlebars and still go fast whilst biting the tube)
  

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