 | Australia
October, 2010
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In this Issue
- WSC News
- Canmore, Alberta hosts a great race
- Final details heading for the start line
- Extraordinary stretching for extraordinary racing, recovery and endurance
- Spotlight Racer Peta Mullens
- Spotlight Racer Eszter Horanyi
- Spotlight Racer Rickie Cotter
- Ready or not, here it comes
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WSC by the numbers
| The field has increased to 408 qualified and registered solo athletes from fifteen different countries.
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Classic WSC Quote
| At the 2009 WSC Jason English commented:
"I'd have finished third if Craig Gordon and James Williams were here. We will sweep the podium next year."
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About Us
twenty4 sports inc. is the largest producer of 24 hour mountain bike events in the world under the brand of 24 Hours of Adrenalin and the World Solo 24 Hour Championships. Dating back to 1994 the 24 Hours of Adrenalin brand has hosted well over one hundred 24 hour events.
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How to qualify for WSC
| If you have completed a previous qualifying event or you think you have enough race experience to get an entry spot into the WSC you can contact us by clicking here to get further details.
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Greetings!
Welcome to our twelfth and final newsletter we hope you enjoyed the series. As this is the last newsletter it can only mean one thing, the 12th World Solo 24 Hour MTB Championships is right around the corner.
A solo team?
 Odd question for sure, but we all realize that there is no solo in solo racing...
This being the last Newsletter we hope you have enjoyed them. At this time I would like to single out our editor Shaun Taylor who has taken on this massive task over the past year starting back in January. Shaun has been nothing other than brilliant and supportive of this project from the get go... bravo Shaun.
Thanks to the profile athletes that we have interviewed, and for Jason English and his wife Jen who both contributed to the newsletter. I might add that few World Solo Champions have ever shared their competitive advantages with regards to training, equipment and nutrition.... Bravo J & J.
This newsletter series (all 12 of them) was a team effort so thanks to anyone else who has contributed in any way, shape or form... a big thank you!
Personal Goals & Gratitude:
Last newsletter I spoke about the journey vs. the achievement. I'm happy to report that in my case both the journey and the result have been achieved. My goal was a sub 12 hour Ironman and I clocked an 11:54 in challenging conditions. The result however would have never been possible without the great support of my wife Maria, my training buddies, all the folks I met along the journey; in Tucson, Monterey, Philadelphia, Penticton, Caledon, the GTA and those that worked with me as coaches. It was a team effort all along the way. Ironman Canada for me was my "A" race this season and I trust that next months World Solo 24 HR MTB Championships for most is your "A" race of the season. I can say that while my result was a success for me, it did not all happen as planned. I needed to continually look at adjusting for the ever-changing weather conditions, and adapt to the many signals my body was sending. Pacing, nutrition, weather, equipment etc. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have raced in one of the best Ironman events in the World, with what I believe is the best community support an athlete can ever hope to receive. The volunteers, all 3,000+ of them make that race in my opinion... thanks IMC volunteers. My gut tells me that our WSC in Canberra will be an incredibly wonderful event and that we will all share stories for a very long time into the future. This will be the case because we will all have arrived at the event with an appreciation of the team that helped us get to the start line and for those that have worked behind the scenes to delivery a great WSC.
My wish for each of you is a fun, challenging and safe event that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime... Congratulations on your journey to date!
For me I'm grateful for the opportunity to host the WSC in Australia, so thanks to Craig Peacock, Peter Creagh and Russ Baker who were all instrumental in bringing the WSC to Australia.
Sincerely,
Stuart Dorland
twenty4 sports inc.
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WSC History - 2009
| Canmore, Alberta hosts a great race
By Vic Armijo  The venue alone from this past weekend's 24 Hours of Adrenalin Solo World Championships, the Canmore Nordic Ski Center built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, has everything that a top-class event needs including miles of single-track cross-country ski trails that are excellent for mountain bikes - it hosted UCI XC World Cups from 1998 to 2000. The Adrenalin crew put together a great ten mile course with a balanced mix of twisting, turning single-track and fire-road climbs that boasted over 2000 feet of climbing per lap. With such a great stage it was up to the riders to deliver world class performances. And they did! To sort out the field and get them spread out before the first single-track 24 Hours of Adrenalin events traditionally has a Le Mans start. At Canmore racers hoofed it (in bike shoes!) for 1500 meters before reaching their bikes and riding off onto the course. THE SOLO MEN An hour into the race when the leaders came through the finish line, they were in a bit of a bunch, Tony Hogg (NZ) was 30 seconds off the front with dentist Carey Smith (USA) and Jason English (AUS) separated by just one second. Hogg continued to lead for the next five laps, while English got by Smith to hold onto second, while Andy Fellows (AUS) held fourth. English later commented on Hogg's blistering pace, "When he went out at that fast pace - well, I don't think he knew it was a 24-hour race. I had to drop back for a while. As it was, my heart-rate didn't go below 170 (beats per minute) for a long time." Sometime on their sixth lap English got by Tony Hogg (NZ) to take over the lead putting nearly four minutes between them. Smith continued his hold on third place. By lap ten Hogg had regained the lead over English with Smith still in third. A lap later as the race reached the midnight halfway point, the three riders were separated by just two minutes, Hogg first, Jackson Hole, Wyoming's Smith second and English third. While Hogg continued to lead, it was evident when he'd dismount during a pit stop, he moved stiffly, obviously experiencing back pain, "After a bike race, he's like a bent-over old woman," said his crew. "He can climb all day and night, but the bouncing on the technical single-track gets him." The top three remained the same until with just six hours left Hogg didn't show at his pit. After a long wait race officials went looking for the 34-year-old landscape center manager and found him sitting on course, reportedly very angry at his painful back, which was seized.up. He made it back to his pit, but felt dizzy and nauseous. So he sat down and ate his food and could not get up again. His crew got him up and he headed off into the darkness. He never made it to the first check point and when officials set off again to find him, he was dehydrated, his blood sugar was low and he was forced to DNF. That set the stage for the final order, English first, Smith second; and Fellows, who seemingly rode most of the race alone, third. 2009 Solo Worlds champ Jason English said from the podium that he was lucky to be riding at all - 14 months ago he suffered a broken back and "didn't know if I'd be able to walk again." He also felt fortunate that several of his country men weren't in Canmore, "I'd have finished third if (2006 Solo champ) Craig Gordon and (2008 Solo champ) James Williams were here," he said. "We will sweep the podium next year," when the Solo Worlds go to Australia. THE SOLO WOMEN In her quest for a third world's title, defending womens champion Rebecca Rusch (USA) was successful in making this a race for second. She turned a first lap of just over one hour-faster than a majority of the men-pulling a six minute lead over Carena Jessica Douglas (CAN) with Jari Kirkland (USA) coming across just seconds behind Douglas. That was the closest that her chasers would be for the rest of the race. Rusch continued to turn laps of just over an hour, stopping in her pits for the few seconds it took to get a bottle and a feed. She kept that pace until the half-way mark when she finally stopped for ten minute pit and took advantage of the one hour lead she's built. After a real meal, a quick sponge down and a leg massage, she got back on her Specialized, declared "It's not over yet. I've got 11 hours and 30 minutes to go." And off she rode. Rusch continued to lead, hardly backing off the pace. And by morning had lapped all of her competitors. Finally, Rusch crossed the line, breaking the finish line tape, and raised her bike over her head in jubilation. The former adventure racer had taken her third 24 Hours of Adrenalin Solo World Championship. |
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CORC News
| Final details heading for the start line
 For those of you who live in Canberra, and those of you who will be in Canberra on the 29th of September getting ready for the world champs, reigning 24HR World Solo Champion Jason English will be giving a seminar on race etiquette and race techniques at Lonsdale Street Cyclery in Braddon.
This is part of their "24HR Survival Nights" series and it starts at 7:30pm on Wednesday 29 September and is about a 15 minute walk from the official hotel - the Crowne Plaza. This is a catered event, so if you plan on attending, please email info@lonsdalestcyclery.com.au. For a full list of upcoming items at Lonsdale Street, click on this link.
On other news, throughout the event we are going to be using the magic of radio broadcast to relay the PA system and all race information on to an FM radio station frequency - FM 99.5.
You can follow all the latest race news by tuning any radio to FM 99.5. During the silent hours at night (2300-0600hrs) the FM station will still be running with info and commentary so bring your own small radio to keep up on the good stuff.
The Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority (ASADA) may be at the race event. We don't know for certain if they will be there or not as the testing regime is random and is not notified to the organizers. The ASADA website for checking substances can be found by clicking this link.
 Australian Mountain Bike magazine just put out an interview featuring Craig Gordon, Jason English and Andy Fellows. The entire article is dedicated to the local favorites as they head for the WSC.
It's a great read and if you can still grab the magazine it's worth it. If you can't find the magazine you can click on the image to the right or you can click here to be taken to a few scanned images.
With the start line looming on the horizon we are looking forward to seeing all of you at Stromlo in the days leading up to the event and of course we'll see you all at the riders meeting where you will get more race details and CORC News.
See you soon!
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Stretching pavilion at the event
| Extraordinary stretching for extraordinary racing, recovery and endurance
Stretch Gurus will be providing astonishingly powerful and targeted stretches using the PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) method in a dedicated Stretching Pavilion for the 2010 Adrenalin World Solo 24hr Championships and the 2010 Scott Adrenalin Australian 24hr Mountain Bike Championships. The benefits of good stretching before and after exercise are well known of course. Even if you stretch regularly you will get heaps from these sessions. With this stretching you will perform better, recover better and endure better. We will be focusing on the muscles that take the biggest hammering from endurance MTB'ing: quads, calves, hamstrings, hip flexors, piriformis, lower back, lats, shoulders and arms. Using the Contract/Relax method and verbal cues we will get into those hard to reach places and will improve your favorite stretches by an order of magnitude. The PNF technique is an excellent alternative to massage. Run as a group class, you won't have to wait to get the relief you need. We will tailor each group class to the needs of the participants. 40 minute sessions will run every hour, on the hour, with 10 minute "Quickie" sessions before the longer 40 minute sessions. The cost for a 40 minute session is $75 for 3 sessions or $30 each. "Quickies" are $25 for 3 sessions or $10 each. Bring in the whole team and I'll do a good deal. Let us show you how amazing your favorite stretch can be - we add an element that will blow you away. By arrangement with the organizers: Soloist competitors get priority access to sessions and a free recovery session after the race. 100 FREE stretches for any competitor are offered before the race plus other special offers in the first hours of the race. The free sessions will become available starting at 8am Saturday. Get a ticket for the free session from the Stretching Pavilion on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Soloists can collect a ticket for their free recovery stretch from the tent on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Visit the Stretch Pavilion to find out what we can do for you and when the next session will run. The Stretch Pavilion will be open till 11pm Saturday (subject to demand), resuming at 7am Sunday. Come past the tent early as the special offers will run out early. Bring a yoga mat or a towel (or use one of ours.) Visit our site at www.pandf.com.au to learn more or email me at: stretchgurus@gmail.comDavid Heap (61) 0437 135 474 |
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Spotlight Racer
| Peta Mullens
Peta is a young competitive Australian cyclist stepping into 24hr races for the first time. She is a seasoned racer with a deep racing resume, so it's going to be exciting to see how she does and what she thinks about 24hr Solos. Here's what Peta had to say when we fired some questions at her...
1) Tell us a little about yourself, Peta.
Well my name is Peta Mullens and I'm a 22 year old simple country girl. When I was three I was a 'round' curly red-headed child, when I was eight I wouldn't eat my vegetables, and by the time I turned thirteen my knobbly knees were bigger than my thighs. After eight years of running and three years of triathlon I became a bike rider, and eventually rid the fluro colours and measured my sock height to term myself a cyclist. Since finishing my high school education I have spent three years in Europe with the Australian Institute of Sport, scarred every extremity of my body at least twice and met the most wonderful and exciting people in the world.
When I met a boy I moved back to Australia and somehow tried to achieve the title of 'common'. Despite being a fully qualified masseur and personal trainer, I somehow fell into retail just over a year ago, and have worked my way up to the title of Manager at my local department store MYER. Now with guidance from my boyfriend I have stepped onto the MTB and so it seems, and not from lack of trying, that 'normal' isn't quite in my vocabulary.
2) How many 24hr Solos have you done?
None! I've competed in a few 6hr races but this will be my first 24hr, including solo and/or teams.
3) What was it that got you into your first 24hr Solo?
I'll have to blame Russ Baker, Jason English and my Mum for my upcoming debut...damn you all haha.
4) Why do you do 24hr Solos now?
It was a bet, and I'm a competitive person!
5) What are your thoughts about the 2010 WSC this year?
Literally....??
'Oh what a challenge!'
'Gee what was I thinking? You people are crazy!'
'But just think of the weight loss :)'
'Hang on, I won't be able to sit on my precious arse for at LEAST a week!'
'Wait, do you all save a little energy for the after party??'
6) How many hours a week do you train?
Not 24! lol At the moment I'm lucky to do 10hrs a week.
7) What's the biggest thing you've learned about 24hr racing?
I only know what I've read, just keep pedaling and NEVER lift your leg over the bar, eat well, pace yourself etc. And that it is a liberating journey that frees the soul, which at 3am translates to a crazy idea that destroys your short term sanity!
8) What's your favorite food in the pit?
Well I managed a 10hr training ride a few weeks ago on M&M's, mars bars and coke and hunger flatted in a very bad way, so not sugar!
Pasta I would assume, but it'll be a guess and check on race day oops!
9) What do you think is your strongest advantage in a 24?
Naivety? Youth? lol No, I think my advantage will be in pit lane...my support crew, my Mum and Dad :)
10) What is your next race?
The 24hr World Solo Championships of course!
11) Anything else you want to add?
Yes, cross your fingers and toes and wish me luck guys!!!
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Spotlight Racer
| Eszter Horanyi
I first read a little bit about Eszter after she won in Moab last year, then I learned a little more about Eszter while following her Colorado Trail Race (go find out more about that if you haven't already read about it). During this interview I learned a bit more about Eszter, now you can too...
1) Tell us a little about yourself, Eszter.
I'll start with a confession. I started mountain biking to impress a boy at a summer camp when I was 12 years old. After a 4 year hiatus, I picked cycling back up in college to impress another boy.
I spent my formative years growing up in Boulder, CO which is a mecca for all things athletic. I swam all through high school and then decided to try triathlons. Luckily, I have a short attention span and I quickly gave up the running and swimming part of triathlon long before I could actually sign up for one and developed an obsession with riding my bike. Luckily again, I rediscovered mountain biking after only 2 years of racing on the road. It also may have been related to a boy.
Long story short, I discovered that the 'training' involved for racing standard cross country races didn't jive with my love for long rides where you get lost and end up at home, 4 hours overdue, out of food and dehydrated, but my little adventures did prepare me for racing long distances and help develop an ability to put my head down and suffer when the going got tough.
2) How many 24hr Solos have you done?
Only 1. 24 hours of Moab last year was my first foray in 24hr racing. For a long time afterward, I was convinced it was going to be my last.
3) What was it that got you into your first 24hr Solo?
I had been making noise about wanting to sign up for 24 Hours of Moab early last season and I had a good friend get all excited to pit for me. By the time I got up the nerve to tell him I didn't actually want to do it, he'd already organized a small army of volunteers to spend the weekend in the desert and crew for me. So I rode, and it turned
out pretty well.
4) Why do you do 24hr Solos now?
It seemed like a good excuse to go to Australia.
5) What are your thoughts about the 2010 WSC this year?
It seems like the easiest part of the whole experience will be the racing. The logistics of getting everything over there, finding a mechanic, finding supplies, worrying about rental cars and driving on the left hand side of the road are far more stressful for me than
thinking about the actual pedaling.
6) How many hours a week do you train?
I try to get out for 15-18 hours a week. I always have a hard time calling it training, I prefer calling it 'riding my bike'.
7) What's the biggest thing you've learned about 24hr racing?
I've gotten better at dealing with the emotional and physical highs and lows of ultra-distance events. I used to worry if I went through a bad spell, but now I know that regardless of how miserable I am or how slow I feel like I'm moving, I know my body and head will come around.
8) What's your favorite food in the pit?
Depends on what my stomach is doing. I tend to stick to Hammer Nutrition liquid calories because I know that my stomach can handle them without distress. Last year I did some oatmeal in the wee morning hours which seemed to sit well while every peanut butter and jelly sandwich my crew sent me off with ended up thrown in the desert
somewhere.
9) What do you think is your strongest advantage in a 24?
I was once told that people tend to do well at their first 24 because they don't realize how badly it's going to hurt.
I don't have that advantage anymore, but I just finished the Colorado Trail race which involved 493 miles of unsupported racing across Colorado during monsoon season. Getting soaked to the bone every day, twice, recalibrated the suffer-o-meter pretty well.
10) What is your next race?
I'll be doing the Vapor Trail 125 on September 12 and then 24-Hour Solo World Championships. I coach the mountain bike team for the local college, so I may end up doing a cross country race somewhere in there, but I'll have to see how it goes.
11) Anything else you want to add?
I really want to see a kangaroo and see if the water flushes the opposite direction in toilets in the southern hemisphere.
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Spotlight Racer
| Rickie Cotter
Rickie has been tearing it up on the UK endurance scene this year. She's heading over to Worlds as part of a large UK contingent and looking to make a mark. Coming off a recent strong showing at TransWales, Rickie looks to be in good form. Here's what she had to say when we chatted...
1) Tell us a little about yourself, Rickie
This is my first year racing although I've been riding for a few years. I love every type of riding. I went into my local bike shop with a puncture on a £50 bike when I was 16 yrs old and the owner said "how far do you ride" I said about 10miles, his next question was "would you like to go round the block" so I naively said "yes". On the Sunday he lent me a bike with skinny tires (apparently it was a road bike) and we headed out round the block, little did I know it was an 80 mile hilly loop. 7hrs later they had to push me up the final hill. I had no idea about nutrition or hydration, I just rode as fast as I could until I couldn't pedal anymore. The owner, and his nephew are my best friends now.
2) How many 24hr Solos have you done?
I've done two this year, my first one was in May at our Nationals. I thought I was making a big mistake doing the Nationals as my first 24 but I thought I may as well try. I got a bit obsessed and really wanted the jersey, every lap I could see it and I wanted it that bit more plus it was my first time going to Scotland. I'll be going back for sure. The sunrise was one of the best I've seen. Only 4 weeks later I did Mountain Mayhem24, I knew they were too close but I had to try and win the prize money otherwise I wouldn't have been able to come to Oz. The pressure was on big time, my motivation was kangaroos and koala bears. It was so tough doing them close together but the other day I met an Aussie who did one every weekend for 5 weeks! So now i feel like a wimp!
3) What was it that got you into your first 24hr Solo?
Trying to find if there is a limit to what I can achieve, I haven't found it yet.
4) Why do you do 24hr Solos now?
To try and be the best at it. Sometimes it is hard to find the answer to this question especially when you have to get up early to train or its cold, wet and dark but I guess for those moments when riding makes you feel different even special when your work mates go home to cook tea and be a traditional house wife and you go out and bust yourself up every climb you can find and sweep along sketchy singletrack watching animals they don't see, getting that buzz, taking the risk and laughing to yourself when you get it wrong. That's just part of my reasons why, every day i can think of more....
5) What are your thoughts about the 2010 WSC this year?
It's a whole new league for me so I'm really excited and I'm ready to give it all I've got. That's not to say I'm a little nervous, if I'm honest I'd say very nervous, I'd use a swear word if I could to describe my feelings of anticipation.
6) How many hours a week do you train?
I try to get up to 25hrs a week including some road work and commuting.
7) What's the biggest thing you've learned about 24hr racing?
Every lap you must decide you want to win and to get comfortable with pain. My priorities are hands, bum, feet, all the contact points are so important. They are going to hurt regardless but I always try to keep them sweet for as long as possible. Also 24hrs is a long time, you don't even sleep for this amount of time never mind ride a bike that long so the race isn't won until its over.
8) What's your favorite food in the pit?
Eating gets inconvenient but I'd say Turkish Delight bars. For me during 24hr races I think of food as medicine, you have to take it even if you don't want it because your body will tell you in very uncomfortable ways when you haven't put enough beans in the tank.
9) What do you think is your strongest advantage in a 24?
I'm often underestimated.
10) What is your next race?
It's the end of our season in the UK but in January,in Scotland, there is a 24hr and its meant to be really hard because the snow makes it so cold - tempting! I'm not fussy, I just want to ride my bike anywhere, anytime, with anyone, on anything - I'm officially a bike tart!
11) Anything else you want to add?
Game on. Can't wait to meet all the other riders and if any one would like to have a chat before, during, or after the race then come on over and let's hang out.
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Going Down Under
| Ready or not, here it comes
I just finished looking at the first newsletter we put out at the start of this year. In it I wrote this...
"When it's January in Calgary and you are on a trainer, a race in Australia seems a long way away but I know that in a blink of an eye I'll be standing in Canberra. Standing under an Australian sun, watching a countdown clock with only a couple of minutes to go, listening to U2's 'Where the Streets Have No Name' blasting over the speakers and enjoying the moment when everyone around me nods at each other and smiles that knowing smile. Right then is one of my favorite moments in the entire event and maybe that nodding and smiling moment is worth all the time I spend on the trainer - keeping my head in the game."
And with just over three weeks left till the race, the stuff I wrote back in January still stands true.
Thinking back to January and that -17 Celsius weather, I don't really remember the details of those basement trainer sessions, I just remember that they weren't glamorous or particularly fun. The day to day minutiae of winter trainer time pales in comparison to the epic summer ride moments, the bite off more than you can chew moments, the years notable racing failure moments and the years perfect racing execution moments. Big moments are good moments.
As I head towards the last of this year's epic race events, an event that is a 'big one' and certainly something I will remember years from now, I'm reminded of the scene from the movie Gladiator where General Maximus says "Brothers, what we do in life... echoes in eternity."
Basement trainer sessions come and go, they are often forgotten. But things like the WSC, well they echo...
Enough philosophizing, it's on to the thank you section:
I want to say thanks to Stuart, and to Russ and his team, for all their efforts in doing what they do. Thanks also goes out to all the Spotlight Athletes for their part in the interviews and the 'J&J English team' for their special features over the last few months.
Rather than leave on a serious note I thought I would cobble together a cartoon that depicts a "You're going to Australia???" scenario, in it I discuss the benefits of WSC racing and why Canberra is going to rock! Thanks to Jason, Russ and Stuart for (unknowingly) being good sports. ;-)
Click here to watch the WSC Cartoon or click the image above.
That's all for now, see you in three weeks...
Shaun
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