It’s about time….

Since March 20^th 2013, (that’s when I got my Garmin 810 training computer) I’ve done 245hr38min’s of training split over 130+ training sessions & 4.889,16KM with an avg. HR of 137bpm (+ a few extra hrs/km/bpm that I didn’t record)! Was that enough? Shouldn’t you’ve done more? Is that it?

Well it’s all there is & it’s too late to do anything about as tomorrow it’s time for the 1^st race of the 3 most important of the year. The World Championships in MTB Orienteering in Rakvere, Estonia. It’s what I’ve prepared for, it’s what I’ve scarified for, it’s why I’ve compromised pretty much all other things around to be able to hit as hard as possible this year…still some of the guys I’ve to battle will have done 50% more, some will have done 100% more, some even more more, BUT I’ve done what I could with the time available & feel stronger on the bike than ever, so now it’s up to the brain to fix the rest…

Sir Scott is top tuned (Thanks to Bike Dr Zsolt for some beer can magic, saving my eroding crank box!), the body has been rested last couple of days:

Thu: POWER intervals on the road bike partly flat/hill

Fri: Travel to EST & easy late afternoon MTBO ride

Sat: MTBO training, generally easy rolling with a few push’s

Sun: MTBO training, medium rolling with some ALL out pushs

Mon: MTBO model event, easy rolling

Tue: Full relax, spectator while the youngsters sprinted it out

So the body are super compensated & ready to perform…..

What is waiting? Well I expect a hard race, a real challenge:

1^st of all: there is 93 top tuned guys on the start list (which you can find here!), which means the “top of the pop” of the worlds MTB Orienteering elite...

2^nd: the terrain waiting for us will be challenging for the legs….A flat, super fast part where it’s all about who can produce the most WATT & a tricky part with steep, short ridges covered with XC ski & ATV tracks, where it’ll be a question if “to ride it up or jump & run”….if going that way at all! And that all while trying to stay on the right path which btw probably will be a bit sandy & therefore extra hard to ride

3^rd: the brain will have to fight between pushing the crying red, burning legs to keep on pedaling & still keep the head cool enough to make the right route choices on the way to the next control…In other words: I expect it to be real orienteering i.e. really hard i.e. REAL FUN!

The goal is to end up in TOP 20, which is realistic on a day when all goes well, so tmrw it’s gonna be ALL IN from the gun, I’m on the start line 12.31 & you can follow live results here

Bag is packed, number bib is mounted, it’s time to hit it, so let’s hit it hard!

Qualified – mission complete!

After a yr of training it’s nice to finally “get on with it…” and getting on with it in a good way.

Yesterday’s long distance qualifier gave me a secure start place in the finals (which this yr is placed as last race on Saturday). Navigation was not as complicated and tricky as I had hoped for, it was more speed needed and then of course to keep cool when choosing “the right one” out of a 4-5 track junction.

The race
Mission was to do a 100% clean sheet on the navigation/orienteering and then push as hard possible when “just” riding was needed. The success rate was about 75%!

I choose the wrong route to the 1^st control; a safe choice all the way left on good tracks with no climbing, BUT it was (too) long and I lose time, (2,5min to the later winner Ruslan G, RUS)….same story to the 2^nd, a very safe option, BUT a bit too long as well(1min lost!). Goes clean on the shorter controls midway, and get a good push on the long stretch back towards the last loop.

Getting into the last small loop, 4^th last control is easy, have made no control mistakes and are already looking for the finish line….a dead sin in a orienteering race….5sec of non-concentration in a big junction and I’m rocketing my way out the wrong track standing in the pedals up the small ascent ….realize it’s wrong after 300m and turns 90drg right, rides through the sticky bushes north to catch the right track & the control….it’s ridable, BUT not fast at all and I immediately know I’m losing time now…manage to keep the good direction despite the thorny bushes do their best to hit you out of the line…see the control and push hard to just get over there, lose more than a minute “and I know it…!” - A few Danish words (not to be written) are said out very loud as I punch the control and rushes off towards 3^rd last control.

It’s 35drg +, I’ve been racing 60min+, I’m cooking and this is not when a Viking brains work the fastest…I want to make up for the time just lost and a beginners mistake is the outcome….cut the corner too early, don’t check the map & end up against a green “wall” of thorns…..I stand for 2sec, looks at the map, which clearly indicates GRENN = “no passage”…..I’ve to turn around and go around, backwards….another time loss!

”Get your F***ing brain back & start think your idiot”

Is the clear message from me to me and I get it….finishes last 3 controls on the planned route choice and can roll over the finish line with a feeling of: not the best, but it’ll do the job……and F*** it’s hot!

14^th out of 33 starters in heat 3, first 20 qualified for Saturday Finals, so safe and secure, but could have been better. Analyzing the split times gives me optimism, a part from the 3 mistakes, I’m only 5-15 seconds behind on all the shorter legs, 20-30 secs on the long ones, Top 20 remains the goal for the final! Last but not least….and an earlier start means a bit cooler = good for old VikingsJ

It’s not a secret that I’m NOT the fastest guy in the field, nor is it an advantage to ride full suspension on a course that only challenge you with 280m climbing over a 20km course, BUT I really like the 29” wheels, so despite the extra weight I still go on Sir Scott next days, he really rolls over everything!

While the young & fresh fight for the first medals of these champs in today’s Sprint event, I’ll be relaxing, cheering for Danish medals and get myself ready for Wednesday’s Middle distance race….

Remember you can follow all races live on the web, organizers have made a good job with on-line updated results from radio controls and finish line, speaker sound, web cam and for all finals they will provide GPS tracking, all to be found here

Hot & healthy greetings from Veszprem

*Mike*

Ready to rock!

It’s been a while, again, but here we are….in Veszprem, HU; ready for the 2012 World Champs in MTBO

It’s this I’m training for all year, this is why no pizzas has been eaten last two months, this is why I’ve only had Nutella on Saturdays since May, this is why I don’t know what’s in TV, this is why it’s fun to train…..the race(-s) of the year.

The Goal:

Monday, 101 riders try to qualify for Saturdays Long distance Final, 60 will pass through, we are split in 3 heats, so must be in Top 20!

Top 20 is also the goal for the (hopefully) two medals races, Middle (Wednesday) & Long final (Saturday). It’s gonna be tough, but with the perfect executed race and a bit of luck, it’s realistic….Top 20!

Are we ready?

Well as mentioned on FB y-day, I’ve done 334hrs & 23min in the saddle this year, divided on 212 training sessions, for sure not the most, but too late to change that……
Sir Scott is top tuned, legs have been rested all week with a “2 training session + 3 massage session” super restitution week & hopefully they will explode in a power ride tmrw, Wed, Fri & Sat!

What count now is to keep the head straight and tackle the challenges that comes tmrw. After today’s model event I’m rather optimistic as it looks like quite tricky navigation and that’s gonna cause some of those fast guys some troubles....Let’s see!

Now it’s late & I need sleep, so no more update today….will try write more tmrw and upload pics/info on the new family member: Sir Scott……

LIVE update

If organizers keep their promise, follow live results and updates here 

Keep smiling and send some cooling thoughts my way tmrw Monday at 11.43 when I start on Long qualification….I'll be back with more tmrw...if any power left;-)

*Mike*