XC Marathon Champs 2012

[frankb]

Best of luck tomorrow lads

[don]

Any news from the Marathon lunatics?

[DavidC]

Great day out in Ballyhoura. A 5 hour physical, psychological and emotional rollercoaster. I may write a report when I have some energy. Well done to Brian Mac, fastest man in the 795 jersey today. David T and I both hit our targets so we're all smiling. Thanks for the lift.

The stats - http://app.strava.com/activities/19833708

[BShaugh]

Well done lads - looking forward to the race report!

[DavidT]

Fantastic event - really well run, couldn't fault it at all.
I haven't posted as I'm still shattered after it! Absolutely wrecked.
I started to cramp around 29k, followed by the standard back pain. Just kept on going and drank as much as I could.
I reckon it was the previous weekend that did the damage, going out on a 72km spin without enough water and cramping for the first time in months..
Happy with the time I did it in owing to the extra 10k, but hoped I would have been closer to DC and Brian Mc. Such is life

Results:
Masters: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=490896627605999
Vets: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=490896720939323 (there were Masters who finished behind me, so not so bad)

[frankb]

Sounds like a tough but perversely enjoyable day on the mtbs. Well done lads

[DavidC]

Cheers Frank, you hit the nail on the head, it was perversely enjoyable. Here's a bit of a report... http://racing795.com/2012/08/28/xc-mara ... gust-2012/

[BrianM]

That was a very tough but enjoyable race. Brilliant organisation, facilities and top shelf marshalling . With only a basic idea of what to expect I was hoping to finish in five hours or under.. given how soul destroying and tough I found the middle sections of the course I was very happy to finish in the time I did. No problems with my bike which made for a change from recent form although I suffered a lot with saddle pain after the two hour mark and some intermittent stomach cramps . The seemingly endless, fast, flowing sections of singletrack were the highlight for me, given how bad the summer has been it was great to get back on some fast rideable trails again. My joy of completing the race soon turned to dread when I noticed my half disintegrated saddle bag had spilt some of its contents including my car key.. Unbelievably one of the marshals had picked it up along the 75k route and reunited me with it. Big thanks to DC for spotting me some dry clothes in the meantime and helping with the relocation of it! All in all a great day, can't wait for next year

[DavidF]

Well done lads.

Conway: you should be ashamed letting a young upstart from Kilkenny finish in front of you
McElwee: remember I taught you everything you know
Tully: dont be too hard on yourself, you,ve made big strides this year

[lazyboypops]

Well done guys looks like a great day out on the bike. Great times by all must have been a savage pace.

I see my old sparring partner RL in at 4.33 must be doing serious training.