Post by consultant1 on Jul 15, 2011 14:27:47 GMT -5
I thought I would share the experience that I and 5 others I had this year for the Marmotte.
It is without doubt a hard event (Doh..stating the obvious..obviously!!) But its actually a little more than that really. I arrived the night before, as part of the group that departed Grand bretagne Stanstead for Lyon a few hours earlier. Just the sheer size and scale of the land we edged closer to on the drive set the pulse up a notch or two, I was transfixed in the back of the car, somewhere between europop on Le radio une and Andy R twisting the sarcasm up another notch about Nigel mansells performance in the drivers seat. We drove up the twisting 21 hair pinned Alpe D Huez as we were staying in a hotel up there for the next 2 nights and the views were fantastic, but the real penny was dropping..Ah yes we were to finish on this beast tomorrow I got to thinking. We raced out of the cars and all signed in for our race numbers and met up with Ian P and his good lady who had already arrived. After spending what seemed like 10 Min's putting together my bike, with crossed fingers from us all I think praying that they were all in one piece, we went out down (Yes DOWN) the hill for a mile or so to test the bikes, especially the brakes in my case!! All seemed OK even the little noises I got from my chain set were not to put me off, "Yes Marc that's cos u have got a compact on dear boy and so in that gear especially u will get a noise!!" OK so I asked for that one!!
And so pasta overload began at roughly 9-30pm and we dropped on there it seemed just down from the hotel, hell we must have all felt good as we were afforded a splash of Vin rouge to gargle the tagliatelle down the plughole. The theme really was one of anticipation of course, but nerves were masked over by a nostalgic plethora of 80's trivia from music and TV shows to cartoons and verbatim lines of theme tunes, I must say Andy Robinsons knowledge on most of this was frighteningly correct, and perversely (even) analytical. It passed a good hour anyway and we departed to our rooms (Thx Ian great job) with a contented meal in our bellies and nerves on the back boiler. I shared with Keith and to be honest we never discussed much to do with the next days proceedings that 10 Min's prior to lights out, both of us probably 'shitting ourselves with anxiety' nervous!!
Race day
Well I awoke early as Keith must have shit the bed and rose before 5-30 and was showering, not sure I slept a deal, you know the type of sleep; You think that you look at your watch every hour, its fitful and of course your mind wanders gloriously all over the bloody shop. So I didn't feel rested shall we say. After a quick dip it was brekkie and I missed Ian D get off (he had an earlier start) so filled my face with the offering and for safe measure brought some porridge, tried and trusted never fails me, thankfully it didn't today either. A quick gathering of thoughts a smattering of hello's at brekkie and it was upstairs on the kazzi, kit on and down to the garage for the 7am meet. I had a quick dash back up though as needed another loo stop..nerves I guess!! So we leisurely (Pahhh) strolled down the alpe to the start line around 7am and it was freezing and silly me didn't put my arm warmers on so felt a right prat. by the time we got down there and got ourselves into the 'Pen' we still had a good half hour of waiting around. 'Taking it easy at first' and 'steady hour or so' or 'Ease along for a while' seemed to be the general consensus and when we did get going around 8am to be precise it was quite pleasant for a mile or so, then all of a sudden you peddled a little more frequently and before you know it your soft tapping along at 20mph, to and fro between groups and then it sort of hit me that I am in a race of sorts here, not really against anyone in particular more against myself really, my goals, my ambitions where I thought my fitness was, what my expectancy levels might be. Its not long before we seem to split up, a quick pee stop by a few of the guys and I find myself a little up the road, and its glorious and exactly why I entered myself to do this. I got into a nice pace for 30 Min's or so and before long the road signs mention that we are going up and we meander up the Col DE croix de fer/Glandon...its not severe at all and I find myself quite quickly into a nice rhythm and generally passing people mostly on the ascent. I didn't push it at all and felt quite the thing enjoyed and took in some scenery and looked down at my heart rate (HR) 154...hmm very nice, dint get daft Marc take it steady after all its the first climb of the day, so I did. Of course sometimes you forget yourself and stand up to overtake a little group which turns into a little effort of 50m before you know, you tell yourself off for getting too cocky and settle again. It pretty mush went like that for 15km or so a little respite came and went on the ascent when we had a downhill and flat couple of kms and the sting in the tail soon reared its head again, given away audibly 100m down the road by the clicking down of everyone ahead of us, a telling sign I thought and off we went again up she blows. I guess I was quite content on the way up and merrily minding my own when Andy R meanders past me telling me he was at his 'magic number' good on ye says I and so I watched as he went on up a little quicker and thought nice pace I will try and keep him in sight. However by the time we got to the feed station at the top I had lost him, there were that many cycling jerseys similar to our Dinnington ones that it was actually a case of that's him, not, that's him...etc etc I spy et al. However I felt good and quickly stocked up on a few bananas and spongy french stuff, filled up the water bottles and peed looking over the valley, quite an experience and liberating!! The descent was a neutralized one, with the idea being to slow us up a bit take it easy and no incidents. OK so I didn't go that easy and there were plenty of riders either stopping for punctures or picking up their bodies after a little skid here and there, but I didn't go daft, not yet anyway, the adrenaline was only in 2nd gear. More importantly I felt really good, I dint feel I had taken a lot of energy out my system and was chomping at the bit to press on, and on I pressed. At the bottom of the descent I wanted to go faster as felt in tipper shape so I pressed along looking for groups to drop into and drive. It seemed that the groups were steady eddy though and so after a few miles of group to group riding I made a connection with a couple of Danes and a British guy and we started driving ourselves fro group to group. OK so a Pro none of will ever be but during that 15km at least it felt good working together in that group flicking out the elbow, drinking eating and driving again. We worked well until the next feed stop and I needed to go pee and fill up again so off they went, onto the approaches=hes of the Telegraphe (I think) again even though the road veered up a tad I felt good, quickly into a steady pace and again seemed to me to be passing people going up, and up we went for a good while, but mentally I wasn't tiring, in fact I was probably getting stronger, sort of warmed up in body and mind really and it was quite exhilarating going up the ascent taking people and dodging the bike s passing us on the sides of the road, as close surely a feeling as to being in a bike race of a grand tour. My mentality sort of changed from being a plodder to a peddler and using the positive charges I was getting from the situation to fuel me on, and it worked a treat.Again I felt no heavy legs my pulse was steady on 155-158 and the more we seemed to be pressing along uphill the more I was starting to think to myself ' hey you aren't out your depth here at all,' and so I pressed on again but minded that I didn't exceed 160 and as we ascended onto the Galibier, seamlessly it transpired I was never thinking to myself OK when is it gonna kick in, it was all positive, and it remained that way still up the mountain. The views were beautiful yes but if I am honest I never stopped and whipped out the Kodak to get the piccy stored for later, I had no inkling to stop, I wanted to press and press I did. The great thing about the Galibier is that it opens out and embraces you into it completely. Some guys after told of the mental side of it being a killer, looking up and seeing the switchbacks nearer the top, but to me it never seemed that way. With 8km to go I was as happy as a pig in shit but tellingly up and out the saddle pressing on after a few more on each part of the climb a little effort here and a little there and generally enjoying (prob too much) and not thinking about my hydration. At this point I started to get twinges in my abductors in my right leg mainly, but when I eased back off a little they seemed OK. It was when sitting back down again that it twinged a bit. At 4 km to go I am looking up thinking is that Andy R? Surely not? It was he was at the side of the road and as I passed he said something, but I am thinking he cant be having a piss there can he? I continued and expected him to come waltzing past quite soon and forgot totally. The last km up the Galibier was a little more tense and I started to get more frequent tweaks in the abductors, I drank more, realizing prob I had neglected a little and eased off more, but suddenly found I wasn't overtaking many more, and that spurred me into life a bit more before I finally got out the saddle and pressed a little too hard, only about 200m from the top but I cramped big time and had to do an unclip sharpish. AT the switchbacks I was fine, positive and plodding up in a good positive way, but it never broke me as such mentally, it was me being a bit naive and pushing a little too much and neglecting my hydration, that added to the in and out of the saddle efforts passing people and groups that had me a little tighter than I would have liked. So tail between my legs I MINISTRY OF FUNNY WALK(ed) it up to the feed station for the last 200m stretching out my leg as I walked up, feeling a right eejit!! I filled up bottles and drank a full bottle on the spot, but this feed zone was particularly full up and was a battle and a half to get much food at all, but after the fight subsided and 5 mins to recapture my abductors I felt rejuvenated I was about to dash off when Andy R comes at me in obvious pain and cramping. Holy Jesus or words to that effect I am a cramped up man how do I relieve this he says pointing the way. we stand and strecth and happily relive the spot but I fear the worst isn't over for him and hold his bike while he refills and fights to get his food. We have a few more Min's and he says he is gonna go steady down the descent and take off up the alpe...sounds a plan I say and before you know he is off...Haha bloody hell, so I zip up the (new) Gilet and set about catching him. Now this descent from the very off excited me and I have to say I think I nailed it. Probably not even 2 mins and I shout at Andy cmon as I pass him. I look back after 30 secs and he is further up the road, huh, he must be taking it steady says I, but as for me I couldn't stop, I loved it and set about using the road to its maximum and drafting where I could behind cars as well as riders and generally feathering and cornering, it was in 2 words fekkin brilliant!! It seemed to go for a while too, the groups seemed to thin out as well as I reached the tunnels that I had been warned about, and these were also a rush and a half. I quickly went to the front of the group and caught up to cars going through the tunnels, I loved it, felt like a real rider in a real race, I couldn't keep the smile from my ugly mug. I got into a group of 5 and pressed ahead driving them on as much as I could and ever seeing the road ahead looming in front of me Bourg D'Oissans the village at the foot of the alpe. It was close, and I quickly stopped for a pee before checking the supplies a gel, half a mule bar and a full bottle and a bit. That'll do pig that'll do. I declined the offer of refreshments at the foot and pressed on up the infamous Alpe D'huez, at first it reared up quite steep, between 10 - 13% and took a bit of wind from the sails I tell ya. I had consciously said to myself don't be arsed about the switchbacks and hairpin counting, every one of them is numbered for your pleasure or torture (delete where applicable)
and continued. I didn't really have aplan as such but I knew that my legs were OK, but I was flicking a gear up out the turn and down again within 50m or so steadying my effort again, willing my legs to hold out as they felt all the better for more fluid and the stretch and pump on the fast descent. I drove up, it felt OK and to be fair again I never felt I was going backwards only taking maybe fewer people on the way up this mountain but still loved up. My focus was definitely there going up the Alpe, I had it back and I loved it. I got Mrs P all in a fluster when she spotted me coming so she raced to get the piccy and then off I went. Throughout all this I hadn't really looked down at the time,m it seemed to go so quick and yet it was 8hrs already and I was thinking right Mac, prob half an hour if you get your finger out cmon. And so as best I could I went for it a bot more and as we neared the final few bends and steep shelves again I dug in but knew that the end was close. I reached the village and was relieved to feel my leg was OK and so stomped a little on the pedals and finished it with a flurry taking a few more in the village. It was here that I noticed more and more the energy from the crowds they were fantastic and the buzz it gave me when I was coming into the finish last km was fantastic I even managed a thumbs up to Ian D outside our hotel. It felt like it must feel for every pro in every race at every finish..and that is the memory I will savor the most.
Yes it was hard physically and mentally, the hardest event on a bike for me bar none. But I have worked harder and been more knackered before on a bike too. I have raced before and worked like a dog before and felt far more bolloxed plenty of times, for me it felt like I was back in a place (mentally & physically) where I enjoy. I like nothing better than training hard and competing, I live for it and this event was like a re run. OK so I am not that fast at cycling (yet!!) and I may not win every race I enter like I used to have that belief years ago, but it doesn't dampen the enjoyment that the event gave me.
I can honestly say that the suffering is part of the thrill of it for me. Doesn't make sense? Well prob not, if you suffer physically of course it wont, and will have a cascading effect depending on the severity. But the preparation of the body and mind goes a long way to realizing the wearer of the suffering during the event and that is my point...bring it on next year...I cant wait, and neither can the lads I already know we'll all be back, which is a measure of how far a lot of us have come.
Strangely quiet and meandering on the way home but I think that everyone was gathering their thoughts ahead of the assessment. I couldn't be clearer.. a good first attempt, will do better!!
Big thx especially to Ian Davenport, who organized the logistic side of everything to a tea. Great weekend with all the gang and the merry band will return I think next time hardened and prepared for round 2.
It is without doubt a hard event (Doh..stating the obvious..obviously!!) But its actually a little more than that really. I arrived the night before, as part of the group that departed Grand bretagne Stanstead for Lyon a few hours earlier. Just the sheer size and scale of the land we edged closer to on the drive set the pulse up a notch or two, I was transfixed in the back of the car, somewhere between europop on Le radio une and Andy R twisting the sarcasm up another notch about Nigel mansells performance in the drivers seat. We drove up the twisting 21 hair pinned Alpe D Huez as we were staying in a hotel up there for the next 2 nights and the views were fantastic, but the real penny was dropping..Ah yes we were to finish on this beast tomorrow I got to thinking. We raced out of the cars and all signed in for our race numbers and met up with Ian P and his good lady who had already arrived. After spending what seemed like 10 Min's putting together my bike, with crossed fingers from us all I think praying that they were all in one piece, we went out down (Yes DOWN) the hill for a mile or so to test the bikes, especially the brakes in my case!! All seemed OK even the little noises I got from my chain set were not to put me off, "Yes Marc that's cos u have got a compact on dear boy and so in that gear especially u will get a noise!!" OK so I asked for that one!!
And so pasta overload began at roughly 9-30pm and we dropped on there it seemed just down from the hotel, hell we must have all felt good as we were afforded a splash of Vin rouge to gargle the tagliatelle down the plughole. The theme really was one of anticipation of course, but nerves were masked over by a nostalgic plethora of 80's trivia from music and TV shows to cartoons and verbatim lines of theme tunes, I must say Andy Robinsons knowledge on most of this was frighteningly correct, and perversely (even) analytical. It passed a good hour anyway and we departed to our rooms (Thx Ian great job) with a contented meal in our bellies and nerves on the back boiler. I shared with Keith and to be honest we never discussed much to do with the next days proceedings that 10 Min's prior to lights out, both of us probably 'shitting ourselves with anxiety' nervous!!
Race day
Well I awoke early as Keith must have shit the bed and rose before 5-30 and was showering, not sure I slept a deal, you know the type of sleep; You think that you look at your watch every hour, its fitful and of course your mind wanders gloriously all over the bloody shop. So I didn't feel rested shall we say. After a quick dip it was brekkie and I missed Ian D get off (he had an earlier start) so filled my face with the offering and for safe measure brought some porridge, tried and trusted never fails me, thankfully it didn't today either. A quick gathering of thoughts a smattering of hello's at brekkie and it was upstairs on the kazzi, kit on and down to the garage for the 7am meet. I had a quick dash back up though as needed another loo stop..nerves I guess!! So we leisurely (Pahhh) strolled down the alpe to the start line around 7am and it was freezing and silly me didn't put my arm warmers on so felt a right prat. by the time we got down there and got ourselves into the 'Pen' we still had a good half hour of waiting around. 'Taking it easy at first' and 'steady hour or so' or 'Ease along for a while' seemed to be the general consensus and when we did get going around 8am to be precise it was quite pleasant for a mile or so, then all of a sudden you peddled a little more frequently and before you know it your soft tapping along at 20mph, to and fro between groups and then it sort of hit me that I am in a race of sorts here, not really against anyone in particular more against myself really, my goals, my ambitions where I thought my fitness was, what my expectancy levels might be. Its not long before we seem to split up, a quick pee stop by a few of the guys and I find myself a little up the road, and its glorious and exactly why I entered myself to do this. I got into a nice pace for 30 Min's or so and before long the road signs mention that we are going up and we meander up the Col DE croix de fer/Glandon...its not severe at all and I find myself quite quickly into a nice rhythm and generally passing people mostly on the ascent. I didn't push it at all and felt quite the thing enjoyed and took in some scenery and looked down at my heart rate (HR) 154...hmm very nice, dint get daft Marc take it steady after all its the first climb of the day, so I did. Of course sometimes you forget yourself and stand up to overtake a little group which turns into a little effort of 50m before you know, you tell yourself off for getting too cocky and settle again. It pretty mush went like that for 15km or so a little respite came and went on the ascent when we had a downhill and flat couple of kms and the sting in the tail soon reared its head again, given away audibly 100m down the road by the clicking down of everyone ahead of us, a telling sign I thought and off we went again up she blows. I guess I was quite content on the way up and merrily minding my own when Andy R meanders past me telling me he was at his 'magic number' good on ye says I and so I watched as he went on up a little quicker and thought nice pace I will try and keep him in sight. However by the time we got to the feed station at the top I had lost him, there were that many cycling jerseys similar to our Dinnington ones that it was actually a case of that's him, not, that's him...etc etc I spy et al. However I felt good and quickly stocked up on a few bananas and spongy french stuff, filled up the water bottles and peed looking over the valley, quite an experience and liberating!! The descent was a neutralized one, with the idea being to slow us up a bit take it easy and no incidents. OK so I didn't go that easy and there were plenty of riders either stopping for punctures or picking up their bodies after a little skid here and there, but I didn't go daft, not yet anyway, the adrenaline was only in 2nd gear. More importantly I felt really good, I dint feel I had taken a lot of energy out my system and was chomping at the bit to press on, and on I pressed. At the bottom of the descent I wanted to go faster as felt in tipper shape so I pressed along looking for groups to drop into and drive. It seemed that the groups were steady eddy though and so after a few miles of group to group riding I made a connection with a couple of Danes and a British guy and we started driving ourselves fro group to group. OK so a Pro none of will ever be but during that 15km at least it felt good working together in that group flicking out the elbow, drinking eating and driving again. We worked well until the next feed stop and I needed to go pee and fill up again so off they went, onto the approaches=hes of the Telegraphe (I think) again even though the road veered up a tad I felt good, quickly into a steady pace and again seemed to me to be passing people going up, and up we went for a good while, but mentally I wasn't tiring, in fact I was probably getting stronger, sort of warmed up in body and mind really and it was quite exhilarating going up the ascent taking people and dodging the bike s passing us on the sides of the road, as close surely a feeling as to being in a bike race of a grand tour. My mentality sort of changed from being a plodder to a peddler and using the positive charges I was getting from the situation to fuel me on, and it worked a treat.Again I felt no heavy legs my pulse was steady on 155-158 and the more we seemed to be pressing along uphill the more I was starting to think to myself ' hey you aren't out your depth here at all,' and so I pressed on again but minded that I didn't exceed 160 and as we ascended onto the Galibier, seamlessly it transpired I was never thinking to myself OK when is it gonna kick in, it was all positive, and it remained that way still up the mountain. The views were beautiful yes but if I am honest I never stopped and whipped out the Kodak to get the piccy stored for later, I had no inkling to stop, I wanted to press and press I did. The great thing about the Galibier is that it opens out and embraces you into it completely. Some guys after told of the mental side of it being a killer, looking up and seeing the switchbacks nearer the top, but to me it never seemed that way. With 8km to go I was as happy as a pig in shit but tellingly up and out the saddle pressing on after a few more on each part of the climb a little effort here and a little there and generally enjoying (prob too much) and not thinking about my hydration. At this point I started to get twinges in my abductors in my right leg mainly, but when I eased back off a little they seemed OK. It was when sitting back down again that it twinged a bit. At 4 km to go I am looking up thinking is that Andy R? Surely not? It was he was at the side of the road and as I passed he said something, but I am thinking he cant be having a piss there can he? I continued and expected him to come waltzing past quite soon and forgot totally. The last km up the Galibier was a little more tense and I started to get more frequent tweaks in the abductors, I drank more, realizing prob I had neglected a little and eased off more, but suddenly found I wasn't overtaking many more, and that spurred me into life a bit more before I finally got out the saddle and pressed a little too hard, only about 200m from the top but I cramped big time and had to do an unclip sharpish. AT the switchbacks I was fine, positive and plodding up in a good positive way, but it never broke me as such mentally, it was me being a bit naive and pushing a little too much and neglecting my hydration, that added to the in and out of the saddle efforts passing people and groups that had me a little tighter than I would have liked. So tail between my legs I MINISTRY OF FUNNY WALK(ed) it up to the feed station for the last 200m stretching out my leg as I walked up, feeling a right eejit!! I filled up bottles and drank a full bottle on the spot, but this feed zone was particularly full up and was a battle and a half to get much food at all, but after the fight subsided and 5 mins to recapture my abductors I felt rejuvenated I was about to dash off when Andy R comes at me in obvious pain and cramping. Holy Jesus or words to that effect I am a cramped up man how do I relieve this he says pointing the way. we stand and strecth and happily relive the spot but I fear the worst isn't over for him and hold his bike while he refills and fights to get his food. We have a few more Min's and he says he is gonna go steady down the descent and take off up the alpe...sounds a plan I say and before you know he is off...Haha bloody hell, so I zip up the (new) Gilet and set about catching him. Now this descent from the very off excited me and I have to say I think I nailed it. Probably not even 2 mins and I shout at Andy cmon as I pass him. I look back after 30 secs and he is further up the road, huh, he must be taking it steady says I, but as for me I couldn't stop, I loved it and set about using the road to its maximum and drafting where I could behind cars as well as riders and generally feathering and cornering, it was in 2 words fekkin brilliant!! It seemed to go for a while too, the groups seemed to thin out as well as I reached the tunnels that I had been warned about, and these were also a rush and a half. I quickly went to the front of the group and caught up to cars going through the tunnels, I loved it, felt like a real rider in a real race, I couldn't keep the smile from my ugly mug. I got into a group of 5 and pressed ahead driving them on as much as I could and ever seeing the road ahead looming in front of me Bourg D'Oissans the village at the foot of the alpe. It was close, and I quickly stopped for a pee before checking the supplies a gel, half a mule bar and a full bottle and a bit. That'll do pig that'll do. I declined the offer of refreshments at the foot and pressed on up the infamous Alpe D'huez, at first it reared up quite steep, between 10 - 13% and took a bit of wind from the sails I tell ya. I had consciously said to myself don't be arsed about the switchbacks and hairpin counting, every one of them is numbered for your pleasure or torture (delete where applicable)
and continued. I didn't really have aplan as such but I knew that my legs were OK, but I was flicking a gear up out the turn and down again within 50m or so steadying my effort again, willing my legs to hold out as they felt all the better for more fluid and the stretch and pump on the fast descent. I drove up, it felt OK and to be fair again I never felt I was going backwards only taking maybe fewer people on the way up this mountain but still loved up. My focus was definitely there going up the Alpe, I had it back and I loved it. I got Mrs P all in a fluster when she spotted me coming so she raced to get the piccy and then off I went. Throughout all this I hadn't really looked down at the time,m it seemed to go so quick and yet it was 8hrs already and I was thinking right Mac, prob half an hour if you get your finger out cmon. And so as best I could I went for it a bot more and as we neared the final few bends and steep shelves again I dug in but knew that the end was close. I reached the village and was relieved to feel my leg was OK and so stomped a little on the pedals and finished it with a flurry taking a few more in the village. It was here that I noticed more and more the energy from the crowds they were fantastic and the buzz it gave me when I was coming into the finish last km was fantastic I even managed a thumbs up to Ian D outside our hotel. It felt like it must feel for every pro in every race at every finish..and that is the memory I will savor the most. Yes it was hard physically and mentally, the hardest event on a bike for me bar none. But I have worked harder and been more knackered before on a bike too. I have raced before and worked like a dog before and felt far more bolloxed plenty of times, for me it felt like I was back in a place (mentally & physically) where I enjoy. I like nothing better than training hard and competing, I live for it and this event was like a re run. OK so I am not that fast at cycling (yet!!) and I may not win every race I enter like I used to have that belief years ago, but it doesn't dampen the enjoyment that the event gave me.
I can honestly say that the suffering is part of the thrill of it for me. Doesn't make sense? Well prob not, if you suffer physically of course it wont, and will have a cascading effect depending on the severity. But the preparation of the body and mind goes a long way to realizing the wearer of the suffering during the event and that is my point...bring it on next year...I cant wait, and neither can the lads I already know we'll all be back, which is a measure of how far a lot of us have come.
Strangely quiet and meandering on the way home but I think that everyone was gathering their thoughts ahead of the assessment. I couldn't be clearer.. a good first attempt, will do better!!
Big thx especially to Ian Davenport, who organized the logistic side of everything to a tea. Great weekend with all the gang and the merry band will return I think next time hardened and prepared for round 2.