Hampshire Hilly Hundred 2008

Well, I am exhausted, sore (bottom and legs) and a bit down after the HHH yesterday. My own fault for not getting enough training training miles in this year.

C (my brother) and I turned up early at the start in Alresford (outside Winchester) at 7:15 AM, assembled the bikes and registered before the rush. The day was slightly chilly but bright. Neither of us was feeling in particularly good form. In addition, as my Roubaix has been confirmed as written off by Specialized, I was on my new Look 585 which I had only ridden for a total of 50 miles and to which a new 11-28 rear cassette was fitted only on Friday (to go with the 50-34 on the front).

We lined up on the start line and got away at 8:14 AM. C whizzed off and I was moving in my own time through the slower riders. At about 20 miles I passed C repairing a puncture. It was amazing how many people had punctures, more than I have noticed in previous races. I was pleased that I had taken the time Friday night to fit Specialized Pro Armadillo tyres (23/25).

C caught me up and I was just behind him at the first checkpoint/feed station at 25 miles. After the stop I didn't attempt to follow him, I just let him go. He is strong this year.

I had noticed that my heart rate was particularly and unusually high during the first 25 miles and had been trying to throttle back whenever I noticed. At about 40 miles my thighs began to cramp and I knew I was in trouble. At the second checkpoint/food station at 50 miles I paused longer than usual to get my breathe back and refuel. I then left there with the intention of just surviving.

The hills got to my legs and at about 65 miles I had to walk on one hill, not because of not having the gearing or because it was too steep, but because I was exhausted and cramping.

This week I have changed from Ultegra cleats to Look cleats. I must say the Ultegra are more comfortable to walk in but the Looks are easier to use. The other thing I noticed was that with Look cleats you need to remember to take off the cleat covers (Ultegra do not have cleat covers). Before the start I was cycling around the car park trying to work out why my cleats would not clip into the pedals. It took a minute or so before I remembered that I hadn't taken the covers off the cleats - embarrasing.

The HHH has a final loop of which includes a good hill and makes the course a round 100 miles, but you can elect to take a shortcut from here and do a 87 mile route and avoid the loop if you so desire. By 70 miles I knew I was going to have to take the shortcut even though it pained me to do so. I reckoned that I would have been walking the hill and would be a safety hazard on the flat if I did not. I had already had a coordination problem and had ended up riding in the ditch beside the road and breakneck speed before a miraculous recovery. I got some compliments off those riders following me as to the way I skilfully managed to extract myself (it didn't feel like skill at the time, more like panic).

At the 80 mile feed station/checkpoint I grabbed a chair and sat for 10 minutes trying to get my strength for the 7 miles back to the start/finish avoiding the loop, but still including one last hill. I finally got the motivation to rise from my chair and struggle on. Up the final hill I got past the photographers before again dismounting and walking a few minutes. The first of the 100 milers were passing me at this point (last 6 miles of loop is same as the shortcut) and I got a few comments about being careful the photographers didn't turn around and snap me walking.

I was a bit disorientated when I got back to the start/finish. I had trouble finding the car initially. My result was 5:48 elapsed time for 87 miles (1750 metres of climb) including time stopped at feed stations. A bit of a come down after completing the whole 100 mile course in 5:50 last year.

On the bright side, the new bike went nicely, I didn't get any punctures or fall off (or scratch the new bike) and I was pleased with the way it rode.

I dismantled the bike and packed it away in the car and was sitting on the tailgate of the car drinking the flask of tea I had brought with me when C finished. His result, a fantastic 5:56 for 100 miles (and 2250 metres of climb), gold standard, even though he had the puncture.

One month to go until the Dragon, and a lot of work to do if I am going to finish.