3 Peaks CX - 2022

[ronankearneyle]

http://3peakscyclocross.org.uk

Will probably be trying this again



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[ronankearneyle]

Got a place sorted. Time to start training in earnest....

[TerenceO]

Good man Ronan, I put in enrty no place so on the reserve list
T

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[ronankearneyle]

Right so. It's on. Heading to the ferry port in the morning. First 3 peaks race that's happened since 2019. Who knew the open mountains were dangerous for catching contagious diseases? Let's not go there. Put the pandemic behind us. Move on. That said, it will be like a great celebration having this race on again. There won't be much hoopla, but I'll be loving every minute. Like the Cooley Thriller earlier this month, sorely missed. The new thriller course was tough as bejaysus this year. Pushing the bike up a hill for the first half an hour. Proper 3 peaks training. This weekend should be a doddle after that. Logistics are sorted, dropping Miriam and the boys in a north Wales holiday village. And on to Yorkshire, the race hostel for me. 930am start on Sunday, I'll be fully porridged up, maybe even a few hill reps. Gunning for a PB big time. Legs are mint. "Training plan" gone perfect, complete opposite to last time, what was a cramming/over training fail. Race report to follow

Check out this muddy eejit from 2019
Jump to 04:50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMYxN9YKFvA

[TerenceO]

Good luck Ronan, hope the weather God's are kinder than 2019 and you have super day out
T

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[Dorisj]

All the best Ronan, must try this sometime.

[DaveMeredi]

Don't keep us in suspense... how did it go? Do you know your own name yet?

[ronankearneyle]

Well, another 3 peaks wrapped up. Got around in one piece, sort of. Late ferry home last night, kids in bed by midnight and up for school the next morning. Job done. Except wasn't all plain sailing. Morning of the race, the dorm room was up bright and early. Went to the sign on 730am as one of the first. Bike prepped and warm up done by 830am. Weirdly super organised, able to join the start without any last minute fretting. Felt amazing at the start, having the chats with some first timers, listening to the nervous banter. Had the butterflies myself. No reason, full of confidence. As fit as I'd ever started. All sure I've nailed the kit equation after much trial and error. Going pro with minimal gear. Camelback me hole. And with a few of these races under the belt, even know a few time saving lines on the descents. Omens were good. Got the countdown from the familiar Yorkshire PA man. What a brilliant accent. And off we went. Balls out for the first road section. Happy to give it a good dig. Maxxing out the heart rate hanging on to wheels. I suppose when you have good fitness, you just smash it even harder. See how the body copes. On to the first mountain. The crazy looking steep field where you have to claw your way up a grass wall. Jesus it was hard. Fitness only helps so much. Calf muscles are screaming. Eventually the top comes and it's back on the bike for the fun part. Skidding around open mountain bogs. First OTB of the day, the guy ahead of me did a beautiful cartwheel and hopped back on like nothing had happened. Flew down the far side of the mountain and up peak 2. Next descent is where things can go bad. Famous for punctures and crashes. The Whernside slabs are fairly frightening. By the time I'm going down these, they'll have a nice layer of muddy grease left behind from all riders gone ahead. Other years I've always jogged this. This year, I could see the fella in front of me, making nice progress by riding. I said feck it and went for it. And it worked out, delighted with myself. I was skipping down the rest of the descent at fair clip, bunny hopping water barriers. Nicely chuffed that I'd chalked that off the bucketlist. I saw some walkers up ahead right in my line. Thought I'd do them a favour by flicking across to another track. And disaster front wheel wash out. Proper wipeout shredded by gravel. On the deck for a few minutes dazed and wondering was this a DNF. Assessed a selection of injuries, eventually figured nothing broken. Got going again. Adrenaline powered for the next while. Up to the base of the last mountain. By this stage I could tell the PB was slipping away. Lost a big chunk of time and energy with the crash. Everything turned into a grind from there on. I had said before the race that I'd be loving every minute. Well I wasn't loving it anymore. Couldn't shoulder the bike on the normal side as there was no skin there. Up at the top of Penyghent, riders ahead of me were disappearing into clouds. It was surreal and ghostly. Much colder than the valley, my short sleeve lycra was a bit on the skimpy side. Like the air going out of balloon. I was done. Managed to switch off wimp mode for the descent and rode all the techy stuff. 5 minutes down the road to the finish. Not my slowest or fastest effort. Certainly gave it a good lash. Extended trip to the medical tent at the finish area. Kudos to the organisers and their team. Brilliant to get patched up before setting off in the car. Pedal to the metal and the long drive home. Made the ferry with seconds to spare. And that's it, packing away the survival bag and whistle today, maybe for good this time, who knows.

[Dorisj]

Well done Ronan, it's tough on your own doing these races..

[TerenceO]

Great report Ronan hope the body recovers no perament damage.
When I hear you saying maybe never again I know you gave it all you had.
See you on the start line next year if entries available.
T


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[CmcG]

Great report Ronan, well done, sounds like a savage event, would love to do it sometime!
hope the injuries are healing up and getting ready for the local CX season! You’ll be flying after all of that