Day 3 and this race is taking its toll on body and bike. It's taking lots of pills and lotions just to keep going but even so the back pain is getting hard to deal with.
Today started out fine although the energy and buzz of the start that was there on previous days was distinctly lacking.
Disaster struck for me when one of my spokes broke. I knew that could mean the end of the race for me because it weakens the wheel and makes it likely that another spoke will go. Two spokes gone and the wheel gets so badly out of shape that it stops going round. So I taped the broken spoke to a good one and rode as carefully as I could down the rocky fire roads to the mechanical assistance point which luckily was not too far. They were brilliant and replaced the spoke there and the n but it took about 20 mins or so.
I found it very tough going from then on disappointed to have lost so much time and so many places. The climbs were hideously steep and most of the descents were covered in lots of sticks, rocks and had deep ruts with steep sides.
I have never been quite so pleased to see a finish line as I was today.
As to the rest of the girls, I am glad to say that they had a better day. Iwona took first again on a sprint finish after about 4hrs 50 mins. Anna was 4th in her category(20-30). Steph was 5th, Natasha was 7th (30-40) and Emila was 8th (20 -30) . I was 8th ( 30 - 40) in the end.
One last day to go!
Will I survive.....?
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