A lot has happened since. A lot of time on the bike and the trails.
I have raced all but one XC NPS races and learned a lot as a result of them.
A big lesson was to stay hydrated during the race using natural electrolites.
Even a bigger one, that proper food, fuels your body and the brain for the race, and no "shortcut" energy gels, bars or drinks can substitise it.
The biggest lesson of all, was Enduro.
I finally built up the courage to race Enduro event. I know my bike is not Enduro racing machine but non the less I decided to have a go.
First it was Djouce.
I asked Stephen and Gary what do they think, will I manage, and come back home in one piece. They said I will be fine. That the trails are like the stuff we ride up Mt. Leinster.
Filled with confidence but still nervous I went down to my first Enduro.
Bit of a wait in the morning and cue up for the race numbers and we where ready to go. Stickers on frame, fork and wheels to ensure nothing is changed during the race.
I relied totally on Stephen and Gary to guide me thru the stages and to find my way around.
We where also joined by Harry who came over from Wales.
Unfortunately the weather decided to not be on our side. We left the race village wearing rain jackets but in high spirits. After the first stage I wasn't as scared as before it. It was difficult, technical, slippy and wet. There was no way I could be fast, but I was happy that I will be able to do all the stages.
Little did I know that stage five had a bit of a suprise for me.
Have to admit I was scared at times on some drops and decents.
Off camber switch backs, fast turns, and roots. Lots of wet roots.
Couple of times, during the transitions between the stages, we passed a drop into a fire road or off the fire road, I said to Stephen "I hope we don't have to go down that!" And Stephen with a grin would say "we just did!"
Needless to say I learned a lot on these stages. I would say every stage gave me experience of few months of "normal" riding.
After stage four there was a long transition, and then we got to Stage 5. Now that was something else. Boys have said it's a hard stage. So me and Harry took it easy at the start of it, but then you just couldn't take it easy anymore. My breaks where so hot that I had virtually nothing to break with, on the back.
It was steep. Very steep.
And with all the rain that day, bits of it turned into a muddy stream. If I had seen that stage in a dry, after walking it for few times I might have decided to ride down it. The fact that there was no turning back, and the trails just became steeper and steeper I just went for it.
I bounced from tree to tree, I fell, I slid on my back so many times I can't even remember the most of it. To my surprise I didn't get injured. Now, I can't say it didn't hurt but it wasn't too bad.
I was truly delighted with myself. At the bottom I had so much adrenaline in my body, it was hard to calm down.
I can't remember the last time I felt like that.
Just pure joy and a sense of achieving something more than I anticipated. I was so happy, (tiredness and cold from being soaked to the bone, didn't exist).
And then it happened. With a big banana grin on my face I was pushing the bike backup to the race village, across the river, and I slipped. The bike went sideways, wedged between two rocks I landed with all my body weight hitting the rib cage against the seat.
Heard a crunch.
I thought it was the seat at first, but I was wrong. Bit winded I rode the bike back to the race village. Adrenaline still rushing throughout my veins I drove home.
It hit me when sat down on the couch. Oh the pain... But I wasn't going to give up the race after all the hard work. So the next day after only few hours of sleep, filled with pain killers, I went back to Djouce. Gary gave me even better tablets then I had, and we set off again. This time joined by Chris.
I must say I remember only very few things compare to practise day, but I remember stage five! It was even worse than the previous day. Two days of rain and all the riders have turned it into a steep mud slide with bridges, roots and lots of trees.
Have to say I struggled a lot to get down it, with the conditions and the pain.
Never the less I did it! Maybe I shouldn't have, but I did.
Five weeks later we went up to Carrick.
Broken ribs almost healed it was a completely different event. I only had few hours for practice day so we did three out of five stages and I had to leave the lads. After Djouce there was no scary stuff for me. Have to say level of confidence went from 2 to 9. Trails where just perfect, weather fantastic, just a total pleasure. Now bearing in mind previous event I took it easy. And not only because of my abilities but also the little voice in my head saying "don't over do it".
It took most of the practice day to get the level of confidence back up.
Once I convinced my brain that I'm not going to break the ribs on purpose, it was all good. I could enjoy great trails, beautiful weather, and superb company. The only downside of the day was that Stephen had a nasty crash at the stage five. Luckily nothing broken, but I'm sure he could do without it.
Now, back to winter training it all seems like a distant memory.
I have to say skill level required for Enduro is higher than I thought, but experience gained after each event is huge. I can recommend Enduro to every body who is undecided, but you might need some guidance as to how to ride the stages from someone who has done the races of that sort before.
Also I have to congratulate the youngest member of The ML Syndicate, my daughter Amelia, who came fourth in national championship and is second overall in under 8 girls National Points System. It was her first season and I'm very proud of her.
