IronTarsh - 'Weekend Warrior': Surrey Rumble 90km Sportive....4/03/2012

I honestly have no idea where to start this blog as there are so many emotions swirling around in my mind at the moment so lets just start at the beginning...........................................................................

I arrived at the carpark and met up with my fellow Thames Turbo Triathletes......thinking OMG we are mad for riding in this weather however at the time it wasn't that bad. We cycled over from the carpark to the registration hall and pretty much got ready to Rumble! We took off in a group which was nice as I had not done a Sportive since moving to London so all was a little scary but I was ready.

Got about 15km and we decided to stop for a quick drink, energy gel and quick stretch. Now as I was slow I decided to go ahead of my group as they would end up overtaking me anyway. I didnt think to much of it so kept going. I got to the split route point.............................right now what I mean about this is during this sportive there were two routes 90km and 122km. This was mistake number one.......instead of going the short route, I ended up riding the long route. Now I didnt realise this for ages. I did wonder why my group hadn't passed me or at least caught up but I kept cycling as the weather was shit and was really starting to have an impact on me physically.

I kept on riding...there were some great hills that took me up to speeds of 45km per hour but then going up the other side I wasnt that fast lol.

Got to the marshall stop and I think was at about the 45km mark.....I was in good spirits cause I thought whoop only 45km to go. Stop quick to get a sticker which proved Id been there, and again stretched out my back. My lower back was giving me so much trouble. Proves I am so weak in my lower back.

Now this is where it all happened, at the stop I discovered that I was actually on the long route not the short route. This mentally cut me in half! I was so fucked off that I had chosen this route as the weather was getting worse and I was just not physically prepared for it.

However I harden up and got on with it. Cycling on your own in the middle of nowhere is so mentally tough....and it woud have been okay if the elements weren't as bad as they were.

I got to Portsmouth Road, I think in Goldaming as I still had about 40kms to go at this point, the temperature had dropped to 4 degrees, the rain wasnt letting up at all, I could no longer take the pain in my lower back, the numbness in my fingers and toes........and as I saw 3 other blokes that were feeling my pain taking shelter, I got off my bike, walked over to them broke down in tears and decided to abandon the ride. One of the guys was very good to me, he guided me to the local pub 'The Refectory' where I called Headquarters and requested for rescue to come and get me.

As soon as I saw the rescue guy I was so pleased and relieved I got into the back of the car and was joined by two other fellow riders that had also decided to call it day.

Driving back I did feel like a bit of failure as I have never abandoned a race ever, so this was a first for me. I was most pleased I had as I started to see the sleet and snow falling I knew I had made the right decision.