My own story: First ¾ was fast and flowing and felt really good. The down hill from FC with no traffic allowed all the road to be used, a rare treat. Fast forward …. Like everyone else though I was a tad overdone by the time we got trough Ovens and into Happy Valley, I was relatively early and the sun had not hit its full potential. Still seemed OK, although I found it hard to hard even hanging onto medium pace pelotons as we came towards MB. The up Falls was going reasonably to Bogong, and thoughts of sub-10 still floated, however 2km out of Bogong , I just hit the wall. I could feel twinges coming for a while, but then the full blow leg cramps came. I had to get off, the world was “whiting out”, sat, stood, drank, back on bike, instant cramp as soon as my knee bent on firs peddle. Pushed for a while. Then an angel descended, from nowhere, a white 4WD was offering ice and water , dumped my luke warm dregs and it was heaven, however think it was my electrolytes rather than just straight de-hydration. Tried to cycle, no way , cramp. So the long plod. At this point few ER’s passed; Mr Pink – thanks for the pat on the back then , Andy H, 10h out of the window. And others it was great to get these little boosts, and some others I don’t remember as I was pretty much face down now. The snow poles loomed … 6km to go ….. the hut … 4km. Called wife to say I’d be late (she offered to come get me, but I soon put that to rest, the things you’ll do for a shirt), finally FC appears round the corner, 2km … still pushing, thank goodness for mountain bike shoes. Approaching the line Stealth cajoled me back onto the bike (thanks), every push ended in cramp, but by standing I could rest for a few seconds on each rotation and stretch the left leg out, why do they make you cycle up past the finish line and then back ? anyway the little downhill to finish was fantastic and my kids and wife all ran out. It was a good feeling now. Never again. ….. St.Nav on hand for support …. into pub …. first beer …. well maybe next year. But I’ll try hydralyte …
Wilson