I was rudely awoken at four in the morning, my alarm clock pleading with me to surface from my bed and make the relatively short two hour journey north. The fast, flowing trails of Awaba awaited. It had been a hot night and the remnants of that heat lingered in the early morning air. The warmth of spring was destined to thrive in the day ahead and it would be necessary to keep well hydrated in the battle that would ensue.

The Turner Czar had suffered a broken carbon seatpost and front derailleur issues in its previous outing and a visit to the on-site race mechanic melted away my concerns and I was ready for the race ahead. Indeed, I was seeking some grains of redemption, after a disappointing showing at the Kowalski Classic just seven days earlier. A lighter week of training and a readjustment to a slightly higher saddle height had left me feeling more optimistic. 

The usual suspects lined up for the race start. Garry James, Jason McAvoy and Dave Langley would be difficult to beat and Mike Israel had returned to the fray after missing the first two instalments of the STM Series. With notable exceptions Stu Adams injured and Pete Selkrig racing Cyclo-Cross, the Masters field remained daunting. Considering my recent lack of form, a podium position looked like a long-shot so my initial goal was to remain competitive for the full duration of the 7 hours. 

After three laps, I was in 6th place with Jason, Mike and Garry setting the early pace while Dave had just glided past me leaving me desperately clinging to his wheel. Before he left me struggling up the switchbacks on camelback we had passed Mike Israel. Perhaps a big week of training had left him heavy legged. Once again, Dave was looking strong and it seems that in every race he continues to improve. At the pace he was going, I was convinced he would begin to reel in the other early leaders.

Now sitting in 5th place, I felt reasonably fresh and I was getting some admirable support from Kylie McAvoy in transition and plenty of support from friends in teams. Furthermore, I was enjoying the Awaba track and the sweeping descents through rainforest and the resonating rumble as I traversed the numerous bridges that adorn this wonderful course. On lap 7, I was still lapping consistently under 40 minutes and I was surprised to see Garry James ahead. He looked like he was really struggling, a sight I can not recall ever seeing before. Garry is such a strong rider and I would not be surprised if he was yet another victim of overtraining for the World 24 hour. 

Jason and Dave, I believed, were now sitting comfortably in 1st and 2nd respectively, and with Mike and Garry only distant threats I began to relax and my next 2 laps were over two minutes slower. Coming into transition, I glimpsed Mike's blue and white Turramurra shirt along with Open Male Solo rider Matthew Clutterham. Not quite sure how he had closed the gap I put the hammer down. Surely this would break him. My 10th lap was quick and, as I went through transition, I was shocked to be told Dave was only just ahead. Sure enough I soon caught him, and I prepared for the ensuing last lap battle. It never happened as Dave pulled to one side and ushered me through. I stepped up the pace, just in case, but there was no riposte.

I continued to push hard but surely now I was secure in second place. It was at this point I made a fatal error. I was still visualising my celebration as I crossed the line when I caught a glimpse of that blue and white shirt on the switchbacks. Surely not. How could he possibly make up that time and hadn't he cracked on the previous lap. I responded with as much gusto as I could muster. But this only seemed to drag more venom from the beast behind. I heard the roar of a incensed animal as we descended the fireroad and he was now right on my shoulder but I was able to hold the racing line into the singletrack. Mike was literally breathing down my neck and as we climbed the Murderhorn I lost traction for a split second and he seized the moment. He powered through the sniggles as I simultaneously called on every last sinew in my tiring legs. It proved of little help. Mike claimed an incredible 2nd place putting in his 2nd fastest lap of the day on the final circuit to move him up two places. The final margin was just 12 seconds while Dave was a scant two minutes behind.

Very rarely does a 7 hour enduro throw up such close racing and it was a pleasure to be involved in a titanic tussle with two great bike riders and two of the nicest guys you could possibly wish to meet. Jason McAvoy was unquestionably the star act, winning by a comfortable 10 minute margin, but the drama was undoubtedly played out behind.

As for WEMBO, in two weeks time, I think we can all take the positives out of this race. Personally, I feel I am recovering the form that went awry in recent weeks. It is more than likely that we will all be involved in comparable drama at Mt. Stromlo, particularly considering three of us will be competing in the same age category.

I clambered from my polyester cocoon and into the icy morning air of Canberra's East Kowen Forest. The sun gradually managed to wrestle the ice from the open fields and was beginning to prise the crisp, white veil from my nocturnal sanctuary. The previous day had brought frustration, as I struggled to finalize my preparations for the rapidly approaching World 24 hour Solo and Crocodile Trophy; but I approached this race with renewed vigour and optimism. I had eased back my training during the week and surely this would have left me fresher and less fatigued than in some of my previous forays.

The start of the race was greatly helped by the fact that riders seeded themselves prior to the event and were assigned a starting wave appropriate to their abilities - so simple but, by gosh, it's effective. This was further helped by the tough climb dished out at the beginning, which helped sort riders out according to ability. Unfortunately for me, I saw my major Masters rivals disappear from sight, not long after we crested the hill and hit the singletrack. Mike Israel, Jason McAvoy, Dave Langley and Trent Moore all powered away never to be seen again. I desperately fought my machine throughout the 85 km and managed to hold the wheel of Robin Mules in the last 30 km which helped me maintain a reasonable time and move up through the lower places. Little did I know, Robin had started 5 minutes behind me, and so he was to finish in 10th, and I finished a disappointing 13th and 51st overall. Mark Fenner comfortably won the Masters with Mike Israel finishing on the podium in a commendable 3rd, while Dave pipped Trent to fifth. Jason was seventh, but he had ridden 200 km the previous day.

Every race provides a lesson which necessitates reflection and self-evaluation. It's easy to look back at a race which was successful and to draw conclusions on what went well whilst providing positive feelings, contentment and vindication for the previous week's routine. It is far more difficult to analyse a poor performance. Indeed, it has taken me until Wednesday night to write this post - usually I avidly complete it on a Sunday. Perhaps I had tried to bury my head deep in the surrounding sand of Manly Beach. With my WEMBO rivals looking stronger than ever, I need to look at my profile only, and how I can improve, and not worry about them. There is no doubt that I need to back right off my training. Unlike some of my rivals, who have been riding for years, I am still only in my third year of racing and putting my body through stresses it has never, ever experienced. My bike fitness level is at an all-time high but so is my fatigue level, resulting in a drop in form, hence the poor result. The warning signs were there, I simply chose to ignore them. The last race before the World 24 hour is this Sunday. I intend to reduce the fatigue and hope for a better result and a return to form in the Chocolate Foot STM Series 7 hour at Awaba.

With the World 24 hour Solo Championship just five weeks away, Rocky Trail's 7 hour at the same venue of Mt. Stromlo was always going to be heavily loaded with the main protagonists of enduro racing. Ed McDonald, Andrew Hall, Andrew Lloyd, Garry James and Brett Bellchambers were amongst the biggest names while I knew that the Masters category was destined to be gruelling affair, with Benji Morris, Jason McAvoy, Dave Langley and Trent Moore all carrying excellent form into the event.

This was the first time I would race my brand new Turner Czar and I was interested to see how it would roll in such esteemed company. After cracking two Turner Flux frames, I had waited since October 2012 for Turner to design and manufacture their latest 29er cross country race bike. With a number of problems associated with building up the bike, I was quite relieved to be sitting at the start line on my latest steed. 

I was also keen to deliver a good performance for the MIA Blackmans squad and Team Manager, Michael Brown. An added bonus was riding for a squad with so many riders competing in the team categories, because I would be a lot harder for my solo competitors to spot and I hoped that this wouldn't help motivate a rider chasing me late in the race. This had happened in the last round of the Chocolate Foot when sparring partner Dave Langley amazingly closed a five minute gap in the last hour of the race at Nowra.

The race exploded from the start and I was able to propel myself into a decent position near the front avoiding the usual chaos as the riders funnelled into the singletrack. After establishing a decent position it is important not to blow up trying to maintain the same pace as the team riders and those riding for just four hours. I eased back a little, only to see Garry James cruise past. This was of less concern than normal because he was racing in a different category and, without his nemesis Peter Selkrig to contend with, it would probably mean he would be less inclined to race on the rivet.

The track at Mt. Stromlo is in incredible condition and the trail fairies have done some outstanding work, particularly building up the berms on 'The Luge' section. The beauty of Stromlo, is the switchbacks during the climbs take your mind off the energy being exerted and, with the exception of a couple of slightly more technical step ups it doesn't feel like too long before you are rewarded with Skyline and the aforementioned Luge. And what a reward they represent. These two sections are amongst the best I've ever ridden; fast, flowing, fun and just plain exhilarating. Race Organiser, Martin Wisata has to be commended on designing a sensational course for the race and, while building in enough challenge for the elite riders, he was smart enough to have 'B' lines for those who required a slightly easier alternative to the main race line.

Nutrition and hydration needed to be prioritised, as the warm spring temperatures started to take a toll on a number of riders. Stromlo has a habit of throwing up fun and pain in equal measure and, as the race progressed, the climbing and white knuckle descents started to eat into the energy reserves and both lower and upper body muscles started to rebel. After my great start, I had been overtaken by Trent initially, and then Dave Langley, who commented that the fluro yellow knicks had given me away and, I assume, had aided his chase. He passed me looking strong and, even if this was just pretense, his confident persona had me convinced. Late in the race, elite female solo winner Eliza Kwan had jumped on my back wheel and I vowed that I would finish ahead of her at the end. Although she is fairly new to the sport of mountain biking, Eliza has a strong triathlon background and should give Jess Douglas some stiff competition in the World 24 hour this year.

I calculated that I would reach transition with about a minute left and mentally settled myself for another lap. I am not sure how, but I always seem to arrive at transition with a few minutes of a race remaining, compelling me to complete another lap. I knew Trent and Dave wouldn't be to far ahead, and with Stromlo's sharp, unforgiving rocks there is always a chance of a mechanical. Having dropped Eliza, I pushed on hoping to catch a glimpse of one of my rivals. This didn't transpire and I finished the race believing I had placed 5th. Little did I know, Trent and Ian Bridgland had both been barely a minute ahead of me but neither decided to go out for a final lap, therefore propelling me to 4th in the Masters category behind winner Benjy Morris, who scored a psychological victory over Jason McAvoy, just six minutes behind, and Dave Langley in third.

How much can be read into this result is debatable. Certainly, both Benjy and Jason are looking incredibly strong, and Dave just gets better every race. Perhaps, as Dave reminded me afterwards, racing on the back of a 755 km week and a single 313 km road ride is not necessarily perfect preparation for this particular event. I hope that I can mix it up with the others in five weeks time and I know that a 24 hour event is very different to one of 7 hours. As a side note, the shock winner of the elite solo was Troy Herfoss - apparently a motocross rider- who has also entered into the World 24 hour in October. Jason English take heed!

A consolation for me was winning the overall series, pipping Andrew Wells, with Benjy Morris in third. Rocky Trail's series has been superb and an overwhelming success. The races have been held at some of the state's finest mountain bike venues, and without doubt, a multitude of riders and I are looking forward to doing it all again next year.