Racing...races to consider this year

This year I want to return to events which challenge me on a mental as well as physical level, whilst also offering me the experience of racing on unique courses or in parts of the country where I have not raced before. During 2009 I raced in shorter cross country mountain bike races in order to increase my overall speed, as I had already proved I had good endurance in 2008 by competing in various endurance events such as the 12 hour Set 2 Rise, Bontrager TwentyFour/12 and the 75km enduro's run at the National Cross Country series. Although my speed improved during 2009 I just didn't enjoy these short cross country sprints which were based on pure power rather than the physicaland mental battle of the longer endurance events and the passion to race started to fade towards the end of the Summer.

I enjoy the endurance events more than the cross country 'sprints' as after the shorter, faster races I come away with no lasting memories, just a body racked with pain! Whereas in the longer enduro events there is a better atmosphere as you are not just racing 'arse up, head down', you have the time to appreciate the course and share some banter with your fellow racers as you race the clock round and sometimes the banter is the only thing which keeps you going and stops you getting off the bike, physically and mentally unable to continue. The body may still be racked with pain, but the many great memories of these endurance events help keep my mountain biking fresh, keep me motivated during training and hopefully coming back for more racing year after year.