Great expectations for an injury free year

by Pip Read - Australian Masters Champion

Here we are at the start of a new year and I hope you all had a great Christmas and a safe and happy new year. We spent our Christmas interstate with family visiting from overseas. My visions of just lolling around on the beach with our dogs was side railed after falling over one of the canines and spending most of the week limping from the resulting injury. My hill training was consequently put on hold. I am sure that I must have crossed the path of three black cats last year!

As I mentioned last year I have a busy year coming up, including the Australian Masters Games in Geelong in February; the Victorian Masters Criterium Championships in Castlemaine in March; the Australian Masters Road Race Championships in Canberra in September/October and the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games. Whew! If nothing else my new time trial bike will be getting a bit of a workout. The other race that I'm hoping to do is the Bendigo International Criterium, which this year is the day before my birthday, and it has been a bit of a tradition for me to compete at this event.

My injured leg seems to be almost mended (at last) but it has taken the best part of nine months to discover and solve the problem that was causing the pain. I suspect that I will need to be very careful now not to re injure it in the future. I have learnt a very expensive lesson to always warm up and warm down properly. I have also lowered my expectations for the Australian Masters Games and received a lecture from 'Madam Lash' (my coach) on the same old thing - 'race smart'. Sounds fine in principle it's the practice that I have trouble with.

I have an apology to make to the girl who came up to say hello during this years Jayco Bay Criterium Series at one of the Geelong rounds. I'm sorry I didn't chat a bit more; I was worried about some friends that were on the ground after a crash on the corner at the end of the start/finish straight. I hope when you see me again you will say hi, I promise I will not be so distracted.

Now I need to get myself into some sort of shape for the upcoming races. My new disc wheel should be arriving soon and I need to fit it onto the time trial bike which involves gluing the tyre on. Could be messy, me and glue usually stick together quite well! I then need to get in some decent training, convince my boss that I really really need to have a week of next month to catch up on some training. Oh well - wish me luck.

While out training this morning in the hills around Geelong I was reminded how easy it is to totally forget what we are doing. Picture this, I've just struggled up the last hill on the loop, over the top, slight tail wind down hill speed picking up quick glance down at the bike looked up, hmmm what's that? Stick? No it's moving! A snake! I am glad I learnt how to jump obstacles. There must have been at least two feet between me and the snake.

To all those who are racing in the various championships this year enjoy and I hope you do as well as you are hoping, ride safe all.

Cya

Pip