RUST magazine: Rust#15

WM: I’m not quite at the level of self-recognition
as JB. I still think I have some pace left in me
and with the right amount of training, prep and
nutrition I could produce a result. So suffice to
say that my competitive nature almost always
overwhelms any sense of reason or admission
that by the time we reach Christmas this year
I’ll have crossed the half-century mark.
Don’t get me wrong, I feel the niggling aches
and pains, I have to work twice as hard to
maintain my waist line and have resigned
myself in the gym to the fact that it’s okay to be
upstaged by almost all the fresh faced young
things who with condescending smiles are
silently conveying “don’t worry you’re doing
great – for your age”.
JB: My one strength – and it’s not that
impressive – when it comes to enduro is my
brain. I make sure I apply it as much as possible.
For instance, knowing the Welsh was two long
days I knew my first priority was to conserve my
energies – no point in attacking the course all
gung-ho on a slack check. Even on a tight check
I figured I might need to sacrifice the odd lost
minute rather than risk burnout (but I hoped it
wouldn’t come to that). I also knew it was
imperative to sustain my energy, eight hours
of riding will burn probably 4000-5000 calories
(that’s at my pace, faster riders will probably
burn more), so that means eating way more than
your regular daily intake of around 2500 calories.
And it’s important to stay hydrated. Dehydration
saps energy, resulting in loss of concentration
and can lead to unnecessary crashes.
And whatever deficit is left over (in terms of
competitiveness) I figured I’d make up for with
technique. I’m by no means a good rider, but if
you’ve ridden as many years as I have you’ll
have learned the odd trick along the way, have