It’s been a while since I’ve written a proper “race report”, but last weekend’s Noosa Enduro won’t leave my thoughts – so the only thing to do is write them down!
This was my second attempt at the Noosa Enduro mountain bike race (the first being in 2021), after riding the gravel version in 2022. It is now entrenched as one of my favourite races. The course consists of an almost-100km adventure ride through scenic countryside that ranges from rutted singletrack to wide open gravel roads, and from thick rainforest to grassy ridgelines with views stretching to the ocean. It is simply a stunning day in the saddle – but that is not to be confused, in any way, shape or form with an “easy” day in the saddle! The rideable climbs were, at times, loose and rocky – others simply ventured into hike-a-bike territory. At least they gave me an opportunity to admire the views! The subsequent descents were likewise loose, rooty and rocky – a bucketload of fun, but I was very grateful that Dylan had upgraded my brake rotors to 160mm!
I finished the race knowing that I had pushed as hard as I could right until I crossed the finish line and got an incredible feeling of satisfaction in knowing that. At various times my quads, glutes and calves each suggested I slow down, but I was able to keep pushing throughout the race. This doesn’t mean I was fast (indeed, my pace was 10km/hour slower than the winning elite male) but it meant I was as fast as I was able to be – that’s a win for me. As always, there’s room for improvement – but the accomplishments of elite riders and age groupers alike continue to inspire me to work to be my best. It’s great to see so many women (and especially older women) out there crushing goals!
I enjoyed the company of the other riders and especially enjoyed riding with Oppy for a brief stretch, until his superior descending skills left me eating his dust. My standout memory from the race, though, was when the 100km mountain bike course and the 140km gravel course converged and I arrived at the junction just as Sharon Heap passed by, pulling a group of 15-odd riders home. She looked strong, powerful and completely focused – and that’s an image that is going to continue to inspire me for a long time to come!
The race itself was well-organised with plenty of support out on course (thank you to the many volunteers!), while the three aid stations meant it was easy to refill my water and remix more Infinit as required. I drank over 3 bottles of Infinit and almost 3 litres of water during the race, and the cool water on course was appreciated! Afterwards the race village was the perfect spot to relax and refuel, chatting with friends and checking out the race results. I was in awe of the elite riders and the pace they’d managed to sustain and ecstatic to discover that I’d placed third in my age category (& 12th female overall), behind the super strong Nicola Jelinek and Diana McPhee. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face after that!
Big thanks as always, to those who support my mountain biking journey. To Dylan for his unwavering support of my “mountain biking midlife crisis” and for all he does to help me juggle life and training, to RideTechnics for their skills coaching, and to Infinit for the perfect race-fuel for these endurance mountain bike races.