Mike B. and Mary McConneloug's Race Report; Beijing To Australia

Hey Backboners!!!

Greetings from wintry Australia! after an unforgettable Olympic experience Mike
and I hopped on a 12 hour flight from Beijing to Sydney to race our final World
Cup of the 2008 season... Now, with this successful race behind us we finally
have a moment to rest, appreciate and share some of the highlights of our
adventures.

the Olympic race: August 23, 2008

The Olympic race day was extremely hot and humid, but Beijing was graced with
almost blue skies due to the monsoon of rains that passed through helping to
lessen the smog that typically engulfs the city. The course was an intense 4km
of punchy climbs and manicured techy descents purpose built at an inner city
park. The course demanded strength, put the handling skills to the test and
contained elements of off road riding as tough as we have ridden anywhere. The
intense conditions including the fact that everyone had arrived here with their
best attempt at top fitness made the toughness of this competition second to
none.


















The 30 deep field of olympic women blazed off the line, fighting hard to get to
the front before the tight single track. After the initial start burst, I found
myself riding in the top 15 lined up in a row- tire to tire on the tight single
track. The pace being set by those in front, I found myself riding below an
ideal pace and was more than ready to move forward but couldn't find a passing
section without risking a mishap. The first time down one of the steep techy
chutes the race began to break up as riders crashed or bobbled and blocked the
flow of the A line while the leaders were able to ride cleanly off the front.


















I knew the heat was going to take a huge toll and going super hard in these
conditions would certainly cause problems as it did for many. Now it was time
to settle in and do some smart riding! I forced myself to ignore the suffering
I felt and dismiss the feeling of the sticky humid air pressing down on me
causing a slow motion sensation that is typical when racing in extreme heat.
Instead I focused on doing everything I could to move forward: pedaling fast,
staying smooth, hydrating, utilizing ice packs, and looking forward to catch
and pass my competitors one by one.

There were moments where I was feeling the joy and amazement of riding this
olympic race... At times I actually caught myself enjoying the flow of the
forest and he swoop of the trail ... but then it was back to business at hand,
power to the pedals, suffering, giving it my best shot at a good finish for
myself and all my supporters. I was able to move up through the field to the
single digits throughout the 6 lap race and in the final laps dig even deeper
and pass 2 more riders and hold on for a solid 7th place finish on the day.

The crowds were incredible! people seemed to fill every inch of the olympic
venue--I haven't experienced such a well attended mountain bike race in recent
memory. It was especially awesome to have Mike, some of my family and friends
out there yelling encouragements and keeping me motivated. I was also feeling
the cheers and energy from all my people across the globe contributing to my
focus and flow -- thank you all for the help!!!!

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We took full advantage of our one free afternoon to do some sightseeing in China
before it was time to pack up and get on the plane and were lucky to have a
liason, Todd McKean and his wife Shelby to help coordinate a day trip to the
countryside (as well as an incredible level of support throughout our entire
week in china) for some lunch at their amazing traditional summer house and
even get in an hour visit to walk on the Great Wall. It was spectacular to
experience some of the ancient culture with Mike, my mom, aunt cia, my sister
Bridget and her husband Jake...and even more fun to take a hooting fun tobaggan
ride down from it.

It was pretty much all we could manage before I needed to return to the olympic
village for a spectacular closing ceremonies. An intense and fast 6 days in
China, but the experience will deeply affect me for a lifetime...

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WC in Canberra, AUSTRALIA: August 30, 2008

Being self proclaimed country folk, it was a relief to get on the plane away
from the big city of Beijing. Mike and I were relieved to getting back on track
by moving into another camper van in Sydney where we could get back to the
racing and traveling style we love.




















We headed directly to Canberra after building up the bikes and getting in a spin
to shake off the 12 hour flight to attend our last world cup of 2008. We both
had a successful go in the dusty hills of the nation's capital. Although a bit
under the weather and worse for wear from the travel, I earned a podium finish
(5th!) and Mike came over the line to earn a 21st.

We were really happy to have the opportunity to check out the area/ and race
course which we were stoked to see is all about rugged mountain biking. It
was also great to see the aussies come out in full force to attend the well
organized event. We are looking forward to returning in 2009 when Canberra will
host the world championships.




















It is presently kind of wintery here in the southern hemisphere and we were
questioning our call on spending an extra week in our little camper van until we
smartened up and headed out to the coast near Batemans Bay. We are now holed up
in a sweet national park enjoying a few days here unwinding from our huge season
while checking out some kangaroos and eating vegemite sandwiches.

Hope all is well with you! : )
M and M