Well well well, I'm here, I'm alive. I did it. I survived! On Saturday we started about only 48 people on the Ultra Challange Marathon. 40 finished it, I finished 21st. I was the only woman so I get 1st and last place I did the 121,5 km in 9h18 min. The trail was hard: lots of rocks, sand and mud in the woods. I was exhausted but I knew I had to race on the next day, too.
On Sunday we started a lot more people for the 58 km race (over 200). The trail was even harder with rolling stones, steep and technical climbing and very strong head wind. I was leading my category for about 40 km but then my Greek competitor was lead by her male team mate on the asphalt part and they entered the last part of the trail in front of me which was technical singletrack with sand and stones. I couldn't reach them. I was lighter than the other rider so I did better on the climbs but I was worse on the downhill. Also I was really tired and finished about 3 min after the first lady. Last year I finished about 30 min after her so I must be happy that I progressed so much. Sill, I feel a little bitter and I wonder if I could have done more to win the race. But believe me, it was hard right after the Ultra Challenge.
I am very satisfied with the races. Sometimes I hated the wind and the rocks. Now my whole body hurts, especially the upper part (I ride a hard tail) but I was amazed by all the views. We went arount the whole island of Thassos and the scenery is beyond my words to describe. I didn't take my camera (still, I was in a race) and I had to be careful to watch my front tire but still I could see the sea, meandering paths, green forests and blue and green bays. My coach made a lot of pictures and when he sends them, I will upload them.
Our team was very good too and a large part of the Bulgarians participated in both races (that makes us masochists, doesn't it )