Mátra Maraton '19 // Race report

Going to races and then write race reports. This time I'll try something different: I will not write big thoughts and all that. Instead you guys can see photos... photos that can give the feeling back what was my last weekend like! Enjoy! :) 

I finished 43 km race with 1200 m elevation just a bit over 2 hours and 30 minutes. This performance was enough to get the 25th place in the Masters 1 field. Am I happy with the result? Not so much... I was definitely aiming at the top 20 on Sunday.

I'd like to say thank you to Mátra Biker for signing me up for the race and to Eba Metallurgie Kft. for the support! Also a massive thanks to my girlfriend, my family and my friends for cheering me on during the race! You guys were awesome!!! And what else left to say? See you all in 2020! :)

  

July update

Yep, I'm still around and doing my thing. Been off-road a lot in the past weeks and having fun on the trails alright. The preparation is going kinda ok I guess... but we will see in September at this year's Mátra Marathon. At this point it is 100% sure that I will line up at the start line only there...will not be doing any other races this year.

Happy out! :) 

Szilvásvárad Maraton 2019 // Race report

Yep, I've started the 2019 racing season last Sunday! My first race was the Specialized Szilvásvárad Maraton. Savage race, brilliant course and a beautiful spot on Earth! I was looking forward to the race weekend as it's always exciting and also 'cause it was an overnight type job: we travelled to the venue on the day before to have a great time at Szilvásvárad and also to avoid the travelling on the race day. 

The was the machine rolls :)

We got everything packed up nice & good and after a lovely brekfast we were on our way to the venue. After the 120 km long drive we have arrived. Picked up the starter pack, had a short walk to check the best spots for spectating and after a nice lunch we decided to leg it to the accomodation and have a blast for the rest of the afternoon. :)

This year's pack: racing number with chip & cable ties, energy gel, maps and a good looking T-shirt all packed up in a stylish bag. What's not to like?!

We spent the night at the Szalajka Liget Wellness Hotel and enjoyed their relaxing atmosphere. Lovely and much recommended hotel in stunning environment. 

Hotel Szalajka Liget

Check out this...

... Finnish sauna...

... with a bucket of ice cold water right outside! I wasn't brave enough though to pull that rope :) 

But after all the fun on Saturday the game was ON on Sunday. Got up early enough, got a filling brekkie and hit the Start / Finish area to get ready on time. 

Ready to start my warm up

I think I wasn't the only one in the field who had "some" concern about the conditions of the course from all the heavy rain during the last few weeks. I know the place well enough to know that if it's muddy it could be a freakin' hell out on the bike...not to mention the rain if we get any...

Luckily we had a beautiful and warm day for the race. This and the chat with the Mátra Biker team mates at the start certainly got me in a good mood. :) 

3...2...1...GO!!! 

The slow start seemed to be not so slow after all...we got up to speed pretty quickly and after we hit the long tarmac climb I started to do my own thing and settle into my own zone. Warmed up quickly and I started to feel really good when we hit the first steep off-road climb. Many riders got off thier bikes due to the gradient and the mud on the course. At that point I felt like "Ok. This could work, sure no worries!"... Until I hit the wall a bit. Thankfully I could pull myself together and got up to speed again.

In action one the fast rolling descent. Loved it! (photo credit: Nutrixxion)

Oh man! All these super fast descents were so much fun to ride especially after the sloughter there in last year's storm. Pushing on the limit and flying toward the finish gave me such a boost. The only thing gave me even more boost was to see my beautyful Love just before the last technical trail shouting my name and cheering me on! You are awesome babe, thanks a million! :) 

I have arrived to the finish line on my own, so I rolled accross the line with a laid back & chilled mood. Yep, it's over...what a race it was!

   

I think I got an ok(ish) race... I finished the 39 km race with 847 m elevation gain under 2 hours. This performace got me the 22nd place in the super-mega-über fast Masters 1 field. I was aiming to place in the top 20... but unfortunatelly I slipped a bit on that one...

The XC weapon was brilliant today

So, another Szilvásvárad Maraton is done & dusted. What can I say? It was an event that was put together really well by a team that knows how to pull off a MTB race for us XC maraton heads. Everything was prompt, smooth, all the staff were helpful. The course was savage as always and the weather was a freakin' gift... I think we can all agree with that! 

Congratulations to all my team mates from Mátra Bike for all the great results! Well done, great going folks!

What's the plan? See you guys in 2020!

  

... stay tuned more photos still to come (hopefully)

Welcome 2019!!

Another year has passed, time flies as usual. So here we are, we just kicked off 2019! 

I have started my winter preparation for the upcoming racing season. Yep, it's only a preparation...it's still a bit far from training though. I'm doing some running and also cycling. The level of fitness is about Level 1 but this is how I operate. I don't need to be fast in January...I need to be fast at the races! :)

The plan is to race a few XC Maraton races just like I did in 2018 and also go back to my roots and do some XC events (including a popular hillclimb race).   

The motivation is there as always, so bring it on 2019!!  

Hey, I'm back!! // Just a quick update

Well, it has been a while since my last post...shame on me I need to admit! After the racing season I just did what I always do: doing my thing without much of a commitment and enjoy life as much as I can! :) Here I have a few shots of what I've been up to lately. 

Done some nice autumn riding...

... and also a savage night spin!

Visited nice places up in the mountains...

...and at the Danube also! Stunning! 

And most importantly spent some quality time with my kids...:)

So, life is going great and I can say that I'm recharged and ready to do some work! In fairness I'm already doing as I started my winter training about 2 weeks ago. I'm back on the bike and I'm back running also. 

The motivation is there, I have a few goals for next year, so roll on 2019!!! Bring it on!!!

Mátra Maraton // Race report

Finally! I managed to put a good race together, the kind that makes me feel that everything has came together like it should have been! But lets go from the beginning. 

I was really looking forward this years Mátra Maraton as the event was fully & completely renewed. Including new location, new start/finish area, brand spanking race course and the whole jazz altogether! 

Well, I've pretty much dropped my jaw straight after we arrived to the race centre at Mátraszentistván. Stunning spot it is, absolutely mind blowing!!

"Lets do this!"

As I was in a great mood and also put in a good training week I was dying to get ready and line up at the start line. But before all that we all lined up for a nice team photo:

Great bunch of lads here at MátraBiker :) 

I was pretty lucky to get to the start area nice & early so I managed to start from the 3rd row. The field was led out to the course and after the slow start the game was on! I mean ON! I felt great on the bike and the legs were turning well also. So everything was on one card straight from the start and the strategy was to go flat out and not to look back. 

The course was something else! It was simply brilliant: bone dry trails with a tad bit of mud here and there, loads of roots and even more rocks. And some climbs...I mean some proper climbs! Steep ones that put the hurt on! :) 

In action

The race was going my way and at about 30 km mark I still felt proper speed in the system so I decided to gamble a bit and it worked. I managed to cross the finish line with the best result of this season! 

I finished 38 km race with 1000 m elevation just a tad bit over 2 hours. This was enough to get the 12th place out of the more than 80 Masters 1 riders. Am I happy with the result?! Sure I am!! 

  

Shortly after the finish with a massive smile on my head. The target for the season was to get into the top 15 in Masters 1. I was knocking on the door already but last Sunday I finally managed to open that door. This 12th place is good for me, it is pretty much as good as it could get this year. :) 

Yep, it's time to get cleaned up and get some rest 

And what can I say about this year's Mátra Maraton? It... was ... freakin'... PERFECT! Massive thanks to the organizers and everyone involved for putting such a great race and great day together for us. The location is stunning and the course was savage! It was easily one of the best XCM race that I've done in the last 18 years! Hats off!