Jessica Douglas lives amongst the awesome trails in Forrest, Victoria, is the Current Australian 24 Hour Solo Champ and finished 4th at the 2009 World Solo Champs in Canada.

Enduro Pulse were lucky enough to pry her away from the bike to tap out some answers on the Aussie 24 Hour scene and her plan leading up to the 2010 World Solo 24 Hr Championships in Canberra. Go Aussie!  

Enduro Pulse (EP):  Firstly congratulations on the winning Elite Women’s 2009 Scott 24 Hr race on the 11th October. Your win at Mt Stromlo earned you a qualification into the 2010 World Solo 24 HR Championships. With the World’s also being held at Mt Stromlo in October 2010 knowing that the race will be on the some of the same tracks must be a confidence booster?

Jessica Douglas (JD): I really love the trails at Stromlo.  My first time riding them was back in 2007, at the Scott 24hr in a Pair with my husband Norm.Whilst the trails do have a technical element, they flow really well and the main climbs are well suited to 24hr events. So yes, winning this event 2 years running definitely adds to my confidence for the upcoming World Solo 24hr Hr Champs in 2010

EP:  So you’ve qualified for the 2010 World Solo 24HR Championships, are you planning on racing any more 24’s between now and then?

JD: Well, at this stage I would love to have a full 12 months of NO 24 hr races, but Norm...my dear support and husband wants me to do the Australian SOLO Champs at Easter as a "check point" to see how I am travelling in the lead up to the Worlds in October. However...I am still the boss and we will see what is going on with life at the time.  I have a lot of other "secret training" planned as well to get me to the worlds in peak form.

EP: Just how strong are the Aussie endurance racers? Can we get several on the podium using the home ground advantage?

JD: I think the mens 24 SOLO field has a lot of depth. Jason English no doubt has the others covered right now.  But he is beatable and someone will crack him one day soon. However, I know Jason is always one step ahead of the rest and the boys will have to get him on a bad day(does Jason have a bad day?). Its great for the male solo field though and seeing a podium full of Aussie 24 solo riders at the Worlds is not out of the question at all.

The womens 24 solo field is always smaller.  No matter where you go in the world.  At each race I have done, it averages out that the womens field is about 10% of the mens.  So 100 male solos = 10 female solos. The Australian Endurance scene is huge and there are new names at every race I have attended.  Trudy Nicholas is the goods as is Bec Parkes.  Then you have Katrin Van der Speigal who is tough as nails.  There is no doubt that one of us female solos can have a crack at being No.1 in the world on home soil at Stromlo...just who it is I cannot say!
 

EP: On your website (www.jessicadouglas.com) you describe yourself in the order of a mountain biker, fitness instructor, person. Does your family play a big part in keeping your mountain biking in perspective with everyday life challenges?

JD: That is a really tough question to answer.  I don't think of that at all, like how does my family fit into all of this etc...  We just make it happen.

In actual fact, sometimes family responsibilities can feel like a burden and what could I achieve if I did not have them.  Having said that though, would I be as driven if I was single and without a husband or daughter?  I do not wish to find out. I got married at 18, had Saskia at 21, she is now 15 and Norm and I are about to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary.  So life is awesome and I am lucky to have the support of my family, they believe in my 100% even when I think why even bother?

EP: Julien Absalon (French Cross Country Champ) recently mentioned in an interview that we he retires from racing Cross Country he’ll look to race endurance races. Has your racing background always been endurance or have you tackled other disciplines as well?

JD: Long story...but to cut it short, I have always loved riding my bike.  As a young kid, maybe 8, I used it to go to the shop and ride to friends houses and get out of my mums hair.  As I grew older, I rode longer, across town and even to coastal towns.  (I grew up in Geelong) It was during high school that I suggested to a teacher that I was keen to do the Great Victorian Bike Ride.  After completing 2 of these, I was hooked on long rides with a purpose.

EP: It sounds like your husband Norm Douglas has provided a great deal of support during your solo races. Are his advice and tips well received in the middle of the night?

JD: If our personal relationship is going along well, then our races go well.  If either of us is under stress and not communicating well, then this comes out in a race.  So this last race at Stromlo, we really worked hard at talking and discussing how we were going to communicate during the 24hrs.
It worked a treat and we really got along well the entire 24hrs, I did not crack the shits once.

However...having said that, at the Aussie Champs, Norm tried to tell me about a time gap that Katrin had on me, I had my own plans in my head and it was late in the night.  I told him," I dont care about Katrin, lets focus on me and what I can do please!"

In general, I do whatever he says, eat whatever he gives me and go about business.
 

EP: So apart from your training, racing and teaching with MTB Skills do you have any downtime that’s not bike related?

JD: Yes, typing this story to you! Admin for MTB skills is computer related and I get to sit on my butt all day. Same Same but different.  A chair instead of a saddle. I like to sleep, read and have a long hot bath, not in that order, but definitely can do the 3 all at once! I like to take my dogs for a walk.

EP: Thanks for your time, and Ride It Long Time

JD: No thank you Craig.  Its great that you are keen to hear it from a female athlete.  Yes, we exist!

You can keep in touch with Jessica's training, race results etc through www.jessicadouglas.com

All photos supplied courtesy of Russell Baker. Thanks Russell!