South African National Mountain Marathon Championships

Having been away from England for 2 months now I’m finding anything English like very exciting so was pretty chuffed to find the KwaZulu-Natal area full of rolling green fields, thatched cottages and Tudor style houses, the only difference been the humid weather.

The race was down at Inanda Dam, no longer English like with looming mountains and a couple of Zebra wandering around the start area.

Our race started at 7.30 and by 7.35 I was sweating and out of breathe!  The first 30km were mainly jeep tracks up and down the hills surrounding the dam.  The area known as 1000 hills should be renamed a 1000 mountains!! 

1000 mountains/hills later I was riding on my own.  I’d stayed with the leading group of Cherise, Yolandi Speedy and Candice for as long as I could but found that chasing after the descents and after a few single track sections took its toll and I dropped off.  Along a section with one of those persistent headwinds and some dodgy looking locals I missed the company of the other three when I heard I was actually in front.  I argued there was definitely three in front but was told they’d gone wrong.  Not for long I thought as I made a hash of the single track we’d now turned on along the edge of the dam.  

Though a definite improvement in my technical skills I’m still struggling to get through single tracks with a lot of speed and am still stuck with the ‘Right Foot Syndrome’ whereby my right foot clips out as soon as I see a few sharp rocks! 

60km in and I was still in the lead and was now pulling back a fair few of the men who had set off 5 minutes before us.  I was priding myself on getting this far without falling when suddenly I looked to my right up a short steep climb and seeing a big drop down into the bushes immediately found myself down there.  Unhurt apart from jarring my neck it took a while to scramble back to the track.  It’s so true that you normally end up where you look!!

Unsure how the terrain was I stopped at the last feed for more water and was still in the lead.  Panic had long since set in about been at the front and I was looking back at every opportunity dreading seeing the lead three chasing me back.  With 12 km to go I think the final gel kicked in and on a jeep track I started going as fast as possible.  Then we turned onto more single track.  Blowing now the terrain was constant up and down, steep climbs that were just about ridable and downhills that I didn’t even bother trying to ride!  On top of that the whole course had been very difficult to follow with only small bits of chalk on the floor and loads of different goat tracks around.  Four or five times I went the wrong way so wasn’t surprised the lead three had gone wrong.  When your alone you quickly realize there’s no more chalk and turn round but when your with 2 others its easier to just carry on.

On and off these single tracks we went, my feet were both cramping up and my hamstring was threatening to until finally we approached to finish field and I crossed as first woman much to the surprise of the spectators as to myself.  I’m sure people say that when you win you don’t feel how tired you are, well that wasn’t the case here, I was completely shot,  a warm down didn’t enter my head with the only activity to follow was a float in the dam! 

Karien van Jaarsveld came in 7 minutes later to take the National Title very closely followed by Cherise then Candice whom I was pleased to see take a medal even though I’m sure it wasn’t the color she had in mind. 

ABSA Cape Epic 2011

When you are racing you get up every day and, despite the odd bit of cramp while struggling to get dressed in the tent then the feeling of hip flexors about to snap as you eventually stand up, you can get on your bike and within 10 minutes feel ‘normal’ (ish) again yet when your finished your body completely switches off.  That is how I found myself writing this.  The thought of walking to the gate to board a plane home seems a mission and trying to carry bags, forget it I’ll pay good tips for a helping hand today!!

9 days ago I met my partner, Carel Bosman for our first ride together, before the Epic began with a tough prologue.  Off early we had a cool ride and I was glad to follow Carel’s wheel up the technical bits when the sun was blinding us.  Climbing well together he then had to wait an age as I crawled down the single track that was full of drop offs, rocks and roots.  The crowd was amazing and I had to laugh passing a group shouting “ride it, ride it” and when I climbed off my bike to walk down they then shouted “good choice, good choice”!!

After been introduced already to a mass of Carel’s friends I was sorted with some camping buddies once at Tulbagh which made the camping experience one of the best parts of the event. Carel  got us VIP treatment in the SuperCycling Club lounge which meant after every day we got to relax on the most comfortable bean bags after a soak in an ice bath and the best bit: fresh cooked sandwiches, multiple cups of tea and many, many rusks and cookies!!  After that closed I’d drop my nicely cleaned bike off  to the Specialized guys who looked like they were surviving on Red Bull and beer but were doing a great job as I had no mechanical issues all week.  Once that was done I moved into the Absa lounge for Internet and the joy of Skype.  At 6pm dinner started and I’d go there, find someone to chat to and have some really good home cooked food.   After the daily presentations, guest speakers, talk through of the next day, a bit of socializing over tea and usually second helpings of dessert it was pretty much bedtime.  I slept well every night and woke around 5 to a cold, damp tent, long queues for the toilet and breakfast but all worth while for a big bowl of hot porridge. 

The start every day was crazy. Starting in group B meant we were around 200 riders back and once riding it was either stupidly fast with everyone wanting to move forward or, as happened on stage 2 and 3, we went straight up a single track mountain so it was down to a sedate walk while the leaders shot off.  No point getting annoyed, as everyone was the same and it was a good chance to take in the scenery and save energy for later on. 

By day four despite loving the camping routine I was very glad to sleep in a real bed thanks to Nicolene’s mam in Worcester.  The ride that day was my worse too with 4km of walking in traffic on the climb then on and off the bike over rocky river beds and deep sand.  It wasn’t just me, that stage got a lot of bad press.  The finish was the best part, catching another mixed team we had a full on race through the golf course and sprinted down the single track to the finish, dropping them on the way and nearly knocking a few other teams flying in the process!  Having a house to relax in meant I could massage my legs, do a stack of washing and not have to walk a mile around the campsite, not to mention the delicious mountain of food we got! 

For the first time ever the Epic then had another time trial.  The 32km loop went through a reserve and the hills were steep, long and narrow which suited us both as it wasn’t suited to the mixed teams that relied on pushing the woman along.  We finished 4^th mixed team, which was our best yet. 

Following that slight rest bite was 2 ‘hectic’ days starting with a daunting 145km, far longer than any road race I’d ever done and with about 2500m climbing!  Despite been a ‘roadie’ the worse bit was the fast road to start   With a nasty side wind I spent a long time riding in the gutter imagining I was back in Holland. I was much happier once the hills started and the groups split up.  I hit a record of 6 mini muffins, savory snacks and marshmallows yet still found plenty of room for the mincemeat and sweet bread after in the lounge.  All energy needed for the next big stage and another 7 hours in the saddle with 2000 odd meters climbing.  As with a few mountains that had scary descents I got a bit of a head start which was a good job as, scooting along too slowly, I still managed to go over the front of the bars, into a press up position and very slightly scuffed my chin.  Within minutes Carel caught me and I was much happier following him down enjoying the rest of the single track even though he also went flying.  The last 15km went round and round which cracked a lot of teams with the steep climbs but with Carel setting our pace spot on again we enjoyed it and pulled back a few struggling teams.

One of the most surreal things of the whole Epic was waking on the last morning to Rolph Harris blasting out next to my tent!  ‘Tie me Kangaroo Down” was then in my head the entire 69km!  It sounded short but with a stack full of climbing to do it was far from over and with a nasty sandy section to finish I was glad to cross the line in one piece and collect my well earned medal down in the beautiful setting at Lourensford Wine Estate.

Below are a few things I have leant over the last 8 days, 39 hours of racing and climbing the equivalent of Everest twice:

1) Eat lots of garlic snails if you want your partner to take the head wind

2) Banana muffins in back pocket works, avoid blueberry ones as they are too sticky and end up clumped to your Allen keys only to be found hours later

3) Avoid 2 bowls of porridge on a stage that starts with a mountain

4) Put glasses on when going to the portaloos in the night to save bumping into men dressed only in underwear

5) Analyze bottle tops before drinking, mud is fine, cow s****t is not

6) Trying to teach mountain bikers the joy of an echelon in a side wind is like teaching me the art of a wheelie

7) Choose the right partner and the Epic is such a memorable, fantastic, fun yet most challenging experience you’ll ever have.