SA CROSS TRIATHLON 2012

With ITU including Cross Triathlon as one of their disciplines, the name Cross triathlon had been on every ones lips. Cross/ off-road triathlon is a triathlon discipline that is growing fast and it is exciting to be part of this movement.

What is great about Cross triathlon is that there is focus on making the race as spectator friendly as possible by introducing lap racing over a shorter distance, making it quicker and more exciting for the viewer and rider.

The past weekend history had been made by holding the first ever SA Cross Triathlon Champs at the Tierpoort Dam just outside Bloemfontein.

It was the first time a race was held at the Tierpoort Dam and the farmers really did their best to setup the venue and host a top class race. Pre-riding the bike course I was more than ecstatic to be on my SCOTT Scale 29er, the freshly cut, bumpy grass and flat terrain was 29er heaven and thanks to a superb mechanical support from HATFIELD CYCLES my Scott was ready to go only I had to do my job by riding as hard as I could.

Race day was bit of a challenge as the weather was not really playing along but in the spirit of off-road racing, the tougher the better! So when the clouds finally burst open after a lap or so on the bike, the temperature dropped to freezing and Bloem showed us how tough you have to be to survive a winter thereJ. To say the least I was frozen by the time I hit the run, but did not want to lose any time by putting on a jacket (not sure if it was a wise choice??) but never the less I ran as fast as my frozen legs and feet could take me.

The run was a double lap of 4km along the dam edge and my INOV-8 X-talon 190’s was again a perfect choice for the cross country, grass, muddy track, gave me traction and drained exceptionally well not weighing me down.

It was a bitter/sweet victory! (A “bitter koue” and sweet for qualifying for Cross Tri World Champs in May)!!

Thank you the support of family and friends.

And a GREAT thanx to INOV-8, Sailfish, 32Gi, Hatfield Cycles, Rudy Project and Compressport! Without you I cannot train optimally and perform at my best!!

XTERRA SA GRABOUW 2012

XTERRA GRABOUW

When you start training with a new coach, one of the questionnaires you usually have to complete is what your short term and long term goals are…winning Xterra Grabouw was definitely on that list, short term or long term on any terms, I wanted to win Xterra Grabouw really badly since the first year I raced there in 2006.

Going into this race I was quite nervous, I had a good race at Xterra Buffelspoort, but Grabouw was almost a mind-block for me, coming close to a win a few times but just not being strong enough for the win, so being nervous would be normal. But I had the company of an awesome crowd of people for a few days prior to the race, which calmed my nerves and honestly have been the best few build up days to a race I have had in a while.

Usually I plan things a bit too close for comfort leading up to race day and end up running around trying to get everything done just before the race like packing bags/bike bags for traveling, last minute training, traveling, pre-riding, all while worrying about eating properly and resting as well. But this year I did a few things a bit differently and hopefully have learnt a few good lessons out of it and can go and apply it in other races…

ONE: I had my bike checked and serviced at Hatfield Cycles well in advance before the race

TWO: I booked a flight to arrive quite a few days early and not have to rush around (not always possible, but preferable)

THREE: I PRE-RODE the course at least twice and did the last technical section twice the day before the race as a pre-race warm up. So I was pretty confident about the little technical bits that could waste time if I had to stop or hesitate.

FOUR: I stayed with great people, who didn’t give me much time to stress or get stressed outJ

FIVE: I made sure to keep hydrated and even added extra electrolytes to my usual 32Gi drink, when I felt I had been in the sun too long (don’t think it was necessary but if it eased my mind it was worth it.)

SIX: I RESTED enough, taking a complete rest day on Thursday and very light training on Friday and Saturday, except the bike course that I did on Friday…even when going easy it’s a hard routeJ

SEVEN: I cut my hair shortJ ok it might have been an irrational/ de-stressing/lets go crazy moment, when I told my friend Natia to cut my hair after she had only been briefed shortly by her Italian boyfriend Angelo how to cut hair, and no Angelo is not a hairdresser he is a chef, but claimed to have done it beforeJ Thanx Natia the cut worked like a dream to keep me cool!

EIGHT: SCOTT SCALE 29 PRO – enough said!!

NINE: SAILFISH ONE wetsuit- the CORRECT SIZE after a year of racing in a too small suit (my fault)

TEN: For the first time ever, I froze my race drink the night before! I have always heard people do it and had just never remembered to do it or bothered, and WOW did it make a huge difference! Drinking ice cold water on the bike was sooo refreshing and really helped in the heat!

ELEVEN: On race day, I made sure I had something solid to eat on the bike. I usually only have chews or gels but and it is usually OK for the bike leg to go with only that, but once I hit the run I feel I needed something more solid, so this time I strapped a bar to my top tube, and even though I only ate a bit of it and kept some of it on my mouth for a few km’s (just being digested there) because my drink was finished and I couldn’t swallow it down, I’m sure it workedJ

TWELVE: I kept POSITIVE throughout the race, telling myself over and over that I have done the training needed to swim/ride/run this course well!

I hope to remember all these little things and apply them more often.

Xterrra Grabouw 2012 will always stay a highlight of my Xterra career. The crowd, the support and the RESULT!!

Little about the race itself>> BRUTAL but FUN! I had a good race start, swam behind the like of The Blighnaut and Dan Hugo for maybe a 100m and luckily got pulled along, but even then I was really comfortable in my Sailfish One and just thinking of cadence, cadence, and cadence!

Through the transition and onto the bike I had confident urgency, knowing that Carina might be closing in on me, but trying to keep a gap open till we hit the downhill and technical sections where I might be a bit stronger. So I kept pushing and never looked back…ok maybe a few nervous glancesJ

The run section was great fun, just enough climbing, single trace and downhill to keep me interested and focused on body positioning, cadence and “popping” as Bobby McGee described it!!

All in all a wonderful experience and encouragement to keep on pushing forward!

Thank you to all my sponsors for the great support! Up next>>> a few DU’s and SASOL CROSS TRI’s!!

XTERRA BUFFELSPOORT 2012

This year’s Xterra opener in Buffelspoort was as gruelling as expected. Being the 3^rd year consecutively racing this Xterra I knew exactly how tough the course is and what I’d have to endure to finish on top of the podium, but I really didn’t expect the hick ups that this year’s race brought.

Arriving at the venue quite early as I usually do, I was amazed at the amount of cars already at the venue. The 500+ athletes competing in the Xterra Lite was already out battling the course as I registered and received my personalised “number plate”.

Even though I knew the area we would be riding on from previous years, it was the first time I’d be riding with a 29’er. The SCOTT Scale Pro 29’er that I recently started riding is an amazing bike, fast rolling and monster wheels:) I was still battling to find the right tyre pressure to ride on, and stupidly I packed our older pump that’s gauge is broken so was not exactly certain what pressure the tyres were, and I now think it might have been too hard as I was tossed around more than usual out on the course.

A bit of bad luck struck a few minutes before the start when my wetsuit tore across my shoulder as I was putting it on…eeek what to do! Frantically I tried to get some duck tape or something to keep it in place or borrow a suit, but at the end there were just not enough time. I had to relax and just think positive..thanks to Liezl Stolz and Marc Danger Price, you were really solids when I almost crumbled!!

I swam hard from the gun,but could feel my suit catching more and more water, to the point where I was barely moving forward.The tear had grown and the suit was acting as a parachute in the water, quick decision had to be made and I decided to take it off as quick possible, bit of a task in the water but managed to do a "water transition" without too much hassle. I looked around to see if any of the life guards were close to give my wetsuit to them but they were not insight. So i had to leave it behind hoping they would pick it up as they came past or search for it after the race. Unfortunately they didn't see it and I couldn't find it.. the suit was gone :(:( in the dam(maybe some lucky fisherman will get a surprise at the end of his line!)

Never the less I had to urge on as the race was not stopping and I had some time to make up to the leading lady at the time Sylvia van Tromp. I enjoyed the ride on the Scott 29'er from the start, although the bike course is deceiving, to the eye it seems as if I should be going faster on the sandy roads but it felt as if I was being held to the ground. Luckily my monster wheels just kept on going! I caught Sylvia halfway and we rode well neither wanting to give an inch so back and forth it went for the last part of the bike, till Sylvia had some misfortune with a dented rim (and had to run back to transition!).

As soon as i hit the run I knew it was going to be a slog! A really hard run course but super exciting! Climbing up the side of the dam wall I was just finished and really appreciated the support of my fellow competitors urging me on! My legs came back on the second lap of the run and I finished decently. Not by best run, quite a bit slower than last year but with the lack of running due to injury the last few weeks I was super happy with my result!

Well done to all the competitors who finished and to Sylvia and Susan being great competition!

RESULTS:

http://www.stillwatersports.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1291&Itemid=977

Thank you Stillwater Sport for a great event!!

Thank you Inov-8 for all your support, and Hatfield Cycles who keeps my SCOTT in tip top shape!

Now lots of BIG WHEEL riding and running before the next event at XTERRA GRABOUW!

See you there!