Training Log Archive: apope

Delta Park Night race. A lot of fun. But seriously intense riding. My first ever training effect of 5 according to my watch! I think I am a bit unfit and I've lost my cycling diesel engine.
Managed 15 laps. Finished 14 with about 2 min to spare. I think with a better start, knowing the course and some more kilowatts on the open bits I could get to 16. The splits should come soon...

Pilates seems more appropriate at this stage than 70km MTB races. Same instructor as last year

Very poor judgement entering this 2 weeks after Expedition Africa and after not feeling great on Thursday. Stressful week!
Possibly my worst day ever on a bike! That's a bit over-dramatic, but the last 20km were very bad.
Started well and was riding with Nic to almost 20km. Hit a rock hard that made a hole and pinched my rear tyre. I was running 2.1 bar, hoping for a bit more comfort and grip. Stupid idea on this course! I plugged the hole and bombed. It kept leaking out of the pinch holes - the slime wasn't getting there. Bombed again. Eventually stopped to put a tube in. By this time I'd been passed by lots of people including ladies Jane and Nicky mixing it up for 2nd - 5th. I rode well to about 50km, but the wheels started falling off then. I was eating and drinking well. I think it was EA and the week catching up. And possibly a poor pacing strategy. Maybe :)
Hated life for about 20km. Had a lie down at the end and got over it quite quickly. Now that I'm less grumpy, it was a fun trip. Lots of friends and good practice for next time.
Nic smashed a 3:55. Jane was about 20 min ahead of me.

No more training longer than an hour for a while! Except maybe the Saturday morning breakfast ride.

The achilles feels good, somehow?

Rode with Rob from the digs to Dunkeld. We joined the group and rode into Braamfontein. Then joined even more people and did a 20km version of the Jozi night run. There was a group of about 150 people. We all stopped for dinner and Tony, Rob and I got some awesome Ethiopian food. That caused us to miss the restart and we did a few nervous km on our own in the middle of town. We found them again and cycled back home. Cool idea, chilled pace, fun night out!

Mozambique work trip for Wednesday and Thursday. Not the beach holiday I was hoping for. My achilles also didn't enjoy the trip and seems worse than its been for a week

8 laps in the Sabre. Solid to start with. Wobbly by the end.

Easy ride with Sarah, Dan and Nicole around Emmies and Delta Park. Arse and hands are still a bit tender!

Physio visit for my achilles. Not great news - it is sore and inflamed. She says no running for 4-6 weeks. Hopefully with some good treatment I can bring that down...
A bit less grumpy about it than I would expect. Cycling, paddling and swimming for me then!
Gauteng O' Champs might be tight. Definitely won't be in running shape for it. Which is disappointing.

EA with Red Ants: Brian, Christiaan and Landie. Lekker. 2nd to Merrel

Out into the Cradle with Richard.

2nd orienteering track time trial of the year. Planned to run it steadily and not do anything silly. Aimed for 4:00/km splits and held a few seconds under that the whole way. Faster than last time. About 5 seconds off last year.