Training @ the Kyalami Race Track

You've seen me say often in my exercise plans that I'm training at the Kyalami Race Track. Yesterday I decided to take the Kodak along so that you can get a glimpse of what I get up too. I'm glad I went yesterday evening - I'm not sure if I mentioned in an earlier post that I'd like to join a cycling club. I got to speaking to Angie who is involved with Club 100 - and she's had me hooked ever since. Last night we found out that we will be in the same starting group for the 94.7 and she invited me to join them - they are raising funds for the Sunflower Fund - I didn't hesitate. It's going to be fun raising awareness for the cause and funds. We'll be wearing tutu's and sunflowers. You can read more about the organisation here : http://www.sunflowerfund.org.za/ This is what they are about : "This is why The Sunflower Fund (Friends of the South African Bone Marrow Registry) was formed in 1999. The Sunflower Fund is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, South Africa, with a vision to give all South Africans diagnosed with leukaemia and other life-threatening blood disorders the chance of life, irrespective of their race and financial circumstances. The Sunflower Fund’s core purpose is to educate, recruit and raise funds to build and sustain an effective SABMR as a viable source of well informed ethnically-diverse potential bone marrow donors so as to meet the national and international requirements and improve the chances of life-saving transplants for serious blood disorder sufferers." Enjoy the pics......

in front of the pits

Going up the steep tough hill

At the top - the view can be very rewarding if you take the time to look.

Around the bend and then a steep downhill - woohoooooooooooo.....brakes, baby, brakes.....

The stretch in front of the Pit area again....

Back soon.....

Michelle

aka Puncture Girl

This weeks exercise plan: 19th Oct - 25th Oct 2009

The weather is throwling a few 'fruit loops' at me, so we'll see how it goes. * Monday : Cycling @ the Kyalami Race Track (training for the 94.7km) * Tuesday : Cycling @ the Kyalami Race Track (training for the 94.7km) * Wednesday : Belly Dancing + Final decision to be made about race on Saturday :-)) * Thursday : Cycling @ the Kyalami Race Track (training for the 94.7km) * Friday : Yoga / Rest Day * Saturday : Possibly an 85 Km cycle race (still deciding....hmmmmm) or Belly Dancing * Sunday : Rest Day / Squash

Race for Victory : Photos

Race for Victory : 4th October 2009

Tired ='s I don't want to.....LOL

Alrighty then, off we go. Hey!! Bonus - I'm not right at the back...Woohooooooo

Members of the support crew - aren't they cute???

For the last 1km or so I had a friendly chat with this guy - it was great not going over the finish line alone for a change. Woohoooooo!! He had done the longer race.

Hey!! I'm smiling - I did it - all 54km's or was that 56.7 Km's or something like that...hmmmmm

'Tired' catches up quickly.....'let's go home James'

Cool Medal!!

And on a much lighter note - YES!! I had a flat.....about 7 km's from the finish. Working on it, working on it.....LOL

over and out...

Puncture Girl

p.s. wondering if I should change the title of my blog to 'Puncture Girl' LOL

This weeks exercise plan: 12th Oct - 18th October

* (storm = rain) Monday : Cycling at the Kyalami Race Track (training session) * Tuesday : Rest Day Cycling at the Kyalami Race track (short training session) * Wednesday : Cycling at the Kyalami Race Track (training session) * Thursday : Cycling at the Kyalami Race Track (training session) * Friday: Yoga * Saturday : Belly Dancing ??? cancelled * Sunday : Squash (maybe) braai time/barbeque :-))

Raw

I feel RAW!! I'm wondering how many more bombs life can throw at me. I wonder how many more I can take before I truly fall apart. Latest : * My car - mechanic is unable to source an engine currently + there is the estimated cost being somewhere between R15 000 & R20 000 (I'm shell shocked) * Stupid Landlord phones/emails yesterday stating he wants to sell his house. We still have 4 months on our lease. One of the conditions we had was that he NOT sell during our lease period, he assured us that he was not wanting to sell (Yeah Right!! - fell for that one didn't I) - I am not here to babysit his house while some Estate or him is constantly in and out with buyers. Tell him straight out that if he wants to sell then he must let us out of our lease - NOPE - he doesn't want to do that because we're tenants who actually PAY rent, not like his previous tenants who did not pay him for 6 months. Let's add to that that, everything he promised to FIX - he hasn't. The scale is on the Up and Up!! I'm in a food coma and my body hates me!! I feel bleghhhhhh.... I'm at the mercy of certain people and I'd rather not be. I have a School Leaving Certificate - that's it. Going back to work won't fix the car nor will it pay for the childrens aftercare, nevermind schooling. I'm stuck between a ROCK and a HARD PLACE. Going back to work creates more problems than it fixes. **sigh** I hate myself because I feel like I've failed!! Just when I thought life was on the mend, that we would recover from the past 2 years KAK (crap) - life continues to throw curve balls and I've honestly had enough. **sigh** and **sob** over & out Puncture Girl

This weeks exercise plan: 5th Oct - 11th October

Hoping for a better week's training than last week. :-)) * Monday : Rest Day * Tuesday : Cycling at the Kyalami Race Track (training) * Wednesday : Cycling at the Kyalami Race Track (training) * Thursday : Cyling at the Kyalami Race Track (training) * Friday : Yoga * Saturday : Spinning /swimming * Sunday : Squash Nothing happened - break time!!

Race for Victory - this weekend's race (Sunday)

This Sunday's race is 54 km's (33.55 miles) long. It is also thankfully alot closer to home this time around. As I have my no., chip and everything else means we do not have to be there at the crack of dawn - yippeeee!! Those early mornings, especially the 4am wake-up calls can be hell.

This race had a little goodie bag. We got a t-shirt and some samples - almost all repeats of the last goodie bag. I'm collecting toothpaste here - great for camping and travelling. :-))

Here's my number. I'm in the middle batch and not right at the back. Will I end up riding all by lonesome again? Who knows?? Thankfully it doesn't bother me that much. I'm sticking to the gels that I have used for all my races: Enervit Sports Gel: Enervit Sports Gel I have also bought the new Energade Sports Jellies - I snacked on these in the last race with no ill effects.

For after the race I got myself some Antistax Leg Cooling Spray : Antistax Hoping it will refresh the legs after the long ride. :-)

I also got a little jar of this badger balm (sore muscle rub). Now to convince hubby to rub it in for me. :-) I like this product as it is Certified Organic - it's costly but I'm hoping well worth it. :-))

When I collected my number they also handed me why timing chip - woohoo - so once again I will have an official time. If some of you are wondering why I bother with a timing chip, I like it because I can keep track of what I am doing and how I am doing.

It has not been a great week training wise. I only managed to make it to the track once this week with everything going on. Tonight we are going to Yoga - I'll take it easy and I'm looking forward to a good stretch.

Well, I just got a call to say my gloves have arrived, as well as an extra bag for my bike. I've taken to calling myself 'Puncture Girl' - I want to be in a position to carry more than one extra tube with me - especially on long-ish distances. I'd better be off.

Have a super weekend - keep active.

Hugs

Mich Puncture Girl