Hekpoort or is that 'cycling hill hell'

What was I thinking? Apparently I was feeling very brave the moment I hit the 'enter' button.

I'd already had this conversation with hubby. Hekpoort will always be there - I can tackle it any year. Doesn't mean I have to do it this year. I'm clearly braver than that conversation.

This is a race I really didn't talk about last year. Why?? Well, Hekpoort conquered me and not vice versa. The first and only time I got a lift back to the finish by paramedics in their off-road 4 X 4 (not quite an ambulance, but close) They checked my sugar levels as I was on the verge of vomiting and felt dizzy. Not good. I tried being on the back on the sweeper vehicle - not a good idea as I was green and the other poor cyclists didn't feel like been thrown-up on. I cannot blame them. Hence the lift I got back. A quick call to the husband to tell him not to panic when he saw me stepping out of a vehicle basically used for emergency type responses.


Apparently, I can't even find photos for this race - clearly not a good memory.

After last weeks race and while resting at home.  Hubby asked me how I felt about Hekpoort - I didn't feel good.  That 'mountain' is constantly in my thoughts.  I am really trying to throw positive thoughts it's way.  Dreading it and fearing it will not do my race any good.

Some positive thoughts...

Hekpoort is earlier in the race this year and not near the end.
I am thinner.
I am stronger.
I am on my road bike.
I did get up Sterkfontein in the Dome 2 Dome (it took a while but I did get up).  Hekpoort is a lot shorter but is steeper. 

I will not panic this year and end up taking energy gels to close to each other.  I am happy with my nutrition during races and know what to do this time.  :-)

I am going to give it my best shot. 
 



Race for Victory 2010

At the start - 2010

What can I say except smiles all around.  I was looking forward to the race this year.  It is definitely one of my favourites.  It definitely was not as chilly as last year (see below) but the surprise in store for us was going to be the wind and boy did she blow.  I kept telling myself that it was good Argus training.  There were times it felt as if I was going to be blown off my bike but I held on tight - really tight.  LOL

Remember : At the start 2009

 

Crossing over the start line 2010

  Up until around the 40km mark I was having my best race ever.  My pace was good and best of all I was feeling great.  Ready to conquer the cycling world - the races ahead of me were not going to be that bad.  Then the wind let herself be really known and the worst was it was a headwind.  My word!!  The legs just don't get a break - you have to pedal your heart out if on a downward slope.  Ugghhh!!  Thankfully I'd done the route last year and smelt the finish line and just pushed myself.  I was not letting myself down.  For the first time in a long time I nearly burst into tears crossing over the finish line.  I was just grateful to be finished.  But now the thoughts in my head were not good and all of a sudden I wasn't feeling so confident about the 2 big races ahead of me.  The Jacaranda Satellite Classic is next weekend - 97km's.  I'm still wondering what I was thinking when I hit the enter key.



Thanking the heavens above!  The finish line 2010

 

Legs are tired!!

 We waited for my friend Sandi to come in and then went off to find Harry.  Harry wanted to watch the prize giving and all I wanted to do was head to the car. 

I look forward to doing this one again next year.  Guaranteed I'll be lighter even at goal if I play my cards right.  :-)  Heck, I might be brave and do the slighly longer one.

I finished in 2hrs44 - an improvement on last year.  Last year was 3hrs26

20 Kilograms lost (44 lbs)

It's official, I've lost 20 kilograms (44 lbs) since I started this journey Jan/Feb 2009.  When I started this journey with Weight Watchers I weighed in at 104.4 kg's, today I weighed in with Weigh Less at 84.4 kilograms.  Woohooo!!

I was only expecting to reach this mini goal next week.  Last weekend was not perfect with the Jubilate School Carnival and then on Sunday when my sticky paws landed on some fudge and then some lamb ribs.  Not perfect choices.  By Tuesday the scale at gym declared that I had picked up the weight I had lost last week (400 grams), I was going to have to work hard which I did.  I upped the cardio, slotted in some kettlebells and skipping and stuck to the plan.  This morning when I stepped on the scale - I think I closed my eyes tightly shut, not wanting to see the damage or if I had managed to make up for my bad weekend.  I couldn't believe it when I was 1.4 kg's down.  Wow!!  Hard work certainly pays off. 

This makes me almost 10kg's lighter than last year this time.  Tomorrow is the Race for Victory Race.


At the end of Race for Victory 2009


I finished this race in 3h30 or something around there.  One of my slower rides.  This year I am hoping to finish in under 2h30.  That will be something.

I rejoined Weigh Less about 9 weeks ago and since joining I have lost 7.3 kg's.  Each and every week I have lost - I am so excited.  This time around something is working.  I don't feel deprived and believe it is all about choices. 

I still have 20 kg's or so to go.  This time around there will be NO slacking off.  The best part is, is that I feel great.

Cannot wait to tell you about tomorrow's race.

Hope you're having a super weekend.

Bestmed Campus to Campus 2010 - Race Report

You can read about last year's race here

My not so favourite part, the early mornings!!  We had to get up just before 5am so that we could be out the door by 05:30.  Ouch!!  Weekends around this time are not my own.  Saturdays I tend to be up early as I go to WeighLess at 07:30 to get my weigh-in over and done with, leaving Sundays as the sleep in day but alas that is not to be at the moment.  At least this weekend there are no races for me.

We picked up Harry on the way and off we went.  This was a far one, one of the furtherest we have to travel to.  We got there just in time.  Harry immediately got his bike and stuff sorted and headed for the start line as he was doing the long distance.  I went off in search of a toilet.  While doing that I quickly munched on a Bran Muffin - yummy!  From then onwards it was a mad dash to get everything setup from HR monitor to MP3 player (don't worry I only used one ear piece and can quite comfortably hear everything around me - safety is a priority for me).  At least I did not forget the sunglasses behind this time.

I met up with my friend Sandi at the start line.  Hubby managed to get a few pics and it was time to start.  This year the groups were very small.

From the start the wind made itself known and did not let up.  I don't think we had a break from it, from head-on to any other direction it could come at us - it did.  Sandi was behind me at the beginning and then I lost her - I was on my own with a few riders in front and behind.  At least I was not going to be all alone the whole time.

And while I was out doing my thing.  My support team found trees.  Gotta love those guys. 

I really enjoyed the race even with the wind and when I smelt the finish line I pedalled hard.  Hubby even said I came in fast.  Told him it helps coming in on a downhill instead of an uphill. Hehehehehehe.

We waited for Sandi and then headed off for some pancakes and refreshments while we waited for Harry to come in.

The good news is I improved on last years time :

2010 :  2:23:42

2009 :  2:50:05

My next race is on the 10th October.  It is one of my favourites, Race for Victory.  Cannot wait...

Remember 'Invincible' - Meals on Wheels 2010

It has been a year since my first 'official' race and what a difference.  Doing the happy dance here!!

This was last year :

Meals on Wheels 2009



The Support Crew, Member 'J'



Support Crew, Member 'B'

Just what were they up to while I was out pedalling....looks like they were up the tree.  hehehehehe  Sounds like they had loads of fun!!  Climbing trees, jumping on the jumping castle, eating pancakes and drinking milo.  Definitely fun!!

The race itself started earlier this year and we got away around 8am somewhere.  Right from the start we head uphill.  Great way to wake those legs up. hehehehehe.  I got to the halfway turn poing in just under and hour.  The route was undulating.  Definitely not flat and fast. 

Today was spent trying to get past the 'I'm out for a Sunday ride with my BFF' while they're casually riding abreast (taking up most of the road to do this) and catching up on whatever.  This is done with no consideration for cyclists or even motor vehicles coming up behind them.  Idiots!!  The fact of the matter is at the 94.7 there are going to be zillions of these types.  I hope I survive!!

The GOOD news is that I did improved on my time from last year.  Woohooooo!!

My official time was 02:09:05 - I was the 204th cyclist in for the 40km out of 224 (not including those who did not finish).

Last year (2009).  My official time was 02:31:02 - I came 3rd last.  Ouch!!

I was not chased by the ambulance and sweeper vehicle and there was no bursting into tears.  When hubby asked if my song had played this time - strangley enough, even though it is on my MP3 - Invincible did not come into play today. 

Seriousley, this needs to go!!

With this weight loss, a few things are happening to the shape of my body.  This is one in particular that I HATE with a passion and seems to be more noticable when I'm on my bike (sad face).  It appears that this middle section is definitely going to be the last to go.  Ouch!! 

Very happy with myself!!



Gotta love helmet hair :-)

Next week is my second race leading up to the 94.7.  I'm looking forward to it.  It is 54km's.

Hope everyone had a super weekend.

Before I go.  In the past 6 weeks I have lost 5.1 kg's - EXTREMELY happy right now.

Mich

Dome 2 Dome or was that Silverstar Casino 2 Silverstar Casino

Guess who joined me!!

Last Sunday was my first cycle race for the Spring/Summer season.  I opted to do the 40 km.

This was the profile - you guessed it - OUCH!!

The night before the race we went out for our youngest's 6th birthday - a nice Italian restuarant which meant I could carbo-load and not do my diet too much damage.  The kids then went off with my BIL to spend the night with their cousins.  Hubby made an impromptu decision and decided to join me on the race.  Some adjustments on my mountain bike and a spare entry that a friend had, and he was all set to go.  And GO he did!!  He eventually calmed down and slowed down to a pace I could handle.  Relief!! 

I enjoyed this one, well, except for the end bit.  When I do it again I hope it will be a me at goal weight.  My weight is really slowing me down on the hills **sad face**

We finished the race in just over 3 hrs - around 03:08:something.  That hill at the end there killed us.  We walked, chatted and begged for mercy but we got up it.

We made it!!

Fortunately, one of cycling shirts fitted hubby.  Don't worry - one day they won't. hehehehehe  I'll be in skinnier ones.

I tried a new low GI drink on this ride, 32 GI and was very impressed with it.  It cut down on how many gels I needed to take in.  On a ride like this it would have been up to 3 gels - making the calorie intake a lot more than it was.  I also packed a healthy picnic for afterwards - NO greasy boerewors rolls or hamburgers.  **huge grin**

The next race is on the 19th.  I did this one last year so I am looking forward to comparing.  It is the Meals on Wheels race.  Fun times.

Back soon.....

Spar Womens Challenge - Centurion (5km fun run/walk)