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To Hell and Back!
Wow - what a weekend! On Friday most of the Stellenbosch MTB crew headed for their annual pilgrimage and The Hell MTB Race. This was the one event I have been really excited about because everybody goes and the craic is non stop. It's basically the World Championships for the local group and one gain's valuable street cred should things go to plan!! More importantly the hanging around drinking beers and talking crap is what's it all about.
The Hell is a valley in the such a remote place. We drove the 400km to Oudstroom and then past Oudstroom to this very scenic area on Friday evening. The Hell started at 7am Saturday morning, like most mtb races over here .... Basically it's an out and back race. Starting with a 20km climb, then the road kind of undulates down for a further 30km, before hitting heartbreak hill, a 4-5km effort and then finally dropping down the loose gravel road into The Hell, which is bloody remote (62.5km total). We all camp there and the next day we race back!
I have surprised myself with my recently found legs. I finished top of the pile with the group and 10th overall! But more than that I had some of the best laughs ever, while camping under the stars!
Sitting around talking shite!
The Hell Group
The serious boys are starting to arrive into town. Frodeno, yes Olympic Champ Jan Frodeno is knocking around. We had a good laugh about old times at lunch yesterday. He is such a great guy. We reflected on the days when we had nothing and were just training hard and living the dream. Well Jan's dreams have come through and I am so so chuffed for the guy. Jan's a gent and has his two feet firmly on the ground, which is a great mark of a true champion. On Sunday I collect the one and old Tim Don in Cape Town airport, Dan Hugo is back, The Caveman (Stoltz) lands Nov 24th, Fraiser Cartmell arrives the end of the month I heard and the one and only Gav arrives at month end too. That's not all ..... I know Gomez and I am sure many more fast boys and girls will frequent this now infamous little town. Gav's going to have great company & I am looking forward to having him here.
In terms of camps the 18th and 19th of April next year looks like a good plan with one or two more in May. I will keep you posted on this plus the holiday.
I made it!
I have made it safe and sound to Stellenbosch. The first 10 days have been hectic, but hectic in a great way. I am so happy to be back, it’s been great to meet all the old faces and in just 10 days do so many cool things.
So I arrived last Wednesday and before I knew it was at the Cederberg for the Cederberg Escape MTB Race. God what a beautiful place and it was so nice to escape reality, mobile phone reception and all of that for a long weekend. I surprised myself at the Cederberg. Of course Susi won, I suffered in the last 1.5 hours of 4.5 hours on day one, but on day two and three I felt much stronger, to finish 34th overall from a field of 400 plus. The Stumpjumper is one savage piece of equipment. The brain technology superb especially in the fork. It does all of the guessing for you. There was so much fun in the Cederberg, Susi was in relaxed mode with the serious season over. We all got pretty tipsy Saturday night and had a few cobwebs for the final day on Sunday!
We got back to Stellenbosch on Sunday evening. Monday was another busy day where we visited the now completed BMX Track, did some riding with the kids on the track and following that a ride on the road to the Yonkershook Nature Reserve. Still 10 days here and I have not been into my favorite playground that represents the Game Reserve single tracks. I am going there this evening. Susi and I were so proud of the BMX Track and just chuffed to see so many kids smiling.
The BMX Track Kids
The bike group
On Tuesday Susi and I visited Cape Town where we met with key people involved with the charity drive for next year and of course this past year. The plan for next year is to create the Kayamandi Cycling Club in the local township of Stellenbosch. Prior to the meetings Susi and I brain stormed on a stunning walk up Lions Head located beside Table Mountain.
Table Mountain
High high up on Lions Head!
Wednesday and we travelled to Johannesburg for The Cape Epic Charity Gala, which included the official launch of next years route, an impressive and challenging route it sure is going to be. I know now what I am getting ready for! I got tangled up with some Springbok rugby players and soccer players. We had one massive night and crawled out of a Casino at .... em I have no idea! Some craic and too much brandy!
Monster night!
Thursday and misty eyed I hobbled back to Stellenbosch. Today, Friday is finally a normal working day with Susi now gone back to Switzerland. Life is good, the weather is great and the weekend beckons! I could not be happier!
As for the triathlon holiday I hope to start putting the wheels in motion soon. There are so many cool things out here I am looking forward to sharing with you.
The big move!
It's pretty much done and dusted. I had a crazy busy time after returning from France and Italy, with packing, organising and more organising. It's all over now (except for unpacking that is) as I sit here in Heathrow Airport with one flight down and the long one ahead!
Thanks to everybody for the good luck texts, calls and cards! I really do appreciate it. Don't forget that the camps won't be disappearing and the next thing that will hopefully materialize will be the opportunity for me to share the unique town of Stellenbosch with you and the savagely active lifestyle found there.
Finally, I would really like to thank everybody who attended the camps and supported the coaching weekends and one to one sessions that were on offer. I will remember each and every face and of course swim stroke!
Stay in touch & make sure to keep triathlon fun.
Roc D'Azur, Nice, France
I spent from Thursday through to Monday attending the Roc D'Azur, which took place in a town called Frejus, which is not far from Nice. The Roc was the team's last official race for 2008 although it's not like a World Cup and far more relaxed, so I had the time to bike on the course each day.
Liam was carrying a wrist injury from his infamous Olympic crash (he still raced), while Lene was stuck down with shingles and although all eyes were on Susi things did not go to plan for him either. In Friday's marathon event he punctured twice and in Sunday's main event his chain link came undone.
There were lots of Irish at the Roc like every year and so many others. It's a real participation event and I would really recommend it as there are events taking place for everybody. Although, I did not get to do an event I rode everyday on what I can only describe as a really cool course. So for next year put Roc D'Azur on your list of things to do - you will not be disappointed.
So many different events and courses
My first opportunity to ride the new Stumpjumper off road and it's class
Near the end and the course runs alongside the amazing coastline
Riding on sand = nightmare!
Just like Gav I finish the day with Shadow ....!
A humorous weekend!
Somebody was smiling down on us this weekend, with great weather, which was a bonus given that we are already into the month of October. There were many old faces, but also some new ones including two serious characters, who kept the sessions very light. I can remember Alan and Gerry from my season in 2004 – there were always some comments both pre and post race & this weekend was no different. The arrival of the infamous Kilkenny woman on Sunday added to the proceedings! That’s what sport is about.
Saturday's Run (L-R): Don, Amanda, Philip, Robert, Gerry, Alan, Teresa and Celine
The girls in Vicarstown (l-r): Celine, Teresa & Amanda
In terms of intensity and volume the weekend was perfect given the time of the year, with the focal point being swim technical work, while we also did two easy spins and one adventurous run into Emo Park, including the stream jump – one poor lad fell flat on his ass! Most importantly everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.
Joe and Don
The group run towards Emo Court House
Gerry and Amanda run past Emo Court Lake
During the weekend the South African question was asked and of course the South African training holiday! There’s already interest, which was a surprise! The training holiday is something that I want to be perfect, so I don’t want to commit to anything until I spend time in Stellenbosch looking at all the various aspects that need to be right. I am confident I may be able to pull one holiday off before next April. My goal with the holiday is once again to keep numbers small and work on quality over quantity. I have really enjoyed the training weekends and a big part of that is because they have been small and very personal. I want to maintain that important quality.
As I said before I will be spending time at home too, so the training weekends won’t disapear completely and I am also toying with the idea of offering swim only camps, which would take place on a Sunday morning. I am not sure yet if I will be home for Christmas, but if I do get home, I would like to do one to two swim only camps.
The spring cleaning has started. I am slowly but surely going through all my stuff, trying to decide what goes to the bin, what goes to South Africa and what goes to storage! It’s a headache for sure, but shouldn’t last too long. The plan is still to leave on October 21st.
I would like to thank all of the individuals and clubs, who supported both the training weekends and various coaching programs since last December. It's something that I personally have really enjoyed and it's been a great way for me to meet so many sound people. Thank you.
Comments from the weekend:
Bobby
Thanks for all the excellent coaching over the weekend. I really enjoyed it. Your approach was attentive and focused and you've great experience to share in addition to your technical knowledge. The group of 10 works well in that it enables each person to get individualized coaching while benefiting from the group training sessions and enabling each person to gain from the experience of others at the camp.
When you are settled in SA, let me know about your training camp plans there.
Thanks again
Philip
Bobby,
Just wanted to touch base to say thanks a million for a great weekend. I found it to be hugely beneficial in every aspect of triathlon training. As a relative beginner to Triathlons it has served as a huge benefit to receive the technical training at this stage, I found the swimming coaching particularly good. The base training programs in off peak season, the two week hard/one week easy training schedules in peak season, the swimming drills, the core exercises, etc etc were all brilliant. The weekend sessions are also a great idea because not only do you get the personal coaching from your good self, but you get to meet other athletes of different abilities expressing their issues and providing tips to help in both training and competing. When you spend all the time working in business like I do, getting away for an informative weekend like this is a great tonic, great company, great information, great training. Thank you sincerely from a very satisfied customer and thanks also to all the other athletes for a memorable weekend.
Best regards
Don