Etienne and I knew that our event started at 9:20 Saturday morning, so we didn't binge drink as we usually do on a Friday night, but rather stayed home and got to bed relatively early.
We woke up and realised the long wait was over, race day had finally arrived.
We got up just after 6am, got dressed, met a friend to pick up a helmet, got some coffee and it was off to the races.
We briefly made another pit stop to pump the tyres on our bikes and now, we were off to the race venue.
On route to Stellenbosch we were driving amongst fellow mtb'ers and we really got a feel for what these events are all about. As we pulled in to Eikestad Primary School we realised the magnitude of the event.
3500 cyclists take part in the beautiful race through various vineyards, which brings me to our event.
As 9:20 approached, we were ushered to the starting lines. Rather embarrassingly we realised the 15km route is for mostly kids under 10, their assisting parents and grannies.
Having said all of that, this was still my first MTB event, so I wasn't deterred by my fellow competitors.
As we pulled in right at the front, I was overwhelmed by fear and nervousness. Fear for falling, and nervous for not being able to complete this.
After entertaining us for what seemed like forever, the announcer fired the proverbial gun. We were off.
We started off well, with about 500m of tar, then it was directly onto our first incline. I found it incredibly difficult. The track was wet, muddy and filled with dips/holes you either had to dodge or brave. I didn't have shocks on my bike, which I then realised the importance of. A bike without shocks combined with a unfit rider makes for a toxic combination.
It wasn't long after that, I couldn't get my legs to continue peddling. I quickly got off the track and off my bike. I walked for rest of the hill, where I met Etienne's friendly face waiting for me at the top. He encouraged me to continue the race with him, but I was completely out of my depth.
I couldn't breathe and felt very nauseous. He stood by me for a while as I tried to catch my breath. After coming to terms with the fact that it wasn't in me to finish the race, I dramatically encouraged him to 'continue without me'.
I turned back, yep, after all the excitement, a blog post, chit chat in the office and personal sense of accomplishment (even before the race) I, in utter disappointment turned back. I couldn't complete the 15km route.
I was, and still am, very disappointed in myself. How unfit am I? After chatting to some cyclist colleagues, the nausea can definitely be attributed to my fitness level. I was also not geared correctly, like I mentioned earlier. I had no shocks, which plays a major role and I didn't know how to properly work my gears.
I can make many more excuses, but at the end of the day, I wasn't fit enough to do this. *Totes embarrassing.
This means two things - 1) start working out more, in small ways (I hate the gym) and 2) don't quit. Start training on tar, as you get stronger on tar, move onto outdoor tracks and in this way grow my fitness and build up strength to do better.
I'm not giving up - this was only a small curve ball in my pursuit to entertain at the tea time trolley.
Pre-race Registration @ Sports Science Institute - Newlands
pre-race checks
our race numbers + timing chip
Us - before my *meltdown
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