May
9
With only a little cough – splutter, being the last reminder of the flu that has knocked me for the past two weeks, I decided that I was well enough to put myself back in action. Today, I decided upon a completely new event. Something that I have never done before, just for “fun” although “fun” is a relative term for us competitive types. The event? The Momentum Health/PeptoPro off-road duathlon…
My idea of an off-road duathlon is a bit of farm road running and some jeep track riding on a mountain bike – sounds like it could be entertaining? So yesterday I borrowed a ‘swish’ mountain bike, after I had a look at my own orange tank, the “cafe bike” , and decided it probably would not make it far beyond the cafe! The borrowed bike was a fancy dual suspension, and at least 10kg lighter than the orange tank – with this, theoretically I should fly, even if I haven’t been on a fat tyre in at least 3 years…
The race took place at Northern Farms (well known to Jo’burg mountain bikers, completely off the GPS for me), a great venue for the off-road cult. As usual, Anne-Marie and Andre De Beer from Franco sport put on a superbly organised event, that is nothing short of outstanding value for money (You should just see the goody bags!). It was a short event, a 5k run, 20k bike and 2,5k run – not even a warm up for an Ironman, so how hard could it be? The day for me started off with trying to work out the technical aspects of disc brakes, and how to prevent them from binding on the wheel – Lesson to all MTB newbies – do not pull the brakes when the wheel is not in, it somehow screws everything up and causes the brake to sort of jam the wheel?!? I was forced to play the idiot in distress, and luckily someone came to the rescue.
I tried to observe what the more experienced off-roaders were doing, in the hopes that I might pick up some useful ideas to get me through, but as I would later realise, it is not in what they do, but rather, in how they do it!
I decided to do a warm up lap on the run loop, and realised that this was going to be more of a challenge than I had anticipated! The run course was for me a muddy single track hiking trail…er, not quite the dry dirt road I was expecting.
The race got underway, with the women starting 5 minutes behind the men. I had a good start, on the 200m of dirt road before turning left into the muddy bog, where, according to top runner Charne Bosman (she was in a team), there might just be snakes lurking in the grass….eek! Despite falling all over the place, I managed to maintain a second place behind MTB expert and eventual winner, Carla Germishuys. Within a few minutes, my nice Asics Noosa shoes had lost their rainbow shades, and I was caked in black stinky mud up to my knees! Good fun, but hardly ideal conditions for a clumsy Bean like me!
Next up was the bike – I thought “Shew! This has got be easier than the run!”. I jumped on the bike and quickly had to work out which shifter would make the pedalling harder or easier. On the road bike I am much lazier, big ring and one or two shifts are all that is required. Mountain biking is challenging – yes, no cars to worry about, but the mental fatigue caused by constant gear selection, line choice and technical negotiation is energy sapping to say the least!
My heart rate never got near the ‘red zone’, simply because I did not have the technical skill to ride hard and fast! My knuckles were white for almost the entire 20k, I could not even contemplate taking a drink from my water bottle, and wait for it, I fell off three times on this ‘non-technical’ course. Why on earth trees have protruding roots I would love to know? I certainly would not last long with my veins protruding out of my body would I? As a result of my technical inability, and here I apologise to all, including the age cat 50+ woman that got held up behind me… I got passed by at least 70% of the field. The TV crew even came back to look for me, thinking I had some mechanical – nope, just haven’t got a clue how to negotiate my way through the bundus!
I was almost relieved to make it back to the transition, although a little embarrased that Carla was already finishing her last run, when I was only heading out! The race commentator seemed to be under the impression that I was purposely ‘taking it easy’, considering that I had just raced Ironman 2 weeks before ha ha! Seriously, that WAS my best effort. I did manage to restore some pride, overtaking the 50+ woman in the muddy slip slide. I finished way outside of the podium positions, but I had an absolute blast!
Pictured above, is me with Petro (an accomplished Cape Epic rider) from Cycle Lab Pretoria - clearly my lack of experience shows, I am covered in mud (my shoes were not black at the start!), and Petro hardly has a speck of dust on her!
Interestingly, when I had packed up my car, I found this flyer pinned under my windscreen wiper (the non driver side of course!). I think I may sign up for these classes, after all, they claim I should be able to survive any situation – even and off-road duathlon!
Sometimes doing things we are not good at builds character, and that can only be fun!
Hi Caroline
How about teaming up with me for Cape Epic next year in the Mixed category +- a year to work on your technical skills ample time to become an accomplished MTB rider, should be fun
Hey Girl!!
Nice pic!!! Don’t worry we will get you right for the next one!!! You did well and you had the guts to come and had fun! Great stuff – great seeing you there!!!!
you’ve done well enough, considering that this is something very different to road…indeed even the “running” was more of a struggle through the mud! I thought that the mtb trail was a tough one!
well done!
Go for it again and do it better !!!!!
Just picked this one up now. Way to go – in the mud. For fun try run some trail races too. These off-road guys are seriously nuts!