Training Log Archive: nmulder

0700 - MTB ride from Balloch to Ndlokovana. The run had taken place in mild (relative) conditions... i.e. 5'C or so, without wind chill, but the MTB took place with a cold front chasing us from the rear. We started at 7am, and within an hour the front had arrived and it was snowing at the start. Thankfully we were out of the valley then and on our way over Lundean's Neck and the Witteberge to the sheltered side. The race started fast, with Donovan leading us at breakneck speed down the 6km farm driveway to the dirt road. It was still well below 0 degrees, but I was well dressed. I started pushing the hills, firstly Balloch hill and then Ludean's Neck. Martin was just behind, then Andre with Jeannie. The road conditions were great... probably the best ever, so we ended up flying down Lundean's as a bunch, clocking over 60km/hr. At Telle Junction (CP1) the other 3 made a break and pulled away from me. A new road also led to confusion, with me making a road works detour and the others finding a shortcut... pushing the gap from 4 to 9 minutes. After Majuba Neck (CP2) I flew down the hill (70.1km/hr) to Sterkspruit (CP3). Martin and Jeannie were still pulling away with Andre slowing down a bit, but I wasn't able to catch. We had a slight sprinkling of sleet en route to Herschel (CP4) as well as a nasty cross wind. Thankfully the last leg to Ndlokovana was a tail wind and I was able to go full out, in the end finishing 17 minutes behind Martin and Jeannie and 10 minutes behind Andre. Felt great afterwards... no sore muscles or anything. Av 22.5 Mx 70.1 Tm 5.52.14

0430 - Mountain Run from Lady Grey to Balloch. Started off okay, but within a few minutes started feeling ill, a funny feeling following the early morning breakfast. I found that walking helped, so I changed tactics and decided to slow down, but keep up a decent speed and see what would happen after a few hours. At CP1 at the microwave tower, I was together with Martin Dreyer, with a chasing group of about 5. We had all got a little lost on the hiking trail up to the tower in the dark. The mountains were beautiful at first light, with snow patches all around. We were regularly running in shallow snow, with it being quite thick in places on south-facing slopes. Just before CP2 (Olympus), I had to let Martin go... with him immediately picking up the pace. Shortly after the CP, I also was caught by first Cobus, then Donovan, Garth, Jeannie, Ugene and Andre. Thankfully they were happy to slow down to my pace once they'd caught me and I managed to hide my discomfort. The old jeep track between Olympus and Snowdon (CP3) was quite often covered in snow, so we did a lot of walking through the grass beside. Just after 6 hours, just beyond Snowdow, I felt better and was able to up the pace. Martin had a 36 minute lead and I was keen to see if I could at least catch some of it. The last 25kms were superb. I felt great and could push rather hard, particuarly the descent into Skiddaw (CP5) and Balloch. We were told to miss Avoca (CP4) due to the deep snow there. I ended up 2nd, 32 mins behind Martin. Cobus finished about 35 mins later, with the rest of the large group just over an hour adrift. Not my best run by far... almost 55 mins slower than last year due also in part to the snow.

Split 2005 2006 2007
CP1 1h17 1h16 1h22 - fastest 1h16 ('06)
CP2 3h16 3h14 3h37 - fastest 1h58 ('06) vs 2h15 ('07)
CP3 4h55 4h51 5h43 - fastest 1h37 ('06) vs 2h06 ('07)
CP4 7h00 6h45 7h33 - fastest 1h54 ('06 w Avoca) 1h50 ('07 w/o Avoca)
CP5 ?h?? ?h?? 8h55 - fastest
Finh 9h55 9h42 10h21 - fastest 2h55 ('06) and 2h48 ('07)

Travelling to Wartrail today. Going to be very cold this weekend. The mountain run might still have snow. Another cold front is expected to move in during the bike leg (max. 6'C) and the paddle won't be much warmer. The Orange is only running at a measly 10 cumecs... we're going to have lots of sandbanks.

1540 - 4 long laps and 3 short laps of the dam.

0730 - Via Linden to Delta Park, then Emmarentia and home. Av 18.6 Mx 46.1

1650 - Single loop of Emmarentia park.

0830 - Didn't push the session too hard with Wartrail looming this weekend.