An interesting twist to an already challenging race

News has reached me that this year's Coronation Double Century includes an interesting and challenging twist. As if 205km, including climbs that I hear are almost inhumane, is not enough.

Apparently the organisers of the event have decided to introduce an additional climb just ahead of the finish (I'm not sure how I feel about my own, or my team's, abilities anymore...). This climb, I hear, has been 'branded' the Coronation Corridor and represents the final challenge ahead of the finish.

People in the know therefore suggested more rest, more stretching and that my team and I take the carbo-loading seriously. I suggest you do too!

As a salvage, all cyclists can however look forward to lots of treats (pancakes, hot dogs, free wine and crisps) to replenish the bodies after hours in the saddle.

See you in Swellendam and good luck to all!

Mike

Just more than 3 weeks to go

My goodness, I cannot believe how time flies when you're training for the CDC! And now all the training seems worth the effort with that R8000 up for grabs for the winning team. Not that I'm that confident about my team's chances of scooping that prize at this stage; we are a group of novices as you may recall.

Nonetheless, we are really enjoying the training rides. Hey, if you want to join any of the remaining rides ahead of the 21st of November, have a look at the dates and details below and come and join in the all the cycling talk and build-up towards the race.

2009/10/31
Saturday
Group
Virgin Active Parking Constantia
6:30am
+-120 - 140km

2009/11/04
Wednesday
Group Spinning
Virgin Active Claremont
12:00pm

2009/11/07
Saturday
Group
Virgin Active Parking Constantia
6:30am
+-160km

2009/11/14
Saturday
Group
Virgin Active Parking Constantia
6:30am
+-100km

Build-up

I hear Coronation is entering four teams this year. And I see on the Facebook group there's an international team (the WANNABEE BETTER DC2009 INTERNATIONAL TEAM) who reckons its a force to look out for. It seems the rivalry has started. I think my team needs a pep talk...

Not for sissies

Rumour has it that there'll be no gender testing after the Coronation Double Century. Thank goodness for that, because I almost cried like a little girl this weekend on Suikerbossie - it hurt!

To enter or not to enter?

So I met this bloke Jan at the weekend. As the conversation gained momentum (we mostly spoke about the rugby) it surfaced that Jan is also a keen cyclist - mountain biking and road. When I brought up the Coronation Double Century, his eyes really started to sparkle. He told me that his company entered two teams last year and that he was pushed into the social team. However, he still managed to finish the race in less than 8 hours, despite having to help a team member, who tried to be Lance Armstrong in the first 50km's and totally tired himself out of the race, up most of the hills.
This year, Jan says, he is in the A team and they're aiming for a sub 7 (this is cycling speak for less than 7 hours).
Not too shabby, I'd say.
But the thing is, Jan and his mates are already putting no less than a hundred km's on their wheels over the weekends. And this, he tells me, has been going on for a while.
"You have to push for some distance, mate," he told me as I tried to swallow the stress down my throat.
Because I hear that entries open this week and I'm not sure if I'm capable of still pulling a rabbit out of the hat and conquer this thing.

The swine even catches up with the bike

The long weekend had some great days to offer. But despite being pestered by one or two of the seven telling symptoms of this swine flu doing its rounds, I got on my bike and now have to deal with the consequences...
I guess it's bed rest and fluids on my agenda for this week, but if anyone has some better suggestions to get me back on my bike as soon as possible, please don't hesitate to speak.

Getting serious

All the hype and excitement about the Tour de France has surely inspired me to start taking my training for the Coronation Double Century more seriously. Yes, that is the equivalent of more or less two Pick 'n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tours which I attempt to conquer. Two!

However, I need some advice. Up until now, I've focused on shorter, more regular distances, largely during weekends. This means that my training has been restricted to two days per week; weather permitting and not excluding the fact that it's just too tempting to rather spend my mornings snuggled up in bed, watching how those skinny cyclists attempt to tame the Alps on television.

And on top of that, I've not trained with any of my team members at all! I assume you all are familiar with the fact that the Coronation Double Century is a team effort and that you cannot enter on your own?

Maybe I need to organise a get-together, as I sense that my team is getting behind the curve...

Does anyone have some tips for us or tell us where we are going wrong? Should we start training together more regularly and how should we juggle shorter versus longer distances? Or does one switch to longer distances only at some point? And would spinning during the week help at all?

As I've mentioned, any thoughts and comments are welcome!

Best,
Mike