Urban Ride - The Joburg Experience

So last week Tuesday I had a little taste of cycling with a bunch, but this bunch is no ordinary bunch. They my new mates who have a passion for nature and life from a different view with a sport called Adventure Racing. Something I have always wanted to take part in, only thing is to get a team of amped mates together to train and actually get this going was tougher than I thought as most of my mates are not the active sporty kind. However they found me training couple weeks ago on my mountain bike and asked me to join as they need more girls to enter a second team. So this is right up my street. Some of my mates are jealous and others think I am mad.

So a little taste of adventure racing – not a sport for the faint hearted! Girls who love hotels and getting their nails done, this is most definitely not for them. Adventure Racing consists of  5 Star View of the world, with accommodation in “sleeping bag – on the ground style” Food and Beverage is what ever you pack in your backpack considering it has to last you three days in hot sunny conditions, and you can enjoy the tranquil view while catching a tan, only a cyclers tan… 

Adventure racing is Mountain Biking, Trail Running, Paddling, Rope Work and my favorite which Im oh so good at, Navigation. Some are one day sprints such as the Kinetic Sprint Series, which I will be getting my fist taste of in June and others are over three days with teams of 3-4 where weather and nature challenge your mind to such a degree, they call it the “Snoopy Dog” if you start seeing things…hope I don’t get to wear the “Snoopy Dog” hehe.

So to get back to last week Tuesday with my real Joburg Experience and with the above said, you can imagine the kind of guys I have now met and joined. For training they decided we were to do and Urban Night Ride – so ready at 5.30 in the evening at the school we were off through crazy traffic in Edenvale, heading through Bedfordview towards Rocky Street… Now you can imagine – One girl and 5 Guys and here were headed on our MTB towards Rocky Street…Ok, we can do this I kept telling myself.

Once we were there, it was a case of doge this taxi and that car door and careful for pedestrians crossing and watch out for this bus and pot hole here and red light jumpers there and crazy as hell, but what a different experience. So from Rocky Street we headed towards the center of Joburg going passed the mines and Anglo and headed towards the Nelson Mandela Bridge. At this stage I was in my element with I can’t believe I am cycling through Joburg at Night seeing the world from a complete different view. Amazing doesn’t even describe it.

So anyways, we started heading back, passed the Constitutional hill where we found ourselves heading through a little doge part of Joburg I never thought I would ever pass on MY BIKE – NO! Hillbrow!! High populated density area with gangsters and probably one of the most dangerous places I would think to get stuck in for a girl…but here we were cycling as a tight bunch through Hillbrow. With my mind in full alerts and heart beating so fast, I took a nice deep breath, my mind was somewhere else – I mean here we are in this part of Joburg, and I’m thinking to myself how amazing this is, and wonder how many people have cycled this exact part of Joburg at night time…Not too many that’s for sure, but I was amazed at the lifestyle and the experience I cant even explain. 24 hour markets and liquor stores and party over here and people just everywhere and you hear them shouting “Tourist” now I am no stranger to Joburg, but I did feel like a tourist – this was incredible. The City of Joburg is so beautiful and I have to say that i will always be a Joburg girl.

So heading back through Yoeville and Bruma – we stopped for a little cool off at Mc Donald’s with ice cream and then tackled the icy cold winter wind back towards Edenvale, 38km later; I survived the Urban Night Ride. Huge smile on my face, and I couldn’t stop talking about how amazing that was. I won’t recommend you go by yourself, but if you have crazy mates like I have now, it’s worth everything in life.

On Good Friday my coach and I cycled from Edenvale to Emmarentia Dam and back. The amount of cyclists on the road in the morning and at all the little coffee shops, give’s a new meaning to Breakfast Runs. So it shouldn’t be “Think Bike” – how about “Think Bike – Think Bicycle”

Tonight we ride again – this time the same route as last week Tuesday only were extending the distance to Emmarentia Dam and back – so I am looking forward to a nice 50km ride experiencing Joburg and life with an open heart from the saddle. So bring on the flood of experiences and training.

"Its a Commitment - more than expected" 

Wildfire for Iron Man 2012

I have been reeled in mind body and soul to train for one of the toughest races known to man, and today I am blogging a spectacular race that takes place in all parts of the world including South Africa – Iron Man South Africa. In the last few months, the air I breathe has been for the love and passion I have for sport. I know that it’s not good to regret the past, but I wish I never took that 6 year gap in my life. But I know where I have been, I know where I am and I now know where I am going. I have taken up the James Dean philosophy – life is far too short to live with fear!

So while keeping updated with the performances of the top female athletes competing in the Iron Man SA, on my weekend off dedicated to doing nothing (Dolce Far Niente as the Italians would say)  I have to say that these ladies are machines. Leading with a 28min gap Chrissie Wellington took home first place and broke the record of Iron Man SA 2011. A real sports hero and a remarkable athlete! WOW!! So I have decided that next year I will be participating in the Half Iron Man and the Full Iron Man. Its extreme for me, but I find myself working out distances from Pretoria to Edenvale for cycling training and wanting to enter marathons over weekends. So call me crazy, but I am going for it and hope to excel at it as well.

So lately my life has become rather entertaining with balancing work, friends and training all in one. "Its impossible said pride, its risky said experience, its pointless said reason, give it a try whispered the heart!" With those golden words, anything is possible, look at Chrissie for example. She can do it, so can I! So watch out – call me wildfire – can’t stop me now! 

In the last few months, I have been training with a lady named Angie, who use to race Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans Marathons, completed several Cape Argus Races and Triathlons, and I respect her with all her achievements. She is training me up to run the marathon distances at professional pace and not sure why she is willing to help me, but I am glad someone believes in me! Not sure how, but she found me! With this said, I have signed up to join the Bedfordview Triathlete team to start training with them, and get me race ready for a few short triathlons coming up in September / October called the BSG Energade Series. I am going to do them all to the best of my ability. Like they say “Swim Strong / Cycle Fat / Run to Win” Luckily I have mastered the swimming discipline, but the cycle and run on the other hand need some attention. So none the less, I will be on par within the next 6 months of solid training.

There is no better feeling in the world than that feeling of blood rushing through your veins, wind passing your face, and the pure adrenalin of pace with the beating of your heart. It’s not a feeling just anyone can understand, because you have to experience it to understand the true sensation of it. Other people might think it’s a load of bull to get up at discrete hours of the morning to take on a few distances for a little personal time and fresh air, but then again, it’s their choice. I chose this! Or a better sense – It chose me!

My training table looks like this at the moment:

M – Swimming Afternoon 4km

T – Swimming 4km / Running 8km / Gym / Cycling

W – 1 hour Spinning / Gym / Zumba- For variety

T – Running 10km / Gym / Swim / 1 hour spin

F –  1 hour Spinning / Swimming / Gym

S – If I am not working – Swim / Cycle / Run or Racing one of the three

S – Racing one of the three / Hockey Match

Now how is that for a training timetable? It’s what I am doing at the moment. Over time all the distances are increasing and by September I will be doing Iron Man Distances. So exciting yet the thought is thrilling. Never imagined myself doing such distances and after watching yesterdays race and with some of my mates competing and coming in at remarkable times of 15 hours, that is absolutely fantastic and rewarding and these guys are real Iron Men. I look forward to taking up a name of becoming what a friend of mine used – Iron Man Contender! My faith is strong now, and its my time to shine. Give me 6 months and ill be on par and then watch as i grow over the next few years. 

I think the race is rather inspiring and many people think that it is absolute madness to put your body through such hell, but in the end, I am doing this for myself. My own achievement and even if I cross the finish line last, I know that with every step I take, I am one step closer to that dream. Besides, you only live once, and before I am too old and can’t jump over walls and do crazy stunts I do now, I will go for it no matter what! Wildfire on the loose!

So for the next few months I will be training for as mentioned before – BSG Energade Triathlon Series, 94.7 Cycle Challenge (Road and MTB Race) Upcoming Marathons and all the smaller races. I look forward to the events, as I have met so many great athletes over the last 3 months, and I they all behind me every step of the way. 

I hope this sort of helps inspire others to go out and live their dreams and that nothing is impossible. Here i am, just an ordinary person wanting to keep up with extraordinary people (Got that saying from a triathlete who followed me on Twitter, and its the most spectacular set of words.) You don't have to be the winner or the fastest athlete, you just need to be a competitor - you are already a star! 

To everyone who is supporting me over the next few months, i really appreciate it. Will keep you updated all the way. I have exactly one year to get my butt into Iron Man SA as a competitor - lets do this!

So see you at the race!

Be sure to say hi!

For now – Buonanotte (Good Night)