Trans Alps

Last minute as usual.....

It seems there is something with Shane (our South African Cape Epic friend) and six weeks notice...earlier this year Andy and I had 6 weeks to prepare for Cape Epic.....again it has happened....Shane had a spare Trans Alps entry and at the time of notification Andy and I had 6 weeks to prepare. We now have 11 days and I am winging my way to Germany in 6 days to meet up with Andy who has been sunning himself in Greece for the past few days.

Following my awakening at the Anaconda MTB Enduro a month or so ago I went coach hunting and found myself a Russian with a mean streak for interval training.... Nikoli....he is lovely but I swear I have never trained so undistracted in my life. Nikoli writes my weekly plan and I adhere to it like none I have before...why?..because I have a feeling what he prescribes is working....bizarre! In the last few weeks I have become somewhat of a hermit with my training..or more appropriately a mole..rising at 0440 to leave at 0500 and ride 2-5 hours as my new master desires.

The Noosa crew are missing me, Andy is missing me, I am embracing Mondays with a new appreciation (my day off the bike) and I really believe I am stronger. I am motivated by the suffering of Cape Epic and swear never to put myself in the pain box so completely trying to stay within 2 minutes of Andy...instead I will be stronger and ride as an equal team mate (or so I hope).

Trans Alps will be my new debut, unfortunately at the expense of the Noosa Enduro, but the Enduro will be there in 2010 (hopefully) and then I will win!!

Now...I am packing, laminating profiles, weighing my collection of gels, bars and powders, getting my bike fit (new bottom bracket, new tires, new brake pads and new frame...don't ask), singing the praises of Stinky, Greg and Jo (Le Cyclo Sportif; Orbea), Nikoli, Pete (Incline) and Eamon (KWT nominees; Onza tires) and thanking Emirates for their 30kg allowance (hallelujah).

Here we go again...8 days, 634km, 22 077m climbing....WOOHOO!!

Incline Sports

Recently I have been trying a new breed of nutrition that focuses on including protein in a unique endurance formula called ACCELERADE. The most important part of training and racing in endurance events is RECOVERY...the faster the better. ACCELERADE has devised a unique 4:1 carbohydrate:protein ration that they incorporate into all their nutrition, including their gels!! The protein component enhances endurance while training/racing and recovery post training/racing....and it actually seems to work.

Andy and I stumbled across ACCELERADE last summer...pointed in the right direction by Laura Bennett.....Andy insisted on knowing her secret formula. We started with the lemonade variety Accelerade and used it during Cape Epic earlier this year...I am addicted...it tastes like lemon meringue pie!!...honestly...more recently I have taken to using ACCELERADE on training rides >2h and it really goes down well.

Last week the INCLINE SPORT guy (Pete Nimmo) dropped off a supply of lemon meringue pie tasting 4:1 power ( gels, Endurox R4 and Accelerade) to assist Andy and I through the Alps (Trans Alps).....fortunately for me Andy has moved on from Lemonade and prefers the more subtle Orange and Lemon/Lime flavours....me....I just love DESSERT!!!