SA Road champs this year was spread over two locations in KZN.
Wartburg: offering the location for the Time Trial and Westville: for the road race.
I was training specifically for the Time Trial, which Kent has been helping me with; partly because I decided a few years back that doing time trials must take less training. This is a fallacy, do not believe it for a second. There is just as much training as all you Ironman athletes!
The route was shorter than hoped at only 24km for the 30-34 year age category, but rather undulating. I had a tough time deciding if I should go with a disc or deep section. My disc was particularly heavy, so I opted for the lightest option. The competition was strong and I was edged out of first place by 14 seconds. A podium was, of course, still welcomed
The road race was set a few days later, in a humid and blistering hot Durban. It was definitely almost as hot as a Durban curry! Racing was aggressive throughout the 7 lap, 120km route. I managed to make a decisive move on the last lap, going clear of the main peloton with 3 other riders.
Only 500 meters from the finish, the road kicks up hard. I knew my sprint was poor and legs close on cramping, so I attacked tentatively, well, until our team sponsor started jumping and screaming on the side of the road. I then kicked with all I had. The legs only had enough to get me over the line in second. A result that was totally unexpected for me on the day.
Thanks Kent and Claire….onwards and upwards!
