The road to recovery.

If you want to be a successful cyclist, training is crucial when it comes to winning races and physical and mental strength. When you compare road racing to mountain biking, you will soon find out that mountain biking is a real tough sport. The worst thing that can happen to you is injuries, it takes a lot of time to recover and training is out of the question. Unexpectedly this is what happened to me more than a year go and till today I struggle to recover from a ankle injury.

There comes a time when you think by yourself while sitting at the hospital waiting for confirmation on tests, “Is there a chance I can't do cycling anymore?”. With pressure on your shoulders to do well in races, it does make it even more stressful when you look at your training plan and think on what's really lying ahead. No one ever said it easy to make a comeback and that's true. While I'm sitting here writing this blog, lots of things run through my mind. Cycling is definitely not an easy sport and for those who sit in front of the tv looking at the racing thinking to themselves, that looks easy, then you should try it for yourself.

While I was walking in Pick-n-Pay one afternoon, I got this evil look from my enemies and I though to myself this time around I'm gonna beat them at the line. While this is giving me some motivation to train even harder this time around, I'm going to show them what I'm capable of. I have more experience when it comes to climbing and singletrack then them. Thanks to the organizer of the event, I was chosen to ride out the route and give my option on the route. We just hope it won't be muddy this time around.

This is never an easy route, with lots of steep climbs and technical downhills and singletrack, this is where support comes in. While my dad is pushing me to train harder this two months to prepare for the big event, my goal is to take the win home. Not an easy task but would be the greatest achievement. All men for itself, there is no such thing as a person riding next to you in a car, shouting “Go harder”. This is where the voice inside your head comes in telling you to push harder like never before. With about 6 climbs you have to face, it goes up and up. When you hit the nature reserve, its either turning those legs till your lungs burn and your legs shout at your or get off the bike and walk up with your bike over your shoulders.

This might sound easy to those who read it, but trust me its a tough race in the Klein Karoo. If you want to finish under 3 or 2 hours, then you have to forget thinking about pain and use your determination. The evening before the race, I think back to the route and know where to ride at a high pace and where to relax. With the race around the corner, two months of suffering is lying ahead. With my family and friends backing me, this is now or never. The road to recovery is painful but can pay off at the end of the day.

Robertson Winery MTB Challenge is taking place on the 4th of June 2011 at Paru Farm. This is the moment I've been waiting for.

In my next blog, I will be writing on my training so I can update everyone on my journey to take the win home.

Hope you guys enjoy reading it.

Till next time!

Yolande