home...the come down

So I never finished..that was all I'd hoped to do and I failed on that count.
The last update was that I was painkillered up and hoping to ride again following a day off. I was still in a bad way and the medics decided to send me to hospital for xrays. I ended up spending the night in hospital. All in all my experience of it was good except for being woken up at 5.30 am and being very obviously kept hanging around for the 12o'clock cut off for a second day charge. Thankfully there was a woman in my room who told me to make sure I was out before 12 so they couldn't charge another day.

Although my back was the most painful thing immediately following my crash, thankfully nothing is damaged there beyond soft tissue. I have, however, fractured a rib (or 2, I don't really know, they never told me). I knew on Friday morning that I wouldn't be able to continue. It took me 20 minutes to get out of bed following a night of almost no sleep due to the pain. I was gutted, equally because I so wanted to finish the race and because I so didn't want to let Richard down.

You can't really understand how much you need each other on those long days until you've been there. All the long rides we did together in training were really nothing remotely like we would experience in South Africa. We had many hours slogging through mud talking about everything and nothing but I think its fair to say we didn't really exchange many words during the 4 stages we rode together.

This was for no particular reason but knowing the other one was there was so important and kept you pushing on when you really didn't want to keep going. I will always admire his finishing on his own, I can't imagine how mentally tough that was.

Being a spectator was not fun.. yes it was good seeing the pros come in but I found myself fretting every day waiting for Richard to come in and when he finally came in on the final stage, I felt incredibly sad that he had done it alone.
I can't remember when I cried more than during those few days!

If you had asked me on the Monday while I was dragging myself through sand, burning toes, raw heels and a boiling head, I'd have told you I was never going back. That was all behind me on the 2nd stage and though stage 3 turned into a bit of a disaster for me, there is no question that I will be back. We are entered and paid up thankfully. Richard managed to get us in on one of the early bird entries that sold out in 34 seconds!

The Epic was an amazing/horrific experience in equal measures. The whole thing is just a phenomenal feat of organisation and its incredible now going through the rider survey that I can only mark 8s,9s and 10s. I'm only deducting marks on fickle things, its really hard to fault.

South Africa was incredible. I'd really had no real aspirations to go there but now I've been, I can't wait to go back. The scenery was immense, I kept looking round and just shaking my head in astonishment. The scale of the place and the endless mountain ranges. The scenery seems to change every 5 minutes you drive down the road.

It was so miserable coming off the plane this morning. Life has been about the Epic for so many months and this last few weeks have been in a wonderful little happy (mostly) bubble.

Take me back to where its warm!

We had so much fun and I will never ever forget the people and experiences I had out there.  Our little Epic family was so perfect. Thank you to Marcus (grease monkey extraordinaire) and Grant who I'm sure must have an inner grownup hidden somewhere. They looked after us so well and I really hope we can have them back with us for next year.

Final thanks must of course go to Richard because without him sending me that message back in July 2012, none of this would have happened.

Marcus in the best workshop in the world.

 Richard on Chapmans peak the day before it all started.

 Our little home.

 The mountains, the cloud, the finish and the people.

Official Cape Epic YouTube full highlights

Stage 1,2,3 and the unscheduled day off

Thursday - Stage 4 

I'm not riding today so time for an update… 

Mon - Stage 1 96km 2350m climbing

Monday was horrific. 8.5 hours in scorching heat, at least 2 of which were trudging up hill through deep sand. 

The first 4 hours were actually really fun, beautiful scenery, quite a bit of climbing but nothing too taxing and it was nice and warm.

We had been warned that it would get much harder after the second water point but I don't think anyone could have expected the misery

that was to come. We rode along a valley through lots of deep sand which meant quite a bit of walking. Looking at the garmin file, I think it would be fair to assume we walked for at least 2.5 hours if not more. It was miserable, boiling hot, no breeze and km after km of sand.

We were utterly exhausted at the finish and this was made worse by the fact that our massage people were based 10 minutes walk away from the site. We did feel better for it but coming in so late meant it was massage-shower-dinner-bed with little time to rest up and relax.

5.30am isn't really so bad when you are comatose by 9pm so we are getting enough sleep. 

stage 1 garmin data http://connect.garmin.com/activity/286734286

Tues - Stage 2 146km 2350m climbing

Tuesday was 145km. It was actually much better than Monday, almost all rideable and just really really long. Temps didn't go too high and it was a pretty nice day out. The final descent was ridiculous. I don't know how long it was but it seemed to go on for ever! Huge rocks, drops and a vertical drop on the side meant that i didn't take any risks and try riding things I wasn't completely sure of. The consequences of getting it wrong could have been

huge!

It was a relief to get to the end. Our hands, forearms and shoulders were killing from the constant bumping. Stage 2 was definitely rock day. We rode out over miles of corrugated dirt road which shook your whole body and dislodged fillings.

All in all though, stage 2 was ok.

stage 2 garmin data http://connect.garmin.com/activity/286734224

Weds - Stage 3 94km 1950m climbing

stage 3 was billed as a 'recovery day'. I didn't take too much notice of this as it was 94km with just shy of 2000m of climbing. The single track was meant to be smooth which was something I held on to when it all went very very wrong between water points 2 and 3. A fairly innocuous crash that sent me into the fynbos (south african shrubbery - more thorny than our british kind) left me winded and a bit bruised. no real harm done, got my breath back and got back on.

My back felt a bit sore straight after but this was nothing compared to how much worse it got. Everything hurt me, climbing, descending, bumps, smooth bits, rough bits.

I was in agony every time I had to get off (often with the bloody vertical rocky climbs) and lost it pretty well before the final feed station. I'd just had enough, got off my bike and had a bit of a cry. Managed to drag myself into the final feed station and hobble around bent double to get water and go to the loo. I was in real trouble at this point, the next 7km were almost all up hill. normally it would have been more rideable for me but i just had nothing left. I was hurting, miserable and hot. Part of the way up the first part of the climb I wanted to try to lie down to stretch my back out as I couldn't stand up straight. I sat on the floor and felt more shooting pains. At that point I burst into tears and sat on the side of the hill sobbing. The other riders were fantastic, all stopping to ask if i was ok and offer words of encouragement. Richard tried to get me to go back down to the water point to see the medics but I just wanted to finish. The remainder of the stage was miserable. Loads of off the bike climbing, rocks, and really high temperatures.

We finally reached the top only to find a rocky and steep descent waiting which was almost as painful for me as the climb! We even hit a patch of sand in the final 5km which was just so unfair! We finally cross the finish line and again, I burst into
tears, head hanging over the bars and tears dripping down my number board. We were soon followed by Rachel Fenton and Collyn Ahart who had had a differently but equally miserable 'recovery day'. Lesson learned, the race director is a compulsive liar!

So that brings me to today… last night I was in pieces. I couldn't walk or stand up straight and was eventually persuaded to see the medics. They gave me some pain relief but it didn't make much difference so we went back later to see what else they could do. I tried to sit down to wait and felt the most incredible shooting pains in my back. I've honestly never felt anything like it. 

They gave me some proper drugs then and I went to bed.

This morning I was still bent over but mid morning I managed to stand up straight and I've been for my massage now. Going to get some more pain stuff and give it a go tomorrow.

Tomorrow is going to be pretty tough though as every stage is but this one is characterised by single track. Fingers, toes and everything crossed that I will be ok. I know I can't call myself an Epic finisher and my number board will be cut off but if I can get through the rest that will make all this training and suffering in the mud and cold worth it. 

There have been quite a few people outside of the time limit every day and lots of abandons through injury and general

illness. Last night 95% of the people in the medical tent where there because of dehydration. Rumour has it that it was 40 deg yesterday... 

The pros have been phenomenal, coming in 3-4 hours ahead of us! They are like machines!

day 1 - the prologue

South africa has been amazing so far. everywhere I've gone has been like a different world. Yesterday we went to registration and for an amazing (this word will come up a lot no doubt) african lunch by the port in cape town.
I have been uploading all my photos to facebook so its a bit busy but I will sift when I get back.

Our start time this morning for the 22km prologue was 8.42. This meant leaving at 6am so we were all up soon after 5am this morning.

Neither of us has felt nervous really, mostly very very excited but I'd been waiting for it to hit me. Hit me it did on the way in this morning. I felt thoroughly sick and had a good hand tremor going. I felt much better getting on my bike and was really exited standing on the start ramp. You really feel part of something huge, there are big screens everywhere, banners, people shouting and commentary reading out each and every riders name and nationality.

We had said that we would take it easy today but knowing it was only going to be around 1.5 hours, as soon as we rolled down the start ramp, it was a race for me.

We over took quite a few people and got over taken a bit ourselves. Todays stage took us round some purpose built trails with incredible views of the mountains (didn't get to admire these much though). It wasn't especially technical but there were a few hairy bits.

We came in at just over 1:30 which put us in 31st for the mixed category (and first brits in the same cat). We had hoped for better really but today was short, tomorrow is 96km with 2350m of climbing so probably going to be a bit tougher :)

Feeling very tired now sitting in a sandy valley surrounded by beautiful mountains.

http://on.fb.me/Z7waFr this mornings drive from Hout Bay and on to Citrusdal.
http://on.fb.me/141vEkh - final pre epic ride up Chapmans Peak

Wish us luck!

longest flight ever!! (inside a week to go now though)

I arrived in South Africa today after the longest flight I have ever been on. Woke up at 4.30am Saturday worrying about my packing (or lack of it) so hoped to get a decent sleep on the plane. This was not to be and I arrived in Cape Town this morning feeling decidedly rough round the edges. This was not improved by being asked to produce proof of my return journey (has anyone else ever been asked that?!). I couldn't (it was on my computer now I think about it) so they took my passport away and left me sitting for an hour while they went to get proof I would be going home.

Not impressed...

Long drive to where I'm staying til Friday via a penguin colony which was really nice. They are funny awkward things on land.

I've managed to fit in 2 short trips to the supermarket (I LOVE foreign supermarkets) and have found out where the best place to go for melk tart is locally.

No more til the day before (so next sat) as it will no doubt be pointless drivel.

my trusty steed

sort of...this is the 2011 version but its very similar..
hopefully it'll help me ride like these guys or even at least half as well.. that will do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WDKLolZJJU

how this all started (for me at least)

I've never been sporty really aside from riding and competing horses in various disciplines since I was small. I had always worked with horses and found what I thought would be a long term job in 2005 working for an Olympic dressage rider in Staffordshire. To cut a long story short, the people I worked with were awful so when my trial finished, I came home. 

I drifted around for a year or so before deciding to join the police. whilst going through the process,  realised my maths was pretty shoddy so signed up for an evening class. I wasn't doing any exercise at this point aside from dog walks and had got quite fat. One day I was struggling to revise and decided to dig my old mountain bike out from the garage to get some fresh air. I think I probably only rode for about 20 minutes, most likely in tracksuit bottoms, trainers and a body warmer but it was the start of a massive change in my life. (I never joined the police, I realised it wasn't all 1970s 'life on mars' and would be less driving round in a Ford Cortina and more sitting around doing paperwork). *see bottom for link

I kept on with it and started going a bit further each time. I remember quite clearly the time I made it up one of the hills in Richmond park, I felt incredibly pleased but had to stop for a breather. 

I'm not sure what prompted me to join the gym but I started going 5 days a week and doing spin classes. I heard my spin teacher had a road bike and having been getting quite frustrated at never being able to keep up with people in the park, I asked if  could borrow it. Half an hour on it and I decided I had to have one, this would have been mid 2008. I got my first road bike and that was it really... got really into cycling, joined Kingston Wheelers and started working in a bike shop.

I started road racing and at one of the races, got chatting to one of the owners of sigma sport. I moved there in September 2009. 

Through the mechanics at the shop, I got into cyclocross and raced that along side road. June 2010 saw me break my collar bone (racing) and also signified the end of my racing on the road.

At the end of the cross season in jan 2011 I decided that I didn't want to ride on the road any more so bought my first proper mountain bike, my beloved gold monstrosity Trek 8500.

I knew I'd never get anywhere without racing (being a bit of a wimp) so did my first race (a round of welsh xc in builth wells) in march of that year.

I raced as much as I could in 2011 and 2012 until one day; specifically July the 4th (I checked) I got this message on the Kingston wheelers forum:

"

From:	Richard R
To:	leona
Posted:	Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:22
Subject:	Cape Epic 2013
Hi Leona, I don't think I've ever met you but I get the impression you are a very regular MTB rider. From what I can tell you prefer the MTB marathon type stuff? Have you ever considered doing the Cape Epic in SA? Is it your thing? Cheers Richard Read (aka Richard R)"

That brings us to now.. 26 days, 9 hours to go! Can't wait!!

Leona

*life on mars was a fantastic program, I defy anyone to not want to join the police after watching it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZOzsIhCPgs 

first post..31 days to go!

There are many reasons for wanting to start this up but rather indulgently, it is mostly for myself to look back on. Aside from that it is here to thank the people who are helping us in the run up and during what is no doubt going to be one of the biggest, scariest 8 days of our lives.

The first mention has to go to Ian Holt of La Fuga who has very kindly given us kit. It'll be nice to be in totally unique kit and most importantly, jerseys with a full zip. Coming straight from the British winter, we are going to feel the heat!

http://lafuga.cc

Secondly, Rude Health are crucial in the run up with their yummy porridges and mueslis. Definite favourite is the Top Banana which is just about the perfect pre ride (or any time of day for that matter!) fuel.

http://www.rudehealth.com/our-food/porridge/top-banana/ 

During the race, food and hydration are going to be very important and these are mainly being taken care of thanks to Clifbar UK and Nuun.

http://www.clifbar.co.uk
http://www.nuun.co.uk

So medical forms completed, extreme health cover purchased, flights, massage booked, mechanic sorted and a tonne of spares (which hopefully won't be needed) bought and just over a month to go.
Eeek!