Blogs

I did the Willo back in 2012 a week after the convict when I'd had a fairly big stack and was still feeling the effects. The time that day was 2hrs 50 so I was hoping for an improvement on that.

After beating last year’s result by nearly 40min in the Capital Punishment last weekend I was looking forward to similar today at the Willo. While I've only been back on the bike for 6 weeks after a 2 month layoff I was feeling positive.

I haven’t ridden since last weekend’s race as I was travelling for work but chose to get lots of sleep rather than do the hotel trainer thing. Last night I was in bed at 9 and punching great zzz until my son came in at 11 then a few hours later my daughter joined him and we had 3 of the 4 of us coughing and spluttering through the night. Grrrrr

After 2 years of planning and preparation, months of intensive training, and getting equipment ready, we are ready to embark upon our epic journey.

The training is done, we are all packed, and have arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, raring to go.

See our latest blog update, and follow our daily race reports throughout the next 8 days, 8 days, 718km and 14,850m of climbing.

Prologue starts Sunday 23 March 2014 - with us leaving the start chute at 10:05am

http://sxcracing.com/cape-epic-ready-set

Well after a number of solid months training, there is always some trepadation for the first 'real' race of the season.

Having been in preparation for the 2014 Cape Epic, I knew I was fit and had some form leading into the race - so expectation was high, especially for a good overall and category result. This was the last 'tune up' before I headed overseas.

I ride in Super Masters category (nothing in the drop down menu for that yet...). Have gradually been chipping away at improvements over the years, from reading training techniques (thanks Mr Shippard, and others), to attending nutrition talks, and of course just getting out there and riding. It's interesting to see the results over time.

The first Cap Pun in 2010 was that mudfest - 7:19, 54 in Cat, 249 o/all. The horror, the horror...
2011 - didn't race it, as still too traumatised from the year before!
2012 - 4:40, 10 in Cat, 185 o/all
2013 - 4.39, 13 in Cat, 167 o/all

This being my first time at CP I wasn't sure what to expect. Knowing that there was an untimed section and unsure how tough the climbs were, I went in with a little trepidation, but as well informed as I could be based on conversations with friends (Brian, Dicko, Dave, Minter, etc etc). A drive down on Friday afternoon soon went awry as traffic was as bad as I've experienced (when will i learn!). Met DoC at registration, had dinner and did the car drop off.

This was my first time at the CP so I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I knew there would be some great singletrack having previously ridden the Mont. I'd never ridden Stromlo much to the amazement of Dicko, Dave and Michale at dinner. Don't know why I'd left it so long.

This is the first time I raced the Capital Punishment and it is a fantastic event.

I started in the second wave and it is great to have a small group of similar level riders to start with. Just eased into the first 20km and enjoyed all the single track. There was traffic but it was moving fast. Only the elite females were causing hold ups.

Felt really good at the finish....have heaps of work to do on single track skills and would love to practice the Luge a few times. No cramping which was awesome.Weather was awesome...an absolute pearlour of a day. No mechanicals, no stacks and no regrets.

This was my first full marathon and I was excited but nervous. After getting to Canberra late Friday night (bloody M5 traffic!), registering, checking in at the hotel and catching up with Andy it was 11pm by the time I got to bed.

This definitely didn't help the nerves but I needn't have worried, by the time we got to the start line Saturday morning I was feeling great. I placed my self in the middle of the 5th wave and set off, waving to wife and child as I crosed the line.