22 August 2011
'Only those who dare, truly live.' Ruth Freedman
The 2011 Trans Baviaans Mountain Bike Enduro has come and gone and our two intrepid cyclists, Andrew Payne and Trevor Seinen now turn their attention to the big one: this year's edition of the annual FNB Desert Dash (http://www.desertdashnamibia.com/).
Taking place in Namibia on 16 December, 'The Dash' is a 340 km journey from the capital city of Windhoek to the temperate coastal resort town of Swakopmund.
The 'Road to the Desert' aims to provide our sponsors and supporters with a weekly update chronicling Andrew and Trevor's progress. Primarily covering their training and racing experiences leading up to the 2011 'Dash', we also aim to give the reader an insight into a host of related topics including our generous sponsors, equipment choices and the rider's daily lifestyles.
With their entries having been accepted last Thursday, Andrew and Trevor can now focus on their training as well as the logistics necessary for an event of such magnitude.
Post Baviaans – a tale of recovery
"Nothing china. I'm just busy in my garden today" quips Andrew Payne as I inquire what he has been up to this week. After the duo's inspiring performance in the 2011 Trans Baviaans race from Willowmore to Jeffrey's Bay, Trevor and Andrew have undertaken a week of serious 'R&R'.
Recovery from any competition is important, but when one considers the length of time that Team New Market Hotels/Virgin Active spent on their MTBs two Saturdays ago, the 'R' word is a critical component in any athlete's arsenal.
9 hours and 37 minutes on a bicycle is directly relative to the time it takes Andrew to complete an Ironman distance triathlon. Add in other factors such as adverse weather conditions, unforgiving terrain and darkness and couple it with the intensity required to obtain a top-five placing and we have a body that is fatigued both physically and mentally.
The post Baviaans week has been all about 'recharging' and 'rejuvenating' with Andrew and Trevor taking their recovery seriously this year.
With not a pedal stroke being turned last week, the guys are now itching to begin their training which will build from a 'base load' of approximately 13 – 15 hours/week up to a peak weekly volume of 25 – 28 hours.
Along with a host of other racing scheduled in their buildup, an important emphasis will be placed on enjoyment. After all, one of the best parts of any successful athletic campaign is the process of getting there.
With their immediate racing focus now centered on the PPA Spring League, their road bikes will reappear more frequently in a training mix combining the dirt and tar disciplines.
