ROAD TO THE DESERT - PART 6
It’s not all about the bike - with ANDREW PAYNE
I ran on Friday.
Being a lifelong runner, it is something that I still cherish even if it was only for 5 kilometres and part of a warmup for the gym.
Recurring injuries have limited running for the last few years, but I still try to keep a bare minimum of 1-2 runs per week.
Strength-work in the gym, while supplementary to my cycling, is essential. Not just for the obvious muscular benefits but also a diversion from the day to day rides in preparation for the 2011 Desert Dash.
So, Friday’s training looked like this:
5am: 5km run followed by a 40 minute full body weight-training session including free weights for the upper body, legwork with lunges, leg extensions and the all important hamstring curl finishing off abdominal work.
6am: 2hr30min steady ride.
A great day of cross training in the midst of some serious mileage buildup.
This session complimented some other key workouts, including Thursday’s ride:
4 loops of an 11 kilometre circuit up to Constantia Nek via Southern Cross and Rhodes Drive and a “pedalling descent” down Constantia Main Road, averaging 19 minutes per loop.
Thursday's circuit: No hiding on this route. We pedal uphill and downhill.
We’ve been riding for two weeks without a break now, so we need to very careful not to “cook our goose.” Wisdom and “vasbyt” need to be carefully balanced, meaning that not every ride must be competitive.
Especially since waking up long before “sparrow’s fart” is a daily occurrence.
One thing I’ve noticed is our food bill has gone up while my weight has remained constant. While eating lot’s of good stuff (vegetables, dairy, chicken etc), a daily treat is a necessity, chocolate being the foremost!
Summer is coming, so we are now riding in the dark only for an hour in the mornings before it gets light - it helps the motivational levels.
