Training Africa style…
March 3rd, 2008 by Conrad Stoltz
I’m still on my parents farm near Lydenburg, South Africa, where I spent most of the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Real training started last Monday. My coach Libby Burrell (libbyburrell.blogspot.com) emailed a training program, now there is structure, and less play. Heart rate files are being recorded and emailed with my Suunto t6, logs filled in, I had my 1st massage since XTERRA Worlds in October. Any eating wise, “I’m back on the wagon” like they say in the US.
Here is a peek into “Conrad Stoltz ’s average training day on the farm”:
After 4 hours in the saddle and home just around the corner, that last sand trap is almost a welcome sight.
The “pool” is green, it has tadpoles and water grass,
BUT GETTING THERE SURE IS FUN!
The Watervalsrivierpas is not Mont Ventoux, but I saw a rhino and its calf and almost ran over two young baboons playing in the road.
Knobblies on the road and a 45 minute climb to 1800m altitude ads to the load. My “farm bike” is an “old”, “heavy” 05 Specialized Carbon Epic, with Specialized Fast Trak LK 2.00 at 30psi with tons of Stans.
Civilization is far away, but beauty is around every corner…
Post run: My specially formulated recovery technique…
3 Responses to “Training Africa style…”
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March 4th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Nice post…was getting worried for your part on that 4 month holiday that wasnt ending!
“EISH! This place is heaven” But Ja, real life is about to dawn. See you in the Bosch this weekend and my true form will be revealed! (Bring wide-angle lens. or not)
March 4th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Hi Conrad
Jy noem jou ‘ou’ plaasbike is heavy. Verwys jy hier na die raam dat dit heavy is? Is die ‘08 s-work epic’s dan ligter?
Janet. Ek kan nie versker se^ of die 08 se raam ligter as die 05 is nie. Ek het laas jaar n Factory Prototype gery, en die was nogal lig. (oa is die verf afgelos om 180g te spaar) Die Specialized cranks is 200g ligter as XTR en behoort 08 of 09 op die produksie fietse te wees…
My plaasfiets het downhill “platform pedals”, baie Stans (wat ek verdik het met RSA se “Fug It”) en n groot tool boks agter die saal met 2 tubes en al die tools wat jy kry, n groterige pomp, swaar Rival saal, en al die ou gemakkies wat mens in n voor seisoen fiets wil he^.
Gelukkig verstaan min mense Afrikaans, maar glo my as ek se^ 09 se fiets ruk die dam onder die eend uit. Spaar solank.
Groete
C
March 14th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Hey Conrad
Jy se die ‘09 bike gaan die dam onder die eendtjie uitruk…. Ek ry tans die ‘06 epic s-works. Gaan die ‘09 bike dan sooo ‘n verbetering wees dat ek liewer my cape epic 09 planne moet los en die ’09 specilized epic bike koop? Dink jy die bike (veranderinge daaraan) gaan sooo die moeite wees dat ek my epic entry moet sacrifice? Dis of die een of die ander…met die ekonomie tans kan ek nie altwee kry nie
Gaan die ‘09 bike nogsteeds ‘epic’ genoem word?
Die specialized cranks – is dit net so goed soos die xtr hollow tech? Tans kan ek nie sien dat ek my xtr cranks vir enige ander cranks sal verruil nie…..hulle is soo smooth.
Is daar baie slange op jul plaas?
(ons het die 06 attakwas saam met jou en amber gery)