I am (not quite) a champion

My Sponsors: Executive Wellness Centre, Claremont, Cape Town Body Status: Particularly stiff after the rowing challenge yesterday Mind Status: Going a little nuts when I think about all the work that still needs to be done in preparation of the events that are part of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Lifecycle Week – which starts in three weeks’ time! Marital Status: Still going strong, thanks to my super supportive main man, although I suspect the mommies at my kids’ pre-primary think he’s a single father. Highlight of the week: Hitting my bed in the evenings Useless information: I’ve gone from being a book addict to not being able to finish a page of my brand new Terry Pratchett in the evenings before nodding off! Next goal: Surviving two kiddie birthday parties (one of which is my son’s) this weekend

This is a story of how I became the 4th woman overall in the Three Passes funride this past Sunday… or not. (sorry mom)

Adri and I had planned to do the Three Passes before giving our bikes a four-week break while we work full-out on Cycle Tour. We would do the medium route, of course, just to ease ourselves (and our bums) into the whole long-distance cycling thing.

Sunday turned out to be the most perfect day for riding, so I made my way to the start venue in Constantia, registered and spent about an hour shooting the breeze with Adri while the better seeded riders were called into the start chutes.

And then it was our turn:  Adri (seeded in Z) and I (Temp number) started together in the Temp group and we were soon on our way towards Ou Kaapse Weg.

As participants in the 38km route (although I must add that our bike computers read 41km) we were  to conquer Ou Kaapse Weg, Black Hill and Boyes Drive before making our way back to the finish. It was awesome, to say the least.  I rode like the wind, felt fitter and stronger than ever before and finished in a decent time (i.e., I made it before the cut-off and the medics didn’t have to scrape me off the route).

Look, I’m still realistic about my ability.  I’ve just returned to the saddle after a long break while performing my duties as the family breeder, so I knew I wouldn’t win any races just yet.

Until I got an SMS in the afternoon, congratulating me on being the 4th woman overall.  I was ecstatic!  High-fives were exchanged.  I even told my mom (sorry again, mom) and basically everybody else who would listen.   For a moment there I was blinded by my own awesomeness!  And I could just see it: I would have no choice but to resign from my day-job to pursue a successful career as professional cyclist.  People would write articles and case studies about my raw cycling talent being discovered at the ripe old age of 36.

Until the next SMS came through:  “Did you do the long or short route?”

Er… hold on…

When we got home I immediately logged on to check my results.  Yep – there I was.  4th woman of the 77km ride. OOPS!

A quick e-mail to the timing crew later cleared up the little misunderstanding and now I am officially the 13th woman over the finish line in the 38km race.  Don’t congratulate me yet. There were only 22 ladies.

Sigh…

Oh well… although very short-lived, my victory was sweet.  And it gave me a taste of what it would feel like to REALLY do well.

Who knows, I may just become a pro rider by the time I hit 40

But meanwhile, I’ll just continue doing what I do every morning.  Kiss my husband and kids goodbye.  Drive to gym. And allow my fabulous trainers, Rob and Wes, to torture me like only they can.

Despite being submitted to the three-ball torture, our heroine wouldn't tell her trainers where she had hidden her chocolate stash.