5 days in Los Angeles

This is just a short summary of our 5 day stay in Los Angeles. I will have to write a book to give you all the details. It is very hard to put each experience in words as each day was a once in lifetime experience…something that you can’t explain to anyone.

After a very long flight, we arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday at midday.

We dropped our bags and bikes at the house and we went for a drive to see what Hollywood California is all about. We all think Hollywood is beautiful and full of glitz and glam like in the movies. To be honest, the city is dry, dull and dirty, but don’t let the dull and dirty give you the wrong impression…the vibe, atmosphere and activities makes up for it!

The beaches and some areas like Beverly Hills are beautiful.

Thursday:  Universal Studios

This place is unreal and something you need to see for yourself to get an idea. We did a tour of the park on a tram, the tram takes you through scenes and streets where movies/series (like Desperate Housewives, Jaws, Jurassic park and many more) were shot. We went through a 3D tunnel with scenes from Jurassic Park. The tram stops on a track that moves as the dinosaur’s bumps and stands on the tram. It felt so real and it was kind of scary.

                                               

The Jurassic Park, The Mummy and Transformer Rides were awesome. The Jurassic Park ride was a water ride and we got soaked. The Transformers was a 3D ride where you fall of buildings, fight other transformers and dodge bullets. The Mummy ride was scary as hell and super fast.

Universal Studios is unbelievable.

After Universal Studios we did the ‘Walk of Fame’. We also did a tour of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Sunset Boulevard. They took us to the Hollywood sign. They showed us some ‘Star Houses’ including the Playboy Mansion and Michael Jacksons house where he passed away.

After the tour we walked around in Hollywood Boulevard. Hollywood at night is so alive and the vibe is amazing …an experience I will never forget.

Friday was our shopping day. I first went for a 10km run on the bike/run patch on the beach before we drove around looking for Outlet stores. We found one but it was a bit expensive and disappointing. We ended up in Venice Beach. WOW what an awesome little place. It’s so hard to explain this street. It’s a street on the beach with little shops owned by locals. They sell anything you can think of to make a living. You can even get a certificate to legally buy dagga. This is a real trailer trash street, everyone is high and dirty but so friendly. It was an indescribable experience to see how these people live and make a living. It just makes you realise how grateful we should be for what we have.

Saturday we went to Orange County for some mountain biking. We cycled in the Laguna Nature reserve. They have over 70miles of mountain biking tracks. The route that we did was about 20km…but that was enough…20km of mountain after mountain. After our ride we went to two cycle shops where the shopping was way to successful. After spending too much money on cycling kit we went home for an easy night and a BBQ.

Sunday: Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park.

O my word…this place was huge. They have about 20 different rides. We only survived 5. We did the fastest, longest and highest and most insane= rides in the world. The 2 rides that had me on the edge of a nervous breakdown was the first ride we did, the X2 and the Superman. To be completely honest, I nearly cried after the X2. The X2 is a roller coaster ride with face first free falls and the seats turn upside down as you go down falls and around loops. Superman is just plain crazy. I refused to do it but when we got to the front of the line there was no exit. They strap you in a little car and with no warning you pull away backwards at a neck breaking speed. You go backwards and 50feet up in the air at 100mph (160km/h) and then you come back down.  It was INSANE.

After Magic Mountain we headed home to pack for an early morning flight to Hawaii.

Will keep you updated and post more photos on Facebook in Hawaii.

Clanwilliam Fitness Festival

Saturday morning at 5:30 my alarm went off. I still wanted to sleep, I was feeling tired and miserable.

I dragged myself out of bed, got dressed and headed to Clanwilliam Dam. 
It was a perfect morning and the dam looked like a mirror.

I entered the 1.5km swim with some team mates. It was my first race or long swim in my new Xterra Vendetta wetsuit. I struggle to get going but as we turned at the first buoy I got into a great rhythm. I finished the swim in 26min at a comfortable pace.

It was a long day as the triathlon only started at 3. I felt tired and not in race mood but I knew I had to have a great race to prepare myself mentally for Xterra Worlds.

The swim start was fast and I was 21st out of the swim...not my best.
In and out of T1, I didn't expect much on the bike as I haven't been on my road bike for a while.

As we left the town, Jayde Morison caught up to me. We worked together on the bike and caught Dominique D'Oliveira and another girl. The 4 of us worked together and soon dropped the girl.

Into T2 the 3 of us was still together. I knew it was going to be a hard run and I went as hard as I could out of T2 to open up a gap. The run route is an out and back with the out being a long hill. I pushed hard but it felt comfortable.

I finished 4th and felt great. 

Thanks to Xterra Wetsuits, 32GI, Mobii, Glider eyewear, Linebreak Compression and Virgin Active and Cape Auto Centre Triathlon Team.

Thank you!

12 Days to go before I leave for Xterra Worlds Champs in Maui Hawaii.

I would just like to thank every single person that supported me to make a dream come true.

From the people that bought one raffle ticket to the ones that bought hundreds. From the people that donated funds to the people that paid money into my account even after the draw...family, friends and even people that I don't know.

I am so overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and will be forever grateful. Every cent is so much appreciated. Words can't explain.

Thank you to Jonkheer Wine for the Wine sponsor. 
 Also to Mobii for the Mobii Unit that they sponsored.

SO...the winners:
3rd prize (Lam) Rory McKinley
2nd prize (Jonker Wine Hamper) Marinda Lindeque
1st prize (Ipad) Hermanus De Jager

The highest bid for the 'special edition' Mobii Unit went to Tiaan Pretorius. The closing bid was R3500.

Thank you to my sponsors:

Table Mountain Challenge

Saturday 15 September was a perfect day for The Crazy Store Table Mountain Challenge.

The Cape Auto Centre Triathlon Team entered a ladies team, Cathy leg1, Jeannie leg2 and I ran leg3.

I was feeling a bit nervous (ok, a lot) because I did not know what to expect.
Everyone said the 3rd leg is hectic....

As I watched the front runners pass check point 2, the nerves went away and I started feeling better, eager to run.

I checked in at the check point with my compulsory kit. It was a very hot day and as waited for Jeannie to finish the nerves set in again. Should I go to the loo again...what if I go and Jeannie gets to check point 2...do I have enough water...how hard should I go....all the things that go through my head, but before I knew it, I was off.

The 1st 2km was jeep track before we head into some very awesome single track. At 5km we started climbing...no not a hill...but a mountain...Table Mountain.

I look up and saw the top. I thought to myself, it's not as bad as everyone said. Well that was till I got to the top and realised, This is not the top.
 We climbed some rocks for about 6km.  The view from the top was just unbelievable, something you can't explain.

At the top, Yeah some flat running! You think Table Mountain is flat...It's NOT.
I felt great at the top and enjoyed every single minute of the run. The tracks, the view, the people, the beautiful sunshine day and just the idea of running on Table Mountain was great.

The downhill section, not my favorite part. The 6km we climbed up, we went down in 2km. After some rock jumping, sliding down on my bum and 2 nearly big mistakes I reached the pipe track. This was the longest 3km home. It went on forever, It was hot and my legs were not existent after the downhill. At last, the finish!!

We finished 2nd Lady team and 3rd Corporate Team. Tough but successful day.

It's hard to explain this race to someone. You can't explain the route, the views, the feeling. You need to go run it yourself to understand. I enjoyed every moment, the up, the down, the sun even the pain! It was just unbelievable.

Thanks to 32GI for keeping hydrated on a very hot and hard day. Mobii for keeping me on track and pace. Linebreak for the recovery and Cape Auto Centre Triathlon Team for the Support and just being a great team.

Mountain Warrior Trail Running Festival

This weekend was the Mountain Warrior Trail Running Festival at Rustenberg Farm in Stellenbosch.
This is great event for all fitness levels. You can enter for the following individual races or you can do the 2day Challenge.

Day 1: 

Jonkershoek SKY RUN 36km
Botmaskop Traverse 15km
Night Trail Run 10km

Day 2: 

Simonsberg Challenge 30km
Barlow Trail 15km
Rustenberg Fun Run 10km

Mountain Warrior Challenge:
Day 1: Jonkershoek SKY Run
Day 2: Simonsberg Challenge

Married Couples Challenge:
Husband compete in long races on both days
Wife compete in both shorter (15km) races on both days.

I entered the 10km Saturday night run and the 15km on the Sunday. The night run started at 6pm. The route was great with a few climbs to warm you up and fast 3km down to the finish.

The plan was to run the 10km as an easy training run and race the 15km the Sunday...well that was the plan.
The race started on a downhill so I started a bit to fast but I soon got into a comfortable stride. The scenery and the views was so awesome with the sun setting in the background.

The last 3km was really fast, I felt great and I didn't want the run to end. Well as they say...All good things come to an end. I was the first lady home and 4th overall.

Sunday morning - 15km

It was a chilly morning with a 4degree start. The first 3km and the last 3km was the same as the 10km night run. I started with a easy pace as I knew we where going to climb a bit...just a little bit :)

After a bit of confusion at one section and running up and down the steepest hill we realised we need to go up again!

I met up with Yolandi Visser and we ran together for the last 8km. We got into a comfortable pace and chatting away with no other ladies in sight.

With about 1.5km to go we looked behind us and the 3rd lady was right behind us.
Well I guess that was the end of our tea party and we had to sprint the last 1.5km.

Yolandi took a well deserve 1st place after running the grueling 15km the Saturday.
I took 2nd place with Kerry Sillifant in 3rd.

I can really recommend this event! Great vibe, great routes and great fun for the whole family.

Sports Nutrition

Are you eating right and taking the right amount and combination of supplements before, with or after your training??
My answer was Yes, until I went to go see a Sports Nutritionist today!! All I can say is WOW, what an eye-opener.

After today I will surely think twice about what and when I put something in my mouth.
I really urge you to go see someone, it changed my thinking of nutrition.

I recommend Tania Kapp from 360Nutrition.
She is a Performance Nutritionist bases in Tyger Waterfront.

Mobile: 082 568 6667

Email: tania@my360nutrition.com

Cape Winter Trail Series #4 @ Kleinmond

Sunday was the last race of the Cape Winter Trail Series. Kleinmond was the venue and I was looking forward to the race.

I stayed over in Kleinmond with some of the Cape Auto Centre Triathlon Team members.
The morning of the race was freezing cold, we registered and stood around trying to keep warm.

Knowing the route, I knew I had to go out very fast as the first single track started at about 1km into the race. The gun went off and I sprinted the first 1km trying to keep up with team mates Manus and Andre.

As we got into the single track I eased into a comfortable pace. I was in 2nd position just ahead of Mari Wessels so I knew I couldn't get to comfortable. At 3km we started with a long climb with some steps and lots of walking. Half way up the climb I was still feeling strong and started pushing the pace.

I was happy to reach the highest point of the race, it was downhill from here! I am not as good on the technical downhills as what I would like to be...but everything just came together on the day. I was flying down the rocky downhill and feeling very comfortable.

Reaching the 1km tar road section at 7km I knew it wasn't that far to go. Manus was still running with me and he pushed the pace to under 4min per km on the tar section and it was feeling so good.

The last 5km was on a single track section along the beach. I just love running on this section, it's full of twists and turns, rocky technical sections with some wooden bridges. I had the race of my life...feeling great...adrenaline pumping and I gave it my all the last few km's of the race.

I am super happy with my race and my 2nd place for the day.

Thanks to my sponsors Cape Auto Centre Triathlon team, 32GI, Mobii, GliderEyewear, Linebreak Compression and Virgin Active.

And a Big Thanks to Manus for making me run so hard :)