Words by Diana Carolin | @di_carolin
In preparation for Masters Marathon Champs at Cascades next weekend the Arabella Challenge seemed to be a perfect test of my form. Having raced only XCO the last three and a half moths the longer distances promised to be a challenge.
Registration was quick and easy on Friday in the lovely Arabella Hotel, while the most insane rain storm I have ever experienced raged on outside.
Saturday fortunately, though chilly, was clear and offered perfect racing conditions. A warm-up ride from near the finish, where I left my car, to the start was just what was needed before the first climb of the day. The race was tough, fun and definitely a challenge. Apart from missing some route markers due to intense concentration and having to stop for water as I had lost a bottle all went well. Oh yes, and there was a sneaky little cramp about 6kms from the end but that was quickly pedalled out. The scenery was beautiful and the trails terrific. Thank goodness it had rained and the sand was hard! Wildekrans trails were a nice little sting in the tail of a great mornings racing.
Day 2 dawned even fresher at a balmy 7 degrees. I met Jennie Stenerhag and Craig at the Arabella gates and we rode to the start at Wildekrans.
When the stage started we set off at a very fast pace up some nasty steep climbs and along some super singletrack. It felt like an XCO race for the first hour and I was in the red zone all the way. The aim for the days was to push as hard as possible for as long as possible and not let up. That lasted two hours and then the legs and mind started to crack a bit. Thanks to one of the guys for encouraging me to keep pushing and Ila Stowe appearing behind me after having taken a wrong turn earlier, all of a sudden I found some more energy and ended the race with a sprint finish. It was very exciting.
The vibe at the finish was great and it was super catching up with everyone and watching people come in for a while.
Later at prize giving, around the beautiful Arabella Pool area, Guru (my Jack Russell) made his first podium appearance after chasing behind me as I ran up to get my lovely Wildekrans Wine for placing 2nd to Jennie in the Vets category.
All in all a great weekend of racing and my trusty Bianchi never gave me a moment’s trouble! I also realised that sadly I’m nowhere near prepared enough for SA Masters Marathon Champs so that will have to wait until next year! SA CUP XCO at PE next!
Thanks to Stillwater events, Arabella and Cell C for a memorable weekend.
