Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 54, January 2014

Race Reports (My Experience) The race I love to hate… Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, Johannesburg, 17 November If you live in Johannesburg and cycle, you simply have to take part in the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge, so here I was, saddling up for the second year in a row. – BY NICOLE DE VILLIERS, MODERN ATHLETE DESIGNER T he 94.7 is most certainly one of the most gruelling road races in South Africa, as I discovered in 2012 when I decided to take on the race with minimal training. After suffering up the Krugersdorp Highway last year, I decided this is not a race you take lightly, so this year I decided to put in some training. READY TO RACE As my alarm buzzed just before 6am, I wondered if the clock was set incorrectly, as it was really hot and muggy outside. One thing that made me optimistic though, is that there was no sign of wind – all cyclists know that wind is the most annoying weather condition to deal with on race day, especially with this route of rolling hills and steep climbs. I made my way through all the excited cyclists to get to my start batch, which took off at 8:08am. It was already rather hot by this time. A guy with a boom box attached to his bike took off with us, making me want to pedal harder, not just because the 40 ISSUE 54 JANUARY 2014 / www.modernathlete.co.za music was motivating me, but because I must have been riding really slowly to have him keep up with me! I got away from him eventually and reached the CBD of Johannesburg via Joe Slovo Drive. Cycling over the Nelson Mandela Bridge was picturesque in a ‘concrete jungle’ sort of way. My favourite part of the race was through Craighall Park, where the supporters alongside the road seemed to have just trundled out of their homes with their morning coffee to give us great words of encouragement. I must admit, I was saving my legs for when I got to the gruelling Krugersdorp Highway, 30km from the end. Many a cyclist has been dreadfully sorry for tiring themselves out before this bit! But this year I was lucky, because there was a superb tailwind pushing me along steadily. By the end of the highway my knee started giving me a little trouble and I was a bit worried about the infamous Heartbreak Hill that still stood between me and the ﬁnish line, but I got up the hill by sheer mind over matter, and besides my sore knee, I felt pretty good ﬁnishing in 4:05! Next year I will be back, aiming for a 3:45, after doing still more training!

Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 54, January 2014 | Page 40