I'm in for 2020! Going for number #3. 2014 was an unfortunate disaster with an eventual withdrawal at Chesneywold. Put my big boy pants on and conservatively, in 2016 finished what I started. I say conservatively because I wanted to make sure I finished the whole course this time! The "pull" of the Freedom Trail has been eating at me and so here we go again, bring on 2020! My training, learning off the last two, is very base training orientated till the end of December. (Just riding) January the real deal starts. Depending on what your race strategy is will determine what your training regime should be. If you not one of those race snakes then its merely about getting overall body fit. As Shebeen said, work out what works for you. I did plenty interval training, upper body and core training, some hiking and one or two ultra distant rides and I used the 36One Mtb race in April as an 'icebreaker' before RASA If its your first one, other than being fit, navigation is key. If you are sketchy on navigation, try see if you can find a basic course on map and compass navigation skills. As you know, you carry all your kit and gear with you. While training, pack a pack heavier than what you will ride with in RASA. I went over-packed in 2014 at around 14kgs!! Yup! bloody heavy after the first couple of miles when ascending. 2016, I went in with 7kgs. You'll be surprise what little kit you can live off when out there! Nutrition - keep it natural. Keep it real but experiment! Don't be worried about RASA. Have fun in your training, absorb information, experiment, and when you get there, take it all in! Its an incredible journey! It can sometimes teach you things about yourself you never knew or maybe forgotten. Feel free to drop me a PM anytime if there is anything you would like to bounce off. Most importantly enjoy the build up and don't overthink RASA. Its merely a mountain bike ride/race with incredible people you will meet along the way and you will experience the South African landscape like few others will ever get to experience....
