My Trans Drak 2016 experience

FikileJ · February 22, 2016

Is it my inner daemon or god that won't allow me to quit?

In reflecting on my past weekend’s experience of Trans Drak, I found myself asking where the line between bravery and insanity lies.........let me take you back to Saturday 20February and let you decide.

My MTB riding buddies Mzie, Jed and I decided to enter the gruelling 204km race with the intention to finish at 00:00 21 February. That would mean 14 hours in the saddle. In that well calculated time and pace planning, we had not anticipated nature’s wrath. The first challenge we faced on the day were the cross and head winds that could let you work at your zone 4/5 HRM whilst moving as if you are on an indoor trainer. The wind was with us throughout the race. After a long climb, where I would expect a descent to offer some relief, the wind would push back making the downs equally challenging as the climbs.

The next challenge to face was that of a bloody head wound injury along with deep cuts on the left arm and leg after a run in with a barbed wire fence which I ripped into at 49km/hr. I fell after losing grip on my left handle bar whilst enjoying a fun downhill sprint. The fall was about 1.2 Km's from the half way mark water point. At this point, I had to search very deep within myself for the answer to; "why am I doing this again "?

After seeing the medics, I had a jolt of life kick in within me and not finishing was not an option. So head, arm and leg all strapped in bandage I decided that we are moving forward.

Almost immediately after leaving checkpoint 4- the biltong shop- 134km's into the race, my one team mate's engine blew. Nausea and a stomach cramp crept up on him so unexpectedly and violently that we had to get him checked and eventually taken by the medics. Having lost a team member with a wicked sense of humour that kept us going, Mzie and I tucked deep within ourselves to carry on. We reminded each other that it's a 24 hour race, so if need be, we'd take longer rests at the water points. But we will cross that finish.

We soldiered on in the dark, having to tackle the most technical ascent of the race Bezuidenhout Pass which was at this stage incredibly muddy and not rideable. Imagine a 8km stretch of loose rock, a hell of a incline and later mud that was so deep it covered the ankles. Ooh and through this climb my partner is with rock in hand, ready to tackle any snake (his worst phobia) which may rears it’s head. Yes very well armed indeed ????.

So when I heard a hissing sound as I walked ahead I chose to ignore it and hoped that he could not hear it. But alas, he had heard it, and good thing too because it was not a snake as I had thought. It turned out to be my back wheel losing air. So now at 12:10AM, we had a flat to plug and pump. We sorted that out, got to the top of Bezuidenhout Pass to find a warm fire , warm coffee and friendly company in spite of them sitting there in the drizzling rain and mist at that unspeakable hour. They were the perfect crew to recharge our energies after that hell of a climb, gearing up for hitting the home stretch with only 28km's remaining. We cleaned off the mud from our shoes and the bikes and headed on, now expecting to complete at 1:30.

The sky was now incredibly dark, with the moon completely covered by clouds. So our pace was slowed for safety reasons. 1:30AM came and went and we were still on our bikes. With every little hill bump now beginning to test our patience. The mood would change from silence, to positive, to angry at the unending climbs. Oom Gerrie was sweeping when he got me, head on my handle bars at 3km's to go. He said with the most encouraging voice, “come now, only 3km's to go, you've come so far”. Mzie and I picked ourselves up, saddled up, and hurt on a little longer. Low fived as we road into the grounds to be met by our lost ailing partner and race officials. @ 3:55AM , we got handed the medals. And as a tradition on achieving something within our cycling group, we did the Virgin bicycle lift and felt on top of the world.

So, Was it worth ?

Being on a bike for 17hours, through crazy weather and terrain, testing every ounce of strength, patience and wit?

Hell yeh it was!!!!!

Living out TTFU J

Big thanks to my team mates for a great race experience.