Absa Cape Epic 2018

[Jewbacca]

So... I have a question which I have theories to..

 

Why do SO many racers get stomach bugs in the lead up to an event like this or during?

 

Didn't Amy Beth suffer from a severe stomach bug that nearly cost her and Ariane the Cape Pioneer Trek?

 

SO many.. top end and mid packers alike.

 

Let the theories and comments flow.... 

[RocknRolla]

Already 11 DNFs today and only half the field in.

 

Missus and her partner are in, quite relieved. Her partner also sukkeling with stomach bug.

[fanievb]

So... I have a question which I have theories to..

 

Why do SO many racers get stomach bugs in the lead up to an event like this or during?

 

SO many.. top end and mid packers alike.

 

Let the theories and comments flow.... 

 

stress

vrot water

 

and sweet "race food" (gels etc.)

[Jewbacca]

stress

vrot water

 

and sweet "race food" (gels etc.)

The top pro's surely don't drink vrot water?

 

One would think that the defending champ wouldn't suffer from nerves and should have his food intake pretty dialled. 

[Cookie88]

There has been a bad stomach bug doing the rounds in CT the last couple of weeks - ranging from 24 hours out to some being man down for 5 days straight. My one mate lost 5kg in the Argus week... I told him some people would have killed for 5kg less on the climbs 

[MTBeer]

So... I have a question which I have theories to..

 

Why do SO many racers get stomach bugs in the lead up to an event like this or during?

 

Didn't Amy Beth suffer from a severe stomach bug that nearly cost her and Ariane the Cape Pioneer Trek?

 

SO many.. top end and mid packers alike.

 

Let the theories and comments flow.... 

people are too pedantic about what they eat in general, so when they do get something with a little bit of the dreaded lurgy in it their stomach can't handle it.

 

This applies in general, not just to racing snakes.

[Scalpel]

Hygiene. Thousands of people using same facilities in and around race village. Food being sold by food trucks. Immune system being under pressure in the lead up to an event like this makes the riders more susceptible for bugs doing the rounds.

[fanievb]

The top pro's surely don't drink vrot water?

 

One would think that the defending champ wouldn't suffer from nerves and should have his food intake pretty dialled. 

 

all it takes is for one volunteer to not wash his hands after using the kakhuis and handling the waterbottle/cup, couple that with a stressed immune system and BOOM, gyppo guts

 

 

[geomark]

So... I have a question which I have theories to..

 

Why do SO many racers get stomach bugs in the lead up to an event like this or during?

 

Didn't Amy Beth suffer from a severe stomach bug that nearly cost her and Ariane the Cape Pioneer Trek?

 

SO many.. top end and mid packers alike.

 

Let the theories and comments flow.... 

Because asthma has already been claimed as a roadie thing.......

[Chingy182]

So... I have a question which I have theories to..

 

Why do SO many racers get stomach bugs in the lead up to an event like this or during?

 

Didn't Amy Beth suffer from a severe stomach bug that nearly cost her and Ariane the Cape Pioneer Trek?

 

SO many.. top end and mid packers alike.

 

Let the theories and comments flow.... 

I've seen this a lot of times before.

Guys getting sick in the buildup before the Argus, same for Comrades, etc.

My best guess is that most of us up the intensity level in the last couple of weeks before a big event and we compromise our immune system in the process.

 

On this occasion there just seems to have been a bug in the air with a lot of athletes with an already compromised immune system

[Jewbacca]

Hygiene. Thousands of people using same facilities in and around race village. Food being sold by food trucks. Immune system being under pressure in the lead up to an event like this makes the riders more susceptible for bugs doing the rounds.

I suppose my question also centres around why someones immune system is under more pressure leading up to the event?

 

Surely thats why you taper? Take it easy the 2 weeks leading up or keep things ticking over depends on what works best?

 

When May starts for me and the immediate lead up to EA I stop going out to places with people who sneeze and cough and expect me to socialise, but I definitely don't feel my immune system is about to explode. 

 

I also know a lot of guys who have pulled out 'so disappointed' with a tummy bug but didn't even try to ride out the 2 days slowly and finish the race. 

 

I got Typhoid in 2014 in the first 30 hours of an adventure race and finished sick as a dog nearly 100 hours later. I won't die wondering, thats for sure

[Cookie88]

So what is the general consensus, will Nino continue and have 'jol' or head back to the snow?

[Jewbacca]

So what is the general consensus, will Nino continue and have 'jol' or head back to the snow?

The loneliest leopard out there!

[Cookie88]

The loneliest leopard out there!

 

Given that this type of marathon riding (especially the next 3 days) won't complement his XC ambitions I would say he bins it and focuses on seeking revenge on Gaze at the next World Cup...

[tunariaan]

Many guys taper before the race.

When you are not moving around or train as much per week as before ..you start thinking...stressing!

Stressing is a big no

and guys tend to try and eat to healthy and stay away from certain food.

Come race day and with more stress than usual guys get sick easily

[dev null]

I believe also that a lot of riders overtrain, and do not adjust their diet to help their bodies cope. We usually adjust our diet to eat more fruit and also drink more fluids. A dose of vitamin supplements daily also helps. It's all about strengthening your body's defences, because intense training breaks it down.