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Going Epic: Myriam Saugy prepares for the Cape Epic
29-year-old Swiss endurance racer Myriam Saugy is training for the Cape Epic mountain bike race to be held in South Africa from March 24 - 31, 2007. She set a goal of participating in the Cape Epic two years ago. In this diary, she documents her training and preparation for the off-road stage race.
Saugy began mountain biking in 2000 and racing in 2002. She now rides for Team Texner BMC (www.team-vtt-texner.ch) and is a member of the Swiss endurance national team. Saugy races as an amateur; she is also pursuing a teaching degree in history and geography.
Switzerland, February 27, 2007
One month to go
Pressure is on. It has been non-stop since the last time I wrote you. The days just went by so fast. Studying, training, sleeping, training, studying, sleeping, what a nice cycle it is… I forgot what a weekend is. I actually can't remember the last time I had a weekend or simply two days off my books. Yesterday, I wrote my first two exams. I think that I passed them so it was worth the "sacrifice."
Today, I took the morning off doing nothing but I must say I couldn't stay still; I had to move around. This afternoon I went back to my books, but I was not really efficient. Then I went for a run and since my mind was not really into concentrating on a book, I decided to finalize logistical issues for the Cape Epic. There are still details that need to be set such as those relating to coach transfer and hotels. Gosh the pressure is now ON for good. We depart in one month exactly.
My training is still suffering from the fact that I have all these exams to write, but as I said in my previous entry, it also helps me to keep my mind in balance and from getting too bored of studying. The emphasis was put this month on my VO2 max improvement. So I have been doing quite a lot of short interval training--mainly on my own.
Being quite intellectual, I need to know why I am doing things. That's one of the reason I really appreciate to work together with my trainer Virgile Lecoultre. He sets my training plans, but always explains me the objectives behind every cycle. His job is not easy especially because I have quite a lot of time constraints to consider. Therefore, we have decided to do quality work before quantity. The Cape Epic will be my first real test, and I am actually looking forward to seeing how all this work will pay off.
My program is so full for the next two weeks that I prefer not to think of it too much and take it one day after another. Tomorrow and Friday, I will have to study and get ready to leave for the South of France. So next week I will be in Agay, South of France: training and studying with an emphasis on training because it's my last chance to get quite a lot of volume in before the Cape Epic.
Saturday March 3, I will drive back to Switzerland. Sunday and Monday after, I will be studying full time. Tuesday March 6, I have my second last exam to write, and the topic is Swiss vegetation. Wednesday March 4 is my last on the topic of sustainable development.
You will hear more from me just after that. Wish me good luck, I will need it. On your side, keep training and smiling. Remember to always have fun while on your bike.
Myriam Saugy
www.myriamsaugy.ch (personal website)
www.team-vtt-texner.ch (team website)
