The countdown is on. Only four weeks until I ride the longest distance I've ever travelled by bike - 80km. I will be completing the second half of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge on 24 November while my team mate Mary will complete the first half.
Mary's ride is much hillier than mine, but I have two monster mountains - Kuratau and Hatepe. I hit Kuratau only 1km into my ride and it lasts 2.6km. Hatepe comes near the end of the race and is a climb of 3.1km. Every cyclist I've met with any experience of the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge chuckles knowingly as they speak of these hills - I've even had two seasoned cyclists at work heartily debate which is worse (I've chosen to blank that conversation from my memory - ignorance is bliss).
I have to admit, the thought of tackling the peaks isn't bothering me too much. Maybe the cycling bug I've caught has a little masochism thrown in, because I've grown to love hill climbs. I despised them at first, with a passion. I saw them as the enemy, dominating and commanding, stretching out relentlessly before me as my tired limbs struggled to get me to the top. Now, they are like old friends - they've made me stronger, fitter, more confident and resilient. I'm certainly never going to be the fastest hill climber, but my mantra is slow and steady wins the race, or at least in my case, will get me triumphantly over the finish line.
So, with about a month to go, the only real worry I have is if I'm prepared enough and how to taper my training as race day approaches so I'm well rested and ready to go.
My trainer Amy Taylor says tapering should take place two to three weeks before the race. She suggests to continue training the same number of times per week but reduce the length of the ride. Your level of intensity and speed should stay the same. This method will ensure you don't lose fitness, but will be rested enough for race day. There would be nothing worse than training hard right up till the big day and turning up exhausted.
