I am running leg 1 in the Houtbay Trail Challenge tomorrow for team Mens Health, hoping to defend a record they set last year. I hope to not let them down and hope to follow some top guys on the first leg. Puma have come to the party with some magic Usain Bolt gear for us too. That’s about 20seconds right there. I am looking forward to powering up the hill at a conservative effort. Thank goodness for a Suunto HRM and a Suunto Footpod to help make the journey that much easier and easier to judge on effort as well. I am so lucky when it comes to sponsors.

Then in the afternoon, I am going to veg out on the couch and watch the tour guys go up this climb…

for Capetonians, relatively speaking, its from the waterfront, to the top of Table Mountain, only twice as HIGH, in 22km.

for the Jozi folks, its Jozi to Midrand, and roughly as high as the clouds. Not the smog, the clouds. Yes, look a little higher. well done.

for Durbanites…. never mind.

If you want to see why the guys go so fast up the climb, apparently they let a rabbit loose up the climb about 30min before they get there. it looks like this (NOTE: This picture is not safe for work, or kids). K – enough of that.

Seriously though, 1700m odd climbing in 22km is a seriaaaaaas effort. there is so much to be decided on there.

After this excitement, where a few Jack Black Beers will undoubtedly flow, we are off to the land of the white loafer for The Housemate’s birthday. Copious amounts of Kleinhoekkloof Wines will be consumed, in honor of him being such a legend.

I do aim to ride on Sunday morning, as the weather will be great, I just know it. Seriously – how power has this weather been in Slaapstad lately? best kept secret of Cape Town is winter. Now that I am training for our Epic Challenge, I need to get the long rides in, sooner than later. Gotta loose some weight, gain some power, and rock the house.

If you haven’t got a challenge in your life right now, get one. Take the leap. Employ yourself and make sure you are reaching beyond what you think you can do, so that you can learn that there are no limits.

and remember to smile, while you are at it.

this, from Science of Sport…

The 150m dissected – splits and projections

Bolt’s running is anything but lead-footed. He ran the first 100m in 9.90 seconds, which is an extra-ordinary time and a sign of things to come. But even more amazing, the final 100m (from 50m to the finish line) were clocked in an astonishing 8.72 seconds! That is being reported, though it’s so fast I’m almost sceptical. The splits, as recorded during the race, were:

* 50m – 5.64s (this compares to 5.50s in Beijing, by the way)
* 100m – 9.90s (a split of 4.26 s. In Beijing last year, Bolt’s last 50m of his 100m was 4.19s, including the infamous celebrations)
* 150 – 14.35s (split of 4.45 s)

I have tried hard to find the analysis we did on Usain Bolt’s 200m win in Beijing, because I am almost certain we looked at his splits from that race, but unfortunately I can’t seem to find the post in question. However, I’m pretty sure his last 100m was not as quick as 8.72 seconds (it would mean his first 100m took 10.58 seconds, which is much too slow). But the last 100m can be misleading because of the different race distances, and so to me, the first 100m in 9.90 secs is more intriguing, because few others have produced that form so early in the season.

Bolt has said he can take the record down to 9.4 seconds – it’s not exactly unusual for guys (especially sprinters) to make predictions about themselves (every sprinter worth his salt knocks a tenth of his time in order to hype himself up), but Bolt certainly has a lot to live up to, with hype and attention that has rarely been given to a track and field athlete.

The father of my godchild and true legend Brett once told me about plants (he has an affinity for them) : “It wants to live” and when it comes to Paralympics its a true testament to being human beings and not human doings. I grew up with a best friend who only had use of his one arm after a nasty car accident and the one thing he taught me was that he was normal and that there was nothing different about him. In fact, until we were 8 years old, he outswam, outbiked, out treeclimbed and outate me on every occasion, with ONE arm.

So the highlights of my personal Olympics so far….

Adj. 1. unparalleled – radically distinctive and without equal; “he is alone in the field of microbiology”; “this theory is altogether alone in its penetration of the problem”; “Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint”; “craftsmen whose skill is unequaled”; “unparalleled athletic ability”; “a breakdown of law unparalleled in our history”

Now I`m going to go out there and say that Phelps is the greatest participating athlete in the world today, across all sports. I already hear the synics going crazy in the left wing, but hear me out:

14 Gold Medals & 2 Silver Medals in 2 Olympics.
He`s 23 years old, nowhere near his physical capacity.
He has to swim heats, semi-finals and finals from 10am to 11pm every day.
He has single handedly raised the level of all swimming in the last 4 years.

Big statement that, but count the world records in the 4 years preceeding the “Phelps Phenomenon” and count the world records in the years since. Yes, we have super duper aero bionic swimsuits this year, but go back and count the records leading into this year. More than ever.

I salute you Mr Phelps.

Next up we have a new breed of sprinter. Usain Bolt. Lets have a look how far ahead of the world he is, after easing up with around 30m to go. I initially thought it was 15m, but after watching the replay he dropped his arms at 30m to go, and clocked a world record. How far was he still ahead of the other 7 fastest human beings on the planet?

That far. Did we mention he is 6ft5 and the nicest guy on the planet, oh, and this is his 1st season of doing the 100m seriously, as he is a 200m specialist. What I love is that he starts slow (6ft5 getting out the blocks aint pretty) but by 30m he is 3 steps ahead, pure, unadulterated speed.

1 week to go and the triathlons are today and tomorrow, the ladies race was fantastic with Emma Snowsill taking it out hard on the 1st kilometer of the run, obliterating the competition. I liked her little handsticks she ran with, definately gonna try that out on one of my runs this week.

By the way, my athlete savings program I wrote about last week – I have kicked that off with style and just put my first deposit into that account. Felt great.

Ciao. Raoul

Ok lets look at this angelic new toy…

Its part of their Urban Mobility Range, which is made for the busy executive who travels alot. I can contest : No more heavy petting searches at airports with their wooden belt. Just because you can wear a stainless belt buckle doesnt give the security the right to have a good search in your……… you get the idea.

The wood panels on the bag are incredible and the attention to details is exquisite. A real addition to my day now. Lets have a clearer look at the back of the bag now. Note the Puma insert into the wood. Mnandi.

I like it. Alot.

For those with a limited sense of reality and a black Amex Card there is the following option:

In collaboration with London’s Serpentine Gallery, Puma created The Reality Bag not only to become the next fashion it but also with a higher purpose – each bag sold would raise $100 for the Serpentine Gallery’s Education and Public Programs. The Reality Bag is made of clever innovative materials using a breakthrough design reflecting the world inside and. Creating the Reality Bag represented the work of multiple artists (John Armleder, John Trembley, Philippe Decreuzat) so the final result is quite original and most of all, unique! there are only 15 in the country people, so get your order in. Only R15 000 a steal for the stares and the amazement of those around you. True pioneer style.

Lets have a look at her now…

For more info, go to Puma Urban Mobility Website

Raoul