Many of us make New Year resolutions, and even a few of us keep them. The intentions are always so good, and are typically based about doing something for yourself, or others. You could even say they are about becoming a better person. So with that in the back of my mind, I have been pondering some resolutions of my own as 2014 approaches. While I’m not interested in listing them off for all to read (although I do like lists) the overall theme of my planned resolutions are to do things properly.
And so, I find myself at Lake Crackenback Resort, accompanied by my girlfriend and team mate Imogen Smith. After a fairly long time with overly full plates, the period around New Years Eve seemed ideal for a ‘reset’ and starting 2014 and our Marathon and Stage Racing seasons properly. It’s not our first training camp together, we spent a few days in Majorca years ago while living in the UK. But at the end of a British January, it was simply called ‘fat camp’.
Training camps can be in spectacular locations.
This time, it was time for a training camp.
So here we are, prepped with road bikes and our Bianchi Methanol 29 team bikes, ready to launch into 2014. It’s a time to set good habits, with quality rides in the Australian Snowy Mountains, proper time for stretching, eating well and sleeping well. Plus we’re sneaking a race in there too, with the Wicked Wombat XC Enduro on New Years Eve. We have foam rollers, team kit for 4 seasons (ok, 3) lots of spares and high hopes. We also have lots of groceries.
Only fill the trolley with the right food. Mostly.
So by starting with 8 days of doing the Right Things in terms of cycling and general health, I’m hoping this carries through the rest of 2014. If not, well 8 days spent riding in the mountains should be good anyway. I’ve done this before, and 2013 was one of very few years that didn’t have a lengthy period of time spent riding around the Cote d’azur and nearby regions. Not due to affluence, but friends in the right places, and a yearn to train. Similar trips to the Sierra Nevada, Basque country, Flanders and beyond.
Day one starts tomorrow, with a road ride out to Dalgety. How are you starting your 2014 this holiday period?