Training For The HARDEST Challenge Of My Life!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- A few months ago, Manon set herself the ambitious challenge of qualifying for the Gravel World Championships. However, three years since she retired from racing, she needed a solid training plan to get herself back in shape. In this video, Manon speaks to off-road cyclist, Ian Boswell, and shares everything she did to prepare for the grueling event.
In association with @wahoofitness 🤝 gcn.eu/WahooSYSTM
0:00 - Intro
0:57 - Where it all started
1:40 - Wahoo SYSTM training app
2:07 - Difference between training for a road and a gravel race
3:04 - Sessions to focus on
4:06 - Missing sessions
5:51 - Key indoor sessions
6:49 - Manon’s training
11:19 - Taking the race more seriously
12:33 - Finding your group
14:24 - Fuelling
16:09 - The race
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What should Manon’s next challenge be? 🤔 Let us know in the comment section below! 💬
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What should Manon’s next challenge be? 🤔 Let us know in the comment section below! 👇
Maybe complete the challenge. Im sorry but i disagree with all the hype of "well done" "its ok to give up" ect. Being an ex Olympic Athlete, yes i know its completely different form, but to get to that level you have to be so mentally tuff and well the video smelt of excuses from the beginning. Now to make a video about all the prep makes it even worse.
Maybe im to harsh but Hank rode a unicycle till he started crying cos his balls were about to fall off.
People underestimate the mental strength needed to complete endurance events. Its more menatl than it is physical
@@hemi265mustard cam down. if she wanted to train hard then she wouldn't have retired... she makes cycling videos now, u know for views, marketing for indoor trainer apps, yada yada yada. this isn't rocky.
@@sudsehun76 yes i understand that, the giving up is what i dont.
Westfjords Way, A stage race in Iceland through an area named Westfjords, Lael Wilcox had a hand in making that route. Epic scenery, epic climbs and its a mixed surface race. Another two options are Grefillinn, an icelandic gravel race, option of a 100km and 200km gravel race. And the last is the Rift. A race which is familiar to Ollie and some viewers of GCN. A race around the volcano Hekla, volcanic sand, river crossings and incredible vastness to ride through.
This being Iceland, headwinds are a certainty, you wont have the half of a beach in your face but instead you will have volcanic black sand. Chances of rain are....yep its gonna rain....and the summer time temps are....well you wont get a heatstroke...that is unless you stand next to an erupting volcano...
So when are you coming over Manon? ;)
I was gutted seeing you so disappointed 😢. but you were ill and that makes everything harder. Could you next challenge perhaps be with Connor doing Badlands (Granada endurance gravel race, 750km and 15000m climb)?
so enter another one - you can do it
Manon continues to be the best part of GCN. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This content has been Manons best
I love the story each presenter brings with them. They are all different and add an immense value to my week.
Love your openness and candour. You’re the best Manon, and an inspiration to all us novices 👍🏻❤️
Thanks William 😊
So Proud of You !!! Love your openness .... You give me hope. I suffer from depression and will say cycling does help. You give me energy to get off the couch and on the bike. We all have out on Race/Challenge. You give us all inspiration. Thank You !!!!
Thanks Guy, that's so nice to hear!
We just adore you, Manon. Whatever challenge you do, we'll be watching and cheering.
Such an inspiration, Manon. We can sometimes get lost in focusing on the end goal....the hard work you put in beforehand is the hard bit. The determination, drive, and perseverance. Keep up the great work :)
if only she'd failed harder... then she'd be my role model.
Thanks so much!
Plenty of time left to get another gravel race in. We all know you can do it! You’ve got this!
Interesting to hear and see how well you prepared for the race. It just goes to show that even the best plans don’t always pan out as expected.
It’s a “life” lesson for all of us, thank you so much for sharing. Good luck with the next challenge, you are already better prepared for it🚴♀️🏅
Thanks Hugo!
You should definitely go for another gravel race. You can do it!
Manon, you are so inspiring and humble. ❤
Since I have the wahoo bike computer, I set a message every 20 minute "water", helps me a lot. Yes also during winter times, more like a nip then a lot of water but it enables this habit to always eat or drink something. Of course this message also pops up when it super hectic .. then I push it away, make that crossing or gravel part save and only then drink or eat but still it helps
Great to see the training approach and advice from an expert. Complete respect to Mannon for again having to relive an unpleasant race day, truly courageous!
I did the entry-level qualifier in Nannup, Western Australia, and got absolutely crushed by the difficulty. As everyone has said before, it's really great to see the behind-the-scenes from someone at the top level. I'm excited for the next round to do even better.
Great to see you have been getting involved 🙌 How did your race go? - Manon will be back and smashing it asap 💪
@@gcn I did terrible! Nannup’s ride included a tremendous number of high gradient climbs. Let’s just say I was undergeared, under trained and under prepared in terms of food. Still, I was hugely inspired by the winners and I am more motivated than ever to take things to the next level in my cycling.
That’s the spirit glad to see you are charged up and moving again. You got this looking forward to your progress.
Only the rider themselves can know if they should stop or push on to at least finish the race. And no-one should judge them for either decision. The race is one thing ppl admire and applaud, but no-one is there for the hours, day, weeks, months of training. No one is there celebrating your bowl of steamed vegetables and single protein. The ability to do this stuff day after day is what stands a person separate from the crowd. The race is certainly the icing on the cake but dont let the dnf suggest that it was all meaningless.
Thanks for all of the insight in to how this all went down. Its a real inspiration.
I'd love for Manon to keep pushing on and find a similar race to do.
Either way, big hug for you. I trained for 10 months for 1 particular endurance race and then got injured. Took 6months to walk again without pain, and almost 2 years before i was physically capable of riding a bike. I never got to ride that race but none of my friends really remember that. They remember how discipline i was and how single minded I was about doing well. They all reflect on it as something inspiring to them. Much like this journey of Manon's is to most of us.
Well done, Manon. Like so many others, I appreciate your honesty and showing the true humanity of it all. I think it helps more people than you know.
Whatever you decide, Manon, we are at your side watching and cheering! Thank you for being so honest and open. 🎉
YES! So pleased you had the video for this, great stuff Manon, great stuff!
Thanks Aaron!
Really appreciate your authenticity, Manon! I’m learning gravel riding and entered a couple of gravel races this year. Did ok, but I’m committing to training this winter and doing 3-4 races on the Southeast Gravel series (South Carolina) next year. You are an inspiration to me and thousands! Keep up the great work! 👏👏
Love the video and it is awesome to see you are human like the rest of us. We all have bad days so don't beat yourself up to much Manon, you are awesome!
We're behind you 1000% in any endeavour you choose to tackle, Manon! 🖖😄🇺🇸
You are amazing Manon we❤ you.
It's alright Manon.. that's life.. love the fact that you're so brave to have said all of those towards the end of the video... mabuhay! (from the Philippines)
I love these kind of vids where u see the process and also vlog type ur so chill❤️
Bad races happen. I just got back from having a bad race in Las Vegas. Trained for months, was hitting new personal bests. I got to Vegas, was only able to sleep about 8 hours in the two days before the race. Race day I broke a chain 2 miles into the race. I had no master link. After being passed by the whole field and walking back, a Park Ranger saw me walking and gave me a link to fix my chain. I lost about 20 minutes, but finished 117 of 158. Just have to love the ride your given on the day.
Manon, the next qualy race is on 06/04/2023 is Spain, I would avoid that one because it could be very hot there, after that you have Gravel Fondo in Canada 06/11/2023
and the weather conditions might suit you since Canada shouldn't have high temps yet, you have some time to prepare 😂
Both of those sound like great fun! Manon may not agree though 😅
@@gcn maybe try and sell as it as an "exciting challenge", as "fun" might be a bit of a stretch. Lol
Yes! Come to Canada, Manon! You’ll crush it and Canada loves you!
Thanks for being open with us. Ian was a super guest. More please.
It is so informative to go along with you as you train for an event. Hard work and dedication, I hope you do enter another event and take us with you.
Such a good video, showing vulnerability and openness around the challenge of training for an event, shows that no matter how much you train or how prepared you are, if you're not feeling right on the day then you should listen to your body.
I’m also training for my first race. Thanks for sharing your experience. It at least reassures me after all doubts of skipping sessions and everything that happens in real life
Thanks Alexandre! Good to know we're inspiring you. Good luck!
I had signed up for a Century ride last year and woke up the morning of with a sore throat and cold. On top of that, there were wind gusts up to 40 mph with a sustained wind of 25 mph. I just wasn’t in top form and absolutely tanked at 70 miles. I ended up being sick for two weeks after, and I think it was because I pushed my body too hard that day. Some things are just not meant to be, but there are always lots of opportunities to try again. Thank you, Manon, for your honesty and inspiration.
Way to go Manon. This and the race video are such a good reminder that there can be setbacks to overcome.
It happens to every rider at every level 🙌
Loved watching this, had myself just completed the UCI ‘Seven’ event, and it was a massive struggle. However can’t wait to do another. And such a great concept for cyclists to be able to qualify for the world champs.
It's super cool that it has become a more open and accessible sport 🙌 That's the spirit of gravel for you!
Manon, your real-world gravel experience helps us understand better the training prep with Ian Boswell input as well. After being a roady 4 many years, I now have a 3T ExploroRacemax and feel that difference of riding on gravel terrains. Thank you for sharing your journey on this topic.👏
Thanks Gordon! For something similar, why not check out our GBDURO film on GCN+ 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO
Honestly Manon you are a trooper ….GREAT JOB!!!
Training for a race and competing is hard enough. I can't imagine what it's like to have to share it online to 3 M ppl! Well done you!
Thanks Juliette!
Oh my, this video was great. I attribute this to not appearing to be completely scripted and not feeling like an advertisement ALL the time.
Such an interesting video. Thanks so much for sharing, Manon! Loved hearing your thoughts 😊
Thanks so much, Denise! Have you seen our GBDURO film on GCN+? You should check it out! 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO
Absolutely love it, and appreciate seeing the whole story. Really the sort of thing people don’t normally share, so it’s such good info.
I’d love to see you take another crack at a gravel ride. Maybe another one here in the states?
One question though. It didn’t seem like you did much gravel training. If you do another do think you’ll incorporate more gravel training into your regimen?
We loved bringing you guys along for the ride! Are there any US races we should take part in? - Manon has a busy life, fitting gravel rides in can be hard work. Travel to and from trails can eat up valuable time. The turbo was a real help for this race!
Great video. Manon will always be a star!
So proud of manon❤❤⭐⭐
YOU ARE A ROCK STAR!!!
So enter another gravel race - your trained, your strong, you can do it 👍
You did really well Manson your an amazing rider and an excellent invitation for people 👍👍😊
Awesome video Manon!! Considering it is only May you have plenty of time to train for your Cyclocross Debut!!
That would make a good series!
We're not used to seeing you without a helmet. :-) You've been a great addition to the GCN team, i love watching your videos.
Great video, learned a lot.
This is top knotch work Mannon! You put in the work, you got a full blown cold unplanned, and you still gave it the beans. A win in my book!...this is up there with Si's 200 mile old school UK Route he did a while back with some road and off road as well. Any hoo, I'd say it's an epic! 💯 😊. Enjoyed. -Burnz from Hawaii
Manon, great stuff well done. Loved the shot of Dryslwyn Castle.
Keep trying to qualify Manon! After watching your Danish attempt I went & bought a Redshift stem which I'm very pleased with so thanks for that idea! All the best.
Great to hear that you are feeling more comfortable on the bike 🙌
You rock gal! Reminds me of my first Five Boros Bike Tour with cold, howling, wind-driven rain trying to make it up the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. You should take Connor out and see if you can dust him like you did your little bro pre-riding one of this year’s Le Tour Femmes stage routes. 😊
Signing up first for the Manon Cycling Network - this is the best new vid on GCN 👍
The other presenters might get a little jealous
Manon is always class to watch 🤌
Please continue doing these types of videos. I enjoyed the beach race.
Thanks Luke! You should check out our GBDURO film on GCN+ 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO
You did great! My legs hurt just thinking about what you did!!
As for next challenge, its the Flat 100 out of Thorne in a couple of weeks; 100 road miles with only one small hill in the whole route! Its my challenge for the year after not being on the bike in forever - a walk in the park for you no doubt and would probably get you back on track, hope to see you there 😄
Good luck Pete!
Manon, you're very open, honest and down to earth about your experience for the event which didn't go as planned. Very commendable, chapeau.
Why don't you enter a long audax event next. Perhaps try for a 600km distance audax or maybe something slightly shorter? It would be interesting to see GCN do a video about audax.
Once a pro, always a pro! Love to see your work ethic has never left you 💯💯
Where should we send her next? 👀
@@gcn Send the crew to Maine or New England 😅We have Acadia National Park, a bunch of lighthouse races, and lots of country roads. Portland, Maine is becoming more and more cycle-friendly. All the summer restaurants are starting to open up and Food truck/concert season also just started!
We also have the Trek Across Maine which is a sportive/fundraiser type race where cyclist do a total of 180 miles across 3 days with fun activities and food in between
Good work!! Wow! 🤩
I didn't comment on the race video, I was so gutted for you. Seeing this with how much effort you put in, I felt a comment was needed.
Chapeau to you Manon, it can't have been easy to not only suffer during the race but also having the video released. Unfortunately, it's not just bike racing that can throw these curve balls. Life in general has a nasty habit of doing it, too. You will come back stronger and more determined. I think you should try another qualifying race if possible.
I was due to compete in my first sportive at 60 years old last year, but a medical issue stopped it. Now I'm three weeks away from doing it this year. I might be minus a 1/3 of my right lung and might be last to finish, but I'm determined to complete it.
Good luck, whatever your next challenge is.
Thanks so much Ian! Good luck with your sportive, I'm sure you'll smash it 💪
You’re fantastic. It’s easy to enjoy success. How we handle adversity is what separates us from others. I hate it didn’t go the way the you wanted but sincere congratulations on the effort. That race was no joke.
Thanks Andy! For something similar, why not check out our GBDURO film on GCN+ 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO
Nice to see such an open and honest inside of what it means to prep for a race which at the end does not go as planned. Perhaps learn from it and give it a go at Gravel One Fifty in Veenhuizen in the Netherlands. That's also a course which is flat as a pancake but to my knowledge mostly on farmtracks
I love these line of videos ❤
You're just the best, Manon.
I know what ever you set your mind to you will give it your all!!
Manon ia the best presenter for gcn....im ur big fans from 🇲🇾malaysia....m
I absolutely agree that showing a “not gone to plan” side is good. It can happen to anyone.
You can do it obviously (steamboat showed that)
Is there another qualification this summer or Fall?
Hi Manon, suggest you learn from this attempt and schedule a qualifying event for the 2024 Gravel Worlds. First thought is to select a venue that doesn't include a beach section. Catch that on a dry, sunny day and you have loose sand under your tires which poses a whole different set of challenges. Find a course that is truly gravel without the sandy section Save those should you decide to ride a CX race one day. Ideally, your qualifying course should mirror the Worlds course as much as possible. YOU GOT THIS!!
At the slightest suspicion of a sore throat I start sucking a Strepsil lozenge - they *ALWAYS* knock whatever on the head, in my opinion! (Usual disclaimers - I'm not medically trained, I have no links to the company etc). I don't suffer from colds more than once every 5 years? 10 years? Very infrequently.
As a 60+ male with heart issues these training tips, targets and mind set are still valid, still great - thanks Manon. The video isn't just for young racing snakes with ambition; it applies to us older people that want to cycle around the vineyards of France, Germany and Italy ... 50 miles a day in 40 deg heat last summer for 2 weeks plus was a massive pleasure! (with training)
Good stuff, best thing to is enter another gravel or bikepack event while your fitness is at a good level to keep the motivation and enjoyment going
Great video Manon! I reckon you should go for another qualification attempt as you've put all the work in already!
DNF = Did Nothing Fatal/Foolish (and lived to fight another day!)
Big fan of The Sufferfest! Systm has added some great content.
110% you need to get after another gravel championship race. It was just one race, I’d be excited to see you entering five if that’s what it took !
Congrats Manon ! It's never easy to do a challenge like this ! I do more than 1100 kms to watch Paris-Roubaix and support the womens and mens on this race ! It was really tough ! I really to show Manon back on the Velodrome to try to qualify for the European Championship or more :)
Keep on pedaling, Manon. 💪💪🚲🚲 Cheers from Brazi!
Sometimes it just doesn’t work out and that’s fine. I’m sure Manon will find another challenge and smash it. I think being ill is super tough and not just a mental challenge.
Manon's next challenge!! Gravel Worlds in Lincoln, NE. Prefect gravel race. They had over 1000 women participate last year!!
Awesome video.
One of the things I used to do for auxiliary training when I could not get on the bike or on a trip ( when available) was a STAIR CLIMBER with adjustable speed rates.
The one I have at home works the legs and arms.
When they weren't available on trips, I would try and find a set of steps or stairs away from the public . Hotel steps or a stadium that was open or even a steep street or trail .
Can be a brutal work out ...
Onr disadvantage of cycle (indoor/outdoor) is that you can use the quads and neglect the glutes and lumbar muscles. Stairclimber or other means can be a help.
Great videos more manon please best presenter on gcn
she's also their best gravel bike rider.
Manon is great to watch 👌🏼
Can't wait to see your next try.
Do you reckon she should try this event? The GBDURO? We made a film about it on GCN+ 👉 gcn.eu/GBDURO
At first I thought maybe it was a bit odd to put the training video after the race video when we know what happned but it was still enjoyable. 👍 Good luck next time, Manon!
I would love to see a fresh attempt next year with adjusted expectations and a less results oriented mindset from the outset.
You were GREAT NO WORRIES …. YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE WE ALL DO THAT IT TAKES GUTS TO DO I6 SO FIND ANOTHER GRAVELRIDE IN A WARMER PKACE YOU WILL FEEL BETTER IN THE WARMTH….. Manon you are a rock star thank you for having GUTZ, HUMILITY , HUMOR, DRIVE, ABILITY , CANDOR YOU ARE AN AMAZING SPOKES PERSON FOR. WOMENS CYCLING!!
Whatever your next challenge is I'm sure you will smash it!
No matter how well-prepared we are (and Manon certainly asked the right questions and put in the effort training) not everything goes to plan. Live and learn, they say, and with those peaks and valleys we should not be discouraged for long. Manon's example is what happens in the Real World and it is great she is looking for the next challenge. Maybe next year's Fred Whitton? Or the TorTour in Switzerland?
Keep training!
I think you should do 'The Heb' - a two day adventure race in Scotland! Mostly cycling (road, gravel, beach and some off road too if you like!), and some running too!
Great video
Love seeing your video's. What about riding the Saimaa Cycling Tour in Finland, 300 km through the midsummernigth, but for you in less than 10 hrs.
trying to do something like a full-time job (aka, like a pro rider) while you have a full-time job already - and a marriage (and a family) - it is just impossible to do. you can only do your best, which is the reasonable amount of time to dedicate to it, and i think you really highlighted that well in this video. you're human - you got sick, the race sucked, that's just how it goes sometimes. :). your humility and willingness to show your "failure" must have been hard, but i applaud you for it. come back to ontario next year for the P2A again! (also we have a gravel world series event in june here too!)
Come and do the original Gravel Worlds in Lincoln Nebraska in August.
pick up one the training and it would be amazing to see you in the next qualy race, just avoid beach areas with sand, gravel and mud are enough 😁
Wow! Manon is the real deal yo!🎉🙋🏼♂️🫶🏻
I have a great suggestion for you Manon, the Gravel 150 in Roden the Netherlands on july the 15th. Almost always good weather then and, best of all, does not get flatter then that! Hope to see you there.
Manon is listening... sounds very interesting 👀
Awesome good luck
I think you should take on Ollie, Si, Alex and Lloydy in a coast to coast gravel race you’d smash it 🥰
Loved watching the race and this video! Get Manon todo a TT and have ollie get his lab coat out to get her ready!
Manon, no great golden nuggets of advice from me, you do what you think is right for you and enjoy it. 👍👍👍
Have I got a challenge for you! And the best part is it's not about being the fastest, it's about showing up with a bike and getting to the end. There's a race called the mne sota wheel race that's 1200 miles around the state of Minnesota, US. The race has been cancelled this year but I'm still riding it the route starting on June 17 and planning to finish in 8 days. If you're looking for a nearly pancake flat, mostly paved trail ride with a little gravel for fun, and overnights in campgrounds, hotels, and maybe parks, come join me! If you ride your gravel bike, I might even be able to keep up.
P.S. QBP (surly, salsa, all city, etc.) is here if you're looking for additional content.