CECILIE UTTRUP LUDWIG
CERVÉ LO BIG LA
Tick tock, tick tock… the countdown to the season start has begun! Am I excited? Oh yeah, I’m as hungry as heck to pin on a number again. But there is an element of nervous excitement with the upcoming season. To see whether the hundreds of kilometres of training I have accumulated during winter will be enough. I may get an indication when the team meets at pre-season training camp, but I guess I won’t really know until we start racing. For now I will keep my eye on the ball and focus on preparing in the best possible way. That’s all I can do. As simple as it may sound, staying healthy can be key (among patience, determination and discipline) to successful preparation for the season.
Even though I’m supposed to have a Viking’s DNA because I’m from Denmark, I tend to get sick easily when I change from a warm and dry climate to a cold and wet one (or the other way around). Since I travel a lot I pay attention to this. Another issue connected with travel is the exposure to unfamiliar germs that can put my immune system on the fritz. I’m particularly alert with hand hygiene. Call me crazy, but when I open a door in public places (especially in public toilets) I use the sleeve of my shirt to cover my hand in order to avoid contact with the doorknob. I don’t like the idea of touching a hotspot for bacteria with my bare hands and giving a virtual handshake to every person who has recently touched that doorknob. I do a lot to prevent getting sick. I dress warmly in several layers, eat plenty of fresh vitamin-rich fruits and veggies, drink PLENTY (of water ;-) ) to stay hydrated, get a long and good night of sleep… The list is long. Maybe I’m making a big thing out of it, but as a cyclist I depend on my health. If I’m sick I can’t do my job. I need to be on top of my game for every race otherwise I can’t compete on a high level.
And an equally important ingredient to great achievement in cycling is a good spirit in the team. I know several of the new team members this year. They are great girls, and I’m sure they will contribute to a positive vibe on the team. And as I always say: happy head, fast legs.