Have fun carbo-loading

Yes, I am doing the Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour on Sunday. Hopefully all 109 kms of it, and if the wind doesn’t blow this year I swear I’ll ride it backwards!

As usual the training has been at a bare minimum and even though the rest of my team-mates in the Sport4Good team have been giving it stick, I’ve been a bit busy having 4-course lunches followed by 8-course dinners and wine pouring out of my ears.  Extreme carbo-loading.

My idea of carbo-loading is booking a table at Bacini’s on the Saturday night and wolfing down a monster bolognaise – but apparently it’s a little more involved than that. According to Wikipedia you should, 7 days before the event, perform an exhaustive exercise to deplete your energy stores. Then for the next 2-3 days cut back on carbs. Then 3-4 days before the event, eat a very high carb diet.

So, we’re in the loading zone now and Chef Caro has rounded up her favourite pasta dishes for you plus a guide to easy carbo-loading and I have some Cape Town restaurants you NEED to phone and book now if you want to get in.

I am giving my favourite Posticino’s a skip this year in favour of Bacini’s in Kloof Street. (For once I left the restaurant booking up to someone else).  Bardelli’s in Kenilworth is pretty awesome Italian (although the reviews lately haven’t been great… anyone want to chime in?) and of course, there’s  Magica Roma in Pinelands. Nonna Lina in Gardens will be bursting at the seams Saturday night as will Il Leone in Greenpoint and Borruso’s in Rondebosch – and don’t forget Panarottis where you can take a voucher from the official Pick n Pay Cape Argus magazine and get bottomless pasta and a beer for R59.95.

Health24 Editor Heather Parker has also rounded up some snack ideas from the Sport4Good team for race day with some great tops from Diet Doc! It’s awesome.

Let us know where you will be loading carbs this year or send in your favourite pasta recipe. (PE readers? We want a list of great pasta places for the upcoming Ironman Challenge. Rack your brains and write in!)

Yours on a donut cushion.