So I ditched my riding jersey 3 days before the race. It seemed like the weather, my mate's withdrawel and my inability to train was all against me. Better luck next time... In the meanwhile I've decided to go back to gym, to try and salvage what's left of my contract. Getting training is not just for physical health, it's for mental health as well.

You will be amazed at how good you're actually feeling throughout the day after even just 30 minutes of training in the morning. Don't leave it till the evening after work when you just want to flop down in front of the TV. If you are however not a morning person, work out a schedule and make yourself go in the afternoon, or during lunch time from work. 3 sessions a week to start with - get into the routine and you'll quickly forget that you had to make yourself go in the beginning...

So it's crunch time... I'll be documenting my one week crash course in training for a 108km bicycle race. Had a bit of a setback as my best mate can't ride anymore due to injury. I've been saddled up with a blind date now who's probably going to kick my ass, so this week's training better count!

If anyone has any tips for increasing endurance on the bike within one week, I'm all ears. This blind date girl's not going to have a walkover...

One thing I'm going to have to get is pills to prevent cramps, as that will probably be my biggest danger riding the Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour...

Bonus: I've heard that we get a sixpack of Windhoek Lager as part of our Mens Health team hamper...mmm.

I already forgot to go and fetch my kit, so I guess that's first priority during the week...

Ok, so asking around my friends, the best health tip they could come up with was the following:

"The best diet tip you will ever get is not to diet. If youre getting fat youre eating too much! Or eating too much of the wrong stuff. If you deprive yourself of carbs like I did on atkins, you can never eat it again without ballooning. Thats my tip for the century..."

Well, well, well now that is not half bad a tip. Kudos to secret agent "K", health freak extraordinare...

So now for some tips on getting a good night's sleep:

• Try and get around 8 hours sleep a night (recommended by most health professionals)
• Do not drink caffeinated drinks (certain tee and most coffees) close to bed time
• Get a workout during the day, even if it's just for 20-30 minutes a day
• Start reading, just 10 minutes before going to sleep switches off the mind - something light, fiction will help
• Wear clothes (sleeping clothes). It's said that you have more difficulty sleeping naked due to your body getting irritated with skin-on-skin (I still have to see about that one...).