39km Arohanui - Camp David RTN
Well... I am knackered (she says graciously) and restless.
I rode hard today, the race was a 39km out and return course over rolling hills and in gusty, very strong winds.
We started well, 32-34kph paceline, rotating the lead and I was feeling alright - just doing very short moments in front.
But at 8kms out, the pace cracked on, and we were up over 36 and I could only maintain that for 2kms before my legs went lactic. So I drop rapidly off the back as my legs decide to ignore what I am telling them to do and tootle along between 12-17kph for the next 3kms trying to disperse the lactic acid.
Suddenly, my legs remember that we are racing and they start to respond to me, so I shelve ideas of turning back and continue on. I knew I would have to do this on my own, only two other women had been dropped before I had been.
It was a battle, but I put myself into time-trial mode at the turn-around/half-way point. My average at the half-way was below 25kph, and by the finish line I had lifted it to nearly 29kph.
I feel absolutely exhausted - I have Pursuiters Cough (and a headache now from the coughing!), and despite a nice soak in the bath I am still walking 'funny'. This tells me I gave it everything I had.
I feel very satisfied despite the comprehensive caning from my grade, because usually they drop me after about 5-6kms... I hung on twice as long.
I am anticipating next week despite the hills...
23rd June, Women Only 43km Road Race
Well conditions were pretty severe... forecast for hurricane winds, turned out to be only :rolleyes: severe gale gusts!
Still, we had only 57 turn up to the previous race, and for this one there were 125 riders...
Only about 15 of the women rode in the women's only grade, but it was a good race. However, the organisers cut most of the rides short and our race ended up only being 25.5km long...
Partner and I wondered why - I mean, its either safe to ride or its not, right?
Started well, the controlled start remained controlled with us not getting above about 27kph til we got round the corners and over the bridge... then the pace went on and thats when I got a bit peeved... came round the corner onto Swamp Road with the bunch and then three girls (literally - about early-mid teens) sat up, 3 abreast...
:mad:
By the time a couple of us had got around them the front bunch were way in front of us. We kept pace with them for a long time at about 33-34kph, but I just couldn't lift it anymore to close the gap, the head and cross gusts were rageous at times and the Caro began to really feel it as she has had a few weeks off her bike. So I did most of the work into the wind as we closed the gap to a woman in front.
So Caro and I picked up the woman infront, a visitor for the day (whom neither of us had met before) and a young woman, Ash caught us so all four us worked well worked well along the next two roads as we wound our way back to the start.
We came in together and the Ash sprinted round me as we came up to the finish, and then the visitor and Caro zipped past me too - I couldn't be bothered, there were no p[oints to be gained (every one in the women's race got 5 points).
It was an excellent workout and a good race and alot of fun to work with others and not come in on my own.
We had an average of just under 29kph, which is not bad considering it was cold and blustery and we didn't have the benefit of the bunch.
This coming Saturday is a time trial (YAAAAAY!) over a hilly course(WAAAHHHH!) .... should be a most excellent workout if nothing else. I am still focused on losing weight so do not expect a "stella" performance...
Apley Cicuitt ~ 14 July 2007
A good race, I gave it everything I had. I was still coughing the following day from the intensity, with aching shoulders and neck muscles still, I am very pleased with myself. I gave it everything I had.
The day was clear, virtually windless and promisingly sunny, a nice change from the past few race days though still cool at 12’C. F grade had seventeen starters. The usual suspects were there… the ones who would set the pace… the ones I tried so hard every week to stay with on the flats. Also a couple close to me in ability… my goals were set as we waited for our count-down:
1. Stay with the bunch until the first climb (350metres at 10%)
2. Stay ahead of #14 and #31, and try and stay with #12
3. Beat my previous PB set in June.
The controlled start round the first two corners stayed controlled for only the first corner. Round the corner and onto a slight rise and we were suddenly doing 28kph. #31 fell off the back as we climbed the rise, I tried to call encouragment as she slipped back but all I could manage was a grimace.
Down and round the second corner over 40kph, and then we settled into a steady 35kph along/up the false flat for the 5kms before the hills began. I took a couple of turns on the front, but as the pace lifted to 38, I just stayed on the back, sucking wheels for all it was worth.
We turned the next corner to the first pinch - #14 and I brought up the rear… I hung on til we hit the short but nasty 10% climb. I was at the back, watching #14 in front of me, and the leaders disappearing over the crest but at the top #14 had blown his legs and I caught him before the next climb began. About 20 metres in front of me I could see #12 who had lost touch with the main group also, so I focused on him, determining to catch him so we could work together, and not be caught by #14.
The next 7km is a steady climb of averaging about 5-6%. I did not manage to catch #12 (however I did maintain a steady 20-25 metres behind him), but I did increase my lead on #14… YES! :D I didn’t want to work with him, because we are too close in ability. I knew I could descend more quickly than him but he is strong on the flat. One of my personal goals whenever he races is to beat him… so I am better to be in front on hills, “breaking his spirit” than working with him. :cool:
By the time we crested Apley Road and turned onto Puketitiri Road, I had increased my lead and changed up a couple of gears as the incline eased. A short descent and another slight incline before a solid kilometre at about 7%. This is the apex of the circuitt and this is where I lost touch with #12. He descended faster than me and was well gone by the time I reached the bottom.
However, I also descended well and had increased my lead over #14 to nearly 600metres.
Into time trial mode and I didn’t drop below 30kph all the way along the last flats, staying mostly at 33-4kph into the breeze... sometimes lifting to 37kph. Unbelievably I made ground on #12 and saw him turn onto Puketapu Road… but he was nearly 1km ahead of me now, and I would not catch him before the finish line.
Coming into the second-to-last climb before the finish, I looked behind and see that, as I feared, #14 has made ground on me. Panic mode… not now, not after staying away for so long… how can I find more? My head aches from the intensity of the climbs, my lungs burn from the heavy steady breathing of the flats. I have been watching my heart rate all the way, trying to stay above 158bpm on the flats. I glance down again…
Incredibly my heart rate has dropped to under 150bpm… my legs may be saying one thing (STOP!!! PLEASE!!!) but my monitor tells me I can do just a little more. So I try and lift the intensity, focusing not on the aching burn in my thighs but on the numbers on my monitor. 155bpm… 158… 160… yes, but more… I can do better… I reach the last climb… its only about 400metres at about 5%… watch the monitor, make the numbers climb, c’mon, you can do it… 161bpm … glance behind, can’t see him, 165bpm … glance up… half way there… glance behind, think of the break-aways in the Tour glancing back to see chasers, or sprinters as they come up to the line… reach the last corner just before the crest… glance over my shoulder again… gonna make this… he’s only half way up… dig it in.
Change up a gear, and another… get ready for the final descent down to the finish… only 350metres to go… glance behind as I crest… no sign of him, dig it in girl, dig it in… glance behind, look back to the finish, glance behind, no sign, dig it in, 169bpm… 170… finish line… glance behind as I slow down, glance again, and again… see him finally charge down the hill, glance at my speedo as he crosses the line… 54 seconds behind me… YES…
What a race… I loved it. I came in 8 minutes behind the winner… but 8 minutes is achievable… I lose my time on hills, and THAT I can improve. It makes such a difference to be in a race and not dropped off the back and riding on my own.
I couldn’t think to eat when I got home, threw burger patties and mini hot dogs in the oven and then sat down and left everyone to fend for themselves. I had 3 mini hotdogs and went and soaked in the bath – when my partner called out to me I realised I had fallen asleep in the bath! A very good day.
Krystal/Stock/Mutiny/Middle Roads Cicuitt x3 37.5km
Loooooong post - apologies in advance, but this was a fun day :)
Well, my second Team Time Trial has been – and gone… On page 2 in this thread, I described my first TTT last December, which was – if nothing else – a disappointment. It left me feeling frustrated and angry and useless.
However… Saturdays ride was an absolute pleasure (though uncomfortable at times, and intense, but nevertheless a pleasure). A relatively flat loop course… a total of 37.5km in a 3 lap circuitt.
I had approached a couple of other vet women a few weeks ago and they had seemed keen to ride. However, D hadn’t been along to the previous couple of races, and C had been unwell although had felt she should be on track to race. They may not be there to race - ah well, thats ok, and if they turned up we wouldn't make up the required 5, but we figured we could sort that on the day.
The day is a stunning Hawkes Bay day, calm, sunny, mild… spring has arrived. But when we get to the race venue, my compadrees are nowhere to be seen – yet. So I head off on a warm-up (and spend about 10 minutes picking up shattered Steinlagers off the road til a marshall arrives with a broom!). I was feeling a bit hoha at this point – my last TTT left me nothing to anticipate this time, so I was happy to tootle off on my own if no-one else made it.
Get back as the briefing begins, and see C… great, at least two of us can ride together. A bit later, D finds us… excellent, but we aren’t allowed to start til we have 5. So we line up on the side and wait hoping someone else doesn’t have the numbers for a team and together we can make one. A visiitor to the club arrives last minute, this will be her third ride with us (next time she has to join)… she’s a vet and she thinks she is about the grade we 3 ride in… perfect!
After a bit of cajoling, the starter lets our team line up (depsite having only 4 riders, but you need 4 to cross the line, so as long as we work together…)… the count down begins… and D says – sorry to do this to you guys, but I’ve got a flat! So the three of us head off and D walks her bike over the starting line, and we will pick her up on the second lap.
So, we set off, H and I have had a chance to warm up, but C hasn’t, so we ride this at a steady pace with H and I doing a bit more work than C while she finds her legs. I am impressed by how well we work together – I begin to think that this was a good race to come to and how it is nothing like the last TTT. C’s husband and daughter team pass us with words of encouragement. That feels good.
Lap 1 is over, we pick up D and C has found her legs and the pace picks up. A nasty head wind in a couple of places, but we rotate well, take turns according to our strengths and even find time to chat occasionally! Our average is looking good. Half way through the second lap we see a couple of riders who, Tour de France style, have been taken out by a labrador, they are ok, but shout a warning. We are passed by my partner and son's team, they don’t seem to notice us but it doesn't matter, they are intent on not letting the fastest team in the club catch them so I feel good knowing they are all together and not in pieces on the road.
Lap 3, and our pace still hasn’t dropped. We are working so well together. This is so much fun. We still haven’t been passed by everyone and we have passed a couple of teams. We aren’t last, I think to myself – and strangely for me – this doesn’t matter so much. I am enjoying myself so much, our final place doesn’t really concern me.
We dig it in on the final straight, I take it up to 36kph (into the head wind) and then when I start to drop back to 35, D takes over, and as she drops off we approach the finish. We cross the line together, H and C whooping with pleasure… we rocked. We absolutely rocked.
We were the only four woman team, we had only three riders for the first lap and four for the following two (many teams still had five riders when they finished). Yet despite the disadvantage of team size, we still came 17th out of 22 teams and we all felt good about it. We did a very comendable time of 1hour 11mins. Did I say our team ROCKED!!!!?
