Ravin' on... Racin' Goals
Well... I did start a thread ages ago, but I can't seem to locate it!
So I'll start another.
Its probably timely as my goals for the year actually refined themselves and became very specific about half way through the year...
I have 7 goals based around hill times and specific courses that are training related and not race related per se, so will leave those out...
When I write "competitive" in my goals, it means getting placed in the top 5.
But here are my racing goals (some achieved) for 2006:
This is my club: http://www.ramblers.co.nz
Tremain's Cooporate Triathalon, cycling section 17km, inside 35min (achieved, March 2006, 32.52min)
Competitive in G Grade by Winter series (achieved, won the series yellow jersey)
Move to F for the Spring series (achieved, though I haven't yet raced in it)
Competitive in F in Summer series
18km Dartmoor Road ITT - goal 33 mins (PB thus far, July 2006, 34:38)
18km Dump Block ITT - goal 32 mins (PB thus far, Oct 2005, 37.01)
Club Champs ITT - 20km on Bridge Pa SH2, 30 Sept, goal 33 mins
Be warned… this retelling is cathartic therapy for me
The TT… well, I was not happy, although that may seem strange to some of you because I did come 3rd in my age category – Vet 1 (however, there were only four riders).
The Vet 1 who came in first, Marg, is at the top of her game at the moment and will be hoping for a place in the National competition in a few weeks, so I expected her to post a much better time then me (though 6 ½ minutes is a true spanking!).
However, to come second to Caro by only 3 seconds is incredibly frustrating… I can think of several places where I could have found that 3 seconds…
My occasional training partner and work colleague came 6th in her cat, but she beat me by 12 seconds… grrrr, pleased for her but very, very peed off with myself.
Vet 1
1st – 31:30
2nd – 38:53
3rd – 38:56 <<<< Raven
4th – 43:45
Vet 2
1st – 33:26
2nd – 33:36
3rd – 35:43
4th – 37:11
5th – 38:41
6th – 38:44
7th – 39:23
8th – 40:42
9th – 47:40
So… what went right?
My training… I was very specific and thought about each ride and making it count.
My warm-up… I rode for 27 km after we got to the event… HR about 135 or lower, just gentle, got in 30-40 minutes I guess. I felt ready.
My start… I was held, headed off in the right gear, was able to stand and get a good speed up quickly.
My rhythm… mostly I had this right, although the cross winds made it difficult at times to find the right gear to be in.
My position… ideal for me… my knees were in the whole time, I didn’t look behind me once (except for the turn around, but I don’t count that as you are slowing anyway), kept my head down, my elbows in...
My intensity… I was able to keep myself at or above my LT… it hurt the whole ride… I have never been able to maintain that level before.
The head-stuff… most of the time. I was very focused and only lost it three times – and these will have lost me precious seconds too.
My time… I wanted to be under 39 minutes max… I just made it.
So… what went wrong?
My taper… looking at it, I got carried away and did too much riding the week before. And I knew it as I was doing it. But I had my attitude wrong. I kept thinking that if I didn’t ride I would lose it… whereas I KNOW this is NOT true for me. My best rides have happened after I have been virtually off the bike for a week to a week and a half.
The head stuff… Marg started 30 seconds after me and passed me like a bullet when I had only gone 1.5km out. I expected her to catch me, but was unprepared for how quickly. I dropped speed for a few moments.
Again, when Caro caught me at 4km, it threw me, I was not expecting her til a bit further on. I began at this point to wonder WTF I was doing this for… and it took me a few more precious moments to regain my speed.
Inability to push past the hurt-zone… this is part of the head-stuff… I pushed myself hard enough so I knew it hurt… I have to learn to push it further, past the point of pain until there is nothing else and I am the bike and the road.
The turn-around... beyond my control – a very nice oncoming driver decided to slow in case I was going to turn, but didn’t actually stop, so there I am signalling frantically with my head, the marshals are not signalling one way or the other and I must have lost 6-8 seconds there.
The finish… my partner caught me about 300 metres from the finish line… I had not seen him going out as I came back – if I had, I would have expected to see him before I finished. However, with over 60 riders doing the 20km distance, I thought maybe he must be last. So when he rocketed past me I was surprised and slowed – that was probably most of the 3 seconds I lost to Caro.
I felt so angry with myself as I crossed the finish line (I had set under 39 mins as a goal, but was aiming for 37) I just kept right on riding – truth be told I could not have gotten off my bike gracefully when I finished – so I kept on riding, I rode another 10km to cool down (physically and mentally) at the stunning speed of 15 -20 kph… Partner was concerned cause ho couldn’t find me but I couldn’t face speaking to anyone right away.
Today I am trying to be pragmatic… I know things I have to work on – my power output and stamina, my thought processes, getting the taper right, my focus while riding. It is also the longest TT race I have done at such a good speed. Most of the club TTs I have raced in are 18km, and my average has been less. I did a 25km one about 6 weeks ago, and my average speed was less than yesterday. So really – this is my best TT so far. So this must be good, right? That’s what I am telling myself.
Did I enjoy the race? Well, despite my disappointment, frustration and anger – yup, I did. I loved it. I enjoyed it more than any other TT I have done, because I know I gave it more than I ever have before.
