first road race - Enebakk Rundt

[lph]

(cross post with Tips and Tricks, where I asked for advice)

wheee! whooo! I did it

I'm back, safe and sound, and my legs are aaaaching.... It had to RAIN of course, so it was bit hard to get warmed up and I lost touch with my toes after half an hour

Boy, am I glad I was with a team, though. We'd decided what to do, who goes where and who decides what, and even though it wasn't perfect there was never any doubt about what we were trying to do. So when we caught up with a stray rider or something there was no quibbling about what to do, we just stuck together, passed him, and let him tack on the back if he wanted to.

Clothes - a bit inadequate. I did warm up but I think I work better if I'm warmer and dry. Drink - not too bad, but I will try out using a camelback, Freda be d*mned, at high speed I don't really want to reach down more than necessary. And for me this was high speed, I really had to concentrate and that got harder as I got tired. Food - how the heck do you eat?? Managed to stuff a banana down my throat on one long slow hill in the beginning, tried to eat an energy bar later on but only got down half before I started wheezing because I was so out of breath.

But the best part: my team knew it was my first race and they were SO supportive, little bursts of nice comments all the way. And my dh and son had set up a huge red banner with my name on it on a bridge close to home, and were standing there waving! How sweet is that! AND they turned up, with dhs parents, on the final killer hill in to the finish line. Where my team started yelling for me to go ahead and take that hill, since they know I "like" hills (I weigh about 2/3 of these guys, so not too surprising). So never mind the rain, I was cosseted and pampered all the way

Okay, I'll go post this on race results. Ooh, I've so been wanting to post there.

Thank you! for your advice - especially redrhodie - what a terrific thing to say Thanks!

Oh, and hard facts: 80 km in light drizzle, rolling hills, in 2 hrs 21 min.

[bmccasland]

WooHoo Yea LPH!!!

[SheFly]

First, CONGRATULATIONS! Sounds like you had a great experience for your first race, and that you finished strong.

Drink - not too bad, but I will try out using a camelback, Freda be d*mned, at high speed I don't really want to reach down more than necessary. And for me this was high speed, I really had to concentrate and that got harder as I got tired. Food - how the heck do you eat?? Managed to stuff a banana down my throat on one long slow hill in the beginning, tried to eat an energy bar later on but only got down half before I started wheezing because I was so out of breath.

This is something that 3 years into racing, I still struggle with. I actually tend to neither eat nor drink during a race - too busy breathing . I do use a water bottle, but seldom drink the entire thing. And I never eat during a race. However, I know people who do, and they will use tricks like taping a GU to their handlebars so they can easily rip it off.

I try to eat A LOT for breakfast the day of a big race, and then again about an hour beforehand. Also, I pre-hydrate. This defintely helps, but isn't the complete answer.

So, now we can look forward to more race reports from you, yes? Congrats again.

SheFly

[lph]

Thanks! I'd love to not have to eat or drink during a race, but I have the metabolism of a raging wood stove and need to eat OFTEN. Taping stuff to your bars was actually a pretty neat idea. I ate plenty for breakfast (4 slices of buttered bread with slices of apple, sugar and cinnamon ) but I could have stuffed down yet another one of those just before the race.

Afterwards I couldn't stand the thought of food, so maybe I did get enough fuel anyway.

[SuperRunt]

GRATULERER!!!

And I can attest to the fact that the Norwegian May rain can be *cold* (I'm Norwegian too ). Sounds like you're with a great team, and that they're happy to have you!

[SheFly]

Thanks! I'd love to not have to eat or drink during a race, but I have the metabolism of a raging wood stove and need to eat OFTEN. Taping stuff to your bars was actually a pretty neat idea. I ate plenty for breakfast (4 slices of buttered bread with slices of apple, sugar and cinnamon ) but I could have stuffed down yet another one of those just before the race.

Afterwards I couldn't stand the thought of food, so maybe I did get enough fuel anyway.

I usually can't stomach the idea of food right after a race, or even a hard workout, either.

Just wondering - have you tried protein beforehand? What you ate pre-race sounds loaded with carbs, but I know for me (and this may not work for everyone), that protein is key. Typical breakfast on race day is either eggs or peanut butter. Both options include toast/bread as well. I discovered the protein trick worked well for me this year - if I consume it early in the day even on non-race days, I'm not as hungry later in the morning. Something to try, at any rate.

SheFly

[lph]

Duh - I can't believe I didn't think of this. I ate my usual high-carb breakfast because I usually commute by bike, and am on my bike max an hour after eating. So I know it works and I can digest it fast. I didn't think of the fact that this morning I was up eating breakfast over 2 hours before the race started.

Before long Sunday rides I've usually had bacon+eggs for breakfast, for longer-lasting fuel, and it does work better.

Tusen takk, superrunt, hyggelig å se deg :-)

[lph]

Results are in! I was no. 488 overall, and placed 5th out of 30 women in my age group, and 14th out of 106 women altogether. Very pleased indeed

Especially because most of the women who beat me beat me thoroughly, i.e. are in a totally different class. There was a clear drop down to the next bunch, where I was one of highest placed. Way cool!

[RoadRaven]

LPH!
What fun
Congrats

I have never had a "team experience", but it sounds like this was a great way to beging your racing adiction.

Well done you