Ravin' on... Racin' Goals

[RoadRaven]

Yup
Race today
38km race - 3 laps of a relatively flat course
I thought, tough grade, I have just moved up, first time I raced with them they dropped me on the first hill, second time I wanted to stay with them through the corners and be with them on the first straight til the grade hit a hill again... both times, no luck.

This time, with loads of specific training behind me and trying to be smart and and cater to what this grade does I think - I'll just hang on til the first lap is done and if I last the next two, it'll be a bonus.

Nope... I suck... 5kms into the 12.5km lap I am gone.
My darling partner keeps reassuring me that I am good at it, that I am improving, and if I want to get better I just need to keep working at it.

But we got home and I cracked a Zero and went and cried quietly on the deck outside. I felt such despair. I really thought I was better than I did today - I averaged nearly 31kph for the lap I did, but I just can't stay with the pack.

I really want to come to this thread and write about a thrilling race I am pleased with, not sulk to the world. but its so hard when I hear hubby and older son disecting their race of 43km average and my 16 year describing his which had a 40km average - and they all did FOUR laps!

*tucks head down near her wings and wanders away to another thread...*

[BikeMomma]

One thing's for sure....you do NOT suck!

I think you're more than awesome for just being out there doing it, ya know? I say be proud of what you CAN do, not down and dejected for what you can't. Your dh and son no doubt are proud of you for being who you are and going out there and trying your durnest. Be proud of that, too.

My attitude is, ultimately, racing is for fun, and it should always be so. If you're not doing well, forget the competition with others and all the comparisons that come with it. Turn it around into something positive -- compete against yourself. When I fall off the back in a crit and know I won't be able to bridge back up, I say "change of game plan" and just change the game to not getting lapped, or something stupid like that. Or I think about that lady on the far corner cheering away every time I go by, and I speed up to make her cheers worth it.

Definitely Raven, you're awesome. Call it another day completed and another experience to keep in the memory banks.

Chin up, girl. You'll have lots of other chances to show 'em your stuff.
Hugs,
~BikeMomma

[RoadRaven]

Thanks BM
My partner read my post last night. Hadn't realised how gutted I was.
And he has always said the same thing to me you have just written - racing should be fun.
Yestersday morning, I actually thought about coming and editing the self-pity out of my post, because it isn't really helpful.

I think I was just in some kind've shock after the Saturday race at how I felt. I have been disappointed at my results before, but never felt despair. And over a bike race? Crazy! But we had so many in the house I really couldn't talk it through comfortably with anyone. I just wasn't expecting the intensity of the emotion - and over a club race... and I didn't understand myself.

Next week, my game plan is changing. I will stay with them as long as I can and do no work at all (one mistake on Saturday was I tried to shut down a break! Stupid! Not when this is only my third club race with this grade! Sometimes you make silly calls and that was one).
So next week I sit in, hang on and if I don't enjoy it, I will ride back down a grade for the rest of the summer series. My partner suggested riding down a grade for a while - and it is such a good idea, because I have had very few races since October... I need to get race practice in again.

So thankyou for your words, BM, they are perfect... and my perspective is a bit more rational now... and I'm biking to and from work today...

Major lesson reminder for me... after a hard ride, you MUST go for a spin the following day. I just wasn't interested in hoping on the bike yesterday, but this morning my legs hurt sooooo much.

So I'm off to spin gently to work, a nice hours ride as the sun rises... thats what its about. I love riding on empty roads.

[Trekhawk]

Thanks BM
My partner read my post last night. Hadn't realised how gutted I was.
And he has always said the same thing to me you have just written - racing should be fun.
Yestersday morning, I actually thought about coming and editing the self-pity out of my post, because it isn't really helpful.

I think I was just in some kind've shock after the Saturday race at how I felt. I have been disappointed at my results before, but never felt despair. And over a bike race? Crazy! But we had so many in the house I really couldn't talk it through comfortably with anyone. I just wasn't expecting the intensity of the emotion - and over a club race... and I didn't understand myself.

Next week, my game plan is changing. I will stay with them as long as I can and do no work at all (one mistake on Saturday was I tried to shut down a break! Stupid! Not when this is only my third club race with this grade! Sometimes you make silly calls and that was one).
So next week I sit in, hang on and if I don't enjoy it, I will ride back down a grade for the rest of the summer series. My partner suggested riding down a grade for a while - and it is such a good idea, because I have had very few races since October... I need to get race practice in again.

So thankyou for your words, BM, they are perfect... and my perspective is a bit more rational now... and I'm biking to and from work today...

Major lesson reminder for me... after a hard ride, you MUST go for a spin the following day. I just wasn't interested in hoping on the bike yesterday, but this morning my legs hurt sooooo much.

So I'm off to spin gently to work, a nice hours ride as the sun rises... thats what its about. I love riding on empty roads.

Mate pleased to hear you are feeling positive again. BM gave great advice and as you said so did your husband, listen to them they are right.

I cant imagine racing or even getting to the sort of speed you do. I think you racing girls are made of pure grit with huge hearts. Keep posting so this little plodder can race vicariously through you.

[BikeMomma]

I think you racing girls are made of pure grit with huge hearts.

Naaaa....just stubborn. Ask my husband.

[Geonz]

Okay, I tried a post but it came out totally wrong...so... waht they said already
... and take a look at your signature !

Here's hoping the raging emotions can be channeled to good things.

[RoadRaven]

Just want to add one more challenge for myself...

I want to ride every race this winter series.
I rode few over the Spring, I rode more, but not all over Summer, the Autumn series saw me ride virtually none.
This series, Winter, I am riding the lot ...starting today... here's the schedule for my grade;

2June, Tuki Circuit 33km (some hills)
9June, CampDavidRTN, 39km (hilly)
16June, Whanawhana/Otamauri, 30km (some hills)
23June, Womens only 43km race (flat)
30June, Raukawa ITT, 25km (flat well, two small hills, but mostly flat)

7July, OhitiRd circuit, 29km (some hills)
14July, Apley circuit,26km (hilly)
21July, Dudley Hawkes Memorial handicap, 30km (hilly)
28July, MutinyRd 5upTeamTT, 39km (some hills)

4Aug, KahuranakiRTN, 36km (hilly)
11Aug, Apley circuit,26km (hilly)
18Aug, Raukawa/Valley circuit, 33km (some hills)
25Aug, Swamp/Pukehaumoamoa, 26km (flat)

Hopefully this post will help to hold me accountable...

[RoadRaven]

Well... first race of the Winter Series behind me...

Unfortunately not a good time, but that was not of my making, and I did finish.

I had never raced (or even ridden) this circuit before. I am looking forward to racing there in Spring - it is beside a river, with dramatic hill-scapes rising from the river and road. It will be stunning all dressed in new greens and the spring sky reflected in the water.

Anyways, we began, and I quickly found myself at the front and no-one else coming through - so about 3 of us kept up what I thought was a comfortable pace of 32-33km along the flats... but we were spiltting the bunch already which surprised me. And that felt good. I felt good even though I was not anticipating the hills that we were approaching.

Someone called out crash, and I yelled out; "did they have a cell phone?", and no-one knew, so I peeled off the front and went back. Glad I did. A girl there for the first time had her cell phone, but not the marshalls ICE number. She was ringing her dad. I rang the marshalls to let them know we had two Ramblers down and then stayed with them while the two others who had stopped with the 2 injured women headed off again.

Dad arrived, picked up his daughter, and by the time the marshall arrived, the other woman was feeling well enough to tape her cuts up and finish the ride - which we did together. It was great to ride at a steady pace and get to know her. Her chain locked up at one point, so we slowed, stopped and sorted that. She hadn't been along to ride for a while and was getting her confidence back, so I am glad I stopped.

The ride back itself was great, she flew up the hills and I flew down them and we'd join up again on the other side. She was great company, and although we were no longer in race mode, we rode well and steady and I wish we lived closer so we could do some training rides together.

We ended up with a time of 1:18:15 for the 32kms. So only a 24.54km average. So it was a great training ride and of course, since it was my first time on the course, I can legitimately claim a PB!!!

Family and I are off to do a gentle recovery ride soon (partner got about 7th in his grade yesterday, 16yr old got 4th in his, and 13 year old riding up in new grade came in 3rd). Tomorrow (its a public holiday - YAY) I will ride the "Apley circuitt" as if a race so I am well prepared for July 14th.

[BikeMomma]

I have been disappointed at my results before, but never felt despair. And over a bike race? Crazy! But we had so many in the house I really couldn't talk it through comfortably with anyone. I just wasn't expecting the intensity of the emotion - and over a club race... and I didn't understand myself.

Next week, my game plan is changing. I will stay with them as long as I can and do no work at all (one mistake on Saturday was I tried to shut down a break! ......... So next week I sit in, hang on and if I don't enjoy it, I will ride back down a grade for the rest of the summer series.

.......

So I'm off to spin gently to work, a nice hours ride as the sun rises... thats what its about. I love riding on empty roads.

The intensity of the emotion and the despair you felt just show how much your heart is in this sport, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Sounds like a great game plan.

Hope your gentle spin was as nice as it sounds.
~BikeMomma

[RoadRaven]

Trek, BM and Geonz

Thanks for your words...

Yes, yesterdays ride to work was lovely, the sun was still nesteled in the clouds and the temp was a mild 18'
The ride home a bit tougher, head wind all the way - about 15kph at full speed! - my partner came and collected me before the final few hills which was a welcome surprise.

Am all geared up for having another go in the road race this Saturday... having another go is what its about really.
Looking on the website and final times, my grade (F) was actually faster than E - so maybe it was just an extra fast day for the F graders and therefore my bad luck. (But there was a bright side, being finished and relatively fresh meant I was able to assist after a crash in another grade's sprint finish and hold the guy's elbow/arm clear of the road til the ambulance arrived and staunch some of the blood loss)
http://www.ramblers.co.nz/club_resul...ail.asp?id=324

And am looking forward to the ITT on Thursday next week - I'll be one of the slower times there as only the really keen TTers tend to emerge on the Thursday nights. But the very cool thing about TTs is its about personal bests and giving yourself a thrashing! So am hoping to best my PB that day - raging emotions will def be put to good use there, Geonz!


Feeling brighter and much more enthusiastic
~Rave~

[SheFly]

Hey you! Just coming back to this thread, and troubled by you thinking that you SUCK. Now, repeat after me: "I DO NOT SUCK". Now go write that 100 times...

Seriously, Raven, think of all you have accomplished in the past year - none of that shows that "you suck". I agree with BM - if you are not having fun with the racing, you need to take a step back and consider what you are doing and what your motivation is. Trust me when I tell you that I KNOW what it is like to feel so discouraged after a race that you question what you are doing, but you learn from it and move on.

I also agree with BM's on-the-fly strategy changes. It is "easy" to come up with a pre-race strategy, but lots of different things can happen during the race to require a chang ein strategy or goal. I remember my very first TT - my goal was NOT to get passed by a woman who started a few places behind me (and was a Cat 2 racer). When she did pass me, I changed my goal to not let her out of my sight (which worked!).

Remember this: you are out there racing when scores of other women are not; you gave it your all; you had fun (I hope).

Good luck at the TT this week and at the race this weekend. Above all else, have FUN!

SheFly

[RoadRaven]

Well... about time to get back in here and 'fess up... last Thursday was the last TT of the Summer Racing Series for our club, and I did go...

I have been waiting on everyone's times being published, but the full and "official" results are not up yet. So I do not know how I went in relation to the other 25-30 people there (although a significant number starting behind me did pass me!!)

HOWEVER... I did shave one and a half minutes off my PB (set in October 2005) for this course (the Dump Block). Its in my 2007 goals to do it in 32 minutes, and I did it in about 35 I think.
3 more minutes is probably unrealistic to shave off this new PB by the end of the year... but I'll see how much closer I can get!

As for the road race on the Saturday before that? Well, I did get dropped, but I stayed with the tail enders of my grade and wasn't the last one home - that has to be an improvement right?

I didn't race this last Saturday as I had a root canal on Friday and my head still felt a bit strange. Last road race for the summer series this Saturday - its hilly, and I think I will be riding much of it on my own... but thats ok - I'll treat it as a training ride and see if I can do a PB over it.