Tales from the trail...ramblings of an xterra wannabe

[rocknrollgirl]

Late last fall I decided to take the plunge...no pun intended and go from racing mt bikes and doing off road duathlons to doing triathlons again. And then I took it one step further and decided to do Xterra.

So on 12/1, I got back in the pool and added swimming to an already full workout schedule. So six week in to my new schedule, I had some help setting up a more structured schedule, hard weeks, easy weeks, you guys know the drill. Focusing more on my running.

Over time my swimming improved, and my running improved, and I felt like my mt bikng tanked. You may remember a desperate post on the loss of my mojo.

Well I have kept at it, and have not been derailed by some tough days on the bike, I have kept a positive attitude, hoping that all of the pieces would come togther.


Yesterday was our scheduled long ride. We ended up at the hardest local venue we have, with the fastest guys we ride with. I was very nervous because I was coming off a hard week, and I had been sick two weeks ago.

Before we started the ride I warned them that I would probably be hurting from all of the hard training, my legs were sore, as was the rest of me. We started the ride and low and behold, I was not as far behind as I normally am.

Now in defense of the guys, they have all had a bad couple of weeks, due to weather and health, but still, I was passing them up hills. My legs hurt, but I was able to ride through it. I cruised up all of the technical sections and did not even have to unclip.

On the way home I looked at the DH and said, I did ok....but they were all tired...he said....maybe you are getting stronger....ok and they were tired too.

yee haa

THE MOJO HAS RETURNETH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure I will be sucking it up at a trail later this week...but heck take it where you can.

[HappyAnika]

Yay! Progress! It sounds like its coming together for you. You're cutting the guys slack for having a hard time with weather and health, but you went through the same things, so cut yourself some slack too. That puts you on even ground with the guys, so ultimately you had a really great ride.

[Wahine]

Great news RnR. It's all coming together. I agree with HA, you where sick too and had to deal with the weather. Take it at face value. Let it build your confidence and stoke the engine a little more.

[Starfish]

Great news RnR. It's all coming together. I agree with HA, you where sick too and had to deal with the weather. Take it at face value. Let it build your confidence and stoke the engine a little more.

What she said! Nice job, RnRGirl

[KSH]

Great job on finding your mojo again!!!

Happy to hear you put the hurt on some boys.

[rocknrollgirl]

Thanks for the support. I am starting to realize that this type of structured training is a big picture thing. It is easy to get bogged down in the day to day milestones and forget about the big picture until you have a bit of progress, however small it may be.

I love my cycling guys, but it was fun to see them suffer just a tiny wee bit!

[Starfish]

I am starting to realize that this type of structured training is a big picture thing. It is easy to get bogged down in the day to day milestones and forget about the big picture until you have a bit of progress, however small it may be.

So true. I am just coming back to training after many months off, stress-related weight gain, and disappointment with my plunge off the exercise wagon. Last week was my first recovery week after only 3 weeks of being back in training. Today I felt horrible on my way to the pool. Discouraged, stressed from some life circumstances. Then, today, I got in a good couple thousand yards (more than double the yardage of my week #3) and was able to keep my HR down in my low endurance range, which was my goal for the workout today.

My thought was, I guess this periodization and recovery-week thing works! Now of course, my perspective on the day is much brighter.

[Tri Girl]

Way to go RNRGirl!!!! Sounds like you're "back in the saddle" and livin' large. Great job out there!!!! You should be extra excited that you were not only hanging with the fast boys, but that you were passing them up those hills! Woo hoo!!! I agree with the others- don't downplay your superior biking skills- you've got game so pat yourself on the back!!!!

I've wanted to try an XTerra (and am planning on an off-road du this summer), but am worried about passing on singletrack. Is it pretty difficult- and what is the etiquette? Sorry- I guess I just hijacked your thread, huh?

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi Trigirl,

It is almost impossible to pass on singletack. The general rule of thumb is that you have to wait until you see an opening.

If I am coming up on someone from a distance, I give a shout on yer left or right to let them know that I am there. People that are expereinced will ease over as much as possible to try to give you an opening. Inexperience people will usually panic and stop, usually in the middle of a hill.


If I am being pass, I do my best to get over, but often the dude has to wait. I am NOT pulling over during a race.

Usually everyone is really nice about it. Last year I had two guys that did everything they could to not let me by. They did not want to get passes by a girl.

Just an observation. By the time you get to the bike, everyone should be spaced out pretty well.

Have you raced a mt bike before?