Ravin' on... Racin' Goals

[RoadRaven]

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&#37
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! 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.

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.