Climbing Club - Sept. Goals

[Veronica]

I want to finish the Knoxville Double. I don't care how long it takes. I just want to finish.

I've picked a lousy time to decide to begin training for next year's stage races. The first few weeks of school always exhaust me. I've been going to bed at 6:30 or 7 PM because my brain is fried! And sleeping until the alarm goes off at 4:30. I haven't gotten in morning workouts this week because I have things I need to do for the start of the year. All my current first day stuff was on my stolen laptop, so I'm working off stuff I had from 2001.

I've gained weight over the summer and that needs to come off, plus some more. I'm never going to be a speedy climber, but getting the engine leaner will help.

I've got some good rides planned this month though.

9/2 Livermore - Hamilton - Calaveras - Livermore - about 107 miles and probably 8,000 feet of climbing

9/15 Jo's 200 K - still negotiating with T

9/22 Knoxville Double staff ride - 200 miles, 12,000 feet

9/29 & 30 Waves to Wine - 175 miles over two days, climbing ?

I'm anxious to see which doubles will be next year's stage races and I have to remind myself I have at least until March to get myself where I want to be. It doesn't have to happen this week.

V.

[Velobambina]

Those are some super plans! Keep at it, keep posting. I'm cheering you on. Are you going to work in any of the strength/hill Spinervals to help you train?

[Veronica]

Those are some super plans! Keep at it, keep posting. I'm cheering you on. Are you going to work in any of the strength/hill Spinervals to help you train?

Thanks for the cheers. Theoretically yes, I'll be doing the strength videos. But I know I also need to be doing yoga and core work. And riding outside is so much more fun than a video.

Work is freaking me out a little. Last year I had 25 students. This year I have 35 on my list. We'll see how many actually show up on Tuesday.

V.

[maillotpois]

great goals! I am also hoping to do knoxville. much will depend on how the bursitis is. tucson in november is my only real "goal" for the rest of the year at this point. I could get through that race bursitis or not

I would like to get a third double in the books, though.

[Trekhawk]

Hmm as our move gets closer I seem to have more to do and less time to ride. That being the case I think I will keep my goal at 22000 for this month and see if I can make that.

[Starfish]

Veronica, your schedule makes me tired just looking at it! My hat is off to you.

I don't have any climbing goals for September, and I probably won't through the next 4 months or so. I'm switching gears to 2-a-days, weight loss, and cross training for awhile.

I haven't done any climbing since Shasta. But, spin classes will be part of my routine for the fall season, so I know that will help with wind and strength.

I'm starting new work right now, and I hear you about being exhausted. I'm just whupped these days. But, we have sunshine today, and I was thinking I ought to go out and try Hurricane Ridge today, just to see how it feels to do some climbing again.

You folks who put up big climbing numbers month in and month out impress me. It shows a depth of fitness that is pretty amazing.

[Eden]

Hillclimb race season has arrived in the PNW, so I have a few goals related to climbing now.
I'm a little different - my goals aren't in feet, but in time, as I know how I did in previous years, and aim to better myself each time.

I just did the Crystal Mt Hillclimb TT, which is quite short, at 6 miles and managed to take a little over 30 seconds off my time from last year (and won my category!). I feel pretty good about that one since most people who have been there before posted longer times, by around 1/2 to 2 minutes from last year.
The next one is the Mt. Baker Hillclimb, next weekend. 24 miles, 4,300 feet elevation gain. As this is about 4x longer than Crystal I'm hoping at least take 4x the time off, but my ultimate goal is 5m off last year's time. Here's to favorable weather!

[Starfish]

Eden, how neat! When I was in Shasta for the century earlier this month, the day before my ride, there was a hill climb race up Mt. Shasta. Fourteen miles, about 4300'. The guy who won it did it in just about an hour.

Racing uphill is amazing to me.

[DirtDiva]

I think I should stay out of this thread. It makes me curious about just how much climbing I'm doing on my rides. Curiosity is expensive...

[jobob]

Veronica, your schedule makes me tired just looking at it!

Speaking of tired ...

I might need to revise my plans for this coming month. My last two rides (Thursday and today) did not go particularly well - I felt really fatigued during both of them.

I may be coming down with something, or, could be my body is telling me to kick back a bit.

So I might put off that 200K for yet another month.

[maillotpois]

Hey Jo, don't give up on the 200k just yet. I read your journal. You have really been pushing. Take a week EASY and then see how you feel. (Read my journal for August if you want to see what "easy" means. )

[Starfish]

Jo, second what MP said. Back in June, I ended up taking 2 weeks completely off...NO exercise...due to the estate sale and all that. Rather than hurting me, I came back and was able to push hard through July. I think it was just what my body needed after training since January.

[Starfish]

Well, got in 2400 feet over 46 miles yesterday.

Boy did my quads HURT! It was exactly 4 weeks since Shasta, and all I've done since then was a few 15 mile rides and a few gym workouts. I was patting myself on the back for staying active during 4 weeks of a transition period between goal event and fall/winter training...

...but, I can see that yesterday's longer weekend ride was just in the nick of time. No more detraining for me!

There was a lot of ice involved post-ride.

[RolliePollie]

Speaking of tired ...

I might need to revise my plans for this coming month. My last two rides (Thursday and today) did not go particularly well - I felt really fatigued during both of them.

I may be coming down with something, or, could be my body is telling me to kick back a bit.

So I might put off that 200K for yet another month.

Maybe it's the weather? I felt awful on my last three rides and couldn't wait to get off the bike. My legs were screaming at me and they shouldn't have been. My quads were so tight and achy last night that I had to drug myself up with Aleve just so I could get to sleep. I'm taking today off and cutting way back for the rest of the week in preparation for the Tour de Tahoe next Sunday.

[jobob]

I too thought maybe it was the weather, but yesterday I did a ride near the coast where it didn't get particularly hot (well, at least not compared to inland), with very little climbing, and I was still whupped. Ask MP, she was there to see me constantly fall back.

I've either been overtraining, or I'm coming down with something (my throat does feel a little scratchy), or a little of both. Either way, a break is in order, methinks.