How long did it take you to faster?

[Jiffer]

I feel your pain. I worked hard to get faster and enjoyed the small improvements along the way. I remember when I got a 15 average pace on a long ride and exclaimed, "I'm a 15 girl!" And each time I moved up in pace, I'd exclaim the new number. I was "A 20 Girl!" on a few occasions when the route was "mostly" flat. I did get to where I could average in the 18's fairly often, depending on how much climbing there was. I "almost" got a 19 average on a century once, but the slow traffic at the end of the ride caused me to go from 19.1 or so to 18.8. Arrrrggggghhh!

So, I get your desire to be faster and, for me, it was not just because I wanted to be fast, but also about keeping up with other people. Initially, that's ALL it was about. I'm not a great climber, so I worked on my climbing a LOT because I hated being the one everyone was waiting on at the top of the climb all the time.

Okay, so as for advice. What everyone has said about being patient and just keep on keepin' on is pretty much the best advice. You already have a personal trainer, so unless he/she is not a good trainer, they'll help you get your speed up in due time.

I also agree with not comparing yourself to others. It's so hard to do, but everyone is different in their ability to do any sport. Some people take to things more easily than others and sometimes it has to do with muscle memory or other factors. Smaller riders have a harder time with speed on the flat, while bigger riders have a harder time climbing. I'm 5'9", so great on the flat and slow on the climbs.

I have learned to take advantage of my strengths, though. On club rides (lots of riders), I used to do my best to stay at the front of the pack down the long flat section, taking advantage of the red lights to move to the front if I have fallen back. By the time we get to the big climb, I'm at least starting near the front.

When there's a small climb that I fall back on, I take advantage of the following downhill (if there is one) to get back to the front.

Working on technique is important too. As someone said, pedaling technique for one.

Do you draft? You and your friends can both go faster if they pull you. You get to go faster without getting tired as quickly and they get to go closer to the speed they prefer, if not at speed. Drafting helps more than a lot of people think, but it takes some getting used to.

Another option, which you probably won't like, is to simply find riders that ride at your pace. It IS good to ride people who are faster than you, because they push you to become faster. But maybe at least some of the time you can ride with others that are closer to your pace. If you do some searching, you might be surprised what groups you find and you might love the change.

I leave you with a word of caution. Be careful you don't try to do too much too soon. What has been said about getting a good base is VERY VERY VERY important. I'm not even sure you should be doing intervals so early in the game.

I say this as a person who overtrained and developed adrenal fatigue, which has kept me from "really" riding for over a year now. It happened the year I pushed myself more than I ever had, doing lots of intervals, tempo rides, lots and lots of climbing, several long rides, including a few centuries, as well as my first three road races. It didn't "seem" like I was doing anything more than a typically healthy person should be able to do. My riding buddy did almost all the same stuff I did and was fine. But apparently I wasn't as healthy as I thought. Had a yeast overgrowth (candida) and hypothyroidism. Stressing my body further with training . . . oh, and weight loss . . . pushed my body too far. I'm also plagued with low hormones. Not sure which came first, the chicken or the egg, but I'm all messed up!

Better to be safe than sorry. 15 average pace is actually very respectable for a person who's only been riding a short time. Like I said, I was thrilled when I first started riding at that pace! I'm lucky if I get 14 these days and even that is sometimes stressing my body too much, even with only 30 minutes of riding.

By the way, it took me a good two or three years to go from 15-ish to 19-ish.

Listen to your body and be careful. In due time you will get there.