My most recent race went smoother than expected. I took a week off to sit on a beach in the Outer Banks prior to the race. Then, I started a brand new build period the minute I stepped off the plane in San Francisco. So, my legs were tired from all the intervals, and it can be tough building back muscle after a week in the waves and no biking. (But trust me, the beach was so worth it.)
So, fresh off the plane, I go do the Michael David Winery's famous "Race Ride". I figured it would be good to shock the system. And, I hoped that my legs would pick up where I had left off. Surprisingly, I did quite well. Managing to only get dropped once when I ran out of water and had to flag down our team motor cycle, where Steve dowsed me in water then promptly offered me some whiskey. Anywho, my legs did well because they were well rested. Which is quite a novel feeling for me since I have been doing intervals on practically every ride.
The rest of the week, I did my intervals while trying to cheat them as much as possible so I could save legs for my race. I completely failed at my VO2 max intervals that week and finally gave up when I could barely hold onto my threshold power anymore. Pathetic.
Race day I was a bit nervous. Consequently, I had the normal digestive system problems and felt quite queasy. I took it in stride, listening to Papa Roach while warming up on the trainer. At the start whistle, I failed to clip in right away. And, felt like a silly cat 4 as I struggled to push my shoe into the clip. I finally got it in right before the descent that is about 20 feet off the start line. The race was fast and short at only 30 minutes. The course was difficult with 60 ft of climbing per lap. So, my plan of attack was to hang with the climbers in the climbs, and then overtake them in the long straight stretch before the short jog up to the finish line. I counted on my sprinting ability to overtake the tiny legs of the climbers in that final stretch.
So, fresh off the plane, I go do the Michael David Winery's famous "Race Ride". I figured it would be good to shock the system. And, I hoped that my legs would pick up where I had left off. Surprisingly, I did quite well. Managing to only get dropped once when I ran out of water and had to flag down our team motor cycle, where Steve dowsed me in water then promptly offered me some whiskey. Anywho, my legs did well because they were well rested. Which is quite a novel feeling for me since I have been doing intervals on practically every ride.
The rest of the week, I did my intervals while trying to cheat them as much as possible so I could save legs for my race. I completely failed at my VO2 max intervals that week and finally gave up when I could barely hold onto my threshold power anymore. Pathetic.
Race day I was a bit nervous. Consequently, I had the normal digestive system problems and felt quite queasy. I took it in stride, listening to Papa Roach while warming up on the trainer. At the start whistle, I failed to clip in right away. And, felt like a silly cat 4 as I struggled to push my shoe into the clip. I finally got it in right before the descent that is about 20 feet off the start line. The race was fast and short at only 30 minutes. The course was difficult with 60 ft of climbing per lap. So, my plan of attack was to hang with the climbers in the climbs, and then overtake them in the long straight stretch before the short jog up to the finish line. I counted on my sprinting ability to overtake the tiny legs of the climbers in that final stretch.
What I did right? My legs were feeling pretty rough by the last lap. But, I stayed mentally tough and shouted at myself to push through to the end. I scrunched myself into the most aero position I could, to get every advantage and save my watts for the end. Then, I used the down hill stretch to catapult myself through the field and pass everyone doing 33 miles an hour.
My plan served me well. However, I didn't plan on there being a girl who is being forced to upgrade to 3s. Come on! Upgrade already! Anyway, she had just a tiny bit extra kick at the very end and came around me.
My mistake? I started sprinting too soon. (The first girl to sprint almost always loses.) At any rate, I came in second and garnered more than enough points to get my upgrade to category 3!
My plan served me well. However, I didn't plan on there being a girl who is being forced to upgrade to 3s. Come on! Upgrade already! Anyway, she had just a tiny bit extra kick at the very end and came around me.
My mistake? I started sprinting too soon. (The first girl to sprint almost always loses.) At any rate, I came in second and garnered more than enough points to get my upgrade to category 3!
Watch for me in my first cat 3 race at Little City Stage Race this weekend!