5/18: Day of- Travel to ABQ
5/19: 3:15- Out and back around Sandia.
5/20: 3:21- Climb up some pretty mellow hill.
5/21: 0:35- Easy ride
5/22: 6:30- ABQ to santa fe, and climbed up to SF ski area
5/23: Off.
Total: 13:37 TSS 641 KJ 7917
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Race Report- UA Crit
Cat 3 race
Average power- 263
Norm power- 286
Max power- 948
I am disappointed with my result at yesterday's crit, but I am glad I experienced this early in the season, so as not to make this mistake in more important races. The 3's and 4's were combined for a 35 minute race on a 0.6 mile course. The field was very large, almost 5 rows deep across a large start line. I got to the start line a little bit late after scrambling to find my helmet. Luckily I was able to secure a spot on the very outside edge of the pack, not ideal but better than where Drew got stuck, three rows back. I jumped off the start line in hopes of making it to the first corner in good position. This turned out to be the best choice of the race, since the first three laps were very high-paced. I remember being in the top 4-5 for those laps, and thinking, boy am I glad I'm not further back, as the pack was literally stretched over 1/3 of the course. I kept looking for Drew, but he later told me he got stuck behind some slow people in the start and it took him a while to move up, so it wasn't until 10 minutes into the race that I saw another Strada jersey. After the first ten minutes, which were very fast (300 watts average), the next ten minutes were very slow (240 watts average). I remember thinking to myself how leisurely the pace was. (We actually averaged above 25mph for the race, which is respectable for a course with so many turns. So I think my feeling relaxed is a good sign for my base fitness. Also I felt very comfortable staying in a low, aero position. I tried to stay in the drops the entire race and this really helped, both in staying in a nice draft and in responding to attacks.) However the slower pace meant that many people were starting to come around us, and I made the mistake of moving back to about 20th in the pack.
After about ten minutes of staying in 20th-10th position, the race started picking up for the last 15 minutes (average 290 watts.) I was able to make my way up to the top five with two laps to go, which was right where I wanted to be. Then, a group of three came up fast on our right side, and about three people chased. As I remember it, Drew got stuck at the front of the pack, and he started to chase. There was a slow person between him and me, though, and I hesitated to pass him for a split-second too long. Then, it was too late, since there were lots of people swarming around us trying to get in a break. I ended up around 10th-15th, I think.
My main mistake was not chasing that break as it came past our right side. I was lazy, and hoped that we would catch it in time. But I think that the best policy is to chase every serious-looking attack in the last three laps. The best that could happen is that you create a small gap, enough to finish ahead of the field (this is what happened at this race) and the worst that could happen is that you remain in good position at the front of the pack.
So I am quite disappointed that I didn't make the right decision then. I was pretty discouraged after the race, and for a few moments I regretted not choosing a sport where I am 100% in control of my result (triathlon for example.) But then I realized that's what makes racing so exciting. Adding to my regret was that I felt absolutely great throughout the race, I had a low heart rate and felt very relaxed. I just didn't muster up the guts to go with the attacks at the end. Next time I will just grit my teeth and go with it. On the positive side, I feel that I have the fitness to take advantage of good tactical decisions in the future. Looking forward to the McDowell crit, and especially, VOS.
Average power- 263
Norm power- 286
Max power- 948
I am disappointed with my result at yesterday's crit, but I am glad I experienced this early in the season, so as not to make this mistake in more important races. The 3's and 4's were combined for a 35 minute race on a 0.6 mile course. The field was very large, almost 5 rows deep across a large start line. I got to the start line a little bit late after scrambling to find my helmet. Luckily I was able to secure a spot on the very outside edge of the pack, not ideal but better than where Drew got stuck, three rows back. I jumped off the start line in hopes of making it to the first corner in good position. This turned out to be the best choice of the race, since the first three laps were very high-paced. I remember being in the top 4-5 for those laps, and thinking, boy am I glad I'm not further back, as the pack was literally stretched over 1/3 of the course. I kept looking for Drew, but he later told me he got stuck behind some slow people in the start and it took him a while to move up, so it wasn't until 10 minutes into the race that I saw another Strada jersey. After the first ten minutes, which were very fast (300 watts average), the next ten minutes were very slow (240 watts average). I remember thinking to myself how leisurely the pace was. (We actually averaged above 25mph for the race, which is respectable for a course with so many turns. So I think my feeling relaxed is a good sign for my base fitness. Also I felt very comfortable staying in a low, aero position. I tried to stay in the drops the entire race and this really helped, both in staying in a nice draft and in responding to attacks.) However the slower pace meant that many people were starting to come around us, and I made the mistake of moving back to about 20th in the pack.
After about ten minutes of staying in 20th-10th position, the race started picking up for the last 15 minutes (average 290 watts.) I was able to make my way up to the top five with two laps to go, which was right where I wanted to be. Then, a group of three came up fast on our right side, and about three people chased. As I remember it, Drew got stuck at the front of the pack, and he started to chase. There was a slow person between him and me, though, and I hesitated to pass him for a split-second too long. Then, it was too late, since there were lots of people swarming around us trying to get in a break. I ended up around 10th-15th, I think.
My main mistake was not chasing that break as it came past our right side. I was lazy, and hoped that we would catch it in time. But I think that the best policy is to chase every serious-looking attack in the last three laps. The best that could happen is that you create a small gap, enough to finish ahead of the field (this is what happened at this race) and the worst that could happen is that you remain in good position at the front of the pack.
So I am quite disappointed that I didn't make the right decision then. I was pretty discouraged after the race, and for a few moments I regretted not choosing a sport where I am 100% in control of my result (triathlon for example.) But then I realized that's what makes racing so exciting. Adding to my regret was that I felt absolutely great throughout the race, I had a low heart rate and felt very relaxed. I just didn't muster up the guts to go with the attacks at the end. Next time I will just grit my teeth and go with it. On the positive side, I feel that I have the fitness to take advantage of good tactical decisions in the future. Looking forward to the McDowell crit, and especially, VOS.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Week in preview (1/11)
I'm back to training after winter break, which was fun but meant I was training sporadically and whenever I could get some wheels. From now on I'm going to do a week in review, as well as a week in preview. The goal is to get me focused about what is happening this week. I will lay out my play and address any potential challenges. Then I will evaluate my success with my week in review post.
1st week of Build 1
Monday- Off
Tuesday- 3:00. Ride Gates Pass and do 5 repeats of Gates, with 3min recoveries.
Wednesday- 4:00 E2 ride.
Thursday- 2:00. 4x10-3 High E4 intervals to build up FTP.
Friday- 1:30 E2 with pedaling drills
Saturday- 3:00 Hard group ride or motorpacing
Sunday- 4:00 E2
My first challenge is that I already messed up this schedule. I did lemmon from campus today instead of taking the day off. But I'm well rested so I will continue on as usual. I want to keep doing sprint drills and plyometrics but I'm not sure where to put them. I'm thinking of doing them on the nights of my interval workouts but I'll ask mike.
1st week of Build 1
Monday- Off
Tuesday- 3:00. Ride Gates Pass and do 5 repeats of Gates, with 3min recoveries.
Wednesday- 4:00 E2 ride.
Thursday- 2:00. 4x10-3 High E4 intervals to build up FTP.
Friday- 1:30 E2 with pedaling drills
Saturday- 3:00 Hard group ride or motorpacing
Sunday- 4:00 E2
My first challenge is that I already messed up this schedule. I did lemmon from campus today instead of taking the day off. But I'm well rested so I will continue on as usual. I want to keep doing sprint drills and plyometrics but I'm not sure where to put them. I'm thinking of doing them on the nights of my interval workouts but I'll ask mike.
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