Racing Time

Honestly it was a freaking BLAST this weekend. I do have to first thank my wife for giving me the push over the edge late last week. I was pretty bummed that the CT race was canceled and was having a pretty crappy week all told. It was a longish drive (less than two though) but the venue was great. The playground EASILY kept the girls entertained (from what it sounded like). And the course was enough to keep me "entertained."

Okay and second. Thanks to folks out there yellin/cheering for me. Esp those over by the fence and the hill that was ridable (but some got off to try and run up). It was a big who's who in the NECross blogosphere. Lotsa folks. Will try and sit down and link em all later if the day provides me with enough spare seconds. But it is a monday and as a monday goes, well it is just a monday.

The roots beat me up, sucked the power out and by the time i hit the grass i was hosed... I had signed up for the 3/4 Masters 35+ race initially only. Sort of in the back of my mind had planned to hope the girls were having fun and amenable to hanging around to watch daddy race one more time. And then hoping the first race was clean and all that from a crashing injury mechanical side of things. All signs were good and i could show once more how to get over the barriers in 3 steps. Yeah... one, two, three. Kinda helps to be a tall circus clown kinda freak.

Highlights: Barriers. Felt good. Run up, all but the last lap in the first race and then the 2nd and 3rd to the last time up in the second race felt strong. The 1/2 pipe section or whatever it was called with the steep hill to go up i cleaned it all but once. One dab. That was fun. Start of the Masters that big tree over by the Gazebo, ya know, well there was a big stack up, i came to rest doing a front wheel stand... felt like about 10 seconds... while the guys cleared out in front, i set the rear down... wiggled around a bit, and rode through. No dab (meaning no foot down for those not familiar with the 'dab'). The starts. I didn't line up in front either race, but i lined up on the left. Looked like a better start line. Well. It was. Without really trying i put myself in the top 1/3 or so. That was cool. just not quite enough to stay there though. HR was pegged w/in 2-5% of my max for both races. Legs finally felt like they'd done something after the second race. And most happily. I remembered how to corner my big giant lumbering ent-like ass on grass. Lean? Nope dat don't work. Gotta body lean and steer. Ahh. I started doing that and NICE. Still need to start carrying a bit more speed but i stopped washing out a bit.

The second race my arms were feeling the fatigue through the root sections but the back was holding together and things were working. yes i was terrified of the downhill. I don't like downhills. But, somehow i was able to overcome it and ride down clean and neatly everytime. I lost more ground in the big grassy section than most others (along the front of the playground). But as it was, still damn fun.

Driving home it was the most positive post race feeling i coulda had. Awesome stuff.

Negatve. And there is always a bit of a dichotomy no? When i checked the data from the powertap all i can say is: Man i ain't got any power. Dropping the zeros out i was only putting ~3 w/kg watts average in the second race and 2.9 w/kg in the first. SuckerBrook numbers were a bit higher IIRC. But only by a 0.1 w/kg so i guess there is some consistency. But i didn't like having a great race, sure in the first race i was only in 21st place or something, pack fodder. And i KNOW i can go faster and i WILL be going faster as the season goes on, but seeing the numbers sort of floated a black cloud over me. And with last week and rumblings and an option for an affordable used Polar bike computer/HR monitor... The PowerTap is official for sale. Email me an make an offer. gewilli at gmail

I was sort of hoping riding in would have my muscles protesting. Nope. DAMNIT. So what is left? Muscles don't hurt (much). HR is pegged the whole time. The one area the last frontier. The Brain. Damn, that's the hardest to train (for me). That or i just need to shut it off.

It was cool this morning. In the 40s. sleeveless baselayer and armwarmers were my only concession to the cold. And even then, by the time we hit the city, my short sleeve jersey was unzipped. It felt great.

A big hearty thanks to the Officials and NorEast Cycling for a first class Event. Esp Brian Croteau.

peace
G