4/27/08 - Base Miles

Decided yesterday that I need a whole lot more saddle time. So today I went out for a nice base miles ride. Did 45 miles in total and tried to keep it in 3/4 HR Zone. Found it to be pretty difficult trying to keep in it HR Zone 3, but managed to do it for about 1 hr 15 min... So I felt good about that. My left quad is a bit tense as it was my longest solo ride of the season so far, but it's the first of many to come. Now it's time to stretch, watch Cyclism Sunday on the DVR and read the Cyclist's Training Bible (need to develop a plan!!).

Later -

Patrick

Sunday Recovery Ride

4/20/08 - Team Extreme Headquarters... Thriving Thiensville Wisconsin...

Went out for a nice recovery ride today with the mountain bike guys on the team. First ride that I did with them. I thought there would have been more roadies there as most of the road team had raced this past Saturday at Menomonee Park. It was a nice spin up to Cedar Creek and back. Nice moderate tempo. I was able to keep a nice HR Avg of 143. On the way back we did a few Stop Ahead Sprints. I saw Karrie go, but I didn't pick up on her wheel until too late and didn't get a good lead out. That was right before 60 on Horns Corners Road. I will have to work on my sprint in that section as it's perfectly flat and picturesque for a sprint (also close to the house!). I had another good sprint on a slight downhill section again on Horns Corner Road. Almost spun out of my 11 at 130rpm for top speed of 41.1 - thanks to the downhill. I have yet to really do an all out effort on a flat stretch. So probably this week. All in all it was a great little recovery ride to get the cob webs out from Saturday. Now it's time to hook up with Jim G. to develop a training plan!

Menomonee Park Criterium 4/19/08

Well, it seems appropriate that I begin my first blog entry on the same day that I had my first criterium race.

First off, it wasn't really a crit layout, more like a circuit race seeing that the course was 1.8 miles and one 90 degree turn; the rest was all slow curves.

Anyways... I prepared well the night before for the race having the Exploder packed and ready to roll in this morning. Smooth start to the day, but my nerves were kicking in hardcore regardless. I thought I was going to be sick on the way down to the course. Got to the parking lot at the quarry nice and early before my 9:45 start time, registered and began to warmup. I could feel my heart rate just going all sorts of crazy! I drank a ridiculous amount of water and tried to eat some fig newtons, but I was so freaking nervous my body was putting up a fight taking them down. I hopped on the trainer and began to warmup and was feeling okay. Got a good sweat going after about 35 minutes and then did a few warmup laps in the parking lot. I started to get a little cold as the sun went behind the clouds. This should have been my clue to start warming up harder, but I didn't; just kept going around in the parking lot just like everyone else... Ugh.

I make my way to the start line as the womens' race was finishing. Scope out a decent spot and scoot in. Next thing I know everyone is on top of me trying to squeeze their bike in this little tiny spot. Ah well, I just go with it and try to not let it affect my nerves.

OKAY HERE'S THE GOOD STUFF:

We get our instructions... No primes....and the whistle blows. Off to the races. I get clipped in and we're going balls out already. Come to a small small hill with a slight curve half way up. Some schlep isn't holding his line and nearly takes out a guy to my right and me. I was able to feather the brakes and veer slightly to the left and sprint to catch the wheel in front of me. Okay I'm hanging in mid pack. THIS IS AWESOME I'm thinking to myself. I can't described the rush any better than EUPHORIC. I'm mid pack, 52 other racers around me, going 28-30mph and stuff is just whizzing by. We make it around to the back side of the course and the pace is still freaking unbelievable. We are just hauling ass through these slow curves and nearly the whole field is all together. I'm stilling sitting mid pack as we come up to the only 90 degree turn. Shit did that come up fast, everyone one is braking hard as the turn comes up after a slow rise with a curve. Thing snuck up on everyone that first lap. I brake, coast and continue through the turn holding my line. One guy to the right and up one slot got cut off and ended up doing some off roading, but was able to get back on after losing quite a few spots.

Alright first lap done. Lap 2 the riders on the front pick it up going up the first hill again through the curve. I moved up to the front 1/3 of the field and hung on there for a bit. Got around to the slight incline before the 90 and moved to the rear 1/3 of the field. Lap 2 done and gone.

Lap 3 - Guess where the acceleration is again??? Hmm maybe the first hill with the curve?? Sure shit. And this time I get gapped off the back about 3 meters. I push it to get back on and gain some group and now sitting last wheel. Hill #2 on the backside is the next big surge. Gapped again. Dangit. And I can't get back on this time. I'm trying to bridge up to the field. Quad...cramping...feels like my muscle is pushing into my knee cap. I pulled at after Lap 3.

DNF. Better than DFL right? At least I think so.

Lessons Learned:

1.) Train harder!! Intervals!! Jim G. is going to help me with developing a training program and is going to help me work at gaining some more power. I already learned quite a bit from talking to him today while he was warming up for his Masters 4/5 race.

2.) Warm Up better next time. Go to the line slightly sweating, hopefully that'll alleviate the cramps.

3.) I'm going to bed... Maybe I'll finish my lessons later :-)

Later -

Patrick