A Weekend of Records

Not good ones though.

After Saturday's MTB race and getting stitched up, I had a bunch of work to do to get my TT bike ready for today's Desert Duathlon. I had some shifter issues, some tire pressure issues, some new wheel issues etc etc....oh yeah, and of course, I had to run by Focus Cyclery and pick up some new cleats & 3-hole cleat adapters for my Crank Brothers pedals (if you haven't read my last post, my cleats broke, again).

Finally, I got to bed...sort of. After a fast and hard MTB crash your body will be wrecked in all sorts of ways. Mine was/is no different. Getting up at 5am for today's race came way too quickly.

I'll cut to the chase. The race. I mustered the needed energy at the start line. Within the first 1/2 mile I was in the front with a couple of followers (30-39 age group started together...yes, I am 30 now). Sweet. Once the false flat hit, I picked it up. Less noise behind me. After about 1 mile I was solo catching all the 20-29 yr olds. I felt great.

Into transition I came totally pumped to hop on the bike and crush it. I really wanted to see how I faired against the elites. Well, that feeling faded within about 3 pedal strokes on my bike.

BROKEN CLEAT AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN (3x now). No, this wasn't an Xterra. No, this wasn't a MTB race. The race was on the road. I don't know what the deal is. I put on all NEW hardware last night. It's not me. Needless to say....new shoes and pedals are in my VERY NEAR future.

Two of my early season goals were to 1) get upgraded to Cat 1 on the MTB by now and 2) win my Age Group at today's Desert Duathlon. Both, failed due to broken cleats. I am realistic though. Yeah anything can happen and you don't win until you win, but I know where my fitness is, how I felt during the races, my position and know that I would have achieved both of these goals.

Next. PLEASE!

MBAA Hedghog Hustle Results - I CRASHED

Check the results here.

Argh. Got the hole-shot, traded off 1st once, then regained the lead for the back, technical half of the first lap and kept it until the technical half of the second and final lap.

Then I decided to go over my bars and face plant. Aside from a smashed lip that required couple of stitches and a bruised and scratched cheek, I was totally hopping back on to finish what I had started....then....I realized I rip the cleat off my shoe again! AGAIN!

If any one's wondering what my peddle set-up is, I ride Crank Brothers. BUT, this has not been a Crank Brothers thing at all! I love their peddles. Have then on the MTB and road bikes. It's a ME thing. I've been racing in road shoes. I like the way they feel and they work just fine for Xterra. But, I've learned twice now that they just aren't cut out for legit MTB racing. No Duh, right?

I'm in the market for some new MTB shoes. I don't like the ones I have, obviously.

We're off to the Desert Duathlon now. The bike is pretty much dialed (never know with TT bikes I've found) and I am pretty confident about being able to go fast.

Payback for yesterday.

MBAA Hedgehog Hustle & Desert Duathlon

I have two races coming up this weekend. I am VERY excited and pumped to do both.

Saturday is the MBAA Hedgehog Hustle MTB race. This is the 3^rd race of the series. The 1^st race I DNS’d due to some family stuff. The 2^nd race I DNF’d due to clipping a rock and ripping the cleat off my shoe. My goal for this race is to a) show up on the start line, b) finish the race and c) go really fast.

Sunday is the Desert Classic Duathlon. This will be my 3^rd time doing this race and it’s a blast. 3.5mile trail run / 40k road bike TT / 2mile trail run. Trisports is hooking me up with a pair of Zipp wheels. Zipp 404 on the front and a Zipp Sub-9 Disc w/PowerTap on the rear. My goal is to do 1:30...or better.

Morning Group Rides in Mesa

Yet another reason I love where I live are the morning group rides.  6 days a week, year round there is a group that goes out on the road bikes at 5am.  So far this year I have been doing the Wednesday and Friday rides.  The routes vary a little and the W/F rides are typically the faster rides with the most climbing.  They offer a lot of intensity, more Wednesdays than Fridays, so I have to be "careful" how they impact my overall training plan, but the motivation is great.  On a day like today, with two races coming up this weekend, I opted for the 1:20 version of the ride vs. the 1:50 version of the ride that I typically do.  Today I missed out on an additional 8min/350w climb and two 1.5min/500w climbs.  Trust me, I got enough intensity.  The 1:20 version has 2x1.5min/500w effort climbs and a 4mile/15min/300w effort climb  In between the short and long climbs is a fairly flat stretch of road that typically has some wind and ends up being strung-out after everyone having been softened up by the short climbs. 

 

Yeah it's cold and dark, but LONG LIVE THE MORNING RIDE!

Lost Dutchman 10k Results

36:00 according to my Garmin. 5:45 avg pace. Good enough for 2nd overall. The course was pretty much flat with a couple of rollers. It was about 38 degrees at the start. I am not a hardcore road racer, so I didn't rock the singlet top and shorts. I wore a beanie hat, two shirts, fleece-lined pants and gloves. The first place guy led the entire time and I was in second the entire time. In hindsight, I should have jumped on his shoulder right away. I forget that running races are not like bike races. Gaps are tough to close. Little by little, he got away. Who knows if I could have stayed with him or not. I love trail running/racing, but road races do teach pacing and mind control due to the long, boring stretches of road. Results posted here. Will be hitting the pool for 3500m later today.

5.5% Improvement in 20 Days

Just got back from a 4hr, 70mile road ride with 5,500ft of climbing. I rolled the whole time with Travis who consistently crushes me. Part of the ride we were accompanied by a couple of pros from Four Unity Racing. The regularly get on the pro podium irrespective of discipline, MTB, cross, road.

Prior to the turnaround there is a ~20min climb. My avg power today was 5.5% better than 20 days ago up the same climb (where I felt super strong). Then, unlike 20 days ago, we turned around after descending from the climb and hit it again. Avg power once again bested the results from 20 days ago. Not quite as fast, but good regardless.

My hips/butt are really baked. I've been doing hard runs and hitting the strength training with quality and today's ride was the icing on the cake....legs are DONE!

Tomorrow should be interesting. I am doing a road race 10k.

Recovery drink - check.
Recovery tights - check.
Recovery meal - check.
Recovery nap - check.

Something(s) New is Coming - Kuota