Glad you were pleased with your race. First race under 5:00 is a big deal!
But you're one of the EN studs and like to lead by example...so I think a good-natured call-out is fair, even if it might not be. :-)
Why did you chose to manage this race the way you did? Why on earth would you do that big a week right before a HIM? Why do you overtly choose not to drive the bike course? Those are just totally unnecessary execution errors. If it was just a training day, why do the HIM at all? Ultimately, aren't we measuring our (racing) selves by racing? The smart execution would have been to take at least a few easy days first, race hard, take a few days to recover, and then be completely ready for the upcoming WI camp next week...and crush it. Even the honey badger has to rest a bit to have a top result.
As to the race itself, I'll give you the swim and T1 because of the conditions. The 1.04 VI the bike sounds good (although I didn't know it was that hilly), but you did the last 5 miles near FTP? Seems like that's just another invitation for a problem. And you gave away 3 places in T2 that 10 seconds and a thin pair of socks in T1 would have solved.
In the OS, you ran a 1:27 half marathon on a TRAINING DAY. You were running 10 or more miles of threshold intervals at something fairly consistent with that! Prepare for this race right, and you could have run a sub 90. 1:43 on a nice day?? I honestly think you can do better!
On the other hand, Wed or Thur after the race, you were doing two hard training rides AND a long run...which implies that you left something on the course...at least most of us aren't riding hard (much less running on the same day) until AT LEAST Saturday after a hard HIM.
Seems to me you ought to be able to not just get under 5:00 but CRUSH it. Like closer to 4:30 than to 5:00.
I saw you say somewhere you wanted to beat your IMOO time this year, (barring weather) but you should beat it by half an hour.
I hope I'm not out of line...you had an awesome achievement (getting under 5:00) for the first time... it's just we all know how hard you work..and maybe you could perform even better if you played it a little differently. Aim high for races, not just training!
I know this is a little nontraditional thing to say on a RR, but I hope it's taken in the way it's meant: encouraging one of my teammates to do the best he possibly can! :-)
Thanks for the kind words !! Check Mate!! You are absolutely right on all accounts BUT for me I am following the advise of two different biking coaches and tried to incorporate them all into one. I knew a couple months ago that this was going to be a tough race for me cause I was not going to be tapered and would suffer on the run so it is no big suprise the time I laid down but I was still happy. The last 4 miles were varly simple and with moderate effort. Hind sight is always 20/20 and yes I left some in the tank.
Yes it was treated like a mini big day for me - as the local bike coach called it BUT I still enjoyed it and the competitive side of me came out and I wanted more. I was a bit frustrated that I didnt hit 4:45 but in the end I have to trust the plan that is laid out for me knowing the end goals are Ironman's Wisconsin and Cozumel.
My training is over the top and very aggressive this year but I have also been able for the most part to listen very closely to my body but have also been able to break through a few barriers I have been stuck on or plateued on for the past couple of years.
Good meeting you last week...look forward to the chance to talk more this weekend.
Your bike was incredible. The second split time was in the same ballpark as the first, which wasn't true for any of the splits I saw...even the Pros. That said....I have to agree with William. Based on the numbers I see you putting up in training there is no reason I should be 12 minutes in front of you. I'm sure with the appropriate taper you'll be hitting on all cylinders for IMMOO
Cograts on sub-5. But I do agree with the above - based the reports of your epic training sessions you could be a lot faster on that course, tapered or not. Even with a 40 minute swim you could be close to 4:40 and with better swim conditions I'd guess 4:35 or so. I think your aggressive training sessions may have bled into the racing since a 1.04 VI on the Racine course for a good executer could be down to 1.02 or less. I'm sure in IMWI you will execute by the book since it is your AAA race. On the run I might suggest the opposite, i.e. I wouldn't expect running 6:45s to be problematic given that the training numbers you've posted would imply an MP of around 6:55. So one idea could be to try out Coach P's "racing the run with HR" and seeing if letting yourself come out of the gate a little faster would net you some more time. In any case I realize this wasn't your goal race so I'm sure you'll put on the full-on ninja suit for IMWI! Cheers, Matt.
Comments
But you're one of the EN studs and like to lead by example...so I think a good-natured call-out is fair, even if it might not be. :-)
Why did you chose to manage this race the way you did? Why on earth would you do that big a week right before a HIM? Why do you overtly choose not to drive the bike course? Those are just totally unnecessary execution errors. If it was just a training day, why do the HIM at all? Ultimately, aren't we measuring our (racing) selves by racing? The smart execution would have been to take at least a few easy days first, race hard, take a few days to recover, and then be completely ready for the upcoming WI camp next week...and crush it. Even the honey badger has to rest a bit to have a top result.
As to the race itself, I'll give you the swim and T1 because of the conditions. The 1.04 VI the bike sounds good (although I didn't know it was that hilly), but you did the last 5 miles near FTP? Seems like that's just another invitation for a problem. And you gave away 3 places in T2 that 10 seconds and a thin pair of socks in T1 would have solved.
In the OS, you ran a 1:27 half marathon on a TRAINING DAY. You were running 10 or more miles of threshold intervals at something fairly consistent with that! Prepare for this race right, and you could have run a sub 90. 1:43 on a nice day?? I honestly think you can do better!
On the other hand, Wed or Thur after the race, you were doing two hard training rides AND a long run...which implies that you left something on the course...at least most of us aren't riding hard (much less running on the same day) until AT LEAST Saturday after a hard HIM.
Seems to me you ought to be able to not just get under 5:00 but CRUSH it. Like closer to 4:30 than to 5:00.
I saw you say somewhere you wanted to beat your IMOO time this year, (barring weather) but you should beat it by half an hour.
I hope I'm not out of line...you had an awesome achievement (getting under 5:00) for the first time... it's just we all know how hard you work..and maybe you could perform even better if you played it a little differently. Aim high for races, not just training!
I know this is a little nontraditional thing to say on a RR, but I hope it's taken in the way it's meant: encouraging one of my teammates to do the best he possibly can! :-)
Thanks for the kind words
Yes it was treated like a mini big day for me - as the local bike coach called it BUT I still enjoyed it and the competitive side of me came out and I wanted more. I was a bit frustrated that I didnt hit 4:45 but in the end I have to trust the plan that is laid out for me knowing the end goals are Ironman's Wisconsin and Cozumel.
My training is over the top and very aggressive this year but I have also been able for the most part to listen very closely to my body but have also been able to break through a few barriers I have been stuck on or plateued on for the past couple of years.
Carl
Your bike was incredible. The second split time was in the same ballpark as the first, which wasn't true for any of the splits I saw...even the Pros. That said....I have to agree with William. Based on the numbers I see you putting up in training there is no reason I should be 12 minutes in front of you. I'm sure with the appropriate taper you'll be hitting on all cylinders for IMMOO