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IMCDA RR#1

baprincebaprince
in Racing Forum 🏎

I was really looking forward to this past weekend's race rehearsal as a chance to see how my training and preparation are coming together.  Additionally, it was my first chance to try Inifinit as my sole nutrition source on a long ride.

I think the rehersal really started on Friday with my long swim, which I completed in 1:24.  I'm where I hoped to be but I still have a few weeks to improve.  It was, by far, the longest I've ever swam, so my confidence was up going into Saturday.

I found a nice flat course for the ride, to try and spend as much time in the aero bars as possible.  Since that doesn't really exist in Western PA, I ended up riding about an hour from home.  I mapped out the ride, putting a convenience store at mile 35, and on the out and back, I'd be seeing that same store somewhere between mile 65 and 76 (wasn't sure how far I would get). 

Friday night, we had a friend come back into town from Korea to defend her PhD dissertation, so we had to go out to dinner, but I still made it to bed by 11.  Up at 5:30 for a bagel with peanut butter, coffee water and a gatorade that I drank in car.

I loaded up the bike with two 3-hr bottle of Infinit and two water bottles.  I finally got rolling around 8am.

I had expected to go out 3 hours and come back three, but the tailwind I had got me out to mile 56 in 2:54, even though my normalized power was only 131 (targeting 137), with a VI of 1.05. 

I knew the speed was too good to be true, and I was torn at 50 miles about whether or not I should turn back to keep the ride to 6 hours.  I decided that it could only be good mentally to know I did the 112, even if it added some time to the ride.  And heck, maybe I do ride that fast! (I don't).

As soon as I turned around I realized the kind of help I had been getting from the wind.

Although my speed dropped to 15.4MPH on back half of the ride, my power stayed at 130 and a VI of 1.06. 

The whole ride took 6:34.  Nutrition worked out great and water breaks at the convenience store came right as I needed water both times.  At about 3 hours, my lower back and neck got really tight, and I was working hard to stay aero moving slowly into the headwind.

I took longer than I should have for the transition, but motivated to get out for the run.  I was pleasantly surprised with how slow my 9:30 miles felt, even with fatigued legs.

All in all, the day went well, boosted my confidence, and has me looking forward to IMCDA.

Comments

  • mrudy331mrudy331

    Thanks for the report.  Good job.

  • imc1792imc1792
    Sounds very successful. How did your infinit only on bike fair?
  • baprincebaprince
    I was very comfortable with infinit as my only nutrition. No cramping or GI issues. I haven't experimented with adding salt tablets, but I think I'm below the recommended sodium intake without them.

    My only complaint is that for a ride that long, a single source of nutrition gets a bit boring. I may have to mix it up a bit just to keep things interesting.
  • Nate ParadyNate Parady
    Good job at getting it done...I found that adding a Gu or Two helps to mix things up just a bit and for most people GU is a do no harm nutrition source.
  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Brett,

    Nice job on the RR completion.

    I have a route that I ride fairly consistently and have a very short loop (1 mile) at the start that allows me to gague the wind.  Last weekend I got out in just over and hour and 1:20 to get back.  Also when I see numbers in the 20's I know that I have to turn around earlier.

    As for the nutrition the GU or some gel is a good choice.  I can handle some solid food with the lower HR on the bike but have moved away from this in recent year the closer I get to races.  Last weekend I went out with a banana, ritz, gel and gatorade.  That will change shortly as I get my infinit order.

    Gordon

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