Cambridge Training Ride Sun 4/18/10
Hey all,
I know at least some of you are in the VA/MD/DC area... or otherwise within a tolerable driving distance from Cambridge. Some of my fellow DC Tri Clubbers are heading out to Cambridge for a training ride next Sunday morning (as far as I know, the time hasn't been set, but I'm guessing they're shooting to start around 8am).
Since my weekend long rides typically have a 3:00 outdoor option (although of course for me next week it's 2:30), I figured I could give it a go. It will be my first outdoor ride of the season - I'm somewhat confident my hand can handle it (riding my TT is much easier and the Cambridge course is flat with few turns)... I'm gonna try to stick to the set workout (but I don't know if it's 30/30's or not) - with lots of remainder Z3 time.
I'm hoping to go back at least once more for a RR... hopefully by then I'll have listened to the race execution podcast... that date, and any others, to follow.
Let me know if you're game.
Comments
Becky-
Checking on my schedule, might be able to join you. Are you driving up in am or going to Cambridge sat night?
Thanks - didn't know the process... will do for next time!
Awesome, hope you can. I'll be heading over in the morning. If I remember correctly, it's about a 2 hour drive for me. Hope you can make it. I don't have my EN gear yet, so I won't be distinguishable that way. Heck, I don't even have my DC Tri gear - but if I can get it I'll likely be in that set up... in any event, let me know so I can keep my eyes out for you.
As for Sunday - meet at Great Marsh Park. We'll clip in at 8am! The DC Tri group looks like it will have somewhere in the 10-15 people range, so I suspect there will be plenty of folks at various paces. We typically go to the Panera in Easton afterwards to eat. Hope to see you there.
Becky- I plan on going. looking forward to it
If anyone was wondering, the Black Water Reserve is just as flat and windy as you remember!
Some DC tri folks have a few other training rides planned... the dates aren't coming to mind offhand... I think mother's day weekend, and perhaps Saturday 5/22... I'll keep you posted when I figure it out and have had the chance to look at the HIM plan (I start it next week for 6 weeks). I'd like to do a ride memorial day sunday if it works out... maybe even a RR...
LOL... jeez, sorry to disappoint, coach!
In my defense, I did post a post-ride update in my Jan OS thread and in the women's thread... so here's my story. Suzanne posted a post-ride EN Chicas pic (and a fellow tri clubber did a group pre-ride shot), I'll see if I can figure out how to copy and paste them.
So, as some of my fellow Jan OS'ers know, today was my first outdoor ride since my January surgery (and probably only my 4th ride since my crash at the end of August)... and....I survived! With the coaches' blessing, I scrapped the set workout plan and even the RR sort of ride plan and just rode to try to get my mojo back.
As some of you know, Cambridge (the Eagleman course) can be windy and today was wind like I've never known... seriously, how is it possible to turn right into a headwind then turn left into a headwind, then turn around into a headwind? NEVER a tail wind. It just baffles me and, I must admit, I don't think it's fair!
Anyway, I digress... as I feared, my bike handling was in the toilet... worse that I would have hoped for - when a cross wind would blow (which was a lot), it was hard for me to stay in aero. I probably rode up more than I rode aero - which was actually a bit better for my hand becuase I was holding onto my aero bars for dear life - my hands feel like they are permanently clenched... Looking at my Garmin numbers I did spend most of my time in Z3 or below, which is good, what the race plan calls for (and about 25 minutes in Z4). Actually, that surprised me bc the race execution plan is 30' in Z2, rest in Z3 with the goal of having a good run and I'm not sure if I had 13.1 running miles in me after that ride ... I did jog 2 and I felt like I was standing still (although I averaged a 9:30 pace which isn't too terrible for me to start a post-long ride run it felt like I was shuffling along at around 12:00...).
Today was not only physically tough because of the winds (although my legs felt okay during and afterwards)... but it was really mentally tough. I was freaked about riding in the first place, freaked I'd get blown over, freaked bc my handling skills sucked... but I stuck with it and ... drumroll... finished 2d in our group (granted there were 2 or 3 folks in the group who are better, but at least 1 of them stopped for 2 potty breaks)... I don't know my avg pace and honestly I don't care because the winds were brutal and I finished ahead of at least 3 people I know are very, very good riders. Granted, one (Suzanne Kinsky) got there too early and ran 6 miles before starting... but hey, I'll take it!
Tracy W, Suzanne K, Becky H - after braving the winds of the Black Water Reserve (photo courtesy of Suzanne)
DC Tri clubbers and EN Chicas getting ready to ride the EM course (if we look cold it's because we are!
(2nd and 3rd from left, Tracy W and Becky H. Suzanne K is in the day-glow vest!)