Monday
Swam a 1500. Felt really good. Kind of missing the pool. Ran at lunch. It was so nice outside!
Tuesday
Went to the GAS skills practice. We ended up playing capture the flag until it was very dark. It was a fun little game. I really think these practices have helped improve my bike handling. Was freezing cold out and our toes and fingers were numb, but rallied and put on my running shoes and got in 20 minutes.
Wed.
Crazy day at work! Gave 90 mice bone marrow transplants. Got out on a ride ~530. Got in a good warm up then went over to the GAS practice. They were doing their thing so I did mine. It started getting dark on the last few 10 on 20 off. I couldn't see very well. Hard to do hard efforts when it is dark.
Thursday
Ran at lunch. It was nice out and fun to be on the trails for a little bit. Did the ride on the trainer. Didn't want to, but with MuleCross organization didn't have time to get out before it got dark. Rode for an hour.
Friday
Got out of work a little early and went down to the MuleCross course. Rode a few laps and called it good. Had lots of work to do for the race.
Sat.
Got up early and got down to the venue. Got the kids race lined out and went home to put on my costume. Did the kids race. Barely had time to eat a little and get warmed up for our race. Nobody else did either, so okay. Didn't have the heart to not race hard. Felt really good and was right on Lisas tail for 3 or so laps. Anna was on my tail, but I was able to ride the big hill and she wasn't. Kept gapping her there. With 1/2 lap to go I came up to Mariah Morgan, a junior. I sort of stalled on a corner to let Mariah get around and Anna cut me off on the inside. I thought it was a little dirty (she did recognize that and apologized, but still). I kind of lost heart after that or thought, well I will just save my energy for tomorrow. Ended up in 3rd. Felt really good for this race.
Sun.
Was ready to race. Like you said. Last Chance to Dance. It was hard to warm up and ride the course. Only got 1 pieced together lap of the course before race start. The course had a big burm in it that we rode/ran over 3 times. One of the ride overs was a slight drop off but had a nice landing. Took a few tries and some guts to get over it the first time. Did it and was fine. There was also a B line, but didn't even ride it once. Got a good start and was riding the first lap with Lisa and Lindsy. On lap 2 passed Lindsy, but was then pulling her, Anna, and Ingrid around. On lap 3 we were still all together. On a little barrier section somebody hit their bike on mine and my chain dropped below the chain guard. It is hard to get back on and it took me a few seconds. Those 3 girls were gone. The course was really long and we only had two laps left. I tried to ride as hard as I could to finish up the race, but it was challenging. With nobody around I had nothing to really ride for.
Kind of a disappointing end to the season. Really felt like I had peaked for this weekend. Was riding within my limit and staying pretty close to Lisa. I would have liked to see how Sundays race would have played out. I think I could have given Anna a run for her money. It's okay though, thats cross. Had a great season doing it. Now, I want that SSCXW tattoo. Just kidding.
10/31/2011
10/24/2011
Week of Thunder!!
Tuesday
Went to the GAS skills practice. We did some fun games. You go on a mini course and try to pass people or not get passed. It was good. Worked on cornering and blocking (sounds dirty). Didn't put to much of an effort in.
Wed.
Got a nice warmup in then went to the park and tried to do the workout with everybody. It didn't work so well. They had a different agenda. I just stayed at the park and finished my stuff then went home. They went to the BMX track and then the Fairgrounds. MuleCross meeting at our house this night.
Thursday
Did a 20 minute noon run. It was sunny and warm. Felt nice to get out at lunch and see the fall colors in town.
Rode the CX bike at the MuleCross course for a couple of hours, with lots of stopping. Kept it easy, but practiced the pump track part and corners.
Friday
Rode around with the Curry's and Erik. Did some starts and a 5 minute blowout. Kept it easy other than that.
Sat.
Race Day
Prepped well. Didn't bring enough food and then got trapped at the course. Thanks to Brooke Smuts for the bagel and Matthew for the banana.
Feel good about the race. Lindsy cut my off at the start and I totally brake checked everybody else. Good for Lindsy, bad for me. Those girls were gone without me even seeing them. The tight corners and weird trails were difficult for me to navigate. Felt like my bike handling was off. Had to take advantage of my sprinting power and accelerate hard out of all the corners. Was a difficult race mentally because Lizzy English was on my tail the whole entire time. At one point the MC said I was the prey and she the predator. Ugh. I partly wanted to just let her go by. I didn't though and think I am developing some mental toughness this year. The last lap on the run-up there was this cluster fuck of 3 Cat4's and Lizzie and me. She got around me there and then the Cat 4's were getting in my way. I rode like mad to get back on her tail and almost took Jen out on the last little downhill to the trail. Got around the corner and I knew I could sprint. That line came fast though. It was tough.
Feel good about how I rode and glad I stayed on the podium with a sprint finish. Lizzie won the most aggressive prize which was a lot more money though. Makes me think..... Nevermind.
Sunday
Everybody was racing. I didn't. Feel like I got a lot of shit for it. Oh well. Did a nice ride. Found Blue Mountain and did a little loop. Rode back by the river. The colors were soooo nice. I really like Missoula. It has a lot more pockets of coolness than Bozeman.
Monday
Swam at lunch.
Am going to do a little run after work.
Had to change up the order- had something to do from 5-6.
Went to the GAS skills practice. We did some fun games. You go on a mini course and try to pass people or not get passed. It was good. Worked on cornering and blocking (sounds dirty). Didn't put to much of an effort in.
Wed.
Got a nice warmup in then went to the park and tried to do the workout with everybody. It didn't work so well. They had a different agenda. I just stayed at the park and finished my stuff then went home. They went to the BMX track and then the Fairgrounds. MuleCross meeting at our house this night.
Thursday
Did a 20 minute noon run. It was sunny and warm. Felt nice to get out at lunch and see the fall colors in town.
Rode the CX bike at the MuleCross course for a couple of hours, with lots of stopping. Kept it easy, but practiced the pump track part and corners.
Friday
Rode around with the Curry's and Erik. Did some starts and a 5 minute blowout. Kept it easy other than that.
Sat.
Race Day
Prepped well. Didn't bring enough food and then got trapped at the course. Thanks to Brooke Smuts for the bagel and Matthew for the banana.
Feel good about the race. Lindsy cut my off at the start and I totally brake checked everybody else. Good for Lindsy, bad for me. Those girls were gone without me even seeing them. The tight corners and weird trails were difficult for me to navigate. Felt like my bike handling was off. Had to take advantage of my sprinting power and accelerate hard out of all the corners. Was a difficult race mentally because Lizzy English was on my tail the whole entire time. At one point the MC said I was the prey and she the predator. Ugh. I partly wanted to just let her go by. I didn't though and think I am developing some mental toughness this year. The last lap on the run-up there was this cluster fuck of 3 Cat4's and Lizzie and me. She got around me there and then the Cat 4's were getting in my way. I rode like mad to get back on her tail and almost took Jen out on the last little downhill to the trail. Got around the corner and I knew I could sprint. That line came fast though. It was tough.
Feel good about how I rode and glad I stayed on the podium with a sprint finish. Lizzie won the most aggressive prize which was a lot more money though. Makes me think..... Nevermind.
Sunday
Everybody was racing. I didn't. Feel like I got a lot of shit for it. Oh well. Did a nice ride. Found Blue Mountain and did a little loop. Rode back by the river. The colors were soooo nice. I really like Missoula. It has a lot more pockets of coolness than Bozeman.
Monday
Swam at lunch.
Am going to do a little run after work.
Had to change up the order- had something to do from 5-6.
10/10/2011
10-6-11 thru 10-12-11
Wed.- Did the prescribed workout with the rest of the GAS team. We did 2 efforts up Story Hill. One took about 15 minutes. The other took about 10 minutes. I kept it at the prescribed pace. There isn't much around here that is a 20 minute hill/effort. Then went to the venue where the State Championship race will be. John had mapped out a route where there were lots of corners. The effort was probably more like 5 minutes. Did this 3 times. Having a hard time getting in the entire workout before it gets dark. Rode home in the dark.
Thursday
Did the run in the am. Felt good.
Was raining in the pm. Rode the TT bike on the trainer. Made plans for a beer with Jamie so that got cut a little short. Rode only about an hour. Did core for 30 minutes.
Friday
Was tired this am. Didn't make it out on the run. Weather was pretty crappy and raining all day. Erik, John, and Lisa motivated for a ride after work. Felt fine riding in the rain once I got warmed up. Have a little issue with the mt bike. Don't have a cassette for it. So haven't been able to ride it. Should I buy one, or can I get by on the cross bike?
Sat.
Felt really good in warm up. Raced hard! Worked harder than in any other race this year. Lindsy was working me. Gained on her but never caught her. 16 or so women in the cat 1,2,3 field and came in 5th. Fun race, good course, and good people. Spun around for at least 30 minutes.
Sun.
Felt like my skills were pretty bad warming up. There were tight corners all over the course. Once grassy section with little turns. Exactly what we practiced on Wed. Didn't feel especially spunky though. Got a good start and it took a while for Kris Walker to pass. I thought she was Lindsy and would accelerate to not let her pass. About half a lap in she was gone. Then Lindsy passed. Put in a lot of effort to stay on her tail, then spent a lap regrouping and catching my breath. Keep going out too hard to sustain. Maybe lap 5 on a straight away I had caught up to Lindsy. I went for it and blew by her. Had to work to get rid of her but did. Good mental battle won today. Also finished 4th. Amanda Riley-Carey=1, Lisa=2, and Kris Walker=3. Tough field. Course today was fun. Worked really hard to accelerate hard out of all the corners. Wed. practice really payed off.
Note: My lower back has been hurting, usually the last two laps of a race, and at practice the other day doing the cornering and accelerating. Thoughts?
Still not sure what race I want to do better at. Both? I am pretty sure I will be disappointed if I don't give it a go at the State Championship. Have hometown advantage.
Mon.
Swim!
Thursday
Did the run in the am. Felt good.
Was raining in the pm. Rode the TT bike on the trainer. Made plans for a beer with Jamie so that got cut a little short. Rode only about an hour. Did core for 30 minutes.
Friday
Was tired this am. Didn't make it out on the run. Weather was pretty crappy and raining all day. Erik, John, and Lisa motivated for a ride after work. Felt fine riding in the rain once I got warmed up. Have a little issue with the mt bike. Don't have a cassette for it. So haven't been able to ride it. Should I buy one, or can I get by on the cross bike?
Sat.
Felt really good in warm up. Raced hard! Worked harder than in any other race this year. Lindsy was working me. Gained on her but never caught her. 16 or so women in the cat 1,2,3 field and came in 5th. Fun race, good course, and good people. Spun around for at least 30 minutes.
Sun.
Felt like my skills were pretty bad warming up. There were tight corners all over the course. Once grassy section with little turns. Exactly what we practiced on Wed. Didn't feel especially spunky though. Got a good start and it took a while for Kris Walker to pass. I thought she was Lindsy and would accelerate to not let her pass. About half a lap in she was gone. Then Lindsy passed. Put in a lot of effort to stay on her tail, then spent a lap regrouping and catching my breath. Keep going out too hard to sustain. Maybe lap 5 on a straight away I had caught up to Lindsy. I went for it and blew by her. Had to work to get rid of her but did. Good mental battle won today. Also finished 4th. Amanda Riley-Carey=1, Lisa=2, and Kris Walker=3. Tough field. Course today was fun. Worked really hard to accelerate hard out of all the corners. Wed. practice really payed off.
Note: My lower back has been hurting, usually the last two laps of a race, and at practice the other day doing the cornering and accelerating. Thoughts?
Still not sure what race I want to do better at. Both? I am pretty sure I will be disappointed if I don't give it a go at the State Championship. Have hometown advantage.
Mon.
Swim!
10/04/2011
9/29/11 thru 10/5/11
Thursday
Got out on the road, but rode the cross bike. Rode 1:30 but kept it very easy. Saw a orange tabby kitten. Bricked to a 30 minute run and did core. No comments here. My Achilles pain seems to be going away.
Friday
Got up in the morning and did a short run and the stretched. Felt really good. I am really tight in the hip area. Met up with Lisa after work and rode over to the course. Rode some of what they had already set up then rode up to Alex's for his birthday party. Up there, they set up a surprise cyclocross course in his back yard. Rode that lap a couple of times. Kept it easy.
Sat.
Not feeling too spunky to race today, but got over there pretty early and got in a good warm up. Practiced riding different lines of the course and dialed most of it in. The grassy corners where the barriers were I didn't ride enough though. Race-had a good start and lead up on top of the hill. Then got passed by everybody. Ugh. After resetting and and a little moral discussion in my head got back in the groove again. Passed Megan pretty fast and saw Lindsy speed up when she got close to Amy. Then passed Amy. Takes an untrained Amy for me to beat her. Had Lindsy in my sites the whole race but never caught her. I really think I need to work on mentally wanting to win, or at least pass her. Part of me doesn't want t deal with the suffering that will follow a Lindsy pass. My weakness on the course was probably the grassy turns. Didn't have much speed getting around the corners.
Sunday
Felt really good this morning. Again, got a good warm up. Practiced the grassy corners and found some good lines. Again, got a good start. Let Lisa get in front of me. Maybe I shouldn't do that. She said we had a gap on everybody else. Should have tried harder to stay on her wheel. She was so fast though, just gone. Then everybody passed me again. Had to re-group on lap 2 because I was a little demoralized. Stayed so close to Lindsy until lap 6. Got demoralized again. Then had a good lap 7. Not sure what part of the course I lost time on for this race, the trail around the lake was tougher today and was always dying by the last corner. Could not stay on Lindsy's wheel on that trail, I stood up to keep on her wheel and my legs just died. It seems like short bursty efforts are too much for me. Can't keep going.
(a little wordy here. Trying to figure out what I think are my weaknesses)
Monday
Swam- 1500. Felt good to be in the water. Felt pretty good all day. Legs weren't especially tired. After swim though, I was done for. Slept good.
Tuesday
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
