Switching Gears

I am getting geared up for Race the Lake on August 21st. This is a 90 miles road race around Lake Winnebago. This will be the third year that I will be doing it, I like this race a lot, I think it is really FUN! I like it because the field size is huge and it reminds me of a Pro tour stage, because it is cyclists from should to center line with 100 plus racers in the first wave. It is such a rush the feeling you get from being in such a big group and just being pulled along in the draft.

So, my training has changed a bit and I have been putting in longer rides especially on the weekends.

I have not been racing and it feels like my last race has been forever ago. The last race I did do was the State Criterium Championship. I am going to keep trying to get long rides in on the weekend and get some good recovery during the week. I am actually going to pre-ride the course on Saturday, looks to be a good weekend for riding.

Later

WI State Criterium Championship

The state criterium championship was held in Menomonee Falls this and it was a super flat course with wide corners (4). The race fl yer says it was 1.1 miles long, but I beg to differ. The temperatures where hi and the winds were light.

I decided to race the M3/4 and go for the title. I had many team mates in the race that where willing to help me out and boy they did. They chanced down any breaks and kept taking me towards the front. I had a huge piece of mind knowing that I had all this support. The goal was to have a finishing sprint and have me up towards the front and have a blue train string it out with 2 laps to go. In my eyes we succeeded very well, but lost horsepower with 1/4 lap left. I was not in perfect position, but I did feel very strong (didn't have to do much work in the field).

I finished 6th overall, passing many on the long finishing straight. I won my age bracket 30-34, but this is bitter sweet. I was the only 30-34 racer, everyone else was 35 and older, wtf? I still had a lot of fun and it was great for the team fundamentals. I also got to put on the State Champion Jersey and get a picture on the podium!

Up-coming, keep my training going and pick and choose races according to time,money, and what my wife wants to do. There is one race that I am looking forward to having good form in and that is Race the Lake in August. So, not sure when I will blog next, may be after Race the Lake, but probably sooner.

Later