Blood test, EKGs, and KY mtn bike racing.......
Since the last post, much has happen; the seasons are beginning to change, racing is getting underway, fitness may be coming around, and lots of questions have been answered. I have officially been in denial since my 1st pro race last year in at the NMBS in Fountain Hill, AZ. The 25 hrs of straight driving combined with racing at that level in extreme heat followed by a recovery day of blistering the marathon course and a rest week of heading to Durango to ride the "oh so flat" Durango to Silverton century. Yeah I officially shattered 30 beats off my max heart rate from the day of the race and I officially haven't seen over 180 bpm since. I finally gave in last week and visiting Vandy for a little testing. Believe it or not the blood tests, EKGs, peak flow, and all else turned back great. Good news I guess, but now I'm left with several specialist's names and a big question mark.
With all this in the works, I was considering taking the next couple mths off the bikes and simply focus on running a little since I will be running the Music City in April. Luckily this last weekend, my friend Travis took me out and did his best to break my previous HR threshold. Mission accomplished; to an extent with a whopping 183. This was good so I decided to take my chances and head to Youngers Creek, KY this weekend for the 1st race in the KYMBA pts series.
Saturday started with a TT on a 4 mile course. We had a chance to put in two runs and the best time posted won. I walked into this weekend feeling unsure, unfit, and unconfident. As I told my travel partner I felt bad, he replied...."the last time you said that, you killed it!" Little did I know that after taking a few warm-up laps and sending my teammate Dustin off as my "rabbit," I would come back with the new course record of 19:15. I luckily posted the fastest time, and after several made valiant attempts to crack it, I decided to head out for another. Why not? I came to ride my mtn bike and it was a fun course. I had nothing to lose but a little energy for Sundays XC. The second lap was a mere 2 seconds faster even with a wreck. My mentality and doubts were being washed away. Something must be firing right even if my HR doesn't rise into the past maxes of 206 bpm. But if I can somehow figure out how to get those 20 beats back...whew. I am ready to roll.
Now on to Sundays XC. We unluckily were blessed by 20 degree weather on start time which was a drastic change from the 82 high that I experienced in Nashville last weekend. Oh well the race must go on. I knew I had to check myself today to see if I could lay down that kind of power for a long race b/c we were laboring 3-11 mile laps....and this place wasn't actually flat. I guess that is why it was named the Switchback Attack. Off the start I knew I must get in top five to start the climb so I wouldn't get bottlenecked in the switchbacks within the 1st mile. It worked...holeshot and I was in the lead setting the pace. At the top I had created a gap after the 3rd rider, so I settled into my groove. Before I knew it there was only one with me and then the accordian started to happen on 2nd place. I noticed about a 20 second gap and I was feeling great and making more time when I noticed that the freshly cut section of briar ridden trail had caused me to pick up a thorn. There goes my lead as I dismount and go straight to fixin! Bad luck kept flowin as my CO2 gave me nothing but freezing cold liquid that froze my gloves to the spokes, but kind fellow racers tossed me an extra after about 10 people passing me. I was on my way playing "catch up" now. 2 laps to go and I started reeling riders in. I felt great as I moved from double digits back into 3rd on the last lap. I may not have won on paper but the lap times I put down were impressive and that is all I needed mentally to get me on my game.
No time off the bike for me right now! It's recover up and get ready for the local SERC #2 at Chickasaw in Columbia this weekend. Racing season underway and looking forward to whatever it brings my way.
Since the last post, much has happen; the seasons are beginning to change, racing is getting underway, fitness may be coming around, and lots of questions have been answered. I have officially been in denial since my 1st pro race last year in at the NMBS in Fountain Hill, AZ. The 25 hrs of straight driving combined with racing at that level in extreme heat followed by a recovery day of blistering the marathon course and a rest week of heading to Durango to ride the "oh so flat" Durango to Silverton century. Yeah I officially shattered 30 beats off my max heart rate from the day of the race and I officially haven't seen over 180 bpm since. I finally gave in last week and visiting Vandy for a little testing. Believe it or not the blood tests, EKGs, peak flow, and all else turned back great. Good news I guess, but now I'm left with several specialist's names and a big question mark.
With all this in the works, I was considering taking the next couple mths off the bikes and simply focus on running a little since I will be running the Music City in April. Luckily this last weekend, my friend Travis took me out and did his best to break my previous HR threshold. Mission accomplished; to an extent with a whopping 183. This was good so I decided to take my chances and head to Youngers Creek, KY this weekend for the 1st race in the KYMBA pts series.
Saturday started with a TT on a 4 mile course. We had a chance to put in two runs and the best time posted won. I walked into this weekend feeling unsure, unfit, and unconfident. As I told my travel partner I felt bad, he replied...."the last time you said that, you killed it!" Little did I know that after taking a few warm-up laps and sending my teammate Dustin off as my "rabbit," I would come back with the new course record of 19:15. I luckily posted the fastest time, and after several made valiant attempts to crack it, I decided to head out for another. Why not? I came to ride my mtn bike and it was a fun course. I had nothing to lose but a little energy for Sundays XC. The second lap was a mere 2 seconds faster even with a wreck. My mentality and doubts were being washed away. Something must be firing right even if my HR doesn't rise into the past maxes of 206 bpm. But if I can somehow figure out how to get those 20 beats back...whew. I am ready to roll.
Now on to Sundays XC. We unluckily were blessed by 20 degree weather on start time which was a drastic change from the 82 high that I experienced in Nashville last weekend. Oh well the race must go on. I knew I had to check myself today to see if I could lay down that kind of power for a long race b/c we were laboring 3-11 mile laps....and this place wasn't actually flat. I guess that is why it was named the Switchback Attack. Off the start I knew I must get in top five to start the climb so I wouldn't get bottlenecked in the switchbacks within the 1st mile. It worked...holeshot and I was in the lead setting the pace. At the top I had created a gap after the 3rd rider, so I settled into my groove. Before I knew it there was only one with me and then the accordian started to happen on 2nd place. I noticed about a 20 second gap and I was feeling great and making more time when I noticed that the freshly cut section of briar ridden trail had caused me to pick up a thorn. There goes my lead as I dismount and go straight to fixin! Bad luck kept flowin as my CO2 gave me nothing but freezing cold liquid that froze my gloves to the spokes, but kind fellow racers tossed me an extra after about 10 people passing me. I was on my way playing "catch up" now. 2 laps to go and I started reeling riders in. I felt great as I moved from double digits back into 3rd on the last lap. I may not have won on paper but the lap times I put down were impressive and that is all I needed mentally to get me on my game.
No time off the bike for me right now! It's recover up and get ready for the local SERC #2 at Chickasaw in Columbia this weekend. Racing season underway and looking forward to whatever it brings my way.
posted by Unknown at 7:12 PM
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