Did the plan work?
There were a number of motivations (objectives is perhaps too strong) for Saturday's TT
- prelude to the next tri, to try to develop a more informed pacing strategy.
- to work out whether my bike hill blitz had made any positive impact
- to get a second 25 in for the forum users bar (FUBAR)
- to capitalise on the fine weather before it ran out. This year has been particularly fast for TTs.
Theoretically, it takes three weeks for adaptations to complete after a hard training load. However, you start to notice the benefits beforehand, especially if you aren't that fit beforehand.
The strategy was climb the 8.800m over the seven days. Then have 7 days off the bike. While reintroducing an element of running. And doing a similar blitz on the swimming.
However, I was knackered. Only managed a couple of swims, and coupled with a long commute, by Wednesday I was starting to get really tired. Resting hr was well up - I was either fatigued or coming down with something. Binned the swim sessions on Thursday and Friday to try to recover.
By Saturday, the hr was almost down to normal levels.
Another objective was to test out the speedfil - which means fitting it and cutting it to size now I am just about happy with the position on the bike. Of course, this didn't happen, as I ended up getting home far too late to have any time for messing about. And I didn't want to get into a maundering situation on a Saturday morning.
The TTs that I did in Feb and April were plagued with awful weather. In the 25 I did a long 7. Three guys that did a 6, 8 and 9 all did another TT the following weekend, and did 1s and 2s. I felt that I had missed out a bit.
So, fine weather, a faster course, some intensive work in the legs, and I was hoping for something a big special.
Special turned out to be a full on storm. Oh well.
And the course was changed at the last minute as it was felt that the old one was a bit too dangerous (involved negotiating the busy motorway junction).
A nice hq at a cafe that had been commandeered for the day. A 6 mile ride out to the start though. I had driven through the storm on the way over the hills, but by the time I got to the venue, and reached the other side. But only, just, as it was closing in.
The edge of the storm meant that the wind was all over the place. Rather than sitting on the turbo in the car park, I used a low gear to spin out to the start - get the hr up, but not too tiring on the legs. And noticed that I covered a mile in 2:11 (25 mph is 2:24, 30mph is 2:00)!
I got to the start with 10 mins to spare. 8 minutes later the storm arrived. I was a bit wet and cold when I came to start.
The course was now up to a roundabout, turn, back to the roundabout at the start, and repeat.
Off we go. What has happened? In the eye if the storm, the wind had dropped completely. The rain was coming down almost vertically. It was just swirly. Lot of rain, thunder, lightening, water about 3 inches deep. No chance of aquaplaning on a bike though
. The storm based over when I was half way down the return leg. And the went then went crazy. It was like pedalling into a wall. Round the turn and now the wind was behind. Spinning out my 53x12. Could keep at 30mph without trying too hard. But with 6 miles into the head wind, this was no time to be taking it easy. Pedal and spin.
Took the turns very carefully. Great bunch of marshals "it's character building" during the storm. Then lots of glee as you turned into the headwind.
It was hard work. 2 miles to go and a 4 was in sight - if only I could do 2:50 for each mile. Not a chance. Mile 24 was done in over 3 minutes. Mile 25 was a little better. 1:05:26.
Points to note: I was number 43. I expected 45 to catch me at about 7 minutes as this usually happens. He didn't catch me until about 25 minutes. I expected 50 to catch me about half way. He didn't until about 45 minutes. I also caught a few people (mainly because of the 2 lap nature of the course). I caught 39 just before the half way point - but he packed at the turn. It's nice catching people as you know you won't be last. Except when they give up shortly after. Still, all this represented progress.
So. Did the plan work?
On an awful day (won on a 54) when everyone went back by at least a minute or their recent times, I moved my Pb on by nearly 2.5 minutes. Definitely something to be pleased about.
Might put an entry in for the slowest riders event in 24th - as I need a 10 time still. But not sure if that is really the right thing prior to the HIM.