The other night I had the computer out and must have been looking very seriously at it and "hmmm"ing and "mm...mm"ing, because Dave asked me what I was studying.
A little sheepishly...."Oh, this website that compares your cross finishes and compares them with other people in your group. Did you know that there was a girl I raced in all three of my races and she beat me in the first two but I beat her last weekend?"
"Well, it's good to know you aren't obsessing over your results."
Now, that's funny. Does he even know me? And did he hear what I said!?
Tacchino
Friday, November 16, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Race Report - Schooley
Sunday morning the family accompanied me out to Maryland for what may be my last cyclocross race of 2012. The morning started cold, but got warmer and warmer until, in stages, I found myself at the starting line (second row) in shorts, a short jersey, and long gloves.
The prologue started up a hill on pavement and I figured it might be a hard day when I was feeling in the red zone by the time we passed the officials' tent the first time, about a minute into the race. But I got out in front of a few women with that sprint and mostly was able to hang onto that position.
Later in the first lap, I passed one or two other women, more on better handling than fitness, I think. For much of the rest of that lap and into the second (3 total this time) I was in sight of 1 to 4 women in front of me and even briefly passed one of them before she passed me back. At some point they pulled away however, and I was feeling kind of down. My exact self-talk was possibly, "I really stink* at this."
* Or other not so positive word.
Clearly mental toughness is a challenge.
But I pushed through the 3rd lap and even was trying to sprint the finish because I saw a biker up in front of me, but it turned out to be one of the girls from the Juniors wave that started right after us finishing her 2nd lap. It did give me the fulfilling feeling of having left it all out there, though. Particularly when Dave met me at the finish and felt the need to pull my gloves off for me, as I seemed to spent to do it myself.
In the end, I placed the best I have this season, 6th, (in an admittedly somewhat smaller field) and 30 seconds of the 5th place spot on the podium.
And I feel tempted to search out a 4th race now.
A good morning!
Concerns:
Um, the obvious: fitness & the ability to red line for the whole race. Or pace better. At about 12 minutes I looked at my watch and thought, ok - I guess this is how long I can go this hard for.
Warming up. I have not yet felt really warmed up at a race. I even got a lap of the course in this time by dragging the family out there 30 minutes earlier than usual, but it didn't do the trick. I see people riding trainers in the parking lot but I can't really see myself doing this. At this point. Maybe that is the secret, though.
Shifting again! It shouldn't take until the 3rd lap (4th total, if you count my warm up) for me to react to the spots where the course requires me to downshift for a steep unhill before it is right in front of me. Honestly!
The prologue started up a hill on pavement and I figured it might be a hard day when I was feeling in the red zone by the time we passed the officials' tent the first time, about a minute into the race. But I got out in front of a few women with that sprint and mostly was able to hang onto that position.
Later in the first lap, I passed one or two other women, more on better handling than fitness, I think. For much of the rest of that lap and into the second (3 total this time) I was in sight of 1 to 4 women in front of me and even briefly passed one of them before she passed me back. At some point they pulled away however, and I was feeling kind of down. My exact self-talk was possibly, "I really stink* at this."
* Or other not so positive word.
Clearly mental toughness is a challenge.
But I pushed through the 3rd lap and even was trying to sprint the finish because I saw a biker up in front of me, but it turned out to be one of the girls from the Juniors wave that started right after us finishing her 2nd lap. It did give me the fulfilling feeling of having left it all out there, though. Particularly when Dave met me at the finish and felt the need to pull my gloves off for me, as I seemed to spent to do it myself.
In the end, I placed the best I have this season, 6th, (in an admittedly somewhat smaller field) and 30 seconds of the 5th place spot on the podium.
And I feel tempted to search out a 4th race now.
A good morning!
Concerns:
Um, the obvious: fitness & the ability to red line for the whole race. Or pace better. At about 12 minutes I looked at my watch and thought, ok - I guess this is how long I can go this hard for.
Warming up. I have not yet felt really warmed up at a race. I even got a lap of the course in this time by dragging the family out there 30 minutes earlier than usual, but it didn't do the trick. I see people riding trainers in the parking lot but I can't really see myself doing this. At this point. Maybe that is the secret, though.
Shifting again! It shouldn't take until the 3rd lap (4th total, if you count my warm up) for me to react to the spots where the course requires me to downshift for a steep unhill before it is right in front of me. Honestly!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Singletrack
I owe a race report from yesterday, but that has to wait. Because today a "free" holiday. That is work was closed, but daycare was open. So how did I spend the one day per year that this happens?
(Well, all morning I did errands and did all the cleaning I always put off. Yes, I'm talking about vacuuming the stairs, cleaning bathrooms, bathroom mirrors, and bath toys-you get the idea. Let's skip to the afternoon: )
Fountainhead. (Mountain biking park, not Ayn Rand book.)
It was a gorgeous late fall day with temperatures in the high 60s, so I pulled out my mountain bike, unused these 9 months for some reason, and hit the new trails they have built at one of our local parks. Despite my legs being disproportionally fatigued last night in relation to the length of my cross race, biking definitely sounded like a good idea.
I can't think of a nicer way to spend such an afternoon than out in the woods, so this was perfect. Trails were swoopy and challenging, and it only took me a couple of miles to remember how the shifters on the mountain bike work.
Now I am going to have to find a way to get out there again soon.
(Well, all morning I did errands and did all the cleaning I always put off. Yes, I'm talking about vacuuming the stairs, cleaning bathrooms, bathroom mirrors, and bath toys-you get the idea. Let's skip to the afternoon: )
Fountainhead. (Mountain biking park, not Ayn Rand book.)
It was a gorgeous late fall day with temperatures in the high 60s, so I pulled out my mountain bike, unused these 9 months for some reason, and hit the new trails they have built at one of our local parks. Despite my legs being disproportionally fatigued last night in relation to the length of my cross race, biking definitely sounded like a good idea.
I can't think of a nicer way to spend such an afternoon than out in the woods, so this was perfect. Trails were swoopy and challenging, and it only took me a couple of miles to remember how the shifters on the mountain bike work.
Now I am going to have to find a way to get out there again soon.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Eating
In the past week I have not been happy with how my stomach feels. I haven't been sick or anything, I just have been feeling eh. Therefore, I have diagnosed myself as potentially maybe having some kind of allergy. Some adult onset allergy or intolerance? That happens, right? So, as an experiment, yesterday I started massively cutting back on gluten. My brother discovered a gluten intolerance later in life and says he felt much better after he stopped eating it.
Now, I am one of these people who loves bread. Toast for breakfast, toast for a snack, sandwiches, and that doesn't even count all the sneaky things gluten is in. But I had almost none yesterday (there was probably wheat in the crust of the farmer's market quiche I had for lunch), and I did not feel sick last night. This is hardly proof of anything and it may be that cutting bread just kept me eating a cleaner diet in general (and not availing myself of the pizza they served after my husband's race yesterday morning), but it isn't like I was totally clean. I had plenty of M&Ms at said race and Trader Joe's peanut butter cups upon returning home, but I am going to try to keep my gluten way down for the next couple of days and see how I feel.
What I really need to do, for the sake of speed and reclaiming my pre-baby wardrobe, is totally revamp my diet, but honestly, I can't figure out how to do it when trying to feed the munchkins and us and keep the house clean and get both of the adults in the household the workouts we need. Only how many years until the kids can be left alone in the house?
Now, I am one of these people who loves bread. Toast for breakfast, toast for a snack, sandwiches, and that doesn't even count all the sneaky things gluten is in. But I had almost none yesterday (there was probably wheat in the crust of the farmer's market quiche I had for lunch), and I did not feel sick last night. This is hardly proof of anything and it may be that cutting bread just kept me eating a cleaner diet in general (and not availing myself of the pizza they served after my husband's race yesterday morning), but it isn't like I was totally clean. I had plenty of M&Ms at said race and Trader Joe's peanut butter cups upon returning home, but I am going to try to keep my gluten way down for the next couple of days and see how I feel.
What I really need to do, for the sake of speed and reclaiming my pre-baby wardrobe, is totally revamp my diet, but honestly, I can't figure out how to do it when trying to feed the munchkins and us and keep the house clean and get both of the adults in the household the workouts we need. Only how many years until the kids can be left alone in the house?
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Yes!
Best longish run in a long time. 70 minutes isn't terribly long, but I was surprised to see a run this long on my 5k training plan that I am following this fall in my search to find a level of fitness I had before having kids.
(As I described before, I'm racing a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and then planning to spend the winter building up to a half marathon in March as well as five 5 mile trail races this spring. Lots of race reports coming in early 2012.)
But all that is neither here nor there. I definitely didn't have any improvements in sleep recently but I have been trying to be consistent with workouts even when life tries to get in the way. Plus, it was a stunning 50 degrees with almost no wind. Whatever it was, I'll take it.
(As I described before, I'm racing a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and then planning to spend the winter building up to a half marathon in March as well as five 5 mile trail races this spring. Lots of race reports coming in early 2012.)
But all that is neither here nor there. I definitely didn't have any improvements in sleep recently but I have been trying to be consistent with workouts even when life tries to get in the way. Plus, it was a stunning 50 degrees with almost no wind. Whatever it was, I'll take it.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Clinic
I went to a women's cyclocross clinic today. It was mid-day, which is tricky with family obligations--I would always rather just get out first thing and get it done--but I was glad I went. The crowd was a little big--I wasn't expecting 50 women, I don't know why--so I think it could have been better organized by splitting the group up by ability and experience instead of trying to go over all the basics and all the more advanced topics with everyone and then leading a group of 50 women from a standstill through the trickiest corners of the course, but I think I picked up some good pointers. Mostly about cornering. That is where I need a lot of work. A lot.
After 90 minutes of clinic (it was scheduled to last 90 minutes, but was continuing), I decided just to hop out and do a lap on the course before returning home (shouldn't have bothered - Dave had both kids sleeping when I came in). And I think I could tell just from that lap that I was feeling a little more confident on the trickiest parts of the course. A good reminder that good technique can make you faster just like good fitness. Of course both together is better.
Wish I could put what I learned to the test racing tomorrow, but I am in charge of the 4 and under cheering quad for a running race for Dave tomorrow, so I better find my clapper!
Anyway, a fall day with the leaves starting to change and temperatures in the 60s. Being on a bike is a nice way to spend it.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Hyattsville CX
I headed out for my second Cyclocross race ever this morning, after racing about a month ago in my first.When you are Cat 4 (beginner), you start "early," (I don't really consider 9 am to be early compared to 7 am or 8 am triathlon and regular life with 2 kids, but it is just the 2nd race of an all day affair) but since the family wasn't joining me, I was fine with that.
It was a fun flat course with lots of 180 degree turns. There was a section in the forest that was supposedly loamy and gravelly and hilly, but our heat didn't do that section so we just had the flat grassy turns.
Areas that "need work" (in perceived order of seriousness):
Fitness, Handling
Speed
Power
Staying on course
Strengths:
I don't mind getting cold, wet, and muddy (thanks years of rugby)
I have a great bike
So basically I have some work ahead of me.
At the start of the third lap, I followed the biker ahead of me off course onto the prologue section and didn't notice for maybe 20-30 yards and had to U-turn. A woman I had noticed behind me in pink made up a lot of time on my mistake and I think when she spotted how she had gotten closer, she was able to close the gap. So she alternated between right on my tail to 20-30 yards back for the next 2 laps. My friend Karen said, "I saw you look back SO many times."
With just a few turns left she was RIGHT there and I told her, jokingly (I think she realized I was joking), "I know what you're doing!" That is, trying to hang out right behind me and then pass right before the finish line. So we went around the last corner onto the pavement and I got up and sprinted, sure that she would fly by, but she didn't. So I guess I hung on to 11th. Out of not that many more than 11. But it was a fun morning.
It was a fun flat course with lots of 180 degree turns. There was a section in the forest that was supposedly loamy and gravelly and hilly, but our heat didn't do that section so we just had the flat grassy turns.
Areas that "need work" (in perceived order of seriousness):
Fitness, Handling
Speed
Power
Staying on course
Strengths:
I don't mind getting cold, wet, and muddy (thanks years of rugby)
I have a great bike
So basically I have some work ahead of me.
At the start of the third lap, I followed the biker ahead of me off course onto the prologue section and didn't notice for maybe 20-30 yards and had to U-turn. A woman I had noticed behind me in pink made up a lot of time on my mistake and I think when she spotted how she had gotten closer, she was able to close the gap. So she alternated between right on my tail to 20-30 yards back for the next 2 laps. My friend Karen said, "I saw you look back SO many times."
With just a few turns left she was RIGHT there and I told her, jokingly (I think she realized I was joking), "I know what you're doing!" That is, trying to hang out right behind me and then pass right before the finish line. So we went around the last corner onto the pavement and I got up and sprinted, sure that she would fly by, but she didn't. So I guess I hung on to 11th. Out of not that many more than 11. But it was a fun morning.
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