Vision Quest Coaching
Race Day
Before the race recap some numbers. This week is was on the bike for 18 hours and 55mn, I rode 281 miles, I burned 8443kjs. By far this has been the most of everything: most miles, most time on a bike in 1 week and most kjs. I am exhausted, but a good tired. Amazingly I did not pull anything. But I guess it is not too amazing because I have been working out 6 days a week for 2 years. The work has its benefits. At VQ there is a sign: The harder I work the luckier I get.
The Race. My group left at 8:30 and did an easy ride to the race start. It was 25 miles and there were some nice climbs. We were good and warmed up by the time we arrived. We waited for the other groups to turn up took pictures and received our instruction. The main instruction was watch out for the speed bump at the turn. (I never saw it and hit the bump at 30.)
Group D left in 2 waves and I was in the second wave. We were separated by 2 minutes. The course was hilly and windy. There were 2 long climbs each way and a wicked crosswind, probably 15mph+.
My plan was to stay with my team as long as possible and have us work together so we could go faster with less energy. That plan lasted for 5 miles. On the climb I was working too hard. The week’s races and climbs weighed heavily on my muscles. I was soon left behind. I rode the next 19miles as a time trial, solo.
The hills were steep and the wind was strong. In the head wind on the downhill I could not get any relief and rest. The cross wind made the descents scary. My top speed was 37mph with out the wind. When the wind hit I slowed down so I could keep control of the bike. Other cyclists with more experience could descend much faster.
My goal was to latch onto another group as they passed. If I could draft I could go faster and use less energy. Unfortunately I was passed by the A & B groups and could not surf on the back because they were traveling much too fast.
By the next to last hill I was looking no praying for the finish. Fortunately 2 members of my 4man time trial team passed with a coach and I latched on for the last few miles. My speed instantly jumped from 15mph to 20mph and my power dropped. We rode in a 4-person pace-line each taking 30sec to 2mn pulls. (I was taking the short pulls.) Very quickly we hit the last 500meter line and the last steep climb.
The alliance that was formed for everyone’s benefit instantly shattered and it was a sprint for the finish. Each of us tried to win the sprint. I was last in our group and I came in 34th overall.
I raced my hardest. I gave it my best. In the end that is all that matters. Most of us at camp are weekend warriors. We are cycling for fun. I have had a ball. I accomplished more than I thought I could. In fact I am amazed by my improvement and stamina. I never viewed myself as an athlete but today I have earned that label. The athlete label is what I am bringing back from camp.
See you on the road. JAM
The Race. My group left at 8:30 and did an easy ride to the race start. It was 25 miles and there were some nice climbs. We were good and warmed up by the time we arrived. We waited for the other groups to turn up took pictures and received our instruction. The main instruction was watch out for the speed bump at the turn. (I never saw it and hit the bump at 30.)
Group D left in 2 waves and I was in the second wave. We were separated by 2 minutes. The course was hilly and windy. There were 2 long climbs each way and a wicked crosswind, probably 15mph+.
My plan was to stay with my team as long as possible and have us work together so we could go faster with less energy. That plan lasted for 5 miles. On the climb I was working too hard. The week’s races and climbs weighed heavily on my muscles. I was soon left behind. I rode the next 19miles as a time trial, solo.
The hills were steep and the wind was strong. In the head wind on the downhill I could not get any relief and rest. The cross wind made the descents scary. My top speed was 37mph with out the wind. When the wind hit I slowed down so I could keep control of the bike. Other cyclists with more experience could descend much faster.
My goal was to latch onto another group as they passed. If I could draft I could go faster and use less energy. Unfortunately I was passed by the A & B groups and could not surf on the back because they were traveling much too fast.
By the next to last hill I was looking no praying for the finish. Fortunately 2 members of my 4man time trial team passed with a coach and I latched on for the last few miles. My speed instantly jumped from 15mph to 20mph and my power dropped. We rode in a 4-person pace-line each taking 30sec to 2mn pulls. (I was taking the short pulls.) Very quickly we hit the last 500meter line and the last steep climb.
The alliance that was formed for everyone’s benefit instantly shattered and it was a sprint for the finish. Each of us tried to win the sprint. I was last in our group and I came in 34th overall.
I raced my hardest. I gave it my best. In the end that is all that matters. Most of us at camp are weekend warriors. We are cycling for fun. I have had a ball. I accomplished more than I thought I could. In fact I am amazed by my improvement and stamina. I never viewed myself as an athlete but today I have earned that label. The athlete label is what I am bringing back from camp.
See you on the road. JAM
Comment
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Comment by Ted Cornell on March 2, 2008 at 3:20pm -
Good for you, Jonathan! You've really accomplished a great deal.
Ted
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Comment by Rod Riley on March 1, 2008 at 8:27pm - Great story Athlete!
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