So lately its been a series of setbacks. Very frustrating considering the transition from last season to this season was about the best I’ve ever had. Played the game of backing off to get rest, but not too much better than any prior year. I also think last season in the M123s helped in that regard.
This season after a great start and awesome power numbers for me, I came back from a small cold only to get the damn nasty flu bug a months later that wiped me out for a solid week or so. I'd been really carefull about not pusing too hard, but to no avail. Then the dreaded dustbowl allergies strike again. I’ve been diagnosed with exercise/allergy induced asthma. The asthma condition developed last year and I stubbornly pushed through it, did not go to the doc and had a miserable March/April with things starting to come around in May. This year same thing – cough from the allergies and pounding headaches. Got dropped on the team ride on Sat., hacked my guts out, puked and had to ride back solo half way around Folsom Lake with a pounding headache and pure frustration. Rode a pathetic 1.5 hours coughing my guts out on the TT set up on Sunday. Lookin’ down at my wheels you could see a yellow film – nasty! So the confidence was way down with riding and wondering if another shitty April is in store. Well at least everything else in my life is awesome right now and its just stupid bike racing. Made it to the doc on Monday and got some pharma stuff to take care of this crap. Enter the team Tuesday ride…..errr race. Not sure how things would go, but I was determined to ride hard and inflict some pain – what are friends for? Well it ended up being a strong ride for me, and definitely a boost of confidence that I needed. I did go into a cough attack halfway at the store and puked again after I went solo and made it there first. Hmm – maybe they let me hang out there……nah . This time I took advil before the ride so no headache. Then I drilled it again on the next lil climb and had some more fun riding with pure determination to not let this allergy shit get me down. Watts are almost back to where they were and a level that I like, so just need a couple more weeks of training n racin and we’re good for the A race. Peter was also kind enough to throw down some sprinty knowledge that I was clueless about and never read about, so now its time for some more practice with a few things to work on. IM BACK!
6 Comments:
I deal with the allergies / EIA off and on all year, the first season was very frustrating for me.
Once you get a plan of treatment down you'll be right back up there.
One tip- Long warmup has really helped me.
See ya out there soon,
J
Come across with the sprinting knowledge.
Signed,
Clueless in the cat 4's
OV had a good blog awhile back - can't remember what month.
Things I did wrong:
Go on the protected side (I know this but forgot yesterday). Just like any sport the checklist need to be ingrained and you have to practice to make it instinct.
Stay low - I guess I was up too high and created more than needed wind resistance.
Allow a small gap to form from your lead just before you jump to get a better acceleration off the draft.
Come in tight to the lead to make it harder for someone to come around.
Use the bars more - like really work the bars.
I still dont consider myself a true sprinter cause I can only get to about 1250 max at peak, but have a good acceleration. There now you know my watts too.
oh and JS - one other thing I have found is that positioning and not getting boxed is about 75% of the battle. That last lap is always so darned fast.
Now if I could just understand what all that means. Except the "box" part...I get that and end up in that every time. Need to practice more. And need a watt thingey to see if I'm even in the game. Thanks for the advice.
Cool
ms
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