Great Lakes - post season summary

I've taken this verbatim from Joe Friel's blog. Thought it would be interesting to see your responses to the post-season summary questions as presented by Joe Friel.

Here are five questions to answer at the end of your race (for me recreational)season and before starting to prepare for the coming season:

1. What was the high point of your season? Why does this stand out for you? Was it what you thought it would be at the start of the season?

Mid-July was my highpoint. I bested my RAIN time by over an hour from the previous year and finished much stronger. No tears this year :o

Just a couple days after RAIN, I finished w/the leaders on the fast Tues night ride and took the bridge sprint. That was probably the most satisfying moment of the whole season. Especially listening to the excuses the men were making when a girl out-sprinted them:thumb:

Oh yes, I took first in age division in my first and (so far) only (citizens) road race in early July. That took me completely by surprise

yes, kids, periodization does work.

Unfortunately I have not been able to replicate these successes since then:rolleyes:

2. What was your greatest disappointment? Why did this happen? Is there anything you could have done to have avoided it?

I enjoyed TOSRV, but ended up riding a much slower pace than I felt I was capable of. Forgot where I parked my car at the finish and lord have mercy, my butt was so sore after back to back centuries. ouchie-wawa Oh yes I lost a toenail, too, which still hasn't grown back, bad news for my pedicure.:p


3. Looking back, do you think you trained as wisely and as hard as you could have trained?

Absolutely, I think this is the only year I've ever actually trained wisely. It was my first experience this year w/a coach, and his guidance made it possible for me to have the success I had this year. And when I was working hard in June, he encouraged me to push through and keep it going when I was tempted to give in to the fatigue.

4. What is the one thing you most need to work on for next season in order to perform better?

Developing more discipline to do my easy rides easy. I tend to go too hard on endurance rides and develop some really deep fatigue that leads me to taking longer periods than necessary off the bike.

5. What would you most like to accomplish next season? Is it a good stretch and yet within your reach if you do things right?

I'd like to do a sub-5hr century. And knock another 30 minutes off my RAIN time. Complete a duathlon 5k-30k-5k.

1. I finished a century in ~4:45 That was a cool ride. Yes, there was pacelining involved but I took my share of pulls.

2. I didn't place in the top 10 of any race I attended. Tuesday nighters don't count.

3. Nope, did not train as hard as I could. Two or three training rides a week is not enough.

4. Sprinting, definitely sprinting. I suck so bad at it it's not even funny.

5. Top 5 in a crit or road race. It's definitely within reach, I just need to train harder and work on my sprint.

1>Tour down and back along the Mississippi river in May in not so great weather. It was windy, very little sun, and cold. First time doing a tour so early in the year.
2>After doing my tour so early, I had no other event to shoot for later in the year, so I failed to reach my goal of a 20 mile ride with a 20 mph avg.
3>I did to be ready for the tour so early, but had a slump in mid summer.
4>Climbing, have made progress learning to spin up hills, but still need more discipline on this.
5>Have three target goals, early, mid and late season, to keep me engaged throughout the season

Well the season isn't quite over but...

1. A great year and very hard to pick the best but would have to say the 6 gap/3 gap in Georgia was the pinnilce. Did far better than I could have hoped and the ride was far harder than I expected adding to the success of the event. Close second would be the Twin Sizzler race.

2. only disappoiontmedt I can think is the 14 hill challenge when I broke my rear derailier cable, at the time we where riding strong and I know that we would not only complete it but in really good time.

3.I don't train but use the principals of training when I ride, stress followed by rest and recovery as well as tapering into events of importance. results speak for themselves, very satisfing year!!

4. off season strength, and conditioning to improve muscle power.

5. continue to be a very competitive climber, not necessarily the best but able to stay with the lead groups on hard climbing rides, do another mountain ride in the south!

1. What was the high point of your season? Why does this stand out for you? Was it what you thought it would be at the start of the season?

Bicycle Tour Colorado, June 21st to the 27th, 550 miles, 35,000 feet climbed, two 12K foot passes, and 14 miles of dirt road. i spent 8 months knowing i would do this ride, training for this ride, wanting this ride, scared of this ride. it was well beyond what i ever dreamed it could be.

2. What was your greatest disappointment? Why did this happen? Is there anything you could have done to have avoided it?

obviously, i peaked real early in the season. i knew this would happen and had a couple events planned for August and September to regain my focus. i had to skip those events, not do to loss of focus, but change in priorties. not really a disappointment for me, just is what it is. if anything, i am disappointed that i didnt get any rides in with the BFNIC crew this summer.

3. Looking back, do you think you trained as wisely and as hard as you could have trained?

i trained for the Rockie Mountains in Plainfield, IL. PLAIN FIELDS, so yeah i trained wisely. there is always room for improvement. each Spring i have hit the road stronger and fresher then before. i felt like i was 2 months ahead of my June 08 cycling form when we rolled out to Colordao.

4. What is the one thing you most need to work on for next season in order to perform better?

quick power. the burst. whatever you racer folks call it. my engine takes too long to warm up. plus, i suck at going into and coming out of corners at speed.


5. What would you most like to accomplish next season? Is it a good stretch and yet within your reach if you do things right?

not totally sure yet. maybe a spring marathon. maybe some spring cylcing racing. another trip to the Rockies should be in the works. maybe a self supported trip where Cy and I concock a route that involves 4 or 5 10K plus passes. the end of December is when i will gain focus for the 2010 cycling season.

later.