Enjoyed the reports guys. Nice racing to a bunch of you!

Brice Prairie Time Trial - 26.2 miles - Onalaska, WI - 6/30/2012 - Merckx style

First time pinning on any number this season. My goals were modest as I've missed a lot of training this year due to health issues. On vacation up in Wisconsin so I threw my hat in. Tried this race 2 years ago when I had digestive issues and hadn't eaten much of anything for a couple of weeks prior. That was a bad idea and a DNF. This TT is basically 3 laps around the prairie.

So due to my issues this year I had estimated my FTP to be maybe about 215. I figured this would take me between 1:15:00 and 1:18:00. I wanted to finish with an average speed of 20.0 mph or better. Based on what I estimated FTP I wanted to try to negative split each lap. I wanted to hold 195, 200W & 205W on each respective lap for an average of 200W (yeah snicker away) .

It was a hot humid morning. I managed 194W on lap 1 but I could tell I wasn't going to be able to continue to ramp things up so the new plan was to just try to keep it steady. Managed 194W on the second lap and then just died on the last lap averaging 172W and losing 2 minutes in lap time from the first two laps. Average power for the race 187 painful watts. Finishing time 1:18:24. Average speed 20.0 mph.

So I made my time goal but was disappointed with the way the power numbers panned out. Apparently I'm weaker than I estimated. Not sure if it was the heat. Maybe that I didn't take a hit of my new inhaler that morning? I don't really know. Something just doesn't seem to be working right right now. I don't necessarily feel winded but I don't seem to be able to control my breathing as usual. And my heart rate seemed to get jacked up too high compared to power output. Maybe the travel? I don't know. Going to see a pulmonologist when I get back to TN.

Or maybe I just need to by a time trial bike. 212W for a sub 1 hour 40k like Nate posted sounds appealing! It's gotta be the bike. Right?

On a side note I went for a ride yesterday in the oppressive muggy heat and felt awful. Went for one today and took a couple of puffs off the inhaler before I left and it seemed like I could control my breathing and heart rate again. Kind of like old times. I really hope I don't need to keep inhaling this stuff but either way I want this resolved.