I ramped up to Pine Mtn. over about 5 weeks. For the prior 3 months I had done a strength training routine. While this had its benefits, I wish I had ramped up about 8 weeks to the race instead with more running.
I felt a little sluggish starting out the race. I had rested 3 days leading up to the race. Maybe only 2 days rest next time. My knees and feet were really tweaky during race week so I figured more rest was better.
My attitude about this race was "I'm just training through" and I had it listed as a B priority. I could've been more excited. I wanted to podium again but I didn't think I could top my 1:20 time last year since I was putting in 1:30 times during training. I had a real goober drafting me at last year's race so that gave me an extra boost. I did a lot more hill work before last year's race during my lunch breaks so that was missing this year. The 5-week ramp just wasn't enough.
I remember having a somewhat positive mental state at the start of the race even though I was kind of dreading the sufferfest. I suffered a lot last year at this race and I kept help but wonder if I was a little intimidated by the suffering. For last year's race, I was more eager. Also, heading in to this race my knees and feet were tender. Maybe from too much running too soon and also riding my Singlespeed bike.
I made it to the summit in about 40 min. which surprised me because it matched my time last year, give or take. The summit is at the top of an insanely brutal climb.
I felt good coming down from the summit. I had passed a lot of folks that had passed me at the start because they were walking up to the summit. It was all for naught though because I rolled my ankle on a downhill corner on the West loop. I was overpronating my left foot when it happened and I just landed wrong. It's happened dozens of times but this time it was just enough to roll. I walked the rest of the race, about 4 miles.
Take home lessons:
Any chance to race is a good thing, even if it is not one of my top races . It allows us to push ourselves to the limit provided we are not afraid to stare at the abyss of that limit.
8-week ramp up training period for Pine Mtn. next year with plenty of hill work needed.
You can't fake the climbs.
Come to think of it, maybe this race should be an A priority since my focus is shifting away from biking some this year.
I felt a little sluggish starting out the race. I had rested 3 days leading up to the race. Maybe only 2 days rest next time. My knees and feet were really tweaky during race week so I figured more rest was better.
My attitude about this race was "I'm just training through" and I had it listed as a B priority. I could've been more excited. I wanted to podium again but I didn't think I could top my 1:20 time last year since I was putting in 1:30 times during training. I had a real goober drafting me at last year's race so that gave me an extra boost. I did a lot more hill work before last year's race during my lunch breaks so that was missing this year. The 5-week ramp just wasn't enough.
I remember having a somewhat positive mental state at the start of the race even though I was kind of dreading the sufferfest. I suffered a lot last year at this race and I kept help but wonder if I was a little intimidated by the suffering. For last year's race, I was more eager. Also, heading in to this race my knees and feet were tender. Maybe from too much running too soon and also riding my Singlespeed bike.
I made it to the summit in about 40 min. which surprised me because it matched my time last year, give or take. The summit is at the top of an insanely brutal climb.
I felt good coming down from the summit. I had passed a lot of folks that had passed me at the start because they were walking up to the summit. It was all for naught though because I rolled my ankle on a downhill corner on the West loop. I was overpronating my left foot when it happened and I just landed wrong. It's happened dozens of times but this time it was just enough to roll. I walked the rest of the race, about 4 miles.
Take home lessons:
Any chance to race is a good thing, even if it is not one of my top races . It allows us to push ourselves to the limit provided we are not afraid to stare at the abyss of that limit.
8-week ramp up training period for Pine Mtn. next year with plenty of hill work needed.
You can't fake the climbs.
Come to think of it, maybe this race should be an A priority since my focus is shifting away from biking some this year.