You never know what you’re made of until you push your limits.
Pushing your limits; takes you to the next level.
Last weekend was my 1st big race for the season, Trinona International Triathlon. The race was Sunday and I wanted to do the Time Trial the night before.
The Time Trial is a trip up Garvin Heights, one of the Nation’s Top 100 Climbs as rated by Outside Magazine. And where the only “American to ever win the Tour De France”, Greg LeMond trained for his Tour wins.
I mean, why wouldn’t you want to race up that thing and see what you’re made of?
Yeah, I live here, yeah, I can ride up it all the time, everyday. I don’t, it’s not my favorite hill around, but yes, it is a good one!
There was talk around town, about “holding back”.
I didn’t want to, I wanted to see what I was made of.
Yes, if Trinona was my “A” race I may have possibly considered not doing the TT. Unlikely though, since I’m local.
So here’s my Strave Hill Climb TT
I was ready to yack! I wanted to yack. I only had 1/3rd bottle of water, I couldn’t yack. I didn’t feel I could yack and wash out my mouth with only one sip of water.
So I had to slow down to prevent yacking.
I’m pretty pleased with my 7:22 for the climb.
I don’t own a TT bike, I race my road bike, which is definitely a disadvantage on the flat sections. I know bars would have helped, but who cares. I will try to get some bars on for Chicago.
So….
The next day comes.
3:30 am wake up call.
Transition by 4:50.
Tell me again what’s fun about that?! Mountain Biking starts (outside of Leadville) are the best! EVER!!
I’m in the water, no wet suit.
I’m tired. I thought I had a good swim. 30 minutes, it’s reasonable, but I know because of my fatigue from the previous night, I was not able to maintain my new and improved pace.
Off to the bike.
WTF?!?
Zone 3! 2nd fastest times are not supposed to happen on race day! Unless you do the TT the night before.
Run,
“Just shut up and do this, I know you can’t do a Z4 HR, but I know you can run 9 minute miles in Z3 and at the turn around see if there’s Z4 at the visitor center.
Um, no.
So let’s look at this:
Garvin Heights Day I – 7:22 Zone 5 for 14:38 and some change; Z6 for 7:22
Garvin Heights Day II – 10:38 Z5 and Z3 Normalized Power for the whole ride.
Oh well!
The experience will make me stronger and faster for Chicago.
I battled the Bluff on Saturday.
I made friends with the Bluff on Sunday.
And to my utter surprise my time was fast enough for a 3rd Place Finish.
I’m pretty grateful.
Because that is the most I have ever hurt during a race.
It was all worth it, and I would totally do it again!
I mean really,
Why not?!