First block of build completed and the first race for 2011 in the legs.
As usual for me when I switch to those killer two and three minute intervals it takes me a couple of seesions to be able to cope with the full set at the required intensity. The block went well and I can feel I am progressing well with a hoped for slow steady build up. My theory is if I don't rush it I can get to a better level and hold it for the whole of July, my target month when I am going to be in Belgium.
I was over the moon with the race outcome. It was road handicap so no sitting in the bunch in a road race or criterium and potentially fooling myself that I got around OK. In a handicap no missed turns, working all the way, although I started a little tentaively - not sure how I was going to travel, the further the race went the stronger I felt. Even had a little dig towards the end, just to make sure I tried as hard as I could for the whole race. So very pleased with my first outing for 2011.
Because I didn't train the day before the race, just completed my pre race day ride, some short sharp intervals to get my body ready for race type efforts and the race day 'effort' score was a little down on what I would have achieved in training, high intensity for sure but not quite longe enough, I elected to do a fourth week of build before taking an easy week.
To be honest it also seeemed to work in well with some relatives visiting from overseas for a month and to fit with the races I am planning to ride up until Easter.
However it didn't turn out brilliantly, firtsly I don't think my body copes well with four full on weeks in a row and a we had a very sick puppy that kept me up for four nights so I wasn't really recovering very well between efforts. The week wasn't a complete waste but didn't go quite how I had planned, the tiredness excaserbated by some very hot days, one in particular I didn't get out early enough and as the hot North wind took the temperature very quickly from 28c to 40c, exactly 12 minutes. I was 9 minutes into a 20 minute interval at the time and my power just plummeted and although I manged to complete the interval I really had to go deep to finish it, too deep really I still wasted the next day!
Its OK this week I'm taking a recovery week this week and another race, on a much harder course, on Sunday.
