Couple Home Races

I raced the first Lake Louisa Sprint tri early this month. I have to admitt the it was much harder than i expected. Since the lake is so shallow its basically a 400yd dolphin dive, 7 mile bike, and 1.5 mile run. It was really all out from start to finish and the heat added to the intensity. I went in a little too confident, and was suprised when kevin came off the bike with me, and giving me a run for my money. Luckily i gapped him a little and took the win, but the following race, Central Florida Triathlon Series, the tables were turned and excpecting again to maintain the lead i got from the swim i was suprised to find kevin pass me a little before mile two on the run and then put a minute lead on me. It was also really hot and humid that day. Its been really hot and i must take that into consideration my next couple of races here in FLA. The heat also effects my training, so i plan on spending some time up north next summer to get away from the heat.

I have a packed racing schedule with the Watermelon 5k this weekend, MPM triathlon in Cleaarwater next weekend, and my junior worlds qualifier in California the weekend after that, so intensity is the name of the game lately.

Week of Intensity

I raced in the first Lake Louisa Summer Criterium series on tuesday night. It was a fun race, as i've competed in it for the past 2 years. The B race had about 30-40 people so it was pretty competitve, and little bit harder to carry out my plan, which was to break away after 20 minutes and hold on to the finish. It didn't really work out that way although i got two significant breaks by myself that lasted about 5 minutes. On my third attempt on the second to last lap i managed to string the field out, until five other guys caught me and sat on my wheel to sprint around me at the finish. It was a great training ride, where i reaced an intensity i probably could not have in a normal training ride.

The next morning i woke up at 5:20am for masters swim. I swam the 200/800 time trial with sara coaching and the rest of the group doing 100 relays to push me, which was great. I went 1:59 and 8:42, which i was pretty happy with considering the pool was 85 degrees and the crit the day before was at 7pm.

The next day i woke up to do a step test on the trainer at Marc's house. lol. I was kind of tired and not really motivated, i just wanted to get it done. But im sure glad i did it because i ended getting up to 320 watts. The test involved riding 2 minutes at 10 watt intervals starting at 150 watts all the way until you can't go anymore, or ur heart rate spikes. My max HR on the bike is like 183, and i was only at 178 at the end of 2 minutes of 320 watts, so i have definently improved on the bike.

Today is a bit of a rest day, b/c tmrw i have the Lake Louisa Triathlon sprint, and then a good ride with some hills on sunday. Then back to the grind for a week or so and another race here in town :)