Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas, I know I did. A four day weekend that consisted of good food, great company, and 12 hours of good solid training.
On a ride up to Oceanside Harbor yesterday, our group stopped at the Nautical Bean for some coffee, and the discussion led to next season's goals. It was great to be with a group that has very similar goals as myself (stage races with big climbs). At this point here's what I've come up with...
* All three King of the Mountain series events.
* Both Death Valley Stage Races.
* The Mt. Whitney Stage Race.
* Try and make all four Santiago Canyon TT's.
* The Peninsula Cliff Climb TT (if they're holding it?).
* The Everest Challenge.
That's twelve events on the year. Not a lot, but they're good solid events that suite my strengths. And if I don't count or do the Peninsula Cliff Climb, then my first race isn't until the 17th of March, so that leaves plenty of time to really get some good, solid training in.
That's it for now, sorry nothing to exciting to report, but stay tuned, the big mountain days are a comin'! Until next time...
Hi everyone! Well for the last three weeks I've been pouring on the intensity in regards to the training. Intensity consisting of 2x20's, VO2's, hill repeats, etc, all the fun stuff that I believe separates the competitive cyclist from the recreational rider. Yes, the 6:30am interval workouts on the trainer four days a week aren't necessarily fun, but the benefits you reap from them (flying on the weekend rides), are well worth it!
It's not the workouts I've been struggling with lately, it's once again the lack of a definitive goal going in to the 2012 season. I know, and I've said this before, that I want to compete in the Everest Challenge next season. This coming season I'm more committed to that goal then ever before (and please hold me to it if you see me begin to back away!). It's what's before the EC that's giving me problems.
Do I compete in all the local RR's (San Luis Rey, Punchbowl, Vlees Huis), or enter bigger climbing events (Breathless Agony, Mulhullond Challenge, etc)? One thing I learned this season is that if I wait until the last second to decide, I tended to not enter at all. Back in 08' & 09', I pulled the trigger on registering as soon as registration opened, and I found myself feeling committed at that point, and sure enough, I went and raced. Enough of that blabber!
Well Christmas is almost upon us, and so is a well-deserved four day weekend! I haven't tackled Palomar in quite some time, but I'm feeling that itch, and I may need to scratch it!
I hope all is well, and that you all have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
