Mar 25, 2023

CAN YOU RACE TOO MUCH?

TODAY'S XC RACE WAS HARD. Technically challenging single track, with deepish water crossings, a good amount of rain ruts...

... it was epic!

Two conversations stuck in my mind.

One with Smiley who snagged 2nd, not one with former World Champion Tinker who one the race, and another from Huey.

Ya gotta understand the hardness of this 31 mile race.

That right there is why I raced it,
plus the insane beauty,
and camping.

This is my favorite local race.
Easily.

Am I racing too much?

This was my 7th day of racing in the last 4 weeks, and I have races slated the next 4 weekends in a row.

Smiley is my bud, and he knows what I'm up to.

I couldn't do what you're doing.

I know, I wouldn't do it, but the calendar just kept filling with races I really want to do.

Huey is part of the RaceDay Ready community and had this to say.

You should write about how you recovered the last 2 weeks after smashing your A race.

Those convos sewed some doubt and then I remembered:

I'm not recovering. I went into my A race rested, completely healed from training on and off the bike.
The last 2 weeks have been big volume with lots of resistance training, and some decent hard days.
I detest intervals, just not my jam. I race for fitness and practicing racecraft, and seeing my pals, which is what I did today.
I'm not crushing myself at all these races.
Only 1 of the next 4 races is of interest to me. I love the course, though it doesn't really suit me. The best guys around will be there, and that is very intimidating. I love that.
With two big weeks of volume and an Historic Relative effort today, I'll be recovering and polishing the arrows in my quiver for the 1 race.

Can we race too much?
Yes.

Am I?
No.

If we are trying to win them all, we will lose many and burn out and die...

... cuz if we win them all, we losers for sandbagging.

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