WAIT JUST A MINUTE, GIVE ME A MINUTE, AND OTHER MISTAKES WE CAN AVOID
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PREP FOR LOTOJA, a 200 mile bike race from Logan, UT to Jackson Hole, WY, through Idaho. Because it is a legit...
... sanctioned USA Cycling race.
I did it in 2017 and had an outrageously memorable day on the bike.
One of my best.
Here's how I trained.
My theory was that it would be nearly impossible for anyone to breakaway early and stay away...
... it's just too far.
Therefore, while I did some long rides in prep, my longest was 120. And, I only did that once. Most Saturdays, were 70-90.
On those days, I made sure to keep my overall pace high when riding alone...
... and never lead or get dropped with the group.
My focus was on endurance AND 1-3 minute power.
I figured if I did all I could to conserve, and never pulled until the final selection, I would have the power to withstand any efforts to get away by other racers...
... those 1-3 minute pushes towards the top of a climb.
It takes a certain mindset to sit in,
especially when we are trained,
tapered and ready to slay it.
A discipline, really.
That was my plan, and it totally worked.
I sat 10-15 or so riders back the entire time, rotated through and off the front as quickly as possible when, andonlywhen, necessary.
Over the final pass, we pushed hard and snapped off the final group of deadweight.
8 of us,
riding strong,
all pulling through.
We wouldn't be caught,
we were gone.
Then, tragedy struck me.
A flat tire with 55ish miles to go,
led to one of my all time favorite efforts chasing.
35ish miles.
The deets are here https://pedalindustries.com/blogs/feed/lotoja-mocha-choca-lata-yaya.
The point is this, most longasheck races don't come down to endurance...
... but, 1-3 minute power.
Are you training that?
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready
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165.2
7.5 hrs
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
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