Well, no shocker there. Not accepted to Western States 100 for about the 4th time. It is getting to the point where that race is impossible to get into. 10% acceptance this year. Oh well, maybe another time.
Otherwise, post-Soweto marathon I hopped on the bike for the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. Despite its name, this bastard went 62 miles and I dont care what they say. Here's why those two miles extra sucked. First off, it isnt like I trained too hard for this thing. I was on the bike maybe 9 times since the start of the school year and my longest ride was a 25 mile effort. So that sucks. Next, this is an amazingly hilly course, and it stings the legs. Throw in temps in the 80s, 25,000 riders, and the above mentioned handicap, and I was set up for failure.
After the gun, I tried to get a pace line going. People here suck at rider etiquette. They couldn't pull at the front and drop back to save their life. I would jump up, give 1-2 min at 22+ mph and then go back. They would ride at the front for 8 min getting slower and slower each minute till I took over. I was livid and even tried to tell them. Didn't matter. People here don't get it. Plus, I was way back in the start and had thousands of riders to pass every 4 min or so as we worked through the waves. No joke, I am going downhill at 48mph and there are people walking their bikes. On the ups we try to sprint and fatties on mountain bikes weave across the road. Next year I am getting seeded and starting earlier.
Flew the first 40 miles at over 20mph, and then it got bad. Coming up this long, exposed highway I got tired of the sun and tired of the saddle. With 20k to go, things got bad. Three times I had to stop and leap off the bike with massive cramps, the last a mere 500m to the finish. I fell off the bike, grabbed the leg, and felt my butt burning on the pavement. I crab walked my crippled self to the side of the road, and some guy stopped to pull my bike over. Then he just sat there till I was ready. Not talking, not helping, just chilling, 500m from the line. I missed my goal by about 9 min but it was an experience.
Since then I have been in a slump. Just couldn't bring it back together. Got reverse block in my ear last week diving and only managed 3 days on the run. But this week went better, and I cruised a 20 today with no problem. Not fast, but no issue.
Probably going to do a low-key marathon in January before the PR effort at Pietermaritzburg in Feb. After that, translating the speed into the ultra for a 35 mile jaunt at Two Oceans in Cape Town and then the big dance of 56 miles (89k) at Comrades in May. With Western States out, I will probably look to the first of July for the transition to Ironman training.
That's the plan for now. But what does that really mean?
Otherwise, post-Soweto marathon I hopped on the bike for the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. Despite its name, this bastard went 62 miles and I dont care what they say. Here's why those two miles extra sucked. First off, it isnt like I trained too hard for this thing. I was on the bike maybe 9 times since the start of the school year and my longest ride was a 25 mile effort. So that sucks. Next, this is an amazingly hilly course, and it stings the legs. Throw in temps in the 80s, 25,000 riders, and the above mentioned handicap, and I was set up for failure.
After the gun, I tried to get a pace line going. People here suck at rider etiquette. They couldn't pull at the front and drop back to save their life. I would jump up, give 1-2 min at 22+ mph and then go back. They would ride at the front for 8 min getting slower and slower each minute till I took over. I was livid and even tried to tell them. Didn't matter. People here don't get it. Plus, I was way back in the start and had thousands of riders to pass every 4 min or so as we worked through the waves. No joke, I am going downhill at 48mph and there are people walking their bikes. On the ups we try to sprint and fatties on mountain bikes weave across the road. Next year I am getting seeded and starting earlier.
Flew the first 40 miles at over 20mph, and then it got bad. Coming up this long, exposed highway I got tired of the sun and tired of the saddle. With 20k to go, things got bad. Three times I had to stop and leap off the bike with massive cramps, the last a mere 500m to the finish. I fell off the bike, grabbed the leg, and felt my butt burning on the pavement. I crab walked my crippled self to the side of the road, and some guy stopped to pull my bike over. Then he just sat there till I was ready. Not talking, not helping, just chilling, 500m from the line. I missed my goal by about 9 min but it was an experience.
Since then I have been in a slump. Just couldn't bring it back together. Got reverse block in my ear last week diving and only managed 3 days on the run. But this week went better, and I cruised a 20 today with no problem. Not fast, but no issue.
Probably going to do a low-key marathon in January before the PR effort at Pietermaritzburg in Feb. After that, translating the speed into the ultra for a 35 mile jaunt at Two Oceans in Cape Town and then the big dance of 56 miles (89k) at Comrades in May. With Western States out, I will probably look to the first of July for the transition to Ironman training.
That's the plan for now. But what does that really mean?
