Kryton, a 90 min XC race raced hard will give you a weeks worth of LT work, stacking more on carries a lot more risk than potential reward this close to an event.
I know its hard for a time crunched rider, but if you are targetting full marathon length events its really all about getting two solid engine building rides in per week. Long weekend z2 rides and 2-2.5hr ride midweek with 3x20@SS or a 90min tempo block midride.
Stick with the plan for first marathon and re-evaluate for later goals imo
65k and undisclosed climbing but given Vet times range from 3hrs to 6hrs it's likely to be around 1500-1800m?
Lets say you are aiming for a 3.5hr time which would have you top 10 or thereabouts in Vets.
You're likely to have climbing efforts of 5-10minutes followed by recovery and some steady state.
Your training is probably about right it'll be a question of how long you can keep on putting in threshold efforts.
I think the single biggest thing you can do is work on your pacing over 3hrs. Were it me I'd train as per normal, reduce a bit on the 29th, 30th and 31st and put in a hard 3hr ride on the 31st to work out how hard you can go and still make the distance without cooking.
As you have a history of overtraining prior to events I'd watch what you do the week after. Much Reduced length but intense intervals and some Z2.
I'm considering doing the Pines race this weekend. I understand that it's not on the Red Route but on various bits of trail stitched together; how does it compare to the Kitchener? Also I'm (gulp) 50 so am looking at the Grand Vets – I imagine that there will be some very strong riders there. Is it brutal? Weather looks good.
you could always do fun or open if not fancying the g.vet pace? Though in the series I race in G.Vet seems quite a wide ranging cat.
Ferrals – I've looked down the list of entrants and quite a few of them 'seem' to be a similar pace to me on their Strava balls-out laps of the Kitchener. I completely understand that hot laps are not racing 🙂 Tempted by a baptism of fire.
Weather looks good.
You've jinxed it now!
Can anybody advise me on what licence I would need / want to race with (on the exceptionally slim chance that I scored some points)? Looks like Regional A+B only require a BC Provisional licence.
I'm in for my 1st ever xc race at Sherwood Pines this Sunday, also in the Grand Vet category. I've done plenty of cross racing but imagine the suffering will be similar but go on for anther half hour 🙂
Do we get time to have a sighting lap of the course?
cubicboy - come and join us in Grand Vet's, you'll love it! I've got no pace anyway just now so plan to be tailing round at the back! It's worth getting a licence if you continue racing as it makes you eligible for national ranking points, otherwise (I think) that your points will not count apart from in the Midlands series itself. It might be worth checking but I'm not convinced you even need a licence for a Midlands event, anyone know?
rich c - yes, there is usually time for a practice lap or two before the start, course should open at 9.00, race at 10.30ish.
See you Sunday, hope it's dry 🙂
Got a pivot 24/12 entry for sale if anyone is interested. 24hr solo. £60
might venture down south and race at Sherwood tomorrow - weather looks better than up north"!
I'm also at Sherwood Pines tomorrow.
Anyone care to share their race day nutrition plan? I'm racing at 14:30 and find the hardest part of the day is getting breakfast / pre race food all in check. Not sure what to eat and when. Breakfast usually consists of porridge / Weetabix at say 8am but not sure what I should be eating between then and race time?
For a 2.30 race I'll have porridge or Shreddies around 8.30, then a couple of ham/salad rolls 11.30 or so. Topped up with a cereal bar or a couple of fig rolls between then and the race if I feel the need.
Unbelievable. Just getting ready to leave for Sherwood and my remote lockout on my lefty dies. It's now fully rigid.... I'm a little angry right now.
Better go and dust off the 24 ton steel on one
LS + 1 although i discovered these to nibble on: http://www.waitrose.com/shop/DisplayProductFlyout?productId=550127
Oh dear.
I woke this morning feeling fine generally but with aches & pains going from my knee up my thighs. The practise lap didnt fill me with confidence but off I went. I was gridded second row and.... bang we were off. At first I was held up by the later-to-be-sixth place man, so I decided to implement a "start slow catch later" stategy. it didnt work, 30th of 48. 60+ started though so despite the apparent ease of the course it was hard packed and attritional with over 20% DNF.
Even with my limited 4-5 hrs at the moment I wonder if I'm overtraining or ill - the family all have colds and I noted from strava a lot of people above me took 2 days off the bike before the race. Strava estimates showed I raced 30w on average down on the previous race, so somethings up.
Sigh.
Blimey that was hard racing at Sherwood today, felt like I was ok tactically but I was really lacking in out of the saddle kicks.
Nothing too surprising after the lack of training and motivation over winter.
Just back from Sherwood. Not sure where I placed, in the twenties of the sport category I think. Not too bad considering I was on my Plan B bike - steel on one 45650b, Reverb and Hans Damph haha!
Hoping to get the Scalpel fixed before Pembrey nationals in a few weeks time. I've opted for the CX bike for hit the north next weekend
Good day at Sherwood today, I think I was 4th in GV but cannot see the results yet, got passed by the winner on lap 3 and lost him in traffic, turns out the guys running first and second slid off, he caught them and won the sprint - note to self, should have tried harder to stay with him!
Pleased with the result as I have only done long miles this year with no XC type intensity, had no idea what to expect today, was thinking I'd be gasping near the back!
Wentwood 50 results - not a race but managed to be in top 10 overall and on single speed including 6minute detour. Possibly why I've been so wrecked this week.
Sherwood results up
I managed 26th out of 60 in the Sport Category. Happy with that considering what bike I was on.
Nice one. Big field that! We're lucky to get 20 in Wales.
XC has been getting bigger and bigger each year recently. It's great to see. 60 is the biggest field I've ever raced in though.
Kudos to all those pining a number on.
Few more weeks until I kick things off, however I spend Sunday afternoon walking our XC course planning new lines and extensions for the new season which really sparked my interest in racing and race organising again.
@r8jimbob88, thats bigger than the fields in the nationals! think I'll make the effort to come over for some of the midlands races next year.
Soggy Bottoms at Newnham this weekend, pulled the Niner RDO out of the pile of bikes to ride and the BB is seized solid.
Can't be bothered with changing the gear ratios or summer tyres could be interesting!
Can't be bothered with changing the gear ratios or summer tyres could be interesting!
forecast is drying up from tomorrow and quite windy so should dry out pretty fast. think I might give this one a go as I've missed the first two rounds.
I've not done much either since the Stinger, so I'm starting by carb loading on biscuits this morning.
I saw on their FB page they've put in a few drops so it should be fun.
I was at Sherwood Pines yesterday too - there were 83(!) riders in Vets. Nuts!
Also pleased to be back to mid pack obscurity after being ill for the Cannock Winter Classic 😛
[quote=juanghia ]I've not done much either since the Stinger, so I'm starting by carb loading on biscuits this morning.
I saw on their FB page they've put in a few drops so it should be fun.
I'm quite tempted to do the fun race in the morning as the timing works out better.
I much prefer the morning starts. I once did the Fun races a few years back as our child was very small and like you say the timings were just better. However, the ripping I got for winning them was a bit too much to suffer so I didn't do it again.
Luckily i'm not going to have the problem in a few weeks as i don't see myself winning even in Fun 🙂
I'm not sure I'm in any danger of even winning the fun race...
Although it might be quite nice to not get lapped.
Just bailed on HTN in favour of Dalby Forest the day after. Looks like the Scalpel will be fixed up in time so a good chance to try and redeem myself after my fiasco at Sherwood! Anyone know if I can transfer a HTN entry to another name?
Got to work out what events to do now there is no Erlestoke, G100 or Summer Monkey. A event is BBD, do I try and do national marathon champs in IOM and train using the Scott Marathons or stick with XC and do the remaining southern XC events.... Not done a Scott Marathon before.
Well, slight feverish, aching yesterday and two days of the screaming shits.
I guess its rest week. 😐
signed last night for the soggys fun race in the morning. only 4 pre-entered so I'm aiming for 3rd...
I swear I saw dust at newnham this morning. Suffered a bit on the climbs but the downs were awesome. I'm not sure I have the constitution for xc racing.
Newnham climbs hardest of that series. Well one climb anyway. Enjoyed that race
The one after the quarry drop? Was a bit steep.
Raced Nutcracker Round 1 at Dalby Forest this morning on the World Cup course. Managed to pull off 2nd in Sport Cat. My first podium in this category. Absolute fantastic course. Looking forward to the nationals there later this year!
Awesome day at Battle of the Beach today. 16 degrees and sunny. Good to meet Yak. No idea where I came but I rode faster and with more power than last year so lastbweeks enforced rest did me good.
Some brilliant riding especially echelons and turns on the Beach, amazing to be riding at 25mph on an mtb - with the exception of a couple of idiots running through thorn bushes on the first lap to try and force a wheel in front at the first pinch point - happens every time though.
Did Hit the North on Saturday after a week of Manflu followed by 10 days of antibiotics due to my first ever case of tonsillitis!
Went off way too fast, heart rate through the roof, calmed down k the 2nd lap and got it back to an average where I know I can keep going, managed 6 laps in aboit 2hrs 15 so happy with that, haven't got a bloody clue where I came yet.
Roll on Builth Wells for the Night & Day Marathons in 2 weeks.
Which one are you doing Steve? I'm doing the day 75k.
The 75km one Kryton, although it'll no doubt come in at about 62km as usual, and the 40km (32km last year) night time.
Come say hello, I'm quite easy to spot in my team kit.
Oh yeah, came 44th at HTN, which I'm. Happy with given recent events.
