7th March 2009 - Darley Moor 3/4 Cat

Preparation - Week 6 - Block 2

07:00am - Wakeup

• 12 hours sleep
  
• Sleep quality - 7
  
• No heartrate measured
  
• No weight measured
• Mood - 7

Sleep well but still feeling the effects of Thursday/Friday. Feeling a little sick in the morning and no appetite. Forced down half a bowl of porridge and a banana. Drank a bottle of energy drink 1 hour before the race. GT came along to help out at the start.

10:00am - Darely Moor 3/4th Cat Race - 22 Laps / 34 Miles

Aims

• Don't get dropped from the main bunch
  
• Concentrate on breathing to recover
  

Result

• Breakaway win, followed by another breakaway then the bunch a minute down.
  
• Finished approx 50th out of 85 or so. Awaiting official results.

Positives

• Kept in the front 10 for 6 laps
  
• Cornered fast on the hairpin without any problems
• Awareness still improving
• Finished the race after riding 2/3rds alone
• Worked with others
  

Negatives

• Lack of preparation for the race beforehand ensured a poor performance
  
• Wasted energy staying with the strong 3rd cat's at the front for the first 6 laps, should of focused on just staying with the bunch instead of up near the front - not like I was strong enough to get involved!
• Dropped after 6 laps. Rode the last 16 on my own or with a few stragglers I caught up with.
  

Summary

• In tough races focus on saving energy and protection from the wind in the bunch
• Don't get preoccupied with position in races you are just trying to survive in
  
• Try a few all out efforts to stay with the bunch when in danger of getting dropped
  

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01:00pm - RR - 2o Miles

Recovery ride with Jo, GT and Jo. 20 mile loop out of Alstonefield down to Ilam, over a hill that made my legs burn even more to Waterhouses then onto the Manifold Way as far as Hulme End. Another short climb and back to Alstonefield. Felt absolutely buggered.

That evening went to the Coach and Horses in Fenny Bently to meet some of the old Peace Race riders at their annual (50th anniversary) reunion. Crashed out at 10pm shattered.