In June 2014 I completed 2 Person RAAM
with Joel Sothern, the preparation for this event and the actual
racing of the event left me with what is known to RAAM athtletes as
the RAAM bump. Once you body recovers from RAAM you are usually in
the best cycling condition in your life.
My next big competition for was the
Powerman World Long Course Duathalon Championships in Switzerland on
September 7th. To prepare for that event I spent 3
weeks in Roan Mountain, TN training on the Blue Ridge Parkway. My
weakness as a racer is my climbing ability so I spent my time working
on that weakness. I left Roan Mountain in the best climbing shape
I have been in.
In Switzerland I finished 6th
in 50-54 age group in Du Worlds. Du Worlds was a 10K run followed by
a 150K and finishing with a 30K run. My finish is a testament to my
bike fitness – I was in last place in my age group coming off the
first 10K – but I was able to move up to 2nd after the
bike and was strong enough to hold on to 6th place.
After Switzerland my training was very
unfocused because I really didn't have a direction. I did a couple
of long rides and some 50 mile time trials rides and little mountain
biking and running in Taos, NM to give my self some altitude training
but no direction.
When I decided on November 26th
that I was going to own the HAM'R – I had to look at my calendar to
figure out how I could get my body ready in one month to be riding 12
hours a day every day. The keys were to build my endurance while
allowing my body to adapt. I had to turn myself into a properly
fuel machine with legs of titanium and a backside of leather.
To do this I incorporated two
principals I use in all of my training. First use a progressive
build in the number of hours ridden to get to my target and using
harder days followed by recovery days. I started my long hard rides
out at 6 hours and my recover rides at 3 hours. The goal was by
the end of December for my long rides and my recovery rides to be the
duration in the neighborhood of 11 hours a day. During this time
I'm dialing in my nutrition and losing about 10lbs. I'm also
dialing in my clothing and everything else that needs to be right for
me to succeed.
Check out the calendar page on www.tarzanrides.com to see when
and where I'll be training or riding.
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