FSCS 2: Forward momentum

If progress can be measured in meeting little goals along the path to a quest, then you can say I'm finally on the right course.


I finished 14th out of 16 in the 28-mile second race of the Florida State Championship Series in Fernandina Beach on Sunday. While that pedestrian placing would make only a mother proud, I did accomplish a few things:


Nobody from classes starting behind me caught me.


I passed a few riders from other classes, including one from mine. Break out the champagne, hookers and call Moe Greene. The party's startin'.


My splits improved slightly from the last race: 31:46, 33:09, 33:33, 34:93--132.81.


The last time I raced at Fort Clinch Park about a year ago, I DNF'd (actually, quit) after two miserable laps and everyone from my class leaving me for dead in the woods. This year, with super dry trail conditions looking more suited for beach volleyball or a large litter-box expo, I rode a lot more like a racer. I had more of a high gear and pushed through the pain easier, especially on the final two laps.


I still have a long way to go, but a long time to get there.


Next up is Gainesville this weekend, and a trail that, mile for mile, might be the toughest in the state. I only hope I can continue to improve and have a good time along the way.

FSCS 1: Starting over

When the main goal heading into a cross-country race is to simply finish, you know you have low expectations.


I had low expectations Sunday in Tallahassee at Tom Brown Park in the opening of the Florida State Championship Series.


Rising to the "challenge,'' I finished my four laps in the 40+ Expert Class. It was the first Expert race I've finished in nearly two years. That's a lot of DNFs and frustration.

Let's be serious. With the training I've done since April, I had other goals.


Compete.


Don't embarrass myself.


Didn't and did.


I finished 16th out of 21, a staggering 23-plus minutes behind the winner who could've in that time, according to one website:


Cleaned the oven.


Walked the dog.


Did a "quickie'' cleaning job on the bathroom.


Found a new recipe to try.


Another website proclaimed: How to Discover Your Life Purpose in About 20 Minutes.


Quickie cleaning job on the bathroom aside, finding your life's purpose would seem to be a worthwhile way to spend that time.


I was passed by so many riders from other classes that started two, four, six and eight minutes after mine that I felt like a hemorrhaging swimmer dog-paddling in a shark tank. With each pass and attempt to catch the wheel, a bit of ego was ripped away, leaving me red with embarrassment.


I heard "on your left'' so many times I thought I was picking up MSNBC on my heart-rate monitor. It was one of those races where you know very early you don't have the legs. I was constantly trying to find the right gear to get into rhythm. By the middle of the first lap, my legs felt like glass. My lap times point out someone who's not in race shape: 31:73, 33:67, 37:00, 37:17--139.57. Nearly 2 1/2 hours to ride 27.2 miles? Let's see, in 2 1/2 hours you could've ...


At least I'm finished. I mean, I finished.


There was a time in 2006 when I did compete in this class and never embarrassed myself. Then, because of training mistakes and lack of focus, I went from racer to recreation cyclist. I put in too many junk road miles at the expense of intensity needed to compete. And before I knew it, I went from shark to bait fish.


I think my training plan for this year is solid. I am getting in more intensity. I am allowing for more recovery. I'm less of a slave to mileage and hours. But, if this latest race proved anything, besides the fact I'm in way over my head right now, it's that I'm starting over. And unless the subject is history, nobody wants to go back to the beginning.


I'm hoping with much-needed race time in the next month, I can regain what's been lost. If not, maybe I'll take some time to try a new recipe.

The key to success

Joe Friel's latest blog post How to Recover reveals the key to training -- and getting faster -- and should not be ignored:


http://www.joefrielsblog.com/