Toim troils at Neerabup
I have to say the last couple of days have been the hardest riding I’ve done in a while (if not in distance, certainly in intensity). The SAT AM 60km ride was reeled off in 1hr 45m which, with around 21 sets of traffic lights to negotiate, is probably one of the quicker ones we’ve done. Around a dozen of us and I am slowly regaining some speed with decent efforts on both Riverside Dve and Shelley. Even with the wind (and I know I ‘cheat’ using the Deda aerobars) it was definitely a solid workout for me. A nice Banana Burst at Dome in Canning Vale afterwards.
I made a fairly late decision to do the 46.5km time trial at Neerabup. It’s a new course for ATTA (Aust Time Trial Assoc) and it was very well run. The Wanneroo Golf Club kindly hosted with use of their carpark, toilets and showers.
Now for some reason I thought this was around 47kms so I’d calculated that 13min for each of the 6 laps would secure me a much sought after 36kph average. Well, bum muscles if I’d miscalculated by a huge 11 seconds. My average tipped in at 35.9kph and those 11 seconds would have given me 36. I had actually passed Lorraine Shutz (briefly) however I think she was just feeling sorry for me and soon passed me again. I don’t think I was alone in thinking that this was definitely not a flat TT course. There were some undulations, particularly around 3 hills in the final drag to the end of the lap. Time trials are a real war of attrition - the hills seem to get harder. I had none of my carboshotz and very little of my drink bottles in the end. Just grit the teeth and hold the right combination of form and strength.
It’s usually always the third or second last lap that i drop a bag of seconds. This time it was the second last lap and I lost around 20sec on my average. I knew it was happening but the reality is that I just need to toughen up and get a bit more fitness (and lose around 5kgs). Currently still sitting on 80kgs which slows me down I have to say. I’ll have my usual Tues night 90min run and Front Runner on Thursday. I need to get a few more runs in if I’m going to put in a decent Darlington Half Marathon. I hope to hold a 36kph average for the Busselton Half Ironman with enough gas left to put in a 1hr 45 half marathon after it. My swim will be 40mins as usual - I have no great expectations as far as this leg goes.
Its Matty’s 18th birthday and he had a good night out at the Casino last night with a nice dinner at Clancy’s Fish pub at Canning Bridge as a precursor. Nice curry based dinner tonight to celebrate.
I’ve just watched a sensational U2 live concert at Chicago (filmed from 2005) - very moving, fantastic performers. Also watched a great Carling Cup final and a Man Utd win 4-1 on penalties against Spurs…..best of all, saw Carlton thump Hawthorn in the NAB Cup. Carn the blues
Regards
CHRISTO