Here is the map:
It was a two loop(9.5 mile loop) TT. Think of the loop as long sided rectangle.
The weather was 60's, cloudy and 25MPH winds from the west with gusts up to 35MPH. The first long leg was into the wind, and coming back was with a tail-wind.
I really enjoy Time Trials (The race of truth). I am not sure why, maybe it is because I know that all my concerns in life will be forgotten for the next 45 minutes. Why? because all I can focus upon is maintaining a tight aero position, trying to relax, not crashing, and holding an above-race-pace effort: gasping for air like a fish out of water, feeling like I am having a heart attack, and the sensation of battery acid flowing through my quads!
My strategy was simple, don't blow-up on lap one and increase intensity more aggressively on lap two.
All the riders lined up in their departure order. (I think 20 seconds separated each rider) and the robotic voice from the TT recording machine began calling out the next riders name and counting down to their start . It sounded like a sickly HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey
Sickly HAL TT machine: Matt "Overt"
My thoughts: Oh, he sounds like Carl from work
Sickly HAL TT machine: 10,9,8,7,6...
My thoughts: (Anxious) Maybe, I can disconnect the wire and it will delay the countdown...
Sickly HAL TT machine: This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.
My thoughts: (Surprised) How, did this TT machine read my thoughts...
Sickly HAL TT machine: Matt Overt, although you took thorough precautions in the pod against my hearing you, I could see your lips move.
Sickly HAL TT machine: 5,4,3...
My thoughts: (More anxious) Ok, maybe I can act like I am sick and ask Hal to kindly stop the countdown!
Sickly HAL TT machine: I'm sorry Dave, err Matt Overt, I'm afraid I can't do that.
Sickly HAL TT machine: 2,1 (BEEEP)...
I forget about the mental dialog and immediately focus with the following mantra, "Race your race", "Smile". I then continually check-in with myself: "how does this effort feel, can I do more? ", "keep relaxed and do good form", "breath".
The first leg went well, it was against the wind, and I quickly found myself on the return leg with the wind to my back, soon enough, I was passing the sickly HAL machine. Lap 1 down... "God, i would love to just do one lap tonight, No, keep going, this is great training!"
I maintained a similar pace for both laps, but the perceived effort was higher on lap two! Finally, I completed the time trial...
Afterwards, I felt great, I was thrilled to hold a higher level of effort for 45 minutes and actually finished 3rd for lap one and lap two.
This was Rebecca's first time trial. She was on a time trial bike with her aero helmet! I was so happy we both participated together. I think it is very cool! I look forward to seeing her progression!
Here were the results...
http://durangowheelclub.com/2012/04/19/2012-dwc-time-trial-series-results-april19/
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