Anger Management Criterium (1/23/2011)

I was more nervous about this event than I should have been. I had high expectations since October when I embarked on a twelve week interval training program scheduled to end January 16. One week of tapering and I'd come roaring out with guns blazing. Dumb. People in their fifties never feel up to snuff 12 weeks in a row. I found myself in the first full week of January feeling crummy and already one week behind, whereas in December I was just eating this stuff up. Hard to say what was wrong. My hay fever is bad enough that it masks other respiratory symptoms. Possibly I was over-trained and I was also trying to shed a few pounds prior to starting the season. Maybe I'm just old.

At least the sluggishness of early January had begun to subside by race day. I felt better in warmup than in the previous two weeks and had at lest rested well. Hopeful, anyway. From the gun 55/60+ was not going to be a cakewalk. This year's CBR opener had more than twice as many racers in 55+ as last year. I looked around and thought "these are a lot of the same guys as 50+ last year". Duh! Of course the strong 55+ers from last year were out in force as well. Teams had re-aligned, Santa Clarita made a bigger showing and Swami's looked downright impressive.

As for Velo Avanti, There was Greg Mathes, Ed Keck (60+), and myself. Craig Jones, our mainstay, had an asthma attack and couldn't race. Ed came out to race in spite of a busy winter which gave him little time to train. Greg was returning to the road after a season of dedicated MTB racing. We hadn't worked out any specific strategy, mainly because Greg and I were planning to stay close to Craig who has a refined sense of timing and, as a result,  the ability to stay at or near the front without blowing up.

From the gun it felt like 50+ pace. Swami's had a good strategy. With two top-notch sprinters their other team members kept the pace crisp. For myself, I knew early on I didn't have the gas I usually possess. I could maneuver and move up if I needed to, but trying to make an attack would be a bad idea.

On the last lap coming out of turn 3 I was near enough the front to have some hope. Unfortunately I fell into my old habit of over-thinking. When I heard I guy come up on my outside I assumed he was going for the front and figured I could hitch onto his wheel and move up. Wrong. I hereby swear that, unless that's a teammate, I'm going to contest that move from now on. He swung in front of me and slowed! I had to coast for a second to clear his rear wheel and get outside, but by that time there was a surge on the inside and I was nearly 20 back into turn 4. The only good thing on the day was that I was able to pass enough people to finish 14th overall and 11th among the 55+.

On balance, not a complete disaster. This was a couple of days ago and I had a good workout today for the first time in two weeks and am clearly recovering. Eleventh place gives me enough points to have a shot in the overall standings. There are at least eight more CBR crits so it was a good thing I wasn't skunked. Greg finished in the top twenty, Ed abandoned but he'll get in the rhythm soon enough.

At my age I shouldn't have to learn this lesson, but it's all about discipline. Being vigilant about over-training, resting when needed, getting down to weight prior to the season, and not trying to be too coy on the final lap are all rookie mistakes which can be solved by being disciplined about this process. So PCKRR and Mothballs this weekend! At least I'll get some exercise.