Today was the Treasure Valley Road Race. I knew it wasn’t going to be a good race before it even began as I didn’t feel well over the last few days. It didn’t help that the conditions weren’t optimal for me; it was cold, I didn’t sleep well the night before and there wasn’t enough time to digest a real breakfast this morning. Well I was right; I ended up only lasting 15 minutes of the 100-mile race!

I got dropped the first time up the only major hill of the course! I knew I was in trouble early on the climb as I was already gasping for breath while everyone else just seemed to be on a leisurely stroll. I started the climb in third wheel, trying to do the “slip-slide” through the peloton as we climbed. But that doesn’t work so well with a small pack of only 25-30 riders! Soon enough I was at the back. I got dropped and quickly decided to pull the plug. With the way I was feeling, even if I did catch back on, I would have been got dropped the next time up the hill. If I learned anything from last season it’s that I shouldn’t force myself to race when I’m feeling like crap; it just prolongs the crappiness!

I was disappointed and headed straight to the car and headed home. I was racing on my training bike with my PowerTap and Garmin Edge 705 and upon inspection of my power file I realized that my effort up the climb was one of my best 5 minutes ever (5 minutes 32 seconds to be exact)! I came within 14 watts of my all-time power for that duration. So it was as hard as it felt! Thank goodness…it wasn’t just that I was having a bad day.

Then I got to thinking…what would it have taken for me not get dropped on that climb? Obviously, more wattage at VO2Max would help (which is the next training focus), but using the elevation data from my Garmin 705 and the Analytic Cycling web site I calculated exactly how much weight I needed to lose to have stayed with the pack….5 lbs! Five measly pounds! So being that I rode my heavy training bike, along with my assortment of electronic gizmos, and an extra 32 ounce bottle in my jersey pocket (since I didn’t have a feed), I could have easily made up those five pounds in equipment alone. If I rode my race bike, that’s 4.5lbs right there and then getting someone to feed me would have saved me another 2 lbs.

I also have some weight I can take off my own frame. Currently I’m a few pounds over my usual weight. Late this winter when I was struggling with making training progress, I thought gaining a few pounds would help me better absorb hard training and not be fatigued all the time, as well as not be so cold all the time. Well, that didn’t work! Power didn’t go up with the weight gain so now I’m just that much slower on the hills! And I’m still cold all the time!? So much for that! Time to start watching the caloric intake!

Once I got home I took a much needed nap, then helped Heather with the garden. We finally got some tomato plants planted. After a weekend of staining fences last week, this was easy work. I went for a second ride to get the blood flowing and enjoy the weather which was now mostly sunny. My legs felt fine at tempo but I didn’t go above that.