Intro: I decided last August to begin, at that time age 55, racing again. Crazy for someone my age to start racing on the road again given that road racing is dangerous and that I have had a bad back for years and my joints are questionable. I completed my first race in December and had little trouble physically with this race, but after this, I noticed my knees and my hip have started hurting me. Thus, another challenge has been put into the mix. Figure out a way to deal with increased training while at the same time, not injuring myself!
As a plant based athlete, there are already a great deal of challenges in having to make so much of my food and ensure that I have a balanced diet. I love training hard, but time does not always permit hard training. I spend a good amount of time doing strength work as well and stretching. However, I am learning specific stretches now for my hips and for my knees. I am also doing TRX for strength, ice, MSM and dietary additions like turmeric, ginger and cinnamon hoping that all will help with the reduction of inflammation. I follow James Wilson's (www.bikejames.com) videos on stretching and strength training as well. They are very helpful.
As for coaching. I think I have some people who are willing to help me. My goal is compete at a high level, and also to qualify for an event (we'll not mention it yet), during the summer. I have to see where I will be after several races (road and time trial), before I can truly state if this is realistic. I saw in Gran Fondo that I ride hills well, but I don't think we'll be doing any hill climbs like this in the series I will enter. I certainly do not have speed on the flats and fear I will get dropped by the main pack once they get going (certainly the 40 year olds are going to kill me!). Training with Suunto, I have had D.R. as a coach and he has been incredibly helpful in getting me to believe that I can compete and also has taught me so much about strategy. Now Z and A are helping me and the training rides are hard and focused. I also have S. P. in Colorado whom I will eventually employ during March/April when I both have more time and there is more daylight, if my body will allow increased (and strenuous) training. He was an Olympic level rider and is a great coach as well (from Connecticut), and should be able to help me in this pursuit.
Okay, so next week I will do my first serious race of the year and race with the master's group (40's-50's), hopefully getting a better understanding of where I am in the +50 group. Beit Guvrin is where this this first race is taking place (3 laps and a total of 80KM, and I think one hill), and I have a feeling it will be a bit too fast for me. Lots of training to do in the coming week and smart eating as well.
Today's ride, by the way, was wonderful. Fast on the flats and 3 (we did one twice), short but fast climbs.
Ride One: Beit Guvrin
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