TT pain

So, I went and did TT efforts yesterday on McKenzie view.  It felt pretty good.  The first one I did after a short 15 minute warm up.  I decided that, #1, I like McKenzie view because it has hills and it challenges me and makes me really aware of how my legs feel and the watts I’m putting out.  I also decided that, #2, I don’t like McKenzie view because the hills make me feel slow during TT efforts. haha

Anyway, I was planning on doing 2 – 20 min efforts, going just under all out, and amping up at the end of each one ( like a TT).  So, the first one went pretty well.  I haven’t done TT efforts for a while, so it hurt and my lungs were about to explode – but overall it felt good.  During this effort I tried to really pay attention to how my legs were feeling.  I realized about 1/2 way through that my legs were on fire – and it’s always about that time that I think, “Why am I doing this?  I need to stop, this is stupid Karey.”  And then it’s always right after that point that my legs start to feel a sort of numbness.  And that’s where I need to be to effectively do a time trial.  It made me also realize (and I know everyone is different), that being able to reach that point of numbness (or I guess constant gnawing pain that doesn’t go away and doesn’t get worse) – is a hard thing for a lot of people to get to, and that’s why some people are better at TT-ing than others.  I’m glad that my body allows me to get to that point – cause man, if I had to do the whole TT in the same pain as the first 10-15 minutes, I would die.  haha

Anyway, I rested for a while after the first effort, and tried descending a little in my TT’s – which is freakin’ awesome!  And then I headed back, attempting another TT effort.  This one actually felt better, going about 24 mph into a strong headwind, and faster on the other parts.  I wasn’t even gasping for air until the last couple minutes when I amped it up to about 28 mph.  Hopefully this weekend’s TT will go well.  I’m a little worried cause it’s similar to a hill climb, but I think I can keep a pretty steady pace, and the way back down the hill I’m gonna fly!

The Good, the Bad, and the ugly

FIrst things first.  The good.  My foot is feeling much better.  After icing, ibuprofin and Super feet, I feel much better.  I did some hard rides this week, and am feeling pretty good.

This was crit weekend.  I started off with the Co-motion Crit in Eugene on Saturday.  It was all women racing together.  We started out, and I was right behind Lisa’s wheel. Coming around the corner on the first lap, she attacked and I followed.  Then some poplollies counter-attacked and we chased and pulled them back in.  This was the scenario for about the first 4-5 laps.  Then Jill (one of the poplollies attacked) after her teammate was on the front (which meant Lisa and I were still fresh), and we grabbed on her wheel and we were off.  Before we knew it, the break stuck and we were slowly pulling away.  It was hard, but it was a good feeling knowing that I was with two of the strongest girls there, and that we would almost definately make the break stick.  At one point I was totally redlined and knew my heart rate was way passed my LT, but I just sat out one pull and recovered and was on my way.

it was a lot of fun working with Lisa and Jill.  We ended up almost lapping the field.  Well, we could have, but decided that since there was only 2 laps left, we might as well rest for the sprint (which we knew would probably come down to Lisa kicking our butts).  So, the last lap, we amped it up, and Lisa took off around the corner.  Jill followed her, and what do ya know…a girl that we were lapping right before the corner started sprinting also, so she completely cut me off. I had to swing clear wide and almost ran into the curb.  I was able to save my line and finish the sprint by myself, a few seconds back from Lisa and JIll.  I was sort of disappointed because I really wanted to try sprinting with those girls.  Next time, I guess.  That other girl needs to learn, though, that if you are being lapped, especially on the last lap…PAY ATTENTION and GET OUT DA WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I’ve never been more frustrated.  (well, maybe once or twice) – anyway, you get my drift.  So, I finished 3rd!  It was hard and fun.

The Bad: Vancouver Crit.  We started out, and I was right up front.  We came around the last corner before the start/finish line and I had a horrible line, and once again, almost ran into the curb.  (We didn’t have a chance to ride the course beforehand).  Anyway, at the same time, my bottle cage came loose and it was rattling – but I didn’t know it was my bottle cage at the time.  It sounded like it was coming from my wheel and might possibly be a loose skewer or something.  So, as I am looking down at my wheel, I loose about 12 positions. I chase to catch up for the next 3 laps around that stupid corner.  I would catch up on the back part, and loose my position again around that stupid corner. I ended up getting shelled and finishing the race with a group of six of us.  I got 2nd in that sprint.  It didn’t really matter  – but oh well.  It was a frustrating experience because I know that I am as strong as any of the other 3’s that finished in the top 5.  I eventually figured out the line on the corner – and it was smooth sailing from there.

I’m also frustrated because at first they told me I got 3rd place!  Yay!  NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!  THey mis scored – then I was thinking I got 5th because of the people they didn’t count in the first time.  Yay!  Still a couple points for me…NOT!  I get online tonight and look at results – 12th place!  GRRRRRRR  So, overall out of everyone I got 18th and out of the 3/4s I got 12th.  38 riders – so not bad, but still.

This week is going to entail some hard training and even harder racing.  I’m ready to kick some ass!

Bring it on.

OH yeah, the ugly: I was riding around after the crit – I was on the sidewalk and turned to ride around these bushes – and lo and behold, there was a guy on his trainer right in the middle of the sidewalk!  I went to hop over the curb thing, and lo and behold, a HUGE tree root that stopped me in my tracks.  I toppled over into the guy and his trainer and not only scuffed my elbow, but BURNED it on the roller part of the trainer.  damn, that’s ugly.

Super Feet

Well, the pain is slowly getting better. I took a few days off while I was doing support for Chris at Cascade.  My foot started feeling much better, so I went for a couple rides.  The ride last Friday consisted of a few hard efforts, and the next day my foot was much worse.  I took another couple days off and it started feeling better again. 

I’m finally back in Eugene and went to visit Gilad who said I should buy Super Feet insoles.  So, $40 later, I have Super Feet.  I have been riding for the last three days and my foot is still feeling pretty good, so that’s good.  Today was my first day with the insoles in.  I could definately tell a difference in the support on my feet…but my toes hurt a little..>I’m not quite sure what that means.

In the mean while I am going to amp it up a little bit tomorrow.  I’ve got some major TT-ing to do and some long rides in store to be training for these races coming up.  I’m pretty excited because I found out that a few races coming up have the Cat 3’s scored seperately which could mean some points for me!  Finally!!!!

With the foot thing, I’m just going to have to really pay attention to when I’m hurting more and to have patience on the bike.  FRUSTRATING I TELL YOU!!!!!!!!!  FRUSTRATING!  Don’t ever get plantar faciitis.

Pain Pain Go Away!

So, I have unofficially deteremined that I have plantar fasciitis.  I have looked at numerous medical sites on line and the description fits my pain perfectly.  I have major pain at one point in my ankle when I press between the ankle bone and my heel.  It’s not muscle pain, that’s for sure, and the only other things in there are tendons and fascia.  I tried riding last Tuesday, and only got an hour out and 1/2 way up the hill before I had to turn back.  I took Wednesday through Friday off and finally got soo sick of laying around with ice on my ankle and taking a good share of ibprofin that I decided to take an “easy ride” to see how it felt.  Saturday Chris and I went out and decided to do Mink Creek/Scout Mt. ride.  The first part was okay.  I ace bandaged my ankle for extra support and it seemed to be doing okay.  Then the turn off to scout Mt. Came, and it’s pretty much an 8 mile climb.  I got probably about 8 minutes from the top when I started to realllly feel my ankle.  Mind you, I should have probably turned back at the hour mark, even before I could “feel it” because that’s how people hurt themselves.  So, I turned back and left Chris to do the rest of his work out.  The ride home was boring, so I attempted to add in a few hard efforts on the flats..which probably wasn’t a good idea either.  By the time I rode up the last little hill home, my ankle was throbbing.  More Ibprofin and ice.

Sunday: same thing, only we decided not to go up the mountain.  We just stayed on the rolling parts of Mink Creek Road.  Rolling hills are boring if you don’t putt a few 400 watt efforts in hehe  So, once again, I over extended myself…and it hurts even worse now.

So, off the bike it is for me.  Today is usually a rest day anyway, and tomorrow we are traveling to Bend for Cascade Classic, so that’ll be a couple days off.  I just want the pain to go away, and I”m not a patient person…especially when I think of all those other girls training hard…AHHH!

Gate City Grind Stage Race

Well, I have officially participated and finished my first ever stage race.  Chris and I traveled down to Southeastern Idaho to stay with my family in Pocatello.  After a 12 hour drive, we settled in.  The next day we rode the course for the road race.  It consisted of a 17.5 mile loop that had 2 climbs and rollers in the middle.  The wind was extremely gusty that day, and I was a little worried that the wind might cause me more pain than the climbs.  We rode the loop twice…but it felt like a lot longer due to the strong winds and my 12 hour car ride legs.  (In other words, my legs felt like poo)

The next day we went out to ride the TT course.  It was a 6.2 mile out and back, and was actually marked with start and finish from last year which was nice.  Pretty flat with slight decline and incline each way.  (The incline was longer on the way back, which i knew would cause some pain).  We rode the course a couple times, still dealing with a strong head/tail wind.  My legs felt a little better, but still had me a little worried.

The morning of the road race we headed out to Marsh Valley.  Chris went off at 9 and I went off at 9:25.  We started the course, and within the first 5 miles is the first climb.  PAIN!  There were some pretty strong Cat 1 women there and they were causing some major pain. I fell off the back at the very top and spent the next few minutes chasing.  I successfully caught back on and continued to ride.  This was the basic description of the next 2 laps.  On the second lap, 3 girls went off the front while I was struggling not to fall off the back.  I knew it would happen, and there I was, cresting the hill (alone and off the back) and realizing that if I was going to catch the girls up front, it would be on my own because the rest of the people in the pack had a team mate up front.  I was screwed…but I went for it anyway.  I sprinted up the hill to chase back on, flew over the top and hammered my way down the descent.  With the girls yelling at each other to catch me, I think I took most of them by surprise.  I averaged about mph for the next 5 minutes with the girls trailing behind me…but it was no use.  I got about 30 feet behind the lead group of 3 and I cracked.  I knew that if I was going last the rest of the 30 miles I need to stop chasing.  I sat up, feeling a little defeated.  (actually a lot defeated).

So, we continued on for the next lap and 1/2.  It was hot and long.  There was one point that even on the flats I thought I was going to crack, and started slipping off the back, but nothing a little goo can’t fix.  I ended up getting 7th in the pack sprint. I tried to sprint and my legs were toast.  But, my goal was achieved: to finish with the pack.  It was my longest road race ever!  52.5 miles.

TT that evening:  my legs were toast, but it still went okay. I ended up getting 5th.  I was a little angry at myself because I missed 4th by 30 seconds and I know I could have amped it up earlier and pushed myself harder.  I guess it’ll just take more practice knowing what I can and can’t do.

Crit: PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I couldn’t get clipped in and before I knew it I was chasing on the first lap.  The Bob’s bicycles girls punched it hard right from the front (though I don’t really know why because she was the GC leader by quite a bit).  Anyway – I chased the first lap, stuck in the next 20 minutes, and then chased a little bit more – and finally right after I cought back on and was hoping for a little rest, the girl in front of me gapped off and there we were.  We spent the rest of the time chasing.  She started to really look bad and couldn’t pull anything, so I went up and stared pulling, and I looked back and I was by myself.  I spent the next 10 laps by myself trying not to get lapped.  The leader off the front had lapped the pack and myself by the end.  I ended up getting 6th – I probably would have gotten 7th but there were 2 crashes right at the end.

Anyway, after a long hard weekend, I placed 6th in the GC – missing 5th  (and $50) by 30 seconds.  DARN TT!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Next time!

I am currently dealing with a strange ankle ache that won’t go away.  It’s not a muscle strain and doesn’t feel like ligaments…it hurts pretty badly to put pressure on it…but it feels really internal, like it might feel if it were swollen but there is no swelling.  So, hopefully that will clear up so I feel good with training this week.  (If anyone has ideas about what the pain might be, let me know!)