Shake update

So everyone is starting the obligatory training-update posts. Here is mine!

I’ve been pretty quiet about the training plan stuff- mainly because this year I want things to be a little more open-ended so that I don’t get burnt out by the time ‘cross time rolls around. By August of last year, I wasn’t really hating bike racing, but something clicked in a not-good way. I was disappointed if life got in the way of a scheduled workout. I stopped riding in the mornings so much, and during races I really wasn’t thinking at all. This cumulated at Tokeneke where I just hammered away at the front the entire race before cramping up on the finishing climb. Not smart!

This year, I have a general plan where I’m using Friel as a guide. In the last two weeks I’ve started doing tempo rides by myself and 4x 10-15′ cruise intervals. In the next week or so these will become 2×20′s. I’ve also recently been going out with Leo to the Dover golf course for 4-5′ VO2 max intervals. I haven’t really done these before, and they have been feeling great- especially as It’s way too early for me to start the all-out 2-3′ stuff yet.

I am counting on Wells, Tuesday night worlds, and the early season races to bring things together and allow me to identify what I need to work on for the mid and late season.

One last thing- It’s amazing that we have been getting together as a team as much as we have so far. At Wells we’ll be able to practice leadouts and generally see how we all act in race situations. By the May we’ll be one crazy race-winning unit. I’m stoked.

2 Responses to “Shake update”

cory says:

February 28, 2009 at 4:12 pm

I believe it was Friel himself who said “though shall not burn out before cyclocross, or you get popped in the nuts”.
shane says:

February 28, 2009 at 6:28 pm

considering my ‘cross bike handling skills, that’s going to happen either way!