Today I started for the 3rd time the Tour of Malta. I am taking part in this Tour for the simple reason to improve and take my cycling to another level. I took a couple of easier days since my coach told me there was not point going into such a hard tour tired. I was really looking forward to this Time Trial to see where exactly my cycling power is. I knew that I could not get a super result since the distance is not the same I am training for. There is a big difference between training for a 180km Time Trial and a 33km Time Trial. The first one is more on aerobic endurance where as the latter is mainly Anaerobic, a system which I'm not really training that much at the moment. Anyhow, my motivation was sky high this morning and when I realised that my legs were not that tired, I thought I should have a go and see what I can produce on the day.
I started with a good 45mins warm up on the turbo trainer. As I am doing a lot of long distance training at the moment it is taking me a while to get moving so I thought it would be better for me to do a deep warm up. The wind today was really really strong, Force 7. I still risked it and put on the Corima Disk wheel and 3-Spoke front wheel. I went out on the first lap and although I wasnt feeling particularly fast, I knew it was going to be a good day. Today it was more a Time Trial for strong cyclists and not for fast ones and I do fall in that category. I started lapping at a good solid pace and realised that apart from a couple of local cyclists I was doing quite well.
I powered my way through the strong winds and posted my fastest Lap in the 4th one. Going into the 5th Lap I aimed to better that time since it was the last one. Unfortunately my back wheel went 'BANG'.... puncture. I was in tears. All that effort went down the drain. I tried to call a couple of people with spare wheels since I had gone past my parents, but they didnt want to help me............'AS I'M NOT PART OF THEIR TEAM' ......... and these were Maltese. So you think during an international Tour, where you are racing against foreign cyclists you would get help from your nationals?!?!?! Well not in this country... I'm sorry. Eventually a kind man of Green's Cycling Club gave me a wheel and I could finish the race safely.
My disappointment today didnt come from not being able to perform at my best and get a good placing (I was fighting it out for 3rd maltese), it is more from the lack of sportsmenship there was on the road. Such is life I'm afraid but it was hard to swallow. I am deeply hurt!!
Tomorrow's stage is an 85km Road Race. Will see how the legs feel and do my best.
Off for a swim now to relax....
And today's Sportsmanship Award goes to ...................................... (not ethical to tell you)
Dermot
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Two cycling races in the last two weekends
In the last two weekends I was quite busy racing in two local cycling races which are part of the Malta Cycling Federation Programme. The first cycling race was on the Zebbug By-Pass circuit, 22 laps for a total of 100km. The second race was on the St. Paul's by pass Circuit for a total of 80km. The first race was a fast race whereas the second race was very hill.
I have used these races as part of my preparation for Ironman Austria so I didn't taper at all. I am feeling quite tired coming in these race, and deep down I am not very pleased since I cannot race at my 100%. Having said that in both races though I managed to finish with the group so at least I was strong enough to hang in there. The only problem is that I was always dead last in the sprint in both races.
On the Zebbug Circuit I finished the race in 10th overall. Yesterday I finished the race 8th overall. I am pleased with my cycling strenght at the moment, not with my power, but that does not make much difference when you are racing Ironman, the important thing is that my legs are feeling strong and coping with the load of training. One thing I have realised though is that my sprinting ability went down the drain in the last year or so, probably due to all the long distance training I am doing.
After both races I kept on cycling to keep up my weekly milage, and after that I went for a long run. Legs of course are feeling as heavy as lead, but this is expected and on the Marathon they are not going to feel any better.... so this is good simulation training.
Next race is on the 22nd March - National Duathlon Championships
I have used these races as part of my preparation for Ironman Austria so I didn't taper at all. I am feeling quite tired coming in these race, and deep down I am not very pleased since I cannot race at my 100%. Having said that in both races though I managed to finish with the group so at least I was strong enough to hang in there. The only problem is that I was always dead last in the sprint in both races.
On the Zebbug Circuit I finished the race in 10th overall. Yesterday I finished the race 8th overall. I am pleased with my cycling strenght at the moment, not with my power, but that does not make much difference when you are racing Ironman, the important thing is that my legs are feeling strong and coping with the load of training. One thing I have realised though is that my sprinting ability went down the drain in the last year or so, probably due to all the long distance training I am doing.
After both races I kept on cycling to keep up my weekly milage, and after that I went for a long run. Legs of course are feeling as heavy as lead, but this is expected and on the Marathon they are not going to feel any better.... so this is good simulation training.
Next race is on the 22nd March - National Duathlon Championships
Monday, March 2, 2009
Malta Half Marathon - P.B.
First official race of the season, and a good result. Its been a rough approach to this race with ups and downs due to health reasons and work. I had a big target for this race to try and go down to 1.16 but unfortunately a few weeks of sickness and no running made me and my coach opt for a different approach.
I could not afford any taper for this race, so I kept training hard till the end. Some might think its a good excuse, but well, for me its a big releave doing a good time on a hard block of training. I managed a P.B. by almost a full minute which is very encouraging.
Race started fast with the top runners going in front. I started at a conservative pace as I was tired from training and the last thing I needed was to blow up my race in the first few miles. I paced it bang on, 6min / mile or just under. I stayed with my brother Keith most of the race. After the 10th Mile I knew that I was keeping a good pace and that a P.B. was within reach bearing any catastrophic problems in the last mile. I managed to up the pace trying to close the gap I had on the runners in front of me. By the end a was only a few seconds away and happy with my performance. Final Time: 1hr 18mins 36sec.
Well done to the organisers for such a well organised race. Well done to my athletes Keith, Luke, and Gordon for posting very good times in their first Half Marathon. A big well done goes to my friends Pam and Margaret who came over to Malta to do this event and went back with P.B.'s by over 7mins. .... and a big thank-you goes to my girlfriend Johanna for her support and help during this weekend!! :)
Next Race 8th March 100km Cycling Road Race...
Dermot
I could not afford any taper for this race, so I kept training hard till the end. Some might think its a good excuse, but well, for me its a big releave doing a good time on a hard block of training. I managed a P.B. by almost a full minute which is very encouraging.
Race started fast with the top runners going in front. I started at a conservative pace as I was tired from training and the last thing I needed was to blow up my race in the first few miles. I paced it bang on, 6min / mile or just under. I stayed with my brother Keith most of the race. After the 10th Mile I knew that I was keeping a good pace and that a P.B. was within reach bearing any catastrophic problems in the last mile. I managed to up the pace trying to close the gap I had on the runners in front of me. By the end a was only a few seconds away and happy with my performance. Final Time: 1hr 18mins 36sec.
Well done to the organisers for such a well organised race. Well done to my athletes Keith, Luke, and Gordon for posting very good times in their first Half Marathon. A big well done goes to my friends Pam and Margaret who came over to Malta to do this event and went back with P.B.'s by over 7mins. .... and a big thank-you goes to my girlfriend Johanna for her support and help during this weekend!! :)
Next Race 8th March 100km Cycling Road Race...
Dermot
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