My new perspective...

We are now past the halfway point of the summer season. The goals are clearer, the time is tickling closer to the events and the training is gearing up...for the participants. This season, as a mentor for the team the experience has been focused on my mentee's and ride group's goals. My appreciation for last season's staff has grown as I continue to discovered everything it takes to keep a group riding safely as a team. I have been experiencing this season through the participants eyes. It's been wonderful watching and listening to their personal accomplishments and working as a team to help them achieve their goals! There is nothing like the feeling of completing your first century, and I am excited for them to experience that!

However, this weekend as our ride group was split and I was put with the lesser mile ride group, it dawned on me...what about my goals? This season they are lofty...I have signed up for both century's! I am planning on doing "the big nasty" in Moab and some extreme climbing in Konocti...yikes! To my knowledge, I'm only one of a handful on the staff participating in both events. I'm a bit concerned because many of the participants I'm riding with are training at a metric century level.



My team will continue to be my focus on Saturday's, but now I need to commit to my own training and personal goals. Last season my mid-week training was focused on one event...not two! My tenacity with the miles and the climbs are present, but my speed is not...so unfortunately, moving up to level 1 on the team isn't an option for me at this time. Its likely most of my additional training will be on my own, since my regular riding buddies have lesser goals this season. Therefore, this self-proclaimed tortoise will start venturing out to challenge myself and add to my training.



Since our team schedule had some recent changes, I'm planning road trips to experience altitude training and different climb options. I also plan on getting the advice of my coaches and cycling friends to help me put together the best plan to accomplish this without burning myself out. Knowing that between the two events (2 weeks apart) that I need to ride over 200 miles and climb approximately 10,000 ft...it has me more than a little worried at my current training level.




My goals aren't completely selfish. I know I'm my toughest critic and I definitely don't want to be the weak link for my team at either event. I need to prepare myself mentally and physically but also remember during the ride my teammates will also have my focus. This new perspective will mean I will need to work twice as hard to prepare to be the best I can.

Go team!