So I did my first Meridian Training Race last night. The coach and I drove up from the Springs and made an evening of it. This 1 hr training race was pleasant for the first 45 mins. Then the winds shifted and the rain started. The pack of 50 or so riders shattered near the end...it was hard to see who took the mock victory.
For me this was both a fitness challenge as well as a lesson in pack road racing. Alison and I were the only women in the group of Cat 1,2,3 and 4 men. We stuck to the outside for the most part. I was surrounded by riders a few times, which I found a bit unsettling. But what a great experience. I hung with the pack for 5 laps, 30 mins before I got dropped on the back stretch. That particular attach happened quick and I wasn't paying attention to the front of the group. Al hung back with me and we caught the pack as they came back around. I watched her the entire night and mimicked her actions. When she shifted, I shifted. When she came out of the saddle, so did I. When she drank, I drank.
All in all we did the equivalent to 20 VO2 efforts in an hour- good training. We chatted some on the drive home. I asked the World Champ if it was hard to hang at the back when she can easily stay at the front. She laughed and said she really enjoys teaching me and watching me learn. I confessed that, with a little work, it is completely possible to hang with the group the entire hour. She, in her confident way, said "you won't just hang, you'll lead". She said when she was racing nationally she would do the Meridian Rides and the CoSprg group rides and then go to National Road Races and excel among the women's competition. There's something to be said for this 'sort' of training.
Tuesday and Thursday6:00 PM
Meridian Circuit Training Race
Meridian Business Park Lincoln and Meridian (I-25)
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