AM: 2 hours+ total w/ 34-mile Gravel Race
Cow Pie Classic Short Haul
13' up/20' down
33.3 miles in 1:35:24 (21.0 MPH). 247W. HR 166.
I had a pretty decent race. About the pace I wanted and stuck with the lead group until the farm where things got chaotic and people were going down and/or crashing and I had to slow to avoid it.
Overall, I felt pretty good as I stayed with the lead group for as long as I could. Fitness was there to hold on, just skills lacking a bit and I should have been tactically better, knowing where the farm was so I could position myself better. I didn't have my mileage on, which hurt me a bit. Maybe could have been more aggressive at the farm, but I thought the sketchier sections were earlier (they are a bit later in the farm). Still, this probably kept me from crashing or missing a turn. I did much better handling in the woods section of the farm I think. After that I tried to chase down whoever I could but didn't have too big of a group to work with, just random stragglers here and there. Felt pretty strong at the end.
Fueling was decent and I did manage to get some drink in while in the pack and I think I felt more comfortable in a pretty big group, even bumping elbows and bars a little bit (not intentionally), which is progress too. I feel excited to get out and do more races. I forget I haven't done a bike race since November and a gravel race since this race last year. Need to do a bit more racing. Not every weekend and maybe not every month, but about 6-8 bike races a year and 3-4 running races a year would be good. I now have two total races down for the year with more planned. I am still trying to decide about a target running race for fall. A half seems the mostly likely to be able to recover and get in my bike racing.
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