Got a couple questions to throw out there and need a little objective advice on something and then some feedback on another topic.
First, I got notice today that I got through the lottery for the Laramie Enduro 111k MTB race. I'm sure everyone did and it's not like I won anything (yes, I'm partially in resemblance to what Woody Allen said in Annie Hall, paraphrasing Groucho Marx: "I don't want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member." Of course, Woody was making a connection and joke about his relationships with women.).
Anyway, the race is July 27th and 14 days before the Leadville 100 mile MTB, 10k the next day, and 100 mile run 5 days after that. I'm torn between thinking, "Are you an idiot? Why would you do a 70 mile mtb race two weeks before Leadville?" and "Well, I'll likely do a 4-5 hour training ride that day anyway, why not enjoy an event and some company?"
Leadman is hugely important (more than I care to admit to myself) and I'm not sure whether the Laramie race would be beneficial or a hinderance.
Yes or No? (No saves me $85 and a long ass drive. Yes gives me the nudge to register and probably have a pretty good time.)
Ok, moving on to question number deux.
Are the videos of my run and ride training worthless to put on my site? I'm not married to them but I do enjoy making them (I usually have about 40 mins of footage that I pare down to 5-12 min videos each time). It's sort of like having company on the ride who I can talk to. If they're just stupid and annoying, let me know (hopefully in a nicer tone than that). If they could be better by talking about specific topics, like training principals and/or past race stories (I have like a million of those), let me know. Though I enjoy just writing this blog for myself, I obviously would like to add at least a small amount of enjoyment and entertainment (and maybe unintended knowledge even) to people's days.
So, to recap:
Laramie 111k mtb race sandwiched in between the Silver Rush races and the Leadville 100s? Yes/No
Continue occasional videos on training runs and rides? Yes/No (other suggestions welcomed).
Can you tell I'm wasting time waiting for the sun to come back out and the wind to die back down? Looks like they did, so off for a ride.
Thanks!
Laramie - NO. Keep your eyes on the prize - LEADMAN.
ReplyDeleteVideo's - YES.
Agree with Troy. Make your own 100k fatass MTB course that weekend if you plan on a long ride. No sense in killing your body in a race, or spending all that money on registration fees and driving if you're just going to do it as a training ride.
ReplyDeleteI always worry about injury before my main event. If the course is technical, certainly a no. Otherwise, I understand the rational of going to a race over just another 4-5 hr ride.
ReplyDeleteKeep the videos.
No on Laramie... no reason to risk injury that close to Leadman. Not to mention saving the $$.
ReplyDeleteYes on the video's!
Yes on the videos!
ReplyDeleteThere are too many ways to hurt yourself in a MTB race two weeks out, even if you go easy. I'd save the $85 for a celebration party after Leadman.
ReplyDeleteI love the videos. Scenery is great and I always get a laugh or two out of each one with your dry humor.
i'll agree with everyone else so far. Don't do the MTB 2 weeks out. It it was I would say go for it. As you know racing the bike is way different than running races. You recover much more quickly, but 2 weeks is a bit too close if Leadville is that important. stay at home, sleep in, don't put in the long drive before and after the race.
ReplyDelete#2. keep with the videos. i enjoy watching them sitting in my office with a cup of coffee while I'm slaving for the man.
If you're just looking to spend some money and risk being injured for the thing you're actually training for....how about this....pay me only $60 and I'll kick you in the knee.
ReplyDeleteWe can stuff you in a cupboard to simulate being in a car for hours and hours, too. That's an extra $5.
Oh, and yes - keep the videos.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the header photo commentary is great.
ReplyDeleteYou said it on the first question: Leadville is hugely important to you. That answers the question. Okay, sure ... you might go out and do a big bike ride the day before the 10k ... but you'd be more likely to bag that ride if you did not feel well. If in a race, you are less likely to do that. Your call, but I think you made it.
I am only up for the videos if the dead rat on your chin stops making special appearances.
Ha GZ, the rat stays!
ReplyDeleteThe 100 mtb the day before the 10k is sort of mandatory in Leadman. The Laramie race is two weeks before that. But, I hear the consensus and agree. I could be in Leadville that weekend instead riding up and down Powerline.
Yes on the MTB race, no on the videos.
ReplyDeleteDuring the race (try and win the thing), stop and post pics and spits via FB.
After the race, a lot of warm DIPA and bologna sandwiches.
HTFU, Long.
What would you tell one of your athletes if they were in the Laramie/Leadville situation? Do that.
ReplyDeleteYes to the run videos, especially the Colorado ones. Love getting to see a part of the country that's so different from the Bay Area.
Excellent advice, Kate. You're going to fly at San Luis Obispo Marathon. Wish I was there to watch.
ReplyDeleteVideos are great. Since you have all that time to think by yourself while training, might be cool to record what is rattling around your head. Could be training, could be philosophical, could be race memories, highs and lows, etc. Anyone who spends hours alone training in solitude can relate to that.
ReplyDeleteNo on the race. Yes on the vids
ReplyDeleteNo on the race as you won't take it easy ... ever. And yes on the vids.
ReplyDeleteI recall a few broken ribs and thumb in a mtb race recently....
ReplyDeleteDitto to H.T.!
You always preach to me about doing the non "A" races as a training run. I think if you can do that its all good but like others have said there is always chance for injury (at the race or out your backdoor) but knowing you you will do it. Videos are always good especially since I know your routes and who your talking about from Fred to the dogs. In the end I say go for it as a nice training ride and shoot video of it!
ReplyDeleteLaramie, hell no.
ReplyDeleteVideos, yes.
yes, on the videos :)
ReplyDeleteI think you fall on your mtb a lot...may as well wait and fall in the race that counts (and get your ass up and keep going, of course). Leadman all the way!
ReplyDeleteVideos are okay as long as they don't reduce/replace your excellent writing!!!
d.
I would say no to the race...but yes to the videos. As my coach, if I asked you should I run a marathon right before my first 50K you would say...HELL NO!
ReplyDeleteI reckon you know the answer and want people to coach it out of you.
ReplyDeleteRisks vs Rewards.
What's your training effect curve like?
Will you see a benefit in fitness five days later?
If not, can you at least recover in five days?
If you can recover, will there be a skill/experience benefit from racing?
Will the risk of a crash be high?
If you can't recover, can you hold back in a race situation?
Hi Trev,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thorough questions. I've already scrapped the race but will answer your questions since you took the time to write them. I'll reference them in the future when considering (training) races.
What's your training effect curve like?
-Well, by that point I'll have substantial work under my belt and this race would be on the lighter side in terms of workload magnitude compared to what I had done in May and June (and July). My thought was that It's similar to doing my last long run ~14 days before an ultra race. Recovery would be relatively quick.
Will you see a benefit in fitness five days later?
- I would say, yeah, within the next week before the taper week.
If not, can you at least recover in five days?
- Easily.
If you can recover, will there be a skill/experience benefit from racing?
- You just nailed the main reason for my desire to do this race. Leadville 100 mtb is 2,000 riders jockeying for position (many of them with novice riding skills) and my reason for doing all the mtb racing in April and May is to 1. build strength 2. regain the courage to ride fast in close quarters. Doing this race two weeks before the 100 would've been to sharpen those factors.
Will the risk of a crash be high?
- This is my only true concern. I ride like I did when I was young - on the edge. The course is "flowing and fast" without much technical sections, but a crash is always possible.
If you can't recover, can you hold back in a race situation?
- I would ride the training race much like I would the Leadville 100, paced accordingly as though it was an 8-8.5 hour ride, so, yeah, I can use races as training. I've done it several times in ultra running races.
Thanks again for the great questions!
Tim
I figured you would scrap the MTB race after really considering the cost of messing with Leadville. We want to see you at Leadville in good health ready to give it all in each event. We like the videos.
ReplyDelete