The Tuesday Track Club rolled around and wouldn’t you know it, we did the say workout I struggled with two weeks ago. 4 X 1 mile @ 6:00 minute miles. This time the workout was clearly explained to everyone. Your mile should be @ your 10k pace. Hmmm, I haven’t done a 10k since last year’s Abe’s Able. I think I was around a 7:00 minute mile. I figured I could do that or even 6:45s.
As we started, I stayed towards the back, and slowly slipped off the blistering 6:00 minute pace. The laps were hard, but much easier with the mild weather. I ended the first split in 6:37. I ran a little faster than I wanted, but I was comfortable. The second line up, I was assigned to lead lap 2 of 4. That meant I needed to do 2 laps at 6:00 minute pace. It worried me but I didn’t have any trouble. I completed my lap in 1:27 and made my way off the back to complete the set.
The third lap, I just went through the motion. My time went down to a 6:24. The fourth and final set I was able to bring my time down to a 6:16. I guess you could say I had negative splits, and was not completely wasted. After that I only had one thing on my mind… Could my legs hold up at the training race tonight?
I downed a bottle of NO Explode about an hour and half before the training race began. I need anything and everything to get motivated for the race. Clouds had rolled in and the wind was almost null. There was a somber feeling in the air and I could only pray we would have a big turn out.
After a short warm up I headed to Bike Tek. A good 20 riders!
Once the race started, it finally hit me tonight was sprint night. I thought that might be a good thing, just incase I can’t hold on. The first sprint went off, I followed the lead out, but stayed back as people pulled through. I wanted to play it smart tonight and complete the entire ride.
The second sprint headed out and there was three people off the front. I felt like peloton in the Tour, just waiting tell the last minute to real in the break away. I landed on Gary’s wheel as he dropped into his 11 or 12. We made up all the ground, I sprinted around and won the sprint. I am not sure if anyone was one my wheel, the road was kind of gravely. So I won a sprint, but I might have been the only one sprinting. But to quote Andy Lister, “A win is a win.”
The next sprint went through the Key Hole. The group stayed together until the zig zag. I found myself in a small break with Robo and Shay. I told them we had a gap, but I am not sure they realized it until it was too late. The gap closed and it was a group sprint.
On the way back into town on the second to last sprint, everyone sat on Shays wheel. Thanks for the ride Mark! I am not sure if everyone was tired or what? The sprint finally started and I stayed back on Robo’s wheel. We were at the back of the pack but still holding a good 26-28 mph. The sprint finished and went blowing by the the group. I was hoping to keep some momentum around the corner, but wouldn’t you know it. A freakin’ car. Our breaks went on and everyone ended up regrouping.
The last sprint would not be as easy as the last. The first hill came around and I pulled at a pretty good speed. At the top Andy attacked. A couple people jumped and I gave it all I had. We caught that damn Lister on the next hill. But that was not the end of him. He attacked again! Ouch! I tried to get on, but my legs were toast. I finished behind the just behind the group. Chalk another one up for the old guy (Gary.)
I rolled into home and attempted to open the garage door. I couldn’t remember the code. I took me a good 10 seconds (maybe more) to remember. I was exhausted.
Most people would hit the shower and call it a night. But my wife and kids wanted to head back out to the fair. So I took a quick shower and got everyone in the car. On the way out we realized that the parking pass my wife had from earlier was not good for re-entry. The I questioned the “mega-pass” wristbands that the kids had on. We called up my sister Kim and she said they expired at 5:00. So the State Fair was a wash.
We convinced the kid, and headed to Baskin Robins. We got a scoop of ice cream and ate it under the clear sky.
