explosion

yes, I haven't been posting, but I haven't been motivated much either. The first week after hearing about Shigeru I had a hard time getting out of bed and when I got on my bike for the first time on Thursday, I had absolutely no desire/enjoyment. That Saturday my HR (159-161bpm) told me I was at race pace but it felt really calm and my perceived effort was very low. FFwd to this past Saturday at Gatineau Grand Prix... after two months of general low intensity (my achilles) and next to nothing during the last two weeks, Gatineau was a disaster.

I was nervous and knew I didn't want to get boxed off the road but yet I managed to start near the back of the pack and to the side. Right at the start, someone started braking and I panicked and locked my rear... faaantastic. Then, someone raises their hand in the middle of the pack, I had nowhere to go and almost slowed to a start just before the first hill. Next thing I know my legs are full of lactic acid and I can't climb for my life. My HR was waay over in the 170's and I was struggling big time. Then, it starts raining. The forecast was for sun & heat - I was p*ssed. Ever since crashing on a downhill in the rain I'm hesistant about going full tilt downhill so I didn't. Then the inevitable happened and my HR just wouldn't go down. I'd love to know the max I hit. My effort was lowered buy my hr was still in the mid 160's... I couldn't recover and was dying. Then of course I feel my calves cramping... eesh. Everything that could go wrong was going wrong - except for my achilles which never acted up. After two laps I pulled off. (46km?) At least I got a helluva training ride as I haven't gone that far redline in a long time.

I got some nice compliments from 'becca's coach so I feel ok. I really have to just ride more... that lactate threshold testing is looking more and more important...