It begins.
With a flurry of mouse clicks and keystrokes the 2010 Chicago racing season began. Once again the cat 5 spots filled up instantly. Cat 4 was at 115 last I checked - within an hour of registration opening.
Honestly, I think something should be done. What would that be? I don't know. It just seems that coming off winter training and knowing that many new people to the sport decide to give it a try next season that the number of new racers that end up with a bad taste in their mouths about missing out on reg seems to be increasing.
Meh. - I've got a lot of thoughts about that topic in general - without trying to seem inflamatory I'd propose that its the 3/4/5 crowd that drives the sport. With that in mind I think provisions should be made to work more cat 5's (or even 4's for that matter) into the big early season races. I understand the logistics. I'm not sure how it would be done either. I understand that the rules stipulate only 50 5's in a field - for good reason, etc. I'm just suggesting that wouldn't it be possible to run a second cat 5 heat right behind the first one - separated by 10 minutes or soand wearing different color numbers? It might take 15 minutes to fill all the spots instead of 5 if that second heat existed. Just sayin...
Training is the meh. I've been putting in decent hours for me - which isn't saying much - but doing it at killer intensity. Good thing is coach says my ftp has definitely increased already - meaning my form is coming back much quicker than I thought it would.
I hate this time of year. Hours of time spent on trainers in basements staring into the depths of insanity as you watch time click off second by second knowing you have at least 1 more HOUR at the present intensity. It's worse then having to travel to some inane conference for business that includes you spending near 24 hrs a day with a "team" you were assigned to where the tasks include role playing and "touching base" with what was just covered to make sure it has sunk in. Both seem to be fundamental in personal development but both can also make you appreciate the whole psychiatric profession.
In other news I would like to welcome the following sponsors to PSIMET racing!
Tradesmithe - General Contractors
Provident Clinical Research and Consulting
Here's to 2010. Rubber side down.
February 1st, 2010 - 15:41
‘Back in the day’ when racing was tough (ahem!), it’s was 3’s and 4’s all together. 200 riders? Great! 150 juniors? Give ‘er hell. A dozen masters? Make ‘em ride with the 4’s. 50 rider limit? … bah! LOL