Cape May Madness

BY KENNETH LUNDGREN

Well, the first TT is swiftly upon us. A little early in the year, a little far away geographically, a little windy and cold, a LITTLE EARLY IN THE MORNING!!! But eh, no real complaints. We’re all a little nutty in the brain. This will be a good test, a good way to shake up the engine!!! However, I feel like there’s an axe blade against my throat…

This week, it was very hard to hold back and not over-exert myself. I have to remember that although a TT, Cape May is a Nothing Event (the thick beard is even staying!). I’ve been really priming the aerobic engine, steady, long stuff, nothing harsh or violent… Staying true to the program.

With Cape May, Sandy Hook looming, mentally you want to start giving it your all, giving it more. But you make a decision in the winter with what direction to follow, so no sense in deviating… So during the workouts, I was able to rein in the watts! That’s what great about this meter: it never lies, and it always makes sure you did or DIDN’T do the job right… In my previous life, I probably would’ve started letting loose recklessly…

With this type of steady training, I can either show up idiotically fresh and really rock out a sick effort with hungry legs… OR (and this is a big OR!) I can fall apart after a few minutes over 350w… We shall see. I am real excited to see how I perform and how, at this stage of the year, I line up against the other dudes…

Having said that, I’m feeling good, anxious, lively. I would consider myself a very good time trialist, can put out excellent efforts in long hilly, rolling TTs, but for flat TTs, I am average at best. AVERAGE. I need some humps in the terrain!!!

The bike: it’s dialed in. It ain’t a Cervelo P3 or Equinox, but my position is effective. I brought the black rig into the same Elite Endurance Wind Tunnel where we tested Gavi Epstein and Nick Bruno and I found out that if I keep my thumbs in, it makes a remarkable difference!…

My butt is in same position as Silver Mine, but my torso is slightly more upright (which had been substantially higher than ever)… I like to keep that hip angle open. As a PowerCranker, I think this is vitally important. So I’ll be up there, catching more wind, but for me this is worth it. Maybe I’ll have a TAILWIND in both directions!!!

In the Pro/1/2/3, Will O’Donnell is the man who wins, hands down (I’m getting good at predicting these TTs — got Readington and High Point right last year…). I picked O’Donnell even before I read his last post! (O’Donnell, tattoos aside, you’re scaring me!!!) The guy is stupid, stupid, ridiculously fast. Last year at Silver Mine, I was really pulling him back on the hills, but when I crested and started on the flatter roads, he was gone!!! He’s just a rocketship over this type of terrain and I foresee him putting 45-60 seconds into me.

Even with that, I’m hoping to eek out a top-three performance… (I may need to get new batteries for my crystal ball come Sunday afternoon!!!)

Thanks for reading. And good luck to all going to war this weekend…

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Coach's Diary | Friday, March 28th, 2008 | | |