Computrainer Time Trial = Reality Check
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
Sunday I went downtown to Landry’s for the Boston Triathlon Team’s indoor time trial/suffer fest.
I had only done one computrainer time trial once before (last March), and I was doing a LOT more running and was teaching hardcore spinning classes twice a week, so needless to say, I was in much better shape. I didn’t need a test to tell me that I wasn’t in the shape I was last year, but I was pretty curious to see exactly how much farther back I was (and how much ground I had to make up).
I did last year’s 10k TT in 15:56 (283 average watts/ HR: 174 avg – 189 max). As long as I finished in sight of that 283 avg watts, I’d be a happy camper. The course profile was the last 10k of the Boston Marathon, backwards. From Copley square to the top of heartbreak hill. Almost completely uphill. Yikes.
The results:
Time: 18:21 (CLEARLY a much harder course)
Avg Watts: 259
Avg Speed: 20.3
HR: 177 avg – 189 max
I have to give credit to a few of those watts to Kim who was behind me screaming almost the whole time, cheering me on. She is an awesome motivator. THANKS KIM!
24 watts isn’t a TON, but definitely enough of a difference in my fitness to hopefully motivate me to get my butt in gear. It is pretty interesting that I had almost the exact same HR as a year earlier, just lower watts.
This season one of my main goals is to focus on recovery more. Not just physically, but nutritionally too. I don’t think I paid enough attention to that last year and led to me getting pretty burnt by mid-summer. Feeling wasted before your workout even starts isn’t good. Thankfully I’m loving the cappuccino flavored Ultragen. I’ve only used it a few times so far after some of my hard workouts, so I can’t say much yet about how effective it is (yet), but it definitely is freaking delicious.
Oh, and last year I somehow just barely edged out Triathlon hall of famer Karen Smyers. This year, (I think, but am awaiting the final results to be posted) I think I beat out ’08 Lake Placid winner Cait Snow. I’m sure that there is something wonky going on with the computrainers since I know for a fact that both ladies can tear me apart on the road, but it is still pretty cool thinking that I can compete with them on SOME level (albeit fake).
Now that I know where my fitness stands, I’ve gotta get this whole ironman training plan thing squared away so I can hit it hard once March hits. More on that soon…
Category : Cycling, Race Reports, Training Log, Triathlon
Tags: boston triathlon team, computrainer, computrainer time trial
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I can't remember why I didn't do the Team Psycho TT, but I think I had
something else that weekend.
Haha, yeah. I saw Captain American running around at one point. Please tell
me that he raced like that!
How come you didn't do the Team Psycho TT??? Did you hang around to see my team mate Carmen in his Captain America suit?
How miserable is to to switch over to Word Press? The layout seems cleaner
and much more easy to read.
i'm pretty sure it was your strength, not my yelling, that upped your wattage. you did GREAT jamie!!!! it was great to see you. cant wait to get together for a few rides this summer.
on a side note, last year's BTT TT was harder than this years (although I think you are talking about the multisport TT that you did last year?) – totally wish i did this year's instead
I know those streets all too well! Always good to have an honest idea of where you stand before the first race. Have never tried the Capp. flavor of Ultragen, but now I'm super curious. Anything coffee flavored starts off with at least a 3/5 stars in my book!