An outcome of reverse periodisation is that you end up with zone 2/ long rides just before your first race so aren’t “sharp”. So with XCO being my B priority I’ve raced a few of those with disappointing results despite be “up” in power or numbers in training. May was the end of my training block, with BeMC being the final bit of specific endurance to tip me into the abyss. Not be as competitive as the year before is quite hard mentally.
Well, my coach had told me with my taper I’d bounce onto the Wantage Scott Marathon this weekend (Sunday 27th), and bounce I did. I feel unbelievably strong, tapping out my numbers to remain on the border of Threshold / Vo2 max by HR and not busting into the red, after hour 3 I felt amazing. I was sat in a group who kept pulling away on the climbs but I stubbornly stayed on my numbers, coming back to the time after time. In the end, I went past each of the group members as they fragmented in the last 20k, pausing to have a brief chat with one guy who was out on his feet.
Helped by a dry swooping course, after the third hour I was still full of beans and then saw “10k to go” sign! At this point I had loads - too much - left so went into XCO mode and powered through to the finish - 24th of 126 Vet finishers with the top end of the field being an assortment of UK MTB elite (Paul Oldham for example), average speed 22kmph off road. I had a lie down in the stinging nettles twice and with a bit more education based on this ride I know I could have shaved a few minutes off so good learning for next time.
Good to bump into Alan who also appears to have done well on the day.
P.S now back in the fold as a fully fledged LP.
