May 17, 2011, Boxwood Criterium #4
Nanaimo BC

This last week was not very good for training. Two days of no riding at all. It rained all week, so some days were indoors on the trainer. Missed Friday attending a funeral, so a bummer of a week. With this in mind, my plan would be to ride as conservatively as possible to make it to the finish and try to take a win in a bunch finish if it came to that.

I got several laps of warm up this time and we also had two neutral laps. With no hockey game on the tube, we had a better turnout of 18 riders. The weather was warmer, a balmy 55 degrees and 55% humidity, so I could do with one layer less than normal. We had a bit of a headwind in the home stretch which would make things tricky. There would be 4 $10 primes and $15 for the win and $10 for second place. The race was again 40 minutes plus 5 laps (laps taking about 0:50 to complete).

A lap after the neutral laps, a guy went solo (I think it was Chris) and gained about 15 seconds. He hung out there and we were doing a moderate pace of 24+ mph and I tried not to go after any attacks, hoping it would all regroup as it did last week. After many laps of going solo, Peter rang the gong for a prime. Our pace quickened, but after a half lap it looked impossible to catch the lone leader and the pace eased up again, making it easier on me. However, that pulled us close enough that a few guys went after the leader, which later motivated the pack and a few laps later we were all together again. So far it was playing well to my lack of fitness.

After half an hour, we still had 3 primes to come up and soon we got one. Ian was the man to watch, but I was not going to give up energy that I needed to finish. He jumped hard and won his money easily. I closely watched for an immediate counter attack, but none came and the pace actually eased up as the group began waiting for the next couple of primes to be announced.

Some small groups would get off the front, but there were enough riders that I could keep inside the group and let them bring everyone back. We had another prime with 6 laps to go and the final one at 2 to go where Ian and another rider gave it there all starting at 200 meters to go; I think Ian got both of those primes as well, which would be good to wear him out before the finish.

I had been noticing a slight cramp in my right calf for the last several laps, but I tried to ignore it. Just after 2 to go, I got on Ian's wheel and locked myself there. As we approached one to go, a rider went solo and got a small gap that was not chased down. At half a lap, I was still with Ian and about 8 back when he surged ahead to close the gap. We screamed through turn 3 and I lost a little ground, but he caught the lone rider before turn 4 and I got back to Ian soon after, but it was more of an effort than I wanted to put out that early. Soon we were at 200 m to go and Ian was looking around and I got too antsy. I jumped and immediately got a length on Ian and was in the lead with 150 m to go, but my gear felt too big for the head wind. By 100 m to go I was only hitting 32.9 mph in the sprint, Ian was coming back up even with me and then Chris went flying by on my left, apparently using me as the perfect leadout into the headwind. So I ended up third, which I guess is not too bad for being out of shape.

Hopefully spring will arrive soon and I can train in warmer and drier weather. I think we've had one day where it has made it past 60 this year and only a handful with no rain. The extra clothing always feels constricting and the cold is uncomfortable and sometimes painful.

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