My first race

mikesbytes

Just got back from the ride-for-life race in Centennial park in Sydney after completing my first race and it was a great learning experience.

In Sydney today, it is raining, so my first race was a wet race. I was in the Masters race which is open 35+. I'm 45, so many had a age advantage, however their experience advantage was probably more important.

I decided that I wouldn't try to sit in the pack, as it was very wet, the last thing I wanted to experience was a crash first time out, the objective was to learn. The race was 35k, 12 laps around a 2.89k course with a hill.

First lap around I was close to last and then we hit the hill and I went past a number of riders, I was feeling good and we settled down into a group of 4 (5 later on), working together, then after about 4 laps, I started getting cramps in my calfs, the group kept droppoing me and then my legs would come good and I catch up again and latch on, as the race progressed, the cramps kept happening, it was very frustrating, I was no where near my aerobic limits, but the best I could do was to hang on. Anyway, just as we approached the finish line with one more lap to go, the winners lapped us as the sprinted for victory, so, 3k down on the winners isn't so bad, considering its my first race, it was raining and I suffered cramps. Look forward to my next race

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fauxpas

Aren't cramps related to salt/electrolyte levels?

Anyhoo, I'm jealous... I gotta do a lil more training and I'll have a go too...

I'm 40 soonish and would love to do a sub 50k race...

Soon...

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SaintAndrew

oftentimes yes.

cool to hear you did well mike. next time try taking some taurine before your race.

mikesbytes

Thanks for the tips on the electrolites. I need to look at what I take pre race in general. I should note that I slept in and went to the race without eating breakfast. A couple of the riders suggested that my legs may of been too cold, which makes sense as the problem started after only 12k.

Lucky they didn't take a sample, as I had a glass of wine the previous night and we know what that does to testerone.

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DamianM

Nice one Mike!
I was thinking about getting my work to sponsor me in the corporate challenge, but I let myself get talked out of the race because of the hill (still new to this). When I woke up this morning and saw the weather, I was kinda glad.

PolishPostal

They can also be induce by fatigue. If you haven't trained at that intesity (race pace) for that period of time. But don't worry it will come with time.

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mikesbytes

I love doing things like corporate challenges, usually something that I suck at, but its fun anyway. Looking at last years pictures, there appeared to be a mix of abilities in the corp challenge, as it should be.

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mikesbytes

To be honest, I didn't ride that fast, but that doesn't mean that fatigue wasn't a factor and its a good point to bring up - thanks PolishPostal. Perhaps it was a combination of things. Rush to get there, no breakfast, not enough warm up, salt/electrolite, cold legs (winter rain and no leggings), fatigue. The thing here is to learn.

I've spent all day installing kitchen cupboards, I'm feeling pretty tired and my calfs still hurt but I've decided to go on the club training ride tomorrow - 85k a combination of flat and moderate hills and I'll see if my calfs give me trouble.

Thanks for your feedback everyone, much appreciated.

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jock.c

Cramping from lack of salts in such a short race would indicate a life threatening condition. Not bloody likely if your diet is good, even less likely if your diet is bad (bad foods contain lotsa salt).

I'd go with PolishPortal's theory. Just not enough of the right training under your belt yet. But don't feel bad, it only takes a little imbalance in muscle development, dietary intake, bike position, etc. to create nastly little hurtees. If you were able to ride through them then the problem is not serious - you just need to determine what the problem really is.

And well done on your first outing. Racing in wet and blustery conditions is never much fun

capwater

Those Masters races are often just as fast as the cat1/2 races since they are loaded with ex-pros and ex-cat1/2. While you think you're in there with fellow old dudes, you're in for a surprise. Check out a cat 5 next time for a change.

mikesbytes

On the last lap both calfs cramped at the same time near the top of the hill and I had to stop peddling, I think that not ignoring the cramps was the right thing to do, as even though I was dropped each time, I managed to stop the cramp and ride normally.

I'm just supprised that its happend then and there and not previously during training. The calfs hurt a little on the ride out to Waterfall this morning, but they went ok. Bad day for punctures, out of 5 of us, we had 3 punctures.

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mikesbytes

I hear that there were masters riders who are A grade in last years race, not sure for this year (not sure how that relates to cat, I think A = 1). The race also had elete Woman. Despite a consertitive start and the crampings I still managed 11/12's of their pace so I'm happy.

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jock.c

Obviously the stresses on your calves are different during the race than in training. Don't wory too much at this stage. Keep working on the training to prepare your body for racing. I'm assuming that you are working with a coach and the race pace is simply exceeding your level of comfort by a larger than desired amount. Your time will come.

As for the punctures, well you get days like those every once in a while

mikesbytes

Hey Ernie took my photo ! I'm in the red top.

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