Peaking

[Dominic]

I am after some advice on peaking for events. I have just had two weeks off the bike following my op and I will be starting again gently tomorrow. I was in reasonable condition before my break.

I am looking to peak for two 50s in May approx 5/6 weeks away. Both on fast courses hence wanting to try to peak for them (and never having done it before).

Any pearls of wisdom out there?

[Toks]

Mmm tricky one Dominic. If you had or have a coach this would be definitley one for him or her since they would know your trainining history, how well you recover and the type of workouts that give best results etc. Things worth considering:

1. Current training status (are you race fit or not?)

2. How well do you recover from blocks of training? (especially from race pace efforts)

3. If time is limited 2/3 near or around threshold pace efforts (ideally on your TT bike) seem the obvious route to take since your event is only a few weeks away

4. Sometimes to get yourself really fit you may have to risk some degree of fatigue through workouts and then look forward to improvements when you're refreshed and recovered.

5. I think the general advice is (hopefully Huw, Paul and others will chip in) is to taper more for short endurance events (Pursuiting etc). However for longer events such as 50's you don't want to take lots of time off approaching your event because this may have a detremental effect. I'm trying to get some good form for the ACC Road Race (April 4th) but I know I won't be at my best cause its still early in the season and historically I don't start doing well till late summer so i'm gonna see if I can peak early and late

Good luck

[Paul H]

Sounds like you need a week to build up again, 3 hard weeks and 1 week taper. Its a personal thing, but the week before, I like to reduce the quantity and maintain the quality by doing short intervals at or slightly over my intended race pace to get my muscles/neurological system used to the intensity.

What are the 50s you are doing? I might join you.

[Dominic]

Thanks for that, Paul and Toks.

I am planning the Charlotteville 50 on 10/05 on H50/8 and Norlond 50 on 17/05 on the F1/50. I did a PB last year at the Charlotteville event of 1.57.16 although historically the the F1 is faster I believe. I have ridden the F1 on the several occassions (and puncuturing on it aswell )in my first full year back racing and it certainly has potential for fast times but like most courses in the TT world, you gave got to get it on a good day. For instance I have done faster times on the G50/53 that I have on the F1/50.

[Andrew G]

Obviously it's all a bit training serious for me but I'd go along with what Paul said, a 2-3 week build up and then a week's taper prior to the first race. In the week between the two races probably take it fairly easy with a good low gear leg spin the day after the Charlotteville. A good, but short, lung opener mid-week and then a couple of days easy prior to the Norland including a nice gentle hour to loosen the legs off the day before. The short mid-week blast will help avoid it being a shock to the legs/system at the start of the next race.