by Phil S » Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:06 pm
Adam, your first RR at the next level is almost always a shock to the system but you can and should adapt if you approach it with the right mindset. I personally am going for my Cat 1 licence this season, but last Sunday my heart rate was racing for the first 45 mins simply from adrenaline and nerves! It's quite likely you expended some nervous energy and I can also tell you that being at the back of a field is tougher when the elastic is stretched, i.e. on short sharp climbs and after going through corners.
My advice for the next two weeks - do your longish Saturday rides or Sunday rides with the HR monitor and stick to an average of 75%-82% percent for these, i.e. Zone 3. But during the week, between now and the race, get out and do some intervals without the HR monitor and ride on feel. Do about 1.5-2hrs if possible and during the efforts really, really push it, then push a bit more. You could perhaps do a session Tuesday and Thursday, with a brisk 1.5hr tempo ride on Wednesday?
Then enter the race as you planned to do, but ride without the HR monitor. Stick with your mates, enjoy it, and be aware of what's going on within the race... and avoid the tail-end of the bunch!