I just grabbed the last spot for CAT 5 in PP on Sunday. 

My legs are pretty tired from ramping up mileage over the last two weeks. My main goal right now is dropping weight. That being said, I will likely also do Branchbrook tomorrow as well, followed by a training ride out in NJ. If I do both races, I will be CAT 4 after this weekend.  

How do other folks balance racing with getting in longer endurance rides, which at least for me, are key to achieving overall fitness, dropping weight, etc. For now, racing to train seems like a good way to quickly ramp up fitness and CAT up?

My bad if this is a question for another thread. 

@GregStreiff long rides after early, short (most cat 5) races are a good solution. grabbing a bonk-preventing meal (carbs, protein) post-race, before heading back out, worked well for me last season.

GregStreiff said:

How do other folks balance racing with getting in longer endurance rides, which at least for me, are key to achieving overall fitness, dropping weight, etc. For now, racing to train seems like a good way to quickly ramp up fitness and CAT up?

My bad if this is a question for another thread. 

Probably in the Training thread Faster, stronger, awesomer.

That written, Riley pretty much hits it.  I'd go a few steps further.  Fresh clothes after the race if possible, can make the ride after far more pleasant.  And refill bottles and put some bars in your pocket.  And you'll probably want to dress a bit warmer, as you're probably not going to be able to go so  hard.

And you could probably catch the Kissena ride to Jersey on Sunday if you time it right.

Finally, sleep. If you can nap in the afternoon, do so, even if it's just for 20 minutes.  Those early wake-ups can be rough.

thanks to you both. in summary, I need to HTFU!

Don't forget to volunteer to help with registration and marshaling for Sunday's race. Weather should be good

I'm out.
Been fighting sickness since Thursday.

The saddest of trombones.....JP is the Mickey to my Rock



the mongoose to my cobra


and the Miyagi to my Daniel


now I'm left to face the entire Cobra Kai Dojo alone.....(I'm lookin at you Bicycle Habitat)

Turner to your Hooch?

Washed, lubed and ready for action !!!
(sounds entirely inappropriate) 

I don't have a lot to say (rare for me).  I took the shrink wrap off the season today.  There were a few moves...that I had no interest in attending.  They all came back.  It was a gruppo compatto.  After multiple warning from Charlie about the frivolous nature of sprinting for places outside the top ten...I took his advice and sat out the sprint....I did NOT get gapped at the top of the hill...and that's the story I'm sticking with.  Power #'s not quite there yet but 1st race and getting acclimated.  In every race there are small victories....like me not breaking a carbon rim on a pothole.
had to crop my file as Stages took the first lap off....normalized power bout 290 and avg hr of 175 = tangy
https://www.strava.com/activities/935021976

my legs felt like cement during my warm up, and stayed that way through the race. i started in the back and ate a lot of wind trying to move up several times. it seemed to me like there was more churn than usual so it was harder to stay at the front.

i got boxed in behind some tired wheels on the last hill as a swarm of people surged on the left hand side. i broke free and bridged up to them but didn't have the power to gain a whole lot of ground. rolled in 20th. i'm satisfied considering how i felt. 

Bummed I couldn't join y'all today considering the gorgeous weather – between a nasty stomach flu early in the week, and being slammed with work, my training went by the wayside and I wasn't feeling ready :O Victor's pics look siiiiiiiick http://www.oneimagingphotography.com/Clients/Kissena-Race-Season-2017/Lucarelli-Castaldi-Cup-Race-Series-4917-1800/n-VMVZr4/

twoyacks said:

I don't have a lot to say (rare for me).  I took the shrink wrap off the season today. 

Get some help with those leg warmers next time. They're not tube socks; there is a left an a right

I took 21st. Was up front at the start of the last hill climb and got sad as I spun my legs frivolously and watched what felt like half the race participants pass me w far less effort. either way, I was fresh at top of the hill and was just a little ways back from the pack. Gave an 90ish percent effort knowing that once I caught up, I prob wouldn't find a way to sprint through. As expected, I caught up and promptly got blocked by a slower sprinter. kinda pissed me off. I shouted at him to pick it up. he eventually  moved over and I started to let it rip again, but at that point I was now longer sprinting for top 5. someone yelled at me to slow down or maybe it was to be careful...something along those lines. Charlie's email about sprinting flashed through my brain. I was all the way over to the right, it did feel a little unsafe, so I let off the gas. 
  
For me the lesson learned is that I need to get better at hills (that'll come w the weight loss and hill work). I also should not probability weight outcomes. perhaps I need to think less and just do. be more aggressive, have faith in the recovery, etc. 

content with the result and already amped for the next one.

oh and btw, Doug who won CAT 5 at Branch Brook yesterday took 1st again today. I gave him a shout out under the Branch Brook thread after Saturday's race. anyway, I asked Doug about his training, what's his secret. He said nutrition is the differentiating factor. He only eats fresh food, vegetables, etc. According to Doug, that gives him edge. He's also ok with working hard in a race and told me, "sometimes you gotta be ok with hurting yourself". Today was his 4th time racing.

Race report from Sunday:

Sprint 1: 4th place, 0 points.
Sprint 2: 4th place, 0 points.
Finale: Crashed cresting the uphill. I'm fine.

what happened with that crash?

anyone racing on Sunday? Forecast looks rainy.

Pretty sure I am unless its really nasty.

out of town again this weekend, sorry, lame

Unless the rain is supah cold, I'll be there.

Yacks should be in the 1,2,3....even had my aluminum clinchy's trued this week because rain

I'll be there (and signing people in!)

Same 

I'll be there as well. Tess is signing people in.

twoyacks said:

Yacks should be in the 1,2,3....even had my aluminum clinchy's trued this week because rain

Make up your mind.

I'll be there in the 1/2/3.  

I'm reg'd....but will be a "minor threat"

same and same

I'm registered af
looks like I'm the only CAT 5 Kissena registered
where my boys at? 
@JohnOlsson  
@GiacomoVischi
@Will Kalbacker @BenFinoRadin

i'm trying to be cool and have plans for saturday night so i just can't wake up to get to brooklyn. i'm in for the next one though.