CAT3 Roadie? Oh boy...

Just received my USAC upgrade, leaping light years ahead from CAT5 to CAT3.

I am so hosed now! It's good, but will be hard. I hope I can help out some of the faster guys get some results - especially at the State RR championships coming up soon. Finally hit a level of fitness that allows me to go really hard during short and medium length intervals. Leg burning hard. Cross-eyed hard. Make you feel like you're about to explode hard!

It's cathartic, and it's been a long while. Threshold wattage is up to about 340, but my weight is only now starting to inch down. This morning, after the elastic snapped and I came off the rear on the 'A' Group (road) Ride, I tried, dug, fought, and clawed for a 22-24 minute effort WAY over FTP (right around P/W of 5), but still could not regain a wheel. The fellas let me back on at a major turn out to the west of town, and we pedaled a moderate tempo the rest of the way. I've been tossing myself into the pain locker in a big way on Tuesdays and Thursdays, riding anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours PRIOR to meeting up with these hammers. Today I got in about 1h 15m before the 6AM departure, and was worked - but not totally toasted from the steep hills work I had done prior.

What else?

My shoulder works! Last year, in May - I wrecked my left shoulder and did some minor rotator cuff damage that has taken 16-17 months to heal right. Upshot is I can once again start doing push-ups, which have been a sorely missed part of he workout regiment. This morning, when I got home, dropped, and did some - Victor thought it was great fun - slapping my back, putting his sippy-cup of milk by my face, and then he tried to do some of his own! These sort of moments make up for - WAY more than make up for - all those 'other' moment. Between some light upper body work, and some light jogging - I may be in shape for CX season after all.

Then there's the weight thing.

Irritatingly enough, my dang weight just keeps hovering at about 79kg (a tick under 175lbs). This has me around a paltry 4.3 Power / Weight ratio. Ech. Oddly, my Body Fat % number is dropping - so I guess I'm regaining a little muscle mass, which I know in the longer run helps metabolize more calories, which is good. In the meantime, I decided recently to cut out most all beer - but will enjoy a glass or two of wine here and there. Also tweaking the food/meal schedule at home, which was long overdue! It's in part due to wanting to be good role models for Victor - as opposed to the free-form grazing and snacking and meals-on-the-fly model we currently employ. The last dietary step is to reduce carbs to a minimum - taking in appropriate amounts for post-ride glycogen restoration (can you say fruit smoothies? YUM!), and general energy reserve topping-off. This is very difficult as an avowed cookies, chips, and bread J-U-N-K-I-E.

Will.

Try.

To.

Stay.

Strong.

Anyhow - a few weeks to go before back-to-back weekends of racing; First 'cedropalooza' - the NM State Championship Race outside of Albuquerque, and then the Oak Flats Road Race - the NM State Road Championships. Then what? Who knows! CX season should fire up in early October - so look for a bunch of those reports when the mayhem begins.