SBR "U" (Page 68)

Yes because I race longer time trials best by using HR and RPE.  It sucks that you won't havepower data to look back on and better dial in your FTP, but I don't think it will stop you from having a good race.  Maybe if the course was extremely hilly...but from what I remember your course is not?

So it's looking like our Alcatraz roster will be me, Arend and Chris.  Fred said he's got a sinus infection and won't make it, so that's a big blow to Team USA

I got my bike all broken down for the Ruster case... first time using it.  Now we'll see if I can put it back together haha.

Yes, and I came into training camp under trained and overwieght...   so it's all on you Mark.  

Definitely no hills on the course....maybe some wind, but the biggest elevation change I'll have is coming off the start ramp!  I really should be better at pacing by RPE, but I'm so dependent on having HR and power data to back it up.  A couple weekends ago, I forgot to put my HR strap on and was absolutely convinced that my power meter was reading at least 10W too low given how hard the effort felt.

The PM is good for me for a few things....it keeps me in check early when I feel good, it gives me something to focus on when it starts hurting, and is totally a mental tool for me to convince myself that I can keep going when it starts hurting "too bad".  I should be better about pacing by RPE, but I'm just not.

I'm guessing based on your name, you're located in TX.  Look into the Kemah Triathlon -- I think both the sprint and Olympic distances are qualifiers.  Assume you have to be 1 or 2 in the age group to qualify.

We all got in via the lottery.  I think Fred got in through a sponsor?  I've never looked at what qualifies someone, probably fast!  

Fred qualified at a small race.  I don't think he realized it was a qualifier until afterwards

I hear you.  I was like that maybe the first 3 or so years racing with power.  But after a number of races, I sort of just figured it out how my HR should drift and what it should feel like RPE wise.  Power is still good for fine tuning though.

For a 40k, the race is rather long...so don't worry about starting a bit on the easy side since you won't have power numbers to hold you back while still feeling good.

Definitely still go for it. Think I've only changed workouts if a measuring device goes out for them. I've still done events, but rethought the approach some in how best to utilize what I had available. HR isn't too bad for me as I used that for some time before getting power. I certainly do miss power when it goes though!

Another related thing is that I seem some advocate for is throwing out the measuring devices or leaving certain ones behind to learn something else. That's something I really do not agree with. The specific one in this case is to leave off power and go with HR and/or RPE. I would take power off the screen but still collect the data for later analysis. Without the baseline of power to compare against you are just as blind in how well paced things were as before having power. You don't know if the pacing was better now than before because you are still limited by the relative accuracy of the measuring systems used. There could still be spikes and surges that are not picked up by HR and you still don't know any better. Not as well as power can say, even in later analysis.

That's not really the case hear as it sounds like power is not available at all as opposed to willfully leaving it out. I think it's good get a decent feel for a few systems. Having familiarity with the HR curve has helped my get an idea of what day I might be able to have. Also in determining fitness improvements (or declines). When my 2 x 20's don't reach quite as high of a HR I can probably bump it up 5w. You won't know as certainly about the pacing without the power, but you can get a better feel of working with HR with fewer things to keep track of.

My PM seems to have fixed itself (for now).  I'm going to hope it holds out for the next two weeks and then send it back in.  If it craps out, I'll just try to pace by HR / RPE.  One of my issues is that I rarely (never) do long threshold intervals, like 2x20, outside.  I know what my HR does inside and have a pretty good feel for RPE inside, but honestly, everything seems so much harder outside.  I know that's opposite of what most people say, but I don't think riding in 80+ F with 90+ % humidity makes outside riding "easier" than indoor riding.

I also get mildly (!!) obsessive about riding without power....my PMC will get all jacked up and look like I quit riding if I don't have a working PM!

Glad to hear the PM is working again Nicole, hope it holds together for the TT!

Here is some SBR...   porn? from the day before Alcatraz.  Chris and I did a quick swim this morning and Mark and I went to the packet pickup (stupid long lines) and pre-race meeting together.  Somehow got separated on the way out of there.

(chris-arend.jpg)

(mark-arend.jpg)

Whoo-hoo - great pics! I am so excited for you guys I just cannot stand it! Good luck, can't wait to read all about it!

Well...just don't go telling your non triathlete friends that you got together with another guy, dressed in skin tight black outfits, and posed for porn photos.  

Good luck to you all...sounds like fun.

Hopefully it works out.  I'm hoping mine just needs a new battery because it was really going wonky today.  It was perfect on Thursday, but today my 3s power was bouncing all around anywhere from 20-50 watts second by second (so theoretically 60-150 watts real time differences)...then sometimes reading 0 for a while while climbing.  I think the last time I changed it was in mid February...so it could be.  If not, I'm not that worried racing wise as I've only got road races left and it's more about following wheels than pacing by power.

Oh man, what a race!  I'm going to have to spend some time writing that one up.  I saw Chris out on the run course but didn't see Mark at all.

Tracker wasn't working, so I couldn't even stalk you guys properly.  Looking forward to reading about it!

I'm glad I got off the boat early.  I may have accidentally ended up on the wrong level starting out...

I had a near miss on the bike - high speed rear wheel lockup almost slid out from under me when someone decided the line I was taking was better than theirs.  I could see how it would be sketchy with some of the packs of people I saw.