[2fst4u]

Just an encouragement for anyone who may need a "boost"... Don't give up-keep working hard and it will payoff.

Last year was my first year in sport-it sucked and was a big learning curve. I am not a "natural" and like most guys I have to work real hard to be competitive. This off season I worked at improving weak areas and put in some nice structured workouts this spring. So after putting in some gut busting workouts and being diligent, racing this season in sport class has become fun as I've had some nice results and feel much stronger and faster. The moral of the story=stick with it, be patient and your training will pay off. Hope this helps anyone who might be struggling this season.

Anyone else experiencing the same? Post up your story!

 

[vans380]

I feel no faster than last year. I feel like even if I get a litter faster, the guys I'm racing with also get faster...I feel like I'm treading water. Mid pack expert this year and last...

 

[jnails]

Just an encouragement for anyone who may need a "boost"... Don't give up-keep working hard and it will payoff.

Last year was my first year in sport-it sucked and was a big learning curve. I am not a "natural" and like most guys I have to work real hard to be fast. This off season I worked at improving weak areas and put in some nice structured workouts this spring. So after putting in some gut busting workouts and being diligent, racing this season in sport class has become fun as I've had some nice results and feel much stronger and faster. The moral of the story=stick with it, be patient and your training will pay off. Hope this helps anyone who might be struggling this season.

Anyone else experiencing the same? Post up your story!

Care to share how you did it - What kind of workouts were you doing? I just got back into XC after not racing for several years and it's disappointing. I knew it would be tough, but didn't think I would struggle as much as I have. My biggest weakness is not being able to stay with the leaders in the beginning of the race. I end up catching up to a lot of guys throughout the race, but suck for the first 20 minutes compared to everyone else. I get a good warmup in before the race. I just keep simulating the race on my "race pace" training days. I do the warm-up, sprint from the start line etc.. Anybody else find something that works for this?

I know it's a long road to get back to the fitness needed so I know it will come. Figure the rest of this year is to get me ready for next season.

 

[agm2]

Care to share how you did it - What kind of workouts were you doing? I just got back into XC after not racing for several years and it's disappointing. I knew it would be tough, but didn't think I would struggle as much as I have. My biggest weakness is not being able to stay with the leaders in the beginning of the race. I end up catching up to a lot of guys throughout the race, but suck for the first 20 minutes compared to everyone else. I get a good warmup in before the race. I just keep simulating the race on my "race pace" training days. I do the warm-up, sprint from the start line etc.. Anybody else find something that works for this?

I know it's a long road to get back to the fitness needed so I know it will come. Figure the rest of this year is to get me ready for next season.

Having a skinny rider lead out of the first turn helps, right 2fst4u I assume you are good on endurance from what you said right? Now it's fine tuning the body. The OP and I (he turned me onto this method) have been doing short high intensity workouts. I actually cut my workouts down in time this season and it seems to be helping. So instead of doing two sets of 20 min tempo you do one set. I have found that if you do more than your body can handle you do more damage than good.

As to what workouts specifically. Tempo workouts should help. Sprint workouts, get into a sprinting gear like 44x16 and sprint for about 15-20 seconds, rest 5 minutes and do it again. Rinse and repeat. A lot of the racers I see have trouble off the line are starting in their middle chainring in an easy gear. By the time they switch into a higher gear the leaders are long gone. I have a version of the dirty thirties I'm happy with. 10 seconds all out effort with a 10 second recovery, 15 seconds all out, 15 recovery and the 30 seconds all out then 2 minutes of recovery. I do six sets of these. It sounds like you need to work on your "explosive" power. The ability to accelerate fast. Tempo will help you with the just under lactate threshold part, and sprint and dirty thirties will help with your sprinting.

If you aren't already, practice getting off the line in a higher gear. I changed that this year and there has only been one race where I wasn't the first one leading into the first corner, and I was second.

 

[2fst4u]

Yeah-

Having a skinny rider lead out of the first turn helps, right 2fst4u

Riding with fast skinny guys always helps! Especially at the start. Thanks for teaching me that trick AGM2!

 

[2fst4u]

Care to share how you did it - What kind of workouts were you doing? I just got back into XC after not racing for several years and it's disappointing. I knew it would be tough, but didn't think I would struggle as much as I have. My biggest weakness is not being able to stay with the leaders in the beginning of the race. I end up catching up to a lot of guys throughout the race, but suck for the first 20 minutes compared to everyone else. I get a good warmup in before the race. I just keep simulating the race on my "race pace" training days. I do the warm-up, sprint from the start line etc.. Anybody else find something that works for this?

I know it's a long road to get back to the fitness needed so I know it will come. Figure the rest of this year is to get me ready for next season.

On top of what agm2 said=try and hit some more intervals. Go hard as possible for 30-45 seconds then recover completely then do this 3-5 times. Warm up well and do a cool down. Simple but it works-

 

[kaizenMTB]

Thanks for the words of encouragement...

and the advice as well. This is my first season in Cat 2 (Sport) and needless to say, it's been an eye opener and taught me how to really enjoy a large piece of humble pie. It's helpful to know that others have experienced the same thing.

I've never really done any structured training but am starting to see how some structure could benefit my riding. I'll definitely start working more intervals into my rides and consider this season a work up to the next.

Hopefully I'll see some positive results as you did 2fst4u.

Thanks again and good racing.