May Flowers

 What's up this month?

Aethos level 5 achieved! So, I tried Ventoux and I was fast. But, after the half-way mark, I tired out and just couldn't hold my power for more than 30 minutes. I just kept seeing how much pain would await me in the second half. More a mental challenge possibly. It is very hard for a short distance power gal to suddenly leap into hour power. My best a few years ago has long been behind me.

However, I did set a pr on the lower half and actually have a better time than the current Q. I just don't want the attention right now. For me, it is just another climb (climb segment) that I don't really need. I prefer to know I have the best time, than to post it and then have that target out in the public where someone is willing to do shady things to beat my record. I don't like that routine. I actually have a few best times that are not published. It is enough for myself to know I beat the current time. I don't need to show off any more. It was mainly validation as a racer and maybe a bit to intimidate my rivals. But now, to me, it is all in fun. If I beat anyone now, it is probably due to them only going out medium hard.

I do think my best showing off rides are on the very short portals. I'm still a bit obsessed that I have an 8:05 that Illi beat with a 7:59 (she did have a draft on part of the climb which is perfectly legal but much harder to beat.) I'm more confident with my short rides. There is one more coming this week in the planning for the next update. I am almost at the end of this spring's program.

I need to summarize my short climbs, train, and reride them all. Good luck, legs.

Also, entered Zwift 2025 time trial series. Race #1 was very short just over three minutes where I put out almost 360 watts to take the win. I actually came in 47 overall of 119 men. Not bad, eh? I had an awesome day on race #2. I tied with S. Etianne...but I got the tiebreaker by having a faster time in both sprints and a better lap time. (someone at ZP proved my time was 0.097 seconds faster. wow)This is what running a negative split is all about. Etianne came out with a bang. She was fading a bit at the end but really maintaining power. I started just below what I needed (265 watts) then upped it to 285 for 12 minutes plus a sprint at about 400 watts over the last minute. Bam! There's a win! 

[I don't think I will ride the other three time trials as they are much longer and I am the only rider left in the A cat, plus no prize for winning.] Instead, if my legs feel good, I may launch into the Madeleine, trying to take it under an hour. I also want to redo the Redoute and Bretagne climbs. Also Hardknot, which is almost all red zone and takes intense concentration of effort. I just discovered that I did not ride Sa Calobra many months ago, and must have misplaced my invitation. I'm not sure why it was pulled out, so possibly it may malfunction. So, I will test it next week or in June. It's about a 30 minute climb.

I rode Sa Calobra as my finale for this block. Yes, I did test it before. I didn't remember until the circle overpass. The top is broken and you just sail off into the sky. (eventually, you will get to the gate, lol. I made a u-turn at the top and rode down I hit 260 watts for the whole ride, thirty minutes. That was great and I felt awesome today. It happens every once in a while. Did the main climb under 28 minutes. It actually starts on a small downhill. Why? Because Zwift cyclists and Zwift programmers are never in the same room at Headquarters. Two ships that go by in the night. 

It has been a beautiful spring campaign and finish to my winter efforts, peaking and maintaining top form for most of it. I will start a training block in June, targeting a number of climbs.

Love ya all!

PS Returned from vacation well rested and rode Hautacam as a starter. I went hard for the first half at a record (possibly) pace but I couldn't keep the pace hard and I pretty much clawed my way up the rest of the way. I broke 48 but 45 was the real goal. I was at a 41 pace for the first half, if that tells you anything. As soon as I feel back to form, I will put in a full effort on two short hills and attempt the Madeleine under the hour. (me? crazy, right?).