Quad 2011 Goals

The perennial winter race is almost here - the Mount Taylor Quadrathlon. I always write out time goals for this race, but I've never gone public. Time to buck that trend. Some historical perspective is necessary.


 

	2008	2009	2010	Goal: 2011
Bike up + T1	1:18:25	1:06:25	1:16:54	1:08
Run + T2	1:10:47	1:09:04	1:07:53	1:05
Ski	54:26	51:34	50:11	0:49
Snowshoe +T3	35:51	35:23	37:44	0:33
Snowshoe down	15:01	12:58	13:27	0:12
Ski down + T3'	33:56	32:51	31:47	0:30
Run down + T2'	53:58	51:31	48:08	0:48
Bike down + T1'	XXX	46:40	38:13	0:40
Finish Time		6:06:34	6:04:14	5:45

 

The bike up in 2009 had a nice stiff tailwind, which was missing in 2010 and replaced by my own rubbing brakepad. This year, we'll double check that wheel-cassette-brakepad triad before starting. hm, I guess that means a bike tune-up is necessary!

Run up in 1:05 should be do-able, I just need to focus. I'm a better runner than last year, but I also know that it's hard for me to push at this early stage in the race. It's a good goal.

Ski-up: this is just a keep-on keepin' on kinda thing, as is the snowshoe up. I'm hoping that the time difference will actually come from the ski-snowshoe transition which I historically dawdle through. 

Shoe down - just a little faster than last year - no shot this year is in the plans. 

Ski-down. The hard part. From talking with my sis-in-law, a former ski racer, I'm going to try to get mad. We'll see how it works for me. 

The run down and bike down numbers are a little squishy. On purpose. If other sections haven't gone well, I'll have to make up time on these last two parts. The number to look for - Leaving the ski-run transition in 4:17. Slower than that, and I will be working hard to make it up. 

I was in better bike shape last year, and had more ski-time on my legs. I'm going to be spending the next 3 weeks getting more of those things. That, and practicing the transitions, which sounds silly, but is really helpful. 

The sandia snowshoe went well last weekend - 1st in my ag, 2nd overall, and ~6 min faster than previously (final time 41:36). The course was really hard packed and fast though, so it isn't a fair comparison. The volunteers out on the race course kept telling me I was 1st woman OA, but they missed the slight, short haired woman who came in a couple of minutes in front of me in her winter gear. I doubt it would have made a difference to my time in any case. 

ES is doing the race for the first time - I'm having a blast talking it over with him. Bring it on, Quad!