2008 Racing - CAT 3

This was the year that I finally figured out how to train. I built training plans from several sources and put them all on a big whiteboard. Then, I looked at the similarities between the plans such as workout type, length, intensity level, recovery, building block types, etc. I put it all together and made a single training plan that I felt best incorporated everyone's ideas. I'll write a blog specifically about training plans after I recap my racing years.

My training plan for 2008 involved the following:
Starting in January, do two months of Base period. This is mostly tempo workouts (60-90 minute intervals, 85% of functional threshold power) and endurance miles (easy/medium pace rides). In February, start incorporation medium interval workouts once a week (10-20 minute intervals, 97% of functional threshold power). March and April, build months, are mostly these same intervals, while gradually incorporating intervals without rest periods ("Over Unders" -- 5 min. @ 95% of FTP, 2 min. @ 102% of FTP, repeat 2 more times. rest between sets). May and June are the speed months. All workouts are short, super high intensity efforts.


So, yeah, this was a great year. I signed up for the Tour of the Gila stage race (late April) and that was a driving motivation during my hours on the trainer during the winter. This motivation and early "big" race allowed me to peak early and thus achieve some great results.


Two weeks before I got married (6/21/08), I upgraded to a CAT 2. I also raced cyclocross in 2008 as a CAT 3, but I didn't have the success as the road season (most likely because I got married in June, then took a couple months off and lost some fitness).