Week update, and Fast Fitty Course

 Last week was an indoor week for me. As weird as it is....I only have one outdoor ride in August. 

Wait...August?!? Yes, its the middle of August already and I have only ridden outside one time. 

What I did instead was find some challenging rides on Zwift to keep my legs going. I passed on riding outdoors this past weekend for a few reasons. Mainly, motivation. Secondly, other things going on. So, at least I did get on the trainer to get some miles into my legs. 

Early in the week I did some mixed bag style of rides. Knocking off and completing routes. LaGuardia Afterparty in New York was one. Finishes with a brutal climb after a few laps around the park. After that ride I joined a pacer bot to spin the legs out and get more distance in. Great plan. Felt good afterwards. 

I had planned a Dirty Donut on Saturday morning. Instead I slept in, which is what my body truly needed. Sunday I was up early, but just not in the mood to go out and ride. Lazy? Unmotivated? Unsure. In the evening I finally decided I better get down to the basement and turn the cranks. This time I dialed up Richmond Loop around. 27ish miles with 1800 feet of climbing. Should be bad right? 

Well, its not awful. The climbs are just punchy. Because this was a tune up for Fast Fitty, I wanted something to challenge my legs while not keeping me on the bike all night. This was a perfect course. It started downhill before the first kicker. Only .68 miles at a low 3.5% wasn't bad the first time around. A short recovery and then pop number 2. Only .42 miles with a 3.6% grade. Easy. I cleared the first two climbs and continued on. 

A few miles later there is another climb that is 3.5% that is under a mile long. Just a grind that kicks towards the end up to 7 or 8%. This was the first part of the course. Not awful. The issue....it was going to happen 3 more times. After the last climb there is a flat and then a descent down that loops you back to the first punchy climb. Again, not terrible....but the speed was coming down. The climbs are stacked and my legs were starting to feel them. Over the top, and one more time down before looping in again to the punchy duo. 

I cleared those punchy climbs and got to the grind with no issues. Here it flattens out for a while and you loop out and back before the roads spill you backwards into the hills I had been climbing. The descent was welcome, because the punchy climbs in reverse are worse. The first one is only .39 miles long, but the grade averages 6.2%. At this point I was 23ish miles in and the legs were feeling it. Short descent, then a killer of a climb at 10.2%. Thankfully its short, but what a way to suck the remaining life out of my legs. AND, this wasn't the end. Another short 6% grade before the roads flatten out and the route is done. I still had enough gas to put the hammer down and pull away from a guy before the finish.....but I was cooked. Great indoor ride, but I gotta get outside.

I need to get outside and out of my head. Its a weird thing for me to choose the trainer instead of heading outside. Not really sure what the deal is. Stress. Boring gravel. Maybe just being lazy. Just not excited as I usually am for a gravel race this time of year. Motivation is all over the place too. But....here I am....plugging away.

Fast Fitty Course Preview

Start

This event has a great start. You roll under the banner and onto a mile of blacktop. Good place to sort out the groups before hanging a left onto the gravel where the fun begins. Around 3 miles in there is another paved section. Short climb before a nice descent that eventually dumps you back into the gravel.

Mile 5

Rolling gravel is welcome here. It will probably be into the wind for a few miles, so tuck into a group and suck some wheels. Closer to 9 miles in the course turns South and is more protected from a Westerly wind. 

Mile 10

Another paved section. Black top? Chip seal? Not gravel. More rollers, but nothing ugly. The solid roads continue for the next mile before going back to gravel. Again at mile 12 there is stretch of blacktop. Enjoy the downhill before a hill. Then a left back to the gravel. 

Mile 15

Likely heading straight into the wind, this stretch will be tough. Sometimes protected from the wind, other times wide open, a group will be helpful here too. This part to the West is fairly flat, but not a lot of trees. Its early in the race, but if the heat is ramping up you will feel this section. The rollers are getting bigger here. Instead of 2-3% the hills can touch 5 or 6%. 

Mile 20

Still heading West the rollers just continue. Because the road is straight, you can see them coming. Nothing too serious. Thank your course Marshall at the intersections as you fly thru. 

Mile 25

Finally time to turn North. While its paved, the road is uphill. Not steep, just another grind. Seems like a long stretch of road here. Enjoy it as you are nearing the halfway point. When the curves start....be ready for another hill. Again, not steep....just another hill. After a few miles, its back to gravel. This is the last turn to the West. Everything else will take you back East (or North and eventually South)

Mile 30

Keep rolling with the punches. This course is always fast, because the hills are not super tough. The distance starts adding up and the elevation keeps creeping. 

Mile 35

Less than 20 miles to go now. A climb will hit 7% grade, then flatten into 3-4% for a while. It flattens out after bit and you hang a left before another climb that reaches 6%. 

Mile 40

We are getting there! Keep smashing the rollers. Hold your pace and keep working with a group (if you are in one). Another grinder takes you over the top around mile 41. Just keep pushing.

Mile 45

Be aware of traffic from the shorter races now. Things seemingly flatten out here as the finish approaches. Don't quote me on that....there are still some hills.....

Mile 50

Speeds are likely picking up now, as people get set up for the finish. The fast guys are long gone and likely done already....but we still have a few miles to go. Around mile 52 is a kicker. More rollers. Left turn at the cemetery and you are almost done. That left marks the last stretch before the pavement roll into the finish. Take your last right onto the pavement, and you are a mile from the end.

Finish

Pavement finish makes it interesting. There is a little grind up, but you are rewarded by a fast roll to the finish line. Be aware, the roads are open here....so don't ride left of center. Don't want to get waxed on the home stretch. If you can, kill it to the finish and hang a left onto the gravel and under the banner.