2007 Season Summary

Happy New Year!

I have been meaning to post my 2007 season summary for a while....I ask all the athletes I coach to answer these questions for me at the end of each season, so here are my answers to those same questions. The important thing I try to get out of this is honesty. If you can honestly assess the season you are already a long way down the road to reaching the goals for the next year.
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So, 2007 was a year of very good and well...some bad. Usually I have good consistent seasons, or not -so- good seasons. Last year was both. With everything else going on (like new business commitments, and buying a new (old) house) my training volume took a huge hit compared to previous years. However, some really great results happened in 2007 as well.....so here it is:
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Season Summary
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Name: a2
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Race Season/Year Just Completed: 2007
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1. What was the highlight of your season (for example, best race or greatest accomplishment)? Please explain why.
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Tandem national championship road race….most fun on a bike ever.
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National TTs, both masters and elite. I only lost the master title by 9 seconds or so…it was what I would consider a great performance and I really don’t think I could have given any more. Then I was able to maintain focus and take another top 10 in the elite TT with an even faster time….too bad I couldn't hold focus and fitness through the elite road race.
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All the races Hekman, Harper and I did together….it was like magic, we never even had to talk about anything, we knew each other so well and what each of our roles was to get results…perfect.
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Winning 6 hrs of Tsali, and 5th @ ORAMM….. Rediscovering my MTB roots, especially at long distances.
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1a. In what areas do you feel you improved most this season?
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Crits? I had a few performances in crits where I even surprised myself…particularly at the Raleigh nrc race…me on the front of an nrc crit…who would have believed it?! (and I have at least one picture to prove it...posted above)
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Learning how to go fast on the MTB again
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2. What was your greatest disappointment? Why?
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Worlds: I put in a very good performance in the TT, I went 35 seconds faster than last year in tougher conditions (more wind), for only 11th place. “Very Good” does not make a world championship performance…..everything needs to be perfect: preparation, mental aspects, and giving it ALL. My preparation between nationals and the worlds trip was not up to the necessary standard to get the result I wanted. Between a slight loss of focus, too much travel and business commitments the proper training just didn’t happen. My own shortcoming with time management, I believe, was the primary cause….the trip was still wicked fun, and to share it with Cara was great, but the results left me thinking I didn’t live up to my own expectations.
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Elite road nationals: After spending 10 days living out of hotels in Nowheresville PA I completely lost focus, fitness and determination to do well in the road race….I was ready to go home after the TT and my riding showed it…after making a stupid attack on the big climb on the first lap, getting caught and promptly dropped, I proved that you can’t help your teammates perform when you are off the back.
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2a. What do you feel you need to improve most next season?
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Time management! The business is going to be even more demanding in 2008 and I need to manage training, work and everything else precisely to get the form I want….I am motivated to make this happen correctly…..
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3. If you could change your training, mental preparation, or race tactics/strategy in this past season, what would you do differently?
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I believe I am lucky to some degree that I seem to have the mental skills I need as an athlete….I have worked on these skills for years, mostly without even realizing it. I find that I am relaxed and ready to go even for most of the big races where other riders are nervous….so no problems there. I would however like to get back to my old aggressive style of road racing rather than being conservative in order to help the team leaders like this year. Being off the front is one of the best ways to help your teammates!
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4. If you've started thinking about next season, what would you most like to accomplish?
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Ahhh I am not going to spill too many beans here…let’s just say I have a few exciting new possible goals for 2008. Stay tuned for more info on that. Although certainly defending our tandem RR and TT titles at nationals is on the list…as is helping the revamped Inferno road team accomplish what ever goals they have. I have several goals for off road racing in 2008 as well.
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a2