February Already? Time to Get Serious!

Throughout the month of January I took things at a decidedly easy pace. I was running a bit, spending some time on the trainer, and riding to work every day, but my both my volume and my effort were low.

But that was okay. It was Only January.

Then today I came the shocking realization - it's Already February! And that means it's time for me to get serious.

This year will be my first full year of racing, as well as my first year with a team, RACING GREYHOUNDS. Here's a preview of the fancy team kit:

So I spent some time outlining my goals and planning a tentative race schedule.

Since this will be my first full race season, I'm not entirely sure what my goals are, or should be, so I've come up come up with a list of things I'd like to achieve:

• Build and follow a periodized training program
• Lose 10 pounds
• Gain experience and confidence in a variety of settings (time trial, criterium, road race)
• Improve anaerobic endurance, speed and climbing
• Finish >75% of started races
• Upgrade to Cat 4
• Finish 3rd place or better in a cyclocross race by the end of the season

This is my tentative schedule:

• Mar.27.2010 Barry-Roubaix Gravel Road Race
• May.02.2010 Cone-Azalia Spring Classic Road Race
• May.22.2010 West Branch Classic Road Race
• May.23.2010 West Branch Criterium
• May.29.2010 Das Tour of Frankenmuth Road Race
• Jun.12.2010 Le Tour de Mont Pleasant - Criterium
• Jun.13.2010 Le Tour de Mont Pleasant - Road Race
• Jul.24.2010 Maillot Jaune Road Race
• Aug.01.2010 Milford Criterium
• Aug.28.2010 Cherry-Roubaix Criterium
• Aug.29.2010 Cherry-Roubaix Road Race
• Sep.18.2010 Michigan Double Cross - Day 1 CycloCross
• Sep.19.2010 Michigan Double Cross - Day 2 CycloCross
• Oct.23.2010 Mad Anthony Cyclocross @ Historic Fort Wayne (DET) CycloCross
• Dec.4.2010 Tailwind CX #9 - USCF State CX Championship

I've scheduled my periodized training plan around four A races, shown in bold type - two road races, and two cyclocross races.

The other races listed are my major off-peak races. I'll still be giving them my best effort, but they won't fall on my training peaks.

I'll be doing several C races, as well, made up of a selection of other other available road races time trials and criteriums, team-only races, a few mountain bike races, and as many cyclocross races from the Kisscross and Tailwind CX series as I can reasonably manage.

A teammate and I have scheduled a short, roughly 20 mile group ride on the road this weekend. It's still cold here in Michigan, but the roads have mostly been dry and free of significant ice and snow. I've been commuting and running in this weather, so there shouldn't be any reason not to ride.

While it still feels very early, my first B race is 7 weeks away, and I want to be ready.

Besides, I'm really missing spending several hours in the saddle each weekend. It will be good to be out on the road again.