Category: Zwift Academy

Zwift Academy Semi-Final Progress Update

 

This pic is of me attempting to stand up after practically falling off my bike after winning the 12 Hour World Time Trial Championship Race…. let’s just say I’m glad that it wasn’t on video!!

As promised, here’s a quick update on my Zwift Academy SemiFinal progress 😁.

The timing of the SemiFinals wasn’t ideal for me due to some previously scheduled racing commitments, but I sure as heck wasn’t going to let that stop me from participating!

I was signed up to Race the 12 Hour World Time Trial Championships on 11/04, which fell right in the middle of the 2 week Academy time frame. The race was in California, so my husband and I drove straight through (19 hours) on Sat 10/28, and rented a house for the week leading up to the race so that I could adjust to the time change, lack of humidity, and temps prior to race day. I work remotely (accounting) for an East Coast Company, so I was able to work my normal hours M-Th, and on PDT, that was 5am – 2pm. This meant early bed times but allowed a few beautiful afternoons for Taper rides & pre-riding the course. I took my Kickr with me, & knocked out the 2×12 min test SemiFinal workout on 11/01 so that I would only have to squeeze 6 in to the 2nd week. I recover very quickly from that type of effort, and felt fully recovered by race morning after taking it easy 11/02-03.

My coach flew in to help crew for me and we chatted strategy the day before the race. I really didn’t know the caliber of my competition, as I couldn’t just stalk their results on USAC or USAT because there was also a Rider from the UK & from Italy. We decided that I’d start out on the fast end of my 12 Hr effort level, while temps were cool, & he would monitor gaps. IF I built a decent gap over 2nd Place, he would step down my power gradually until I was holding the gap steady. The goal here was to do everything necessary to win, but nothing more, because we didn’t want to burn matches unnecessarily that I would need during my Zwift Academy Semi-Final workouts a few days later!

World’s. Best. Coach. 🙂 

You can read my 12 Hr World Time Trial Championship Race report, posted earlier today, here! (spoiler alert. . . I’m a freaking World Champion!! Still can’t believe it!)

The next morning, Nov 5th, we left CA and drove the 19 hours back home to Austin, TX straight through.

We got home at 5:30am Mon morning, and I slept until noon, & then got up and started prioritizing recovery with a foam roll session, CryoTherapy & Normatech Compression at CryoWellness, and a Sports Massage from Austin Massage Company focusing primarily on Myofacial Release & loosening up My IT bands, glutes, hips, & quads.

 

Best Sports Massages in Austin at Austin Massage Company!
(#FilteredAF Photo b/c I looked like death warmed over after that 18 hour drive. . )

Got a good night’s sleep last night, and I’m back to the grind this morning! Working till 4, then planning to knock out my 2nd Kickr SemiFinal Workout: Threshold Pulling! Wish me luck! I’m also planning to do this one using the Kickr in ERG mode (I usually control the power myself through gearing & cadence), so it will be interesting to see how this goes!

Photo/Video Recap of our time in Borrego Springs! (Pre-Race)

A video/photo summary of our time in Borrego Springs, leading up to the World Time Trial Championship. It was SO breathtakingly beautiful there, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather! We really lucked out with the AirBnb home that we rented – it was spotless, had amazing views from the roof deck, and was right off of the race course! Jake and Buster had to adjust to being treated like dogs for the week though. . SHAME on us! 😈
You mean, I get to race my bike. . for 12 hours. . in THIS?!? YES, PLEASE!
Buster really liked the views at the host house!
No Dogs allowed on the couch at the AirBnb. . . .so Mommy snuggled on the floor w/ them 😉
The view from my remote office this week isn’t too shabby!
Detailing my Speed Machine! No bug left behind. . .
NEW KIT DAY! ( Is this real life?!)
Zwift Academy Semifinal Workout #1 in the books! Despite calibration issues w/ my Kickr, I knocked it out. . and set a few Power Profile Highs in the process! 2 days prior to my World Championship Race. . . Eeeekk! Thank goodness for my BEMER Mat Sponsorship and Air Relax Legs. . time to prioritize RECOVERY!!

The Mountains and Desert Animal Sculptures were absolutely breathtaking!
Borrego Springs View from AirBnb Roof Deck
Buster & Jake are digging the views!
No Dogs on the furniture . . .aka they have to be treated like DOGS! (SHAME!)
We are such horrible dog parents . . . 
Why am I on a TRAINER right now?!?
Post Zwift Academy SF Workout 1 – RECOVERY w/ my BEMER mat & Air Relax Legs 😃
View 1 from the World Time Trial Championship Race Course
View 2 from the Race Course (from the bike)

More BEAUTIFUL Borrego Springs by bike!
Stoke Level is HIGH!! World Time Trial Championship Packet Pickup!
World Time Trial Championship Pit Area
Really cool Borrego Springs Desert Animal Sculptures
MY PEOPLE!! (Coffee.. . .Fudge. . . ICE CREAM!!!)

Zwift Academy Semi-Final Workout #1 Recap (from Cali!) – 2 x 12 min Test

First Semi-Final Workout is in the books, and it was a DOOZY! It started out with a bit of stress, as my Kickr was reading low again, and I had to do a few spindowns to get it properly calibrated, but despite being a tad frazzled, I took a deep breath, centered myself, and jumped on to knock it out on my lunch break 
Today’s workout was the 2 x 12 minute test, and I did mine without ERG mode on also, as I’ve always trained on “dumb” trainers in the past, and didn’t want to throw something new into the mix with so much at stake. Just like Siri, I “failed” the 3 x 30 second spin-up intervals b/c the Kickr flywheel simply wouldn’t slow down enough after 30 secs at 355 to allow me to pedal at 75W, when not in ERG mode. Also like Siri though, I didn’t stress it, as the purpose of that section was simply to prime the legs for the “real” work to come!
The first 12 minute interval, I started out a tad too hard. I felt great, and thought I could hold it, but faded a bit to the end, despite pushing so hard I literally had to ask my hubby to go grab me a trash can. . 🤢 When this interval finished, I remember thinking to myself “how on earth am I going to do that AGAIN in 15 minutes?!?”
I was feeling pretty recovered by the start of the second 12 minute interval though, and I started out more conservatively, and was able to “flat-line” the effort much better than the 1st, which definitely trended down. The second interval was ~20W lower than the first, but that was to be expected.
There is a bit of a discrepancy between my Kickr/Zwift Readings, and my Crank based PM readings, but if I believe my Crank based PM readings (which I KNOW are accurate due to extensive testing), I set a HUGE 12 min Power PR with the 1st interval, and was only 2W off my best 12 min Power with the second, so I’m a happy camper!
I totally second Siri’s suggestion – this is a good one! I’d definitely recommend it – but maybe have a trash can handy “just in case” 🤣

ROAD TRIP! (ATX -> Borrego Springs, CA for 6/12/24 World Time Trial Championships)

Hitting the road w/ the bikes & the “kids”!
Gas Stop in Junction, TX – da boys are being so good!
Junction, TX. . .2.5 hours in
Ft Stockton, TX – 5 Hours In
Ft Hancock – 7 Hours In – Yep, still TX. . .
El Paso, TX . . 8 hours in.
Still in El Paso  . . 
Road Trip Karaoke! 😂
I’m delirious, y’all. . .
Color Coordinated? 😉 

FINALLY Out of TX! New Mexico! – 1/2 way there!

Rolled into Arizona about 6pm MST after ~11 hours on the road… only 500 miles to go!

After 17 hours in the car singing really, really bad karaoke, everything’s a bit of a blur, but that sign says that we’ve made it to California! 😁

100 miles / 1 hr 40 minutes to go…. hooome stretch!!!
Annnd We Made It! 16 Hours Later. . .GOOD NIGHT!

Zwift Academy Semi-Finalist! (Rapha CANYON/SRAM Kit has arrived!)

This smile doesn’t even begin to express how happy I am right now!

 

After thoroughly inspecting Mommy’s delivery, Jake tentatively approved, but only after Mom promised to bring him back Gourmet doggie treats on EVERY visit, should I end up chasing spandexed rear ends around Europe next year

YOU GUYS!!!!! Look what showed up on my doorstep today!!! 👀👀👀

As I opened the package & read “UCI Women’s Team” across from “Canyon” on the jersey front, I had a moment of elation/adrenaline/apprehension/determination as I realized how close I could potentially be to ACTUALLY LIVING MY DREAM…. Seriously, someone needs to pinch me… but not yet… I’m not ready for this euphoric feeling to come to an end just yet…

The #ZwiftAcademy SemiFinalist @rapha @wmncycling Kit is AMAZING!! Fierce, Bold Colors, and made with a super soft, silky, lightweight, & breathable material, I’m never going to want to take this kit off!

THANK YOU @gozwift , @wmncycling , @rapha , @canyon , @sramroad , @wahoofitnessofficial , @trainsharp , @whatstodaysplan , and every single person or company involved with the Zwift Academy program… I am buzzing with excitement/adrenaline, and CAN’T wait to put this sweet kit to the test during the Semi-Finals!

New & Improved Pain Cave :-)

Zwift Academy Phase I Recap

Well, the 2017 @gozwift Academy Phase 1 is a wrap, & what an amazing experience it has been! .
At the start of the Academy, I **HATED** trainer time. The bulk of the time that I previously spent on a trainer was during recovery from a broken collarbone, so I associated it with that recovery period, & all of the stress/pain/emotions that went along with it… I also wasn’t sure how my coach & I would manage to fit all of the graduation requirements into this 6-week time frame… We had 2 x 12 Hour/200 mile races, 2 State Championship Road Races, and a handful of Crits, along with the tapers & recovery to work around… not to mention my full time job! But we decided to give it a go, & I’m SO glad that we did!
Over the last 6 weeks, I’ve learned to LOVE ❤️ my trainer & actually look forward to my ZA workouts, races, & group rides! I’ve found an amazingly supportive, wonderful group of women who push each other to be the best they can be, share tips for success & lessons learned from mistakes, celebrate each other’s successes & accomplishments, and help make learning moments out of “failures” (although I hate that word)! The ZA Workouts have also pushed me outside of my comfort zone, & forced me to work on perceived weaknesses, as well as identified strengths, and were instrumental in building on my training to date and helping to produce great results in my IRL Races over this 6 week period as well! And I even had time to squeeze in a few fun IRL rides with teammates & good friends along the way 😊
To all of my fellow 2017 #ZwiftAcademy graduates: Kudos on a job well done, and thank you so much for your encouragement & support along the way! It’s onward & Upward from here! 🤗
#strongertogether #graduate #Zwift

Zwift Academy Workout #7

A little ZA Bike Dancing Fun ;-)

I’m doing the Zwift Academy!

SO excited to be joining the Zwift Academy ladies this year! I was bummed to miss out last year due to conflicts with my racing schedule, but this year’s more flexible and shorter Academy enables me to “play bikes” with other Zwift Ladies – YAY!

Workout #1 is in the books (FTP ^ 3W 😝) and I’m really looking forward to the next 6 weeks!