This is my favorite forum and I credit a lot of the improvement I've seen in my riding to it. I'd hate to see it die.

So, what to talk about... I kind of liked Tryin2b's posting of 2004 goals in the old forum... I guess I can do that... I'd enjoy reading others goals if you're willing to share.

My 2004 goals:

1 Race weight of 155 lbs by 2/29
2 3 sets [3 x 3 min on, 1 min off] w/ 8 min rest @ 340 watts by 4/4
3 Top 3 in spring series ranking for class and age bracket
4 Upgrade to Expert by Sep 2004

The first goal is just painful... I've been performing endurance work (mostly) over the last 2 weeks and have lost apx 8 lbs... So, I'm down from 180 to ~172. I've 2 more weeks of endurance phase left and am hoping to be able to shave another 5-8 within that time. Training hard while meeting family needs and work obligations on a calorie deficit just sucks, but I'm committed. 155 lbs by end of Feb. will be a stretch, but we'll see.

Goal 2 is a key workout for me. I've been following the Morris plan for a while and was able to complete the work intervals at an average wattage of 320 back in late August. If can hit 340 this spring, I'll have made some real progress.

Goal 3 will be a stretch... just making to the start line enough to be able to place in the overall rankings will be a challenge. I placed 4th at two of the fall races; so, I figure it's doable.

If I take care of the first 3 goals, goal 4 will take of itself.

So that's that... thanks for reading.

my case I need loose some more weight, 10lbs would be nice. The seasons starts 03/28 down here since, I spend most of my time racing down in mexico, the classes are structure different. I will start in a new class all together because of my finishes last year in the beginner class. They call it advance 40, which is over 40 and we do two laps per race this guys are very tough some are as fast as the kids in their twenties. I started my training using morris aproach, and it seems to work for me, I'm behind on the lifting weights parts.

I don't have a power tap, so I'm using a HRM and percived effort. I think with the focus I have this year I can take the class, the are around 35 entries in it every race. I love it.
Also I want to podium in the team 12 endurance race this year and the 24 hr one, so the trainning needs to be there.

If I finish top five in class, will be bump up to master 40, three laps next year.

Thats it, a crazy rant but it does help.

This is my favorite forum and I credit a lot of the improvement I've seen
in my riding to it. I'd hate to see it die.

So, what to talk about... I kind of liked Tryin2b's posting of 2004 goals in the old forum... I guess I can do that... I'd enjoy reading others goals if you're willing to share.

My 2004 goals:

1 Race weight of 155 lbs by 2/29
2 3 sets [3 x 3 min on, 1 min off] w/ 8 min rest @ 340 watts by 4/4
3 Top 3 in spring series ranking for class and age bracket
4 Upgrade to Expert by Sep 2004

The first goal is just painful... I've been performing endurance work (mostly) over the last 2 weeks and have lost apx 8 lbs... So, I'm down from 180 to ~172. I've 2 more weeks of endurance phase left and am hoping to be able to shave another 5-8 within that time. Training hard while meeting family needs and work obligations on a calorie deficit just sucks, but I'm committed. 155 lbs by end of Feb. will be a stretch, but we'll see.

Goal 2 is a key workout for me. I've been following the Morris plan for a while and was able to complete the work intervals at an average wattage of 320 back in late August. If can hit 340 this spring, I'll have made some real progress.

Goal 3 will be a stretch... just making to the start line enough to be able to place in the overall rankings will be a challenge. I placed 4th at two of the fall races; so, I figure it's doable.

If I take care of the first 3 goals, goal 4 will take of itself.

So that's that... thanks for reading.

#1: race weight of 155 (and I'm only coming from 162!)
#2: 40K tt (road) in under an hour
#3: local hillclimb (road) in under 36 minutes
#4: Cat 3 upgrade (road) (already 1/3 of the way there, points wise)

I've sorta hit my peak on the MTB, I think. I know I'm not a climber, so moving to expert will be rediculously hard, and not very satisfying I'm afraid. But then I can't sandbag in sport forever. So my plan is to focus more on road racing. I'll do a few MTB races (probably sea otter and 24 hours of tahoe), but the off-road time is going to be more of the epic, heavy tire, riding with the homies laughing while your friends go over the bars kinda stuff. The reason I got into MTB in the first place.

Nice goals everyone. Here are my top 4:

1. Loose 25 lbs (loose weight is the most popular goal so far!). I'm down 15 lbs so far, but I've seemed to have plateaued. I've noticed big improvements on the trail so I am encouraged to keep going. My gut is down, but not gone.

2. Participate in a race. I've avoided organized competition for 3 years, but I'm ready now. I will be at the 24HTOP in Tuscon next month with the co-ed team "Futzenfall" and I will catch at least one of the MBAA series events this spring.

3. Improve my training technique ("Technique? What technique?"). I'll be dropping in the training forum more frequently.

4. Ride Durango in June. All but the reservations are made.

Steven

you don't mind the pressure that most likely you will put on yourself. I personally love it I can't wait until I start to compete again. I even love the trainning because it has a purpose, I know is sick.

I just finished a hard 1.30 hour ride at night, it was awesome hard climbs, and crazy down hills. Saturday is going for 3 hours same place, two loops oh and I know the second one is going to hurt, but in two months when racing starts I'll be ready.
:cool:
Nice goals everyone. Here are my top 4:

1. Loose 25 lbs (loose weight is the most popular goal so far!). I'm down 15 lbs so far, but I've seemed to have plateaued. I've noticed big improvements on the trail so I am encouraged to keep going. My gut is down, but not gone.

2. Participate in a race. I've avoided organized competition for 3 years, but I'm ready now. I will be at the 24HTOP in Tuscon next month with the co-ed team "Futzenfall" and I will catch at least one of the MBAA series events this spring.

3. Improve my training technique ("Technique? What technique?"). I'll be dropping in the training forum more frequently.

4. Ride Durango in June. All but the reservations are made.

Steven

Right on about the self-imposed pressue, I will try to keep it in check. From my past experience with other organized events, I know the race day pressure and daily grinds of training can detract from the race experience I am after. My first MTB race is the 24HTOP in Tuscon next month! I believe it will be a good introduction race, as I'm going with a fun group of people with a BIG sense of humor. Have a great season!
Steven