79 Days until Two Person RAAM 2007

116 miles with 12,000 feet of climbing

Minimum elevation 1300 feet

Maximum elevation 8443 feet

Day 3 of 3 day block

Totals for 3 day block 260 miles and 24,500 feet of climbing

Totals for 7 days   413 miles over 38,000 feet of climbing

Thank you to Pacific Health Laboratories makers of Accelerade and Endurox

I knew I had to recover overnight and get ready for day 3.  Immediately after getting off the bike I had a serving of Endurox and then an 1/2 hour later had another.  I then ate a good dinner and went to bed fairly early... for me anyway...11pm.

Today I did course recon on the Breathless Agony route.  The actual event is held in May but my schedule is really booked up until then.  This weekend was back to back mountain climbing days and it fit perfectly in as the last build week in my three weeks of build and 1 week recovery cycle.

I had a slow start to the day as the other riders went off the front attacking on the shorter climbs.  Breathless Agony has 4 passes. The first pass is Jack Rabbit trail about 4 miles not steep but bad terrain.  The second pass is Oak Glen and this is a legit climb.  Avg 6.8% for 6 miles or so but many sections pitch up over 9%.  Again the guys attacked me.  I was suffering and did not maintain a good speed or wattage on this climb.

Pass 3 is to Angeles Oaks 11 mile climb avg. 6%.  A good long steady grind.  Again they attacked but I reeled them in by maintaining my power between 225 and 250 watts (3.23 -3.59 watts/kg).  I rode at that constant range for over an hour.  1:07

Pass 4 Onyx Summit 8443 Elevation.  Another 19 miles from the store at Angeles Oaks.  I was feeling great all day.  I was conserving energy and fueling with Accelerade.  I didn't feel any effects of the altitude as we went over 7,000 feet then 8,000 feet and finally at the summit 8443 elevation.  1:35

NEXT UP SOLVANG DOUBLE CENTURY MARCH 31, 2007 ON A FIXED GEAR

THEN MULHOLLAND DOUBLE CENTURY 16,500 FEET APRIL 14

THEN DEVIL MOUNTAIN DOUBLE CENTURY 18,800 FEET APRIL 28

THEN BREATHLESS AGONY 12,000 FEET MAY 5