2019 Race Report #11: WI Senior Olympics 5 KM Time Trial

My 11th race of 2019 was the second of two races for the Wisconsin Senior Olympics: 10 KM time trial on Tuesday, August 20, and 5 KM time trial on Wednesday, August 21. The course was a rolling hill loop inside a local park. The 5 KM race (3.14 miles) covered two laps of the loop.

The weather continued to be warm and humid with clear skies. Temperature at my start time was 70 degrees with 88 percent humidity. The wind was from the west at 5 mph, creating a headwind on the finishing straightaway.

Like yesterday, I started my warmup about 45 minutes before my start time by riding the course. I was particularly concerned about the effect of the headwind. My 30-minute warmup got my heart rate and power level up to just below race pace.

This is the fourth consecutive race that I have ridden the course as a warmup. It has allowed me to reach my threshold heart rate by the four minute mark of the start of my race. Like yesterday’s race, I remained in a tuck position for the entire effort, even on the corners. This allowed me to post a time of 0:08:05 (23.30 mph), just a bit slower than my average speed yesterday.

I finished in first place out of four competitors. The second place time was only three seconds slower than my time: 0:08:08 (23.16 mph). The times of the third and fourth place finishers were 0:08:23 (22.47 mph) and 0:08:46 (21.49 mph) respectively. Overall, my finishing time was 8th fastest of the 40 competitors.

Race replay: WI Senior Olympics 5 KM Time Trial

I have one more race this week: Cherry Valley 20 KM Time Trial, the 17th MATTS race. Cherry Valley, IL, is 95 miles southwest of Milwaukee.