2019 Race Report #5: Garden Prairie Time Trial

My fifth race of 2019 was the 10th race of the 20-race Mid-America Time Trial Series (MATTS). The out-and-back rolling hills course was 18 kilometers (11.23 miles) in length.

The weather was warm with a steady wind from the east-northeast at 7 mph. The wind would be a tailing crosswind outbound. Temperature was 66 degrees with 78 percent humidity. Swarms of mosquitoes were a nuisance while waiting to start racing.

With the tailwind on the first leg of the loop, I quickly increased my heart rate to lactate threshold, 130 BPM, with a maximum heart rate of 141 BPM. My cadence averaged 90 RPM; maximum was 114 RPM. (I was unable to successfully pair my power pedals with my computer, so there is no power data.)

My time was 0:30:39 (22.0 mph average) for second place. The winner finished in 0:27:23 (24.5 mph average). My top speed was 27.5 miles per hour.

Race replay: Garden Prairie 20 KM Time Trial

My next race is in five weeks, the regional MATTS 20 km time trial championship, in Cordova, IL, 194 miles (three hour’s drive) from Milwaukee, along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River.