Coach's Tips for... Tyson's Corner Circuit Race

[ed: Here's another article by BJ Basham, part of the series called "Coach's Tips for... ", in which BJ will give you all the inside track on how to race a specific event. BJ knows all these races, and he probably also knows most of the racers hellbent on beating you at them. If you like BJ's contributions, let him know in the Comments section below. You can even ask him questions in the comments, which he'll answer there as well.

Note: This article was first published in 2007 and is re-published here for new readers, new racers, and those of us who forgot a little something since this time last year.]

Coach's Tips for... Tyson's Corner Circuit Race
by BJ Basham
USA Cycling Level II Certified Coach

It may sound like a broken record, but the warm up for this race is super important.

With an uphill start leading into a fast descent before tackling the climb of the finishing stretch, if you are not warm and ready to rock from the gun the gaps will open.

On this course, even small gaps can kill you. So make sure that you stay vigilant and stay with the field all the way over the top of the climb and even on the flat section before heading down the back stretch. If you let even a small gap open on the climb, you will be working to close it on the descent when everyone else is coasting and recovering, then you have to hit that hill again, this time after working on the downhill.

Think about it - how long would you last doing intervals with no rest?

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BJ Basham is a USA Cycling Level II Certified Coach with Peaks Coaching Group. He lives in Fairfax, VA and competes in most of the same races you do. To learn more about his coaching practice and philosophy, visit his website at PowerTrainingCoach.com.