Category: Time Trial

I have been racing the Willow Time Trial for about 10 years.  Usually windy and sometimes chilly- it is also a course that creates a mental game due to the 6 lap repeat.  It is always a good gauge of where my fitness is in April.  This year I came in a little under where I would prefer but felt pretty good.  But it was also 39 degrees and windy. Mentally not favorable and physically challenging.

I had a good warm-up but could not keep the legs turning over as I would have hoped. About a minute 20 off my usual time range for 6th place.  Not happy :).

I’ll be racing this weekend in a duathlon with teammate Kevin Bridges where the weather again looks iffy, however, I am now ready to bury myself no matter what.

~Danny

I have been racing the Willow TT for about 8 years. It takes place at the Willow Metropark near the Detroit airport. It is a 13-mile race which requires you to circle the park 6 times, and yes… it is important to keep count :). The weather is usually cool and windy with a few exceptions – so pacing is tricky and important. Yesterday was cool and windy so a good warm up was very important.

I warmed up for almost an hour with leg warmers and decided to take them off to race. While my training has been a bit off the last few weeks, I felt really good in the race. I rode a good race but would have liked to go a bit faster (as always). I have averaged over 26 mph there twice but could not pull that out yesterday. 25.4 mph for a 31.10 finish. About the same as last year but 3rd instead of 4th – podium! I will take it for a 47-degree day.

~Danny Wolin