Simulate RAAM for 2 days

So my coach and I have lunch. He says: "we really need a base for the main training for RAAM". And I respond: "I should do a simulation - just how we will ride in the Race". He says: "no, let's make it harder at the start".
And the next Tuesday and Wednesday, I do a bit of riding:

Tuesday 4^th 4 hr ride between 6:00-10:00am, and then 1hr rides at 2:00-3:00pm, 4:00-5:00pm, and 10:00-11:00pm, and further on Wed 5^th between 12:00-1:00am, 6:00-7:00am, 8:00-9:00am, 2:00-3:00pm, and 4:00-5:00pm.

I rode 362.80km (225miles), 29% of what each of us will do during the Race. I learnt a lot:

1. The simulation is crucial – we must all do it. Whilst I did 2 days, 3 days would be even better. (Maybe again, at Easter?)

2. The 1 hour rides were just long enough – I was glad to finish each of them after 1 hour (mine had some flexibility as at times I needed to return home, which added time and changed the speed parameters). I felt that the 1 hour rest between rides was too long. This may well be because I was on my own, and I got a bit bored (which won't happen during RAAM!). I felt that I obtained sufficient sleep, even in 4 hr time slots (which were also occupied with showers, eating, walking the dogs)

3 I got chafed from the TT bike on the 1^st afternoon – ouch!. We will need to use LOTS of chamois cream. (It stopped me from choosing my TT bike for the 2^nd afternoon rides - good lesson!)

4. Those nagging injuries which we all have, and which have an annoyance/pain factor of 1/2 or1/10 come to the fore real fast. I need to get them fixed now!! For example, I have a tight upper right glute muscle, which gave my nasty sharp pain twinges on the last night rides, and my AC joint in the right shoulder (from a crash) ached.

5. The Intensity Factor for each ride was between 0.61 and 0.69, but I felt that I was working harder. This will have an impact when we do the real, longer Race.

6. I had the feeling (incorrect) that I could not ride as fast in the middle of the night (10-11pm + 12:00-1:00am);

7. I averaged 29.7kph (18.46mph). In part that is due to City Traffic, getting home, hills, unsupported, not the same motivation, etc. We can increase that during the race, because we won’t have to worry about City Traffic and stoplights, and we’ll have the extra support and motivation. The downside is that we’ll be riding longer!!

8. I was cold on the last ride, this afternoon at 28degrees Celsius (82 degrees F). I suspect that this was telling me that I have been working very hard. We need to watch out for that.

9. Can we have a Nespresso machine in the MotorHome?

10. We will complete RAAM!

And then I rode Friday, Saturday and a Time Trial on Sunday. I posted by 2nd best time ever: 38:33 for 25km hilly out and back. Happy!