Commute 5/7
Greetings Readers!
Miles ridden today, 19
Miles ridden 2008, 1323.
Cheers!
Commute 5/6
Greatings Readers!
So I’ve been a little struggling of late, (if you’ve been reading you know this) and I’m trying to be a sponge for info on what I’m to do about it? Can’t just whine, I need a course of action right? I’ve been reading a lot of Simon Burke, and of course Joel Friel.
Both these guys take recovery very seriously, and they both subscribe to the idea that successful cyclists rank their recovery as high as their training itself. They say cyclists fear burnout for more than an injury, or accident. I’ve come to recognize that I’m on the verge of overtraining. The mileage doesn’t warrant it, but I’m guilty of the symptoms and the attitude behind them. I’m in constant fear of losing fitness, a missed workout or ride brings on the anxiety of possible further decline of what is a perceived unsatisfactory fitness level to begin with. I rarely, when confronted with the decision of “ride vs. recover” chose the later. I tend to lean towards the belief that my competitors are riding more than me, already racing, and I’m behind the eight ball. So what I really want to do is work harder and train more frequently to make up for the aforementioned. I know that this course of action is going to be detrimental to my success, however the emotional side of me says everybody else trains every day, you can force your body to adjust and get stronger. Why do I need to keep taking days off to recover? Yesterday, I made the rare decision in favor of recovery. With really tired legs I chose not to run, I instead rested.
So do I take more time to recover? Or, do I take the route of train more frequently? Which way do I go? For the 1st three months of the year I had steady improvement in my fitness. I hit a plateau in early April, and then got Za Enza. Which basically knocked me off the bike for several weeks. Now, facing May and in my mind behind where I wanted to be, I’m not sure of my course of action? I’ll definitely miss some workouts this weekend due to Mothers Day and family commitments. So I’m again faced with the worry of a missed workout. Joel Friel’s training commandment #2: Consistency.
The cold reality is that I can only do so much as my life allows, the 3 part teeter totter is difficult to navigate (work/bike/family) Each of those three elements wants their fair share, and sometimes there’s just not enough time to go around. In the end, come cross season I’ll do the best I can, “the day will end, and the end be known” Is a favorite quote of mine, meaning: the outcome is what it is. Sometimes you prepare all you can and karma befriends you, sometimes you prepare all you can and have less than satisfactory results. My pal asked me last year at the end of the season “what if you train all year and your placing doesn’t improve” I’ll be extremely disappointed, but I’ll know I did all I could (without a coach) to better my results. I tell myself this to ease the pain if I’m unable to hit my goals, or get that elusive top 20 result.
At this point my plan of action is to do as I’ve been doing, ride as much as possible and throw in running to help with my overall fitness. I’m acutely aware of my symptoms now and I’ll be hyper sensitive to how my body and legs feel. I’m going to pay more attention to sleep, and to food. Junk calories and lack of protein are not helping my cause. One thing is for sure: my focus is good. I’ve been investing a lot of energy this year, both physical and mental into improving my fitness. I certainly have the work ethic and the desire, I just don’t have the legs, yet………..
BTW, I love this post:
http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2008/04/program.html
Good stuff Maynard.
Miles ridden today, 21
Miles ridden 2008, 1304
Cheers!
Today’s ride
Greetings Readers!
I went out this morning for a nice spin in the country, I tried to leave all the existential stuff behind and just go out and ride my bike, given how tired I’ve been the last few weeks. The legs were tired today and I stayed in my 39t ring. Usually I ride in the 53 and work the larger cogs, today I worked the smaller cogs in 39. My speed stayed about the same, and I tried not to work too hard. I also resisted the desire to chase down anybody I saw up ahead of me. Something I have a bad habit of doing. There were lots of people out today on a 70 degree day.
I went back and checked last years spreadsheet and I think I’m farther along that last year at this point, however I didn’t put in as much training either. So I’m still dissapointed in that I feel like I should be farther along than I am. Another mile and hour faster avg speed would have me feeling a little more confident. Cross is still 5 months away, and I’m hoping running is going to help. But I’m dissatisfied with my progress so far. I’ve only 3 more months of base building before I start adding those tough intensity intervals to try to boost up my anaroebic threshold so I can crank like a mutha for 45 mins. I had a dream last night I was racing cross, too bad I had to wake up.
I have to drive tomorrow so I’ll probably go for a run when I get home. I’ll commute Tuesday and Wednesday, drive in on Thursday and go running when I get home, followed by commuting on Friday. That’s the plan anyway, we’ll see how it plays out…
All this self coaching leads to a lot of ambiguity, and unanswered questions. I’m trying to go by my gut, train smart and leave out emotion, that folks is hard to do. I really would like to be doing the weekly crits, but I think it would be detrimental to me at this point.
Miles ridden today, 41
Miles ridden 2008, 1283
Cheers!
Moms 1st Duo
Greetings Readers!
I tell ya, 4:30am came really early this morning. As we had to be at the Stadium to drop mom’s shoes @ 6am. From there we drove over to The Farm for the start of the race. I’ve never been to a Tri event before, heck I race cross, running is a necessity based on barriers and runups. Running for miles after you ride? and or swim? I was pretty impressed with the athletes that show up for their own kind of torture and pain. And here I thought us cross racers were a little mashocistic. These folks got my respect!
Mom was hiding her anxiety pretty well, I’m usually a wreck before a race. Way to play it cool mom. When It was time to get down to business we gave mom a kiss and wished her well. I can’t tell you how proud I was to see mom out there challenging herself physically. Later she told me: “that was the hardest thing I’ve ever done” Kudos to you babe. 
Here’s Mom at the start, chomping at the bit. “Lets get this thing going!”
And she’s off! Adrenline is pumping now as she rounds the turn and is off on the bike leg. I wouldn’t see her again until she approached the transition area….
Mom arrives after her bike leg into the transition area, the bracelets on there ankles triping a timer as they ran over the brown mat on the ground. Mom was still looking good, and I was excited as hell watching her!
In the transition area, it’s time to shed the helmet, gloves, and bike shoes. Put on the running shoes and take off….
I managed to get over to the other side of the stadium to catch mom out on the run. This is where it really hurts, after the bike when your legs just don’t want to turn over. Mom was digging deep into that run. I’m loving it!
Some of the bikes staged in the tranistion area…..
Mom is coming down the shute, already haven started her kick. Almost there….
Moms done it! And she’s haulin’ too! Full on strong finish! Way to go Mom! It’s in the books, Mom’s a finisher. Well Done! She’s got the taste of blood in her mouth now… Already talking about the next race. I’ve got me a racer on my hands! Us athletes are a sick lot. :)
Inspired by mom, I went out for a run this afternoon, I’ve got a long way to go to keep with her, but it felt good to bust a sweat and run hard. Tomorrow we bike!
Cheers!
unrealistic expectations…..
Greetings Readers,
Get ready, cuz I’m gonna vent. Get ready for the downs of the “ups and downs” of training.
I can’t figure out what’s goin’ on? I feel like crap, crap left on the sidewalk awaiting someone to come buy and step on me. I’m suffering on the bike, feeling really tired and fatigued, and the legs are lead. I really felt crappy today. I almost, for the 1st time in my cycling life, called in the sag wagon to drive me home. I’m having classic symptoms of overtraining, and burnout. Which confuses the hell outta me because I have hardly ridden for the last month. I managed 200 miles for the whole month of April, that’s hardly burnout inducing. I’ve had a upset stomach all day too. Aside from my intense frustration, I feel fairly good mentally, I want to ride. I want to train. I want to compete. The body is just not coming around, and I’m beat. I don’t know what to do at this point. Where is the free Coaching help line? I was planning on participating in a weekly criterium series this summer (to get me ready for cross) that starts on Monday, but I’m in no shape to race.
I’ve always tried to emulate people I admire. Some are racers, some everyday people. Most all are athletes in some way. If there is one human characteristic that I respect more than any other, its self disipline. We may be born with different talents, ability, and V02max, but self disipline is something that we all have to suscribe too in order to be the best we as individuals can be. I’ve always set my goals high, and sometimes my expectations of myself are just unobtainable. I’m never going to be an elite level, cat 1/2 racer. I will never see the Masters A class at the Cross Crusades. At 45 years old this summer, I’m trying to be the best cyclist I can be. Ripped defined 6 pack abs will always elude me, so will the podium. But I keep chasing those dreams as if I want them bad enough, somehow I can will my body to respond. Just doesn’t work that way folks. Fast twitch, Slow twitch, Anerobic threshold, VO2 max, I can only do so much with what God gave me. Inevitably, I get frustrated in my inability to acheive my lofty goals. I want to be fast. Period. I want a top 20 in cross.
I get really frustrated when my body betrays my efforts, as if it’s mechanical and should respond to training in some predetermined, gauranteed fashion. What was it? Was it the flu? Am I not over the flu as I thought I was? Did I take on those climbs too soon after the flu, anxious to workout? Am I not sleeping enough? (I’m pretty sure of that) Am I too stressed? Did I push myself too hard on Wed running with Mom? Is it a combination of all of the above? I really expected to be in far better shape by the begining of May than I am right now. Far Better. If Sunday was a race day, I’d be in trouble, big trouble. I won’t give up, but I’m sure as hell not a happy camper. I realize that I’ll never be as fast as I once was, I’ll never assault the torture 10k out of the saddle and call it my bitch at the summit, (and that was before compact cranks) I used to climb that sucker in 39/23 and now I’m dying to get to the top seated in 34/26 begging for mercy! I know that we lose watts and power as we age, but cmon’.
I don’t know what to do at this point, I feel really old and tired. I guess I just keep goin’. Try to get as much rest as I can, train smart as I can, and stay positive. After today, the positive part escapes me. I don’t know if I’ll ride tomorrow or not, we’ll have really nice weather this weekend, and that’s hard to pass up. I’d be wise to let myself recover tomorrow…….. My buddy tells me “everything starts from where you are right now” well if thats the case, as of right now, I’ve got a very long way to go.
Miles ridden today, 21
Miles ridden 2008, 1241
Cheers!
Commute 5/1
Greetings Readers!
I for one am glad to say goodbye to April! April wasn’t a very good month for me, had the flu, and the weather here was really challenging. After a thousand miles in the first quarter, I only managed a few hundred this month. Sad indeed. But, I can’t change that so I go forward from here. Eye on the prize Jim as there’s still time to get in shape for cross.
I had my days screwed up this week and was supposed to rest on Monday, and go to a Dr appt on Tuesday. Come to find out my Dr Appt was on Wednesday. Soo, true to my word I went running yesterday. Now, keep in mind I’m a cyclist, not a runner. I went out with mom yesterday after work and ran. I felt all out of my element, but managed to stay with mom (somewhat) I’ve got a learning curve ahead of me, learning how to run. Ugh. I got on the bike this morning and oh man! I couldn’t turn my legs over for the 1st few miles. How do people do transitions in Triathlons? I finally loosened up by the time I got to work and then road home with tired legs. It’s all good though, running is going to help me in the long run. I’m going to take it up for good, on days I don’t ride that is.
So I come across this cool IF Planet Cross Single Speed, the paint is Split Pea Metallic. Mixed with pink decals and CK headset it’s a sick combination, fantastic ride. Props to the owner for pulling off that great color combo and a very nice build.
Miles ridden today, 21
Miles ridden 2008, 1220
Cheers!