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Dreww10, do you use any fitness apps or journal to keep track of exercise data?
I started using the Elevate extension with Strava to get a little more data over time. Turns out that while I don't necessarily *feel* any better than I did last year (recovering from shoulder injury and thyroid cancer), the data shows that since March my apparent cycling fitness has improved back to my pre-injury/illness level.
So while I'd like to *feel* better, at least I'm back to where I was. But without some data to offset my subjective impressions, I would have sworn that I'm slower, weaker and less fit.
In part I think it's my expectations. I'd like to be fitter, faster and stronger. But at 61 with some health challenges, I have to be realistic. One difficult change I've had to make is including more rest days. I get restless and want to ride, but I know I need more recovery time now. And it shows on my data too, both the ups and downs.