Hermes

Tuesday was a track workout at VSC 4xflying 500 meters max efforts and Thursday was TT bike Fiesta: warmup and then 3 set of 8x(30sec on 1min off) followed by 20’ of recovery. I alternated starts of the on portion from the seated (from aerobars) and standing positions. Chainless day and the best effort that I have done since I started racing in 2008 on this type of workout. Probably up 50 watts.

furiousferret

I'm back to riding, basically a month off the bike. So far I've been taking it easy to make sure there are no side effects from COVID. Outside of z1 being a bit harder than it used to be, no issues.

I've been avoiding group rides because if I am doing well and my chest starts hurting, there's a chance my dumbass won't stop.

Hermes

In Newport Beach for a couple of days training at the indoor track.

TMonk

Week three of off-season mode, more hiking/jogging and strength work, starting to get reduced DOMS from that which bodes well for my backpack trip. Overall reduced TSS.

Gave it a couple go's in the 3-5 min range this morning, turns out I still have good power. Track should be fun for the next several weeks. Did decently well this week.

furiousferret

Got sick for a day. Last 3 days I buried myself to catch up; I'm up 6 pounds and wanted to drop some so I put in some big z2 rides running a -400 calorie deficit. Nothing out of the ordinary. The problem was on Tuesday I didn't add up the food I tracked, rode a 1100 kj ride and got sick. Turns out I had 300 calories net that day (oops).

Next day I had to eat so much it almost negated all that. I've learned I can't go under -400 over maintenance and when I do I have to eat in a few days to make it up.

furiousferret

Off the bike indefinitely with chest pains, probably COVID related. (sadface)

Hermes

Sorry to hear that. Feel better fast.

burnthesheep

Doing pre-cross buildup. 3 weeks in a row of solid KJ's. Last week was likely an all time record in a week for KJ's. Yesterday at work I had to make sure I was alive from the Garmin watch resting HR reading. Normally not that low for a low level racer like me. Maybe for you experts.

Looking to get in some skills laps this week sometime. Trying to get the team to decide on a night to meet at the course and do skills together.

himespau 

Feel better. And take it easy with chest pains on the bike. I just found out that a guy I used to ride on Zwift with sometimes a year or so back died in the middle of a Zwift race last week. Apparently, had a heart attack and was at home alone while racing so no one heard him.

furiousferret

Ack, that sounds like something that would happen to a lot of us.

TMonk

Get better soon FF. And yikes, crazy story himespau.

No clue where my fitness is rn. Still doing weekly track (except tonite) and I seem to have some good fitness in the longer races, where I can drop into the pole lane and keep the pressure on, after some of the later points laps when riders go up track. Outside of that, a few more hours of the bike and that's it, no long rides for the last month. But plenty of hiking, jogging and strength work.

This morning, Off the MAAP group ride of around 120, finished somewhere (barely) in the top 10. Good lord that was hard. I forget the course, but it had three VO2 length climbs, the last two separated by just a min or 2 of false flat. That broke up the front group. Man that was hard. Limped around for a bit and then found the B paced bot in Watopia for another half hour or so. 2 hrs at 3.0 w/kg, including a fair bit of z1 warmup and recovery.

Radish_legs

2 crit wins in 2 weeks after 3 years of not racing. then going 10mph solo, hit some gravel I didn't see in a turn and go down hard. My worst crash ever on a road bike (have been blessed). Either broken wrist or sprained wrist. Welp, those are the breaks.

himespau 

hope it's just a sprain and you heal quickly.

burnthesheep

Point of advice: if you've done a hard workout and your hobby is endurance sport.........don't leap from the couch relaxing soon after that workout. Bad idea.

I had heard this, but never heeded it. Last night I had showered and grabbed a post workout snack to watch TV with the wife. I was laying on the couch maybe 5min and we see the dog pacing. "Dog been out?". I forgot. I leap up to take dog out not thinking. I had to just lean on the couch for a second looking stupid. Nice and slow. Let the blood return to the brain.

Otherwise, in a matter of 2 days two of the three bikes down for a few days. The gravel tires on the TCX got a puncture, it sealed but I didn't realize it. It lost pressure over Monday and I went to pump up to ride at lunch today and it couldn't seal at the higher pressure. So it needs a vulcanized patch inside, which I just ordered. LBS didn't have any. None of them locally. Only plug kits. WTF. Then the roadie on the trainer last night decided to let the BB start singing. So that's done for and I ordered one. The old one from the TT bike came with before converting to the DUB BB had unknown mileage, so will not be using that despite it being exactly what I need. Just wait for Backcountry order.

All that's left is the track bike on the trainer, or the TT bike. Not going to waste miles on the cross race tires to get anywhere to ride. How it goes sometimes.

Phatman

Not sure if this makes you feel better, but just regular colds have been wreaking havoc on my household and my ability to gather up some semblance of fitness before cyclocross season. We had a one cold pass through the house early July, I started skipping and downgrading rides because my son was up all night when he got it. I then got it myself and it turned into a nasty chest cold that lingered two weeks. I finally recovered and then my daughter woke up with a 102F fever, a runny nose and a cough on Monday. I haven't gotten that one yet, but its only a matter of time, especially since I've been averaging ~4 hours of sleep this week. Oddly, we've somehow missed this latest Covid wave so far, but these colds are almost as annoying. We've also burned through all of our Covid tests and my kids are really ******g tired of me sticking swabs up their noses.

procrit

Have you gotten an xray or otherwise checked your heart and lungs? When did you get covid?

When I had covid (the first time) I needed MONTHS to recover, and to be honest it took over a year to feel 100%.

procrit

I haven't been over 40 CTL since I got the 'vid like 18 months ago. I had major recovery issues even 6-8 months post covid, and couldn't get over 30 CTL without feeling terrible. My HR was also way higher at every effort and I was nervous to try to push hard because I would max my heart rate out at fairly low effort. Now HR is back is in line with RPE, and my endurance is seemingly much better. Top end is still way down, but I have no doubt I'll be able to get it all back with time. Also picked up mountain biking and it's nice to be able to ride without getting run over... drivers these days are terrible.

furiousferret

Ack, that sounds awful, I hope you get back on the saddle soon. I also don't think this latest one is as bad as COVID Prime and Delta. Still sucks though.

I went to the doc a few days back, had blood, EKG, and XRays. First thing she asked, 'There's some damage here, have you been in an accident.'

'I can start with Mt. Baldy but I don't think there's enough time in this appointment to go over them all...'

Anyway, she said the heart and organs are fine and its just inflammation. I can ride as I see fit, which I'm still being really conservative on.

procrit

Just take it slow getting back to it. Inflammation is not good.

I’m back on the bike, and I actually knocked out a 3 hr z2 ride today for the first time in forever, and even threw in a 3 min vo2 effort around the 2 hour mark just to test the legs. I’m pretty out of shape but at least nothing major is holding me back now.

procrit

I'm at the point of needing a recovery week, but I leave for a week long fishing trip in 6 days. Do I rest now, or just lighten up the load a bit and just hold CTL where it is until the trip?

himespau 

You were saying you were feeling burnt out anyway, right? Is there a specific event you're training toward that you need your fitness to be at a specific level?

procrit

No not currently burned out at all. It’s just something I’ve dealt with before and want to avoid it if at all possible.

Ive considered doing some spring road races and maybe some mountain bike races as a masters. Zero interest currently in trying to race A or the cat 1/2 road events right now.

himespau 

OK, I misunderstood. I was just thinking that feeling burned out plus no immediate events on the horizon = perfect time for a little extra time out of the saddle (or Z2 at most). Another 6 weeks or so, and it'd be nothing but a nice long fall color ride on the weekends or some hiking. But it sounds like I'd misread.

burnthesheep

All time PR for 5min power, outdoors, on variable terrain during the Saturday team ride. Surely indoors in a constant power could squeeze some more.

Local hill "Lystra". Our team did a 4 man three hour ride Saturday. I pulled a lot, at sweetspot, during the ride. We averaged 23mph for 2 hours of it and almost 22 for all 3. I had a headwind on the segment and still got within sniffing distance of the top 10. I'll take it. Oh..........it was on the cross bike with road wheels. So, proof it's plenty fast.

Weather was stellar. Probably best group road ride I've had in at least a year.

procrit

My off season plan sounds like what you are suggesting! Some hikes, trail riding, and some nice morning or evening road rides. I want to build fitness but also enjoy the fall weather for sure.