Well, at least this occurred in the very first days of building my base kilometers. Due to requirements of my job, I received my 2008 flu vaccine during my shift on 9/26. Now I had ridden to work (approx 1.5 hours) and still had to ride back after working a 12 hour night shift. I started feeling the affects (general fatigue, weakness and a "foggy head") just prior to jumping on the bike for the return home. The short ride home turned into a bit of misery, with even small hills and rises completely draining me without necessarily elevating my heart rate. Misery is probably too soft a word, "death march" sums it up well I think. I don't remember much of the ride, I'm just glad it was cool. I haven't felt that bad for such a short ride for many years. I get these damn shots every year and have yet to see a correlation in immunization success and wellness in those who get them and those who don't.
Anyway, I ended up having to take the next day completely off - a complete fog and a complete lack of motivation to even jump on the rollers or take an easy 30 minute spin. I am listening to my body better and though I felt a bit of guilt for not working through it, I'm not sure it would have done anything than tear my body down and possible screwed up an already overloaded immune system.
Yesterday, I was able to squeeze in 2.5 hours. Still could feel a little weakness and jelly in the legs at even high cadence, low gearing. Heart rate stayed a great consistent 145-155, but I'll have to reevaluate on the long ride on Wednesday to see if those are consistent with the power output expected for these early months or perhaps the inability of my cardiac system to elevate output and function with a taxed immune system.
Anybody ever tried these Inside Ride rollers? Pretty cool concept - free motion rollers with built in resistance than allow a very natural feel on the bike - including sprinting, no handed pedaling and even being able to ride in aero positions on time trial bikes on them. I fear the sprinting i have seen some doing on them in internet videos - picturing myself bolting across my garage toward a closed garage door at 30mph when I pop off. They are a little more than a bit pricey, but I am definitely considering them. I have always liked training my intervals and speed/power workouts on a trainer as I just get a more pure sense on my body and its reactions to stress without seeing extraneous changes in wind and topography that throw a couple more variables into the setting. Did I mention they are a tad pricey? Even used they are still in the nearly new price (which would be good that I could sell them for nearly what I paid for them later down the road). On a related note - I have found several diagrams and plans for DIY setups which I may look into.
Hope all are relaxing in the offseason or preparing for the CX season for you mudhounds.
Bug
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
"And so it begins..."
I created this blog to allow me to narrate my training and journeys through the 2009 Cycling Season. I'm sure there will be postings on here addressing my point of view from inside various races, musings on different training ideas (and the frustrations of acting as my own coach), and the occassional observation on the sport of cycling in its various states of being.
I had a 2008 season of returning to cycling after a very long layoff (7-8 years) and delayed by a couple injuries and illness unrelated to cycling in 2007. 2008 was mainly a fitness year - lots of riding (nearly 13000 km), general weight loss and addressing some overall fitness issues including some increasing general strength and cross training cardiovascularly. My riding was mostly to get back to the basics, the joy of riding my bike, a couple little training races here and there and competitive group rides. Honestly it was for me to get back to the point, on a confidence level, that I could still race competitively after the extended layoff.
So today's ride was a simple one, going out for enjoyment and the beginning of the building a base. Nasty winds as a nor'easter comes rolling through NC. I rode with a power meter mostly to track heart rate and found that my power hasn't dropped off as much as expected it to over the past month. Though through this early period I am not looking to do too much with it regarding power specifically, its good to occassionally make sure I am not pushing the heart rate too high as well as insuring my cadence stays in a good range of 95-105 for large portions of the ride. Total ride time of 2 hours with average heart rate of 146. Not bad, felt great throughout except for a little tightness in my back and abs which I always get after an extended time off the bike. Tomorrow's plan is 3+ hours if the weather cooperates (possibility of very high winds).
My goals this year are centered around starting much earlier in the season so that by the beginning of the 2009 calendar year I am already transitioning to much more difficult workouts and building power and speed, timing this for early spring races. I have started over 3 months prior to the end of the year to ensure a really good base as I could feel in previous years the breakdowns that come from not having that and the difference I believe it will make on my system not having the several years "in my legs" that many opthers will have. A two peak season is planned hopefully with a second peak for the mid summer Master's Nats and some racing up north potentially. Additionally, after taking nearly 3 weeks off prior to today with a little weight gain and some previous weight that never came off over the past summer, some weight loss through a much improved diet (more on this in later posts) as well as more specific cycling training.
The Bug
I had a 2008 season of returning to cycling after a very long layoff (7-8 years) and delayed by a couple injuries and illness unrelated to cycling in 2007. 2008 was mainly a fitness year - lots of riding (nearly 13000 km), general weight loss and addressing some overall fitness issues including some increasing general strength and cross training cardiovascularly. My riding was mostly to get back to the basics, the joy of riding my bike, a couple little training races here and there and competitive group rides. Honestly it was for me to get back to the point, on a confidence level, that I could still race competitively after the extended layoff.
So today's ride was a simple one, going out for enjoyment and the beginning of the building a base. Nasty winds as a nor'easter comes rolling through NC. I rode with a power meter mostly to track heart rate and found that my power hasn't dropped off as much as expected it to over the past month. Though through this early period I am not looking to do too much with it regarding power specifically, its good to occassionally make sure I am not pushing the heart rate too high as well as insuring my cadence stays in a good range of 95-105 for large portions of the ride. Total ride time of 2 hours with average heart rate of 146. Not bad, felt great throughout except for a little tightness in my back and abs which I always get after an extended time off the bike. Tomorrow's plan is 3+ hours if the weather cooperates (possibility of very high winds).
My goals this year are centered around starting much earlier in the season so that by the beginning of the 2009 calendar year I am already transitioning to much more difficult workouts and building power and speed, timing this for early spring races. I have started over 3 months prior to the end of the year to ensure a really good base as I could feel in previous years the breakdowns that come from not having that and the difference I believe it will make on my system not having the several years "in my legs" that many opthers will have. A two peak season is planned hopefully with a second peak for the mid summer Master's Nats and some racing up north potentially. Additionally, after taking nearly 3 weeks off prior to today with a little weight gain and some previous weight that never came off over the past summer, some weight loss through a much improved diet (more on this in later posts) as well as more specific cycling training.
The Bug
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