Weight program: Strength Build Week 4 out of 6
Monday: Off
Tuesday: 20min warmup, 2x20min (5min rest in between) @ ~FTP, 10min cooldown
Wednesday: Weights
Thursday: 1:15h Indoor Z2 ride
Friday: 1:00h Indoor Z2 ride
Saturday: 20min warmup, 2x20min (5min rest in between) @ ~FTP, 10min cooldown
Sunday: 2:00h Indoor Z2 ride
Total Bikescore/TSS: 320
Total Training Time: 6:45h bike+1:15h Weights
Weekly Summary
First Signs of Fatigue
It was bound to happen one day and the first signs of fatigue for the 2014 season are a fact. After a week of quite amazing workouts, on Saturday I couldn’t hold the power on the second 20min interval. Quitting is never an option so I just dropped the pace by 15-20W and finished.
A bad workout is the one that didn’t happen!
It is never a single factor, however, I suspect my upset stomach after eating something not so easily digestible on Friday, certainly played a role. In addition I have lost some weight and I am in the 86ish kg (189lbs) range which is lower than my 86-87kg (192lbs) racing weight from last season. (I weigh myself every 2-3days for signs of over/undereating etc.). Therefore, it is a good wake up call to pay more attention to my body. Overtraining is a cruel mistress that shows up when your body spends more time in catabolic rather than anabolic state; in simple terms your body eats itself since it doesn’t have enough time/nutrients to rebuild from the training stress. I must eat more and certainly I must include more protein in my diet. So yes I have a goal to gain at least 1kg (2.2lbs) back.
I am repeating myself that it is not a matter of simply not eating enough, however, the cold weather makes the body burn up more energy to stay warm which is a massive calorie drain. Winter is NOT the time to be losing weight and it is asking for some health problems when cold and flu germs are flying left and right.
The Dream is Alive!
Image: Cadel Evan Tired after Stage 12 of the 2011 Tour de France (Source)
You can find explanations of the terms here together with explanations of the Training Zones.
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