 |
| Quality time with the RoboPacers |
Holy Crap it's October.
Let's do an update.
I finished the first 12-week TrainerRoad plan and enjoyed the experience. FTP was up, I was feeling better, and starting to see some results in the mirror - my calves and quads in particular. I started another 12-week FTP focused plan that I cleverly dubbed "mkII" and kept working.
I planned some time off Zwift around Labor Day. We had a road trip, and I needed to taper. What I didn't expect was to fall off my training plan completely. It happened quickly - like a light switch I simply had no impetus to get up and ride anymore.
I've been there, done that, before and gave myself some grace. Then, just as I was starting to get my mojo for Zwift back, I had another setback. Out of nowhere, and after 15+ years being attack free, I had a gout attack a couple weeks ago that knocked me (literally) on my butt. I all but stopped riding and consumed one of my "streak shields" in Zwift. I was happy to be walking; biking could wait.
 |
| Tron bike, how I've missed you |
In parallel: Just as I paused at Labor Day, I earned level 5 on my second Zwift-branded frame, meaning I needed just one more to begin the long/forever grind of upgrading the Tron (again). There are many fun/competitive frames in Zwift, but the ol' Tron took so much effort in 2022-23 and I've missed it. I want to use the Tron for this year's Festive500, in particular. Long ago, I mapped out that with my average KM/week I would get it in Nov/Dec this year with room to spare. And ... then I took 6-7 weeks off with minimal riding.
Oops.
Finally, with gout back in check, I've been able to ride again. I did a lengthy test ride yesterday and felt good, this morning I hit it again. And then with a groan I realized that I was still very far from that third frame. Could I make it by December?
Plan B- More of Plan A
I broke out an Excel sheet and figured out that even with other real life things intruding, getting the Tron unlocked by then was still barely possible at my typical time investment and without blowing up or risking injury.
So, I canceled the remaining time on the failed 12-Week Plan (Sorry, MkII) and set up a TrainerRoad event-driven plan to have me tapering for the 12/24 start of F500.
 |
| Christmas shouldn't be that close already, the leaves here are still green. |
Ironically, it's also a 12 week plan, following the same basic schedule. T/W/Th and a 90 minute ride on Saturday. Time will tell if this is wise; I think the Wednesday rides I added to MkII are maybe what put me across the line in late summer.
What Else
I should be eating better. No doubt, that's what got the gout fired up and I've been bad. Relying on boxed dinners for convenience and stress avoidance. Sugary snacks and more booze than I should. This year, I've gone weeks without eating anything green, and that's probably not for the best.
Aside from my weight, which has been stable (but hasn't been falling like I'd hoped, despite all the Zwift this year), I've felt it in other ways. Gastro-intestinal distress, bowels that run too fast, or too slow. Sleep disruption. Brain fog.
The thing is, I lived a VERY strict diet from 2013 through about 2016 and ... it sucked. Yah, I kept weight off and avoided meds. From that perspective, I was remarkably successful. But "all things in moderation, including moderation" became my mantra.
So, yes, I can and should make better choices. There's a meal in the crock pot right now consisting of "real food" and green things.
The other elephant in the room - work stress - is actually in a better spot. I took on a different position (also at Labor Day). While the new gig isn't and will never be a walk in the park, my hours are more regular and closer to 40 hrs/wk. I actually have hope of being able to ride Zwift in the afternoons/evenings instead of at 4am (my current unstable schedule makes this a bad plan).
Wrap Up
So, if I don't suffer any huge motivational distress, and if I remain injury free, by mid-late December I should be back on the old Tron again. I'm looking forward to it, and looking forward to the F500 now more than ever.
I have some plans and goals for F500 - but that's the topic for a different post.
Comments
Post a Comment