March Fun!

So I havent been able to get in the huge mileage I wanted in March but I feel good. Went out this Saturday and was able to stick with the fast guys. Last year I'd get spit out of the group faster than an Apollo rocket. This Sunday we did 33 miles and I was with them and taking pulls. Felt awesome! I need to keep this trajectory going through May.

Some bad news is that I will not be doing Tour of the Dragons, scheduling snafu. I am using that weekend and will convert it to a team training camp. I am in early stages of planning a 3 day training camp in Northampton. Hopefully all goes well. I also want to turn this into an annual team trip if possible. We shall see!

Getting a lot done with our contractor to remodel our home. Hopefully tomorrow I get a final price on the scope of work. Then I also have to go to an interview at Northeastern to get accepted in the MBA program. A lot going on! Stressful but fun at same time. That is life!

Mid-March Plans

Weather has been on and off. Looking at another possible 6-8 inches on the ground after getting a sneak peak of decent weather last week. I was able to ride outside Thursday and Saturday AM. Did 25 and 30 miles, on two very different courses. Felt good to mix it up outside. Saturday we were averaging 16 MPH. Not too shabby and I left some out on the course. I ended last week with four straight bike rides. Trainer, outside, trainer, outside.

This week I have a lot I am doing to get myself ahead so when the good weather comes I can be outside for hours. I am doing taxes and home design Thursday. Installing new TV this week. I have a lot going on at work, it should settle down once the Union votes on a new contract and I can go back to a normal schedule. My MBA apps will also be 100% complete this week. Exciting times!

My weight is staying at 153 or so. I want to hover around this weight and in the next few weeks, I am looking to lose 1 lb a week until I am to near 145.

Build Week

3 hours in last week. My weight dropped down to 155. Goal is to be around 145 by mid-April.

This is my first week in the build portion of my season. Going to continue with the hard rides on sufferfest. I also look to be outside for 2-3 hours on Thursday same for Sunday. Weather dependent of course. I am feeling great over this season I wish I had more time in the saddle. Mid-March should be my planned time to be in group rides, I look forward to the Saturday beat down rides.

Blizzard of 2013

So this storm but a dent in my riding. Good news is I got a ton of strength exercises and cardio with shoveling and fighting the snowblower. Since I work at Stop & Shop I did not get a day off this week so my ride time was 0. I did manage to go to the gym. This week I got 3 nights and my day off so I will be on the trainer and hitting it hard. I have 81 days until Dragons starts. Hopefully I can hit the roads in March and not be behind 8 ball too much. Time will tell!

Indoor Riding

Just to go on the record, I despise riding on the trainer. I will say though, Sufferfest videos have been great for me. Hard efforts with recovery periods. I am liking how my trajectory is going this year. Hopefully hit the roads more often in February/March. I am fully recovered now. Today I am doing the gym/trainer double. Not too bad. Dragons here I come!

If I can find group rides that are going out Saturday/Sunday I will be jumping in those!

Week of 1-28

What a dud last week was. Still recovering. I will be back on the bike Thursday. Been to the gym last week and I went today. I have 8 hours on the docket this week. Hopeing to hit it hard. Thursday I am hoping to ride with my good friend in the AM. Saturday I am praying for a group ride and then we'll go there.

Sick City

Stupid cold. Just recovered from my appendectomy. I hit up the trainer/road rides 4 days in a row with two gym sessions mixed in. Unfortunately my wife got some sort of illness from work that was passed on to me! Sore/clogged up throught, runny nose and my eyes feel likes I have allergies in them and get watered up.

This week so far I have been able to go for two gym sessions. Plenty of core, back, shoulder, and arm work. That has been my weak link. On long rides I would be tired not from cardio weakness but because my neck, shoulders and back would just not be able to do hold up any longer. I went on plenty of sites to look up exercises. A big help has been The Cyclists Training Bible. I mix uo my exercises as much as possible. I do not go with too much weight but lesser weights at more/faster reps. I do not want to bulk up but just have my muscles toned and ready for the long season. I am not focusing too miuch on my legs. I do some exercises but rely on big ring riding and group rides to build up that strength.

Laying on the couch will not be a good way to build up my cardio. As soon as I can go on the trainer I will be going with more intense rides and as the weather lets up I will go on long outdoor base rides. I will also hit up group rides as they are available. We have plenty of good rides on the South Shore of Massachusetts. One group the South Shore bikers has rides that are weather dependent on Saturday and Sunday. Another group I am a member of is the Charles River Wheelmen and they also run rides on the weekends. It is all weather dependent and what my work schedule allows me to do. As we get closer to race season my Team, Boston Road Club will also run some base rides. All I need to do is keep my high level intensity up, and get my base in once the weather allows it.