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.

Week of 1-21

Last week was a good week for myself. Out of a planned 6.5 hours I did 6. Had to get a refitting on my new bike which cut into one of my trainer rides. Had my seat readjusted and my cleats got some more float. My right knee had sharp pain. Those fixes were all I needed. The folks at East Providence Cycle are great! I spent 1:30 in the gym. Working on upper body and legs. I did two easy trainer rides at 40 minutes each watching a youtube video of a race this year. I did one Sufferfest video for 45 minutes. Saturday I rode with my buddy for 14 miles to get used to riding outside. Today I went on a group ride in Hanson for 25 miles. Went with the slower group so I can work myself back in slowly.

For next week, I start working on Wednesday :( I have a 10 hour week planned. Need to be smart with my time and use my gym/trainer in a time friendly manner. Two gym sessions, plenty of time on the trainer. The weather looks to be sub 20 degree all week. This will be a good week to build up my intensity with Sufferfest videos. I am looking at doing a group ride Sunday.

I have General Contractors visiting my house this week. We are looking at an addition/remodel. That should be exciting. I will have my application to Suffolk and Northeastern completed this week as well. On 1-22 I go to my doctor for my physical.

Speaking of my physical I had my hematocrit checked last year I was at a measly 39%. This year before I had my appendix pulled it was checked and I was at 43%. Love it!

Get out there and ride!

Week of 1-13

My new thing to hold myself accountable will be to write my planned workouts and then post what I actually did at end of week. I am using the training peaks annual training plan as well as using the Cyclists Training Bible for reference material.

This week I am planned for 6:30. It is the base week, week 4. Perfect week to get back into after surgery.

I also hope to post any midweek musings as I go. My biggest issue is remembering to post more often.