Athlete Blogs
February 5th, 2010A run of the mill week - sort of
I figure I am due for a weekly update here. We are finally trending out of the dark days of winter and onward to the early season. Posts, energy, excitement will most likely pickup really soon.This past week was 100% indoor riding - we got snow and ice like most a few days ago, and while I will brave the cold and wind and dark, I hate getting wet and riding in the ice is just crazy.
The weather has been an issue riding wise and work wise all week. In sales, there really isn't such a thing as a day off, I don't get a reduction in quota if we have a snow day - so snow is just a hindrance, something that kept me from having two meetings this week. Kristy had the whole damn week off, except for a 1/2 day yesterday. But I worked, even if I was cooped up at home. Not that I'm complaining, I like being in a career that is 100% results focused, no one cares how long or hard you work - the results are what matters. Kind of like cycling - you can talk all you want, do this or that, but what matters on race day is how well you do, period.
So this week - a variety of indoor workouts, an all out 20:00 interval, followed by some tempo, a day of 2x20s, a 1x40:00, microbursts, more microburts, that sort of thing. If you have a good plan, a 60 to 90 min indoor session is all you need, very productive and can be as hard as most riders can recover from. So bring on the crappy weather.
Having said that, for once we are missing the *really* bad weather today and this weekend - so far just mostly rain, not snow or ice. So it could be possible to actually ride outside on sunday. I cannot remember the last workout I did outside. I can't. My bike with the lights has gone unused for a long time.
I do feel bad for my DC based clients and friends - 2 feet of snow will take forever to clear out. I know many will be eager to get outside, hoping for clear roads and no early morning black ice- but trust me, crashing on some ice will not be worth the attempt at riding too early before things clear.
This weekend we have the annual "january nationals" non-race race on sunday. It's february, but last weekend we had ice. This weekend we have cold, so I highly doubt I'll go unless I feel the urge to show off my CCT kit - which I might have to do. And by show off, I mean ride hard for a few laps and then "peal off" and head home. Seriously, I might just do that. I need stearns and thechartman to race with me to keep me honest.
Tomorrow morning it is "on" - but a saturday, meaning I'll wake up whenever I end up waking up - sadly it is usually at 4:30 or 5 - maybe a little later. Then hit the rollers for a 90 min session with either a 2x20 session or a nearly all out 20 interval plus some tempo. The rollers are setup, clothing and and shoes out, cytomax mixed and ready to go. Makes it easy to get up, turn on the coffee and be on the bike 20 min later - no hassles or hang ups to deal with that early. I have always found it's best to get everything done the night before - else you might just get up, get overwhelmed by whatever needs to be done - and end up back in bed. Can't have that.
I would like to go on the record that at least a year ago, my FB status included how I liked to listen to lady gaga on my Ipod. Back then only those listening to 20 on 20 on XM knew her. I took shit for it. Well, now I feel vindicated. She rocks. And now I'm a Glee convert. The soundtrack rocks, and keeps me awake on my long drives - and workouts. So rock on Glee, I like you w/out reservation.
There is nothing worse than the Ipod battery dying mid-workout. Happened today. My ipod shuffle's are dispensable- the sweat from indoor and outdoor riding make their lifetime about 6 months at best. But at $49 it's worth it. Go apple.
That's it- enjoy all the snow if you are in DC and see you at the races sometime soon.
Cheers,
Pete
