WOW… it has been a
while since I logged in and now that I have done so, the desire to post an
update has been ignited. There is so
much to share that my head is abuzz with where to start, should I do reviews on
my new bike and or wheels, or concluding thoughts on last season’s race
performance, or goals for coming season, or how social media benefits my
cycling, or state of self after rest block. Seeing that the rest block was most
recent let me start there.
The first week of July marked 14 weeks of consistent
training in the bag since the Argus Cycle Tour. It was a good solid training block,
starting with base, culminating with 15min intervals, within a structured
framework.
When some important work commitments took preference in my
life at the end of June, it was expected that I would experience extreme
tiredness by the end of my work audit week. This was accompanied by a total
lack of motivation to swing a leg over the saddle. It was time for a rest from
my sport, and for the next 2 weeks I left my bike alone. I did occasionally give
it an admiring glance, or stroke the handlebar as I walked by.
My rest block coincided with the start of Ramadan, the
Muslim Holy month of fasting. This meant that comeback rides would be in the
dark predawn hours, allowing sufficient time to have a bite to eat before the
fasting day started. Those first rides last week were totally AWESOME. The
light rain on those first few mornings made it even more rewarding. I felt very
fresh coming back to the road, my mind had been cleared. My legs felt like they could go and go. The
bike felt smooth and svelte. Everything came together so perfectly.
Over the course of a training block I tend to become engrossed
in the amount of time I am training, what intensity or zone I am training in, what
power profile I am able to attain, what my weight is, and so on. This break has
caused me to rethink why I train, and this has created a refreshed approach,
filled with a rejuvenated desire for the season ahead.
Do you apply scheduled rest periods in your programme, and
how do they work for you?
Let's Ride
