Tried to do my 40 tempo run this morn at the crack of dawn before work and made if 15 mins before I couldnt handle being on the treadmill any longer; took the dog for a walk instead… Had an hour sweetspot ride scheduled tonight and just couldnt muster up the will to get put the bike in the trainer. Who can relate? Doesnt happen often (very rarely actually) but just had no desire to do any training today.
On another note, how many hours approximately do you all train in the late off-season? I am gearing this question to you all who have a wife, household, and a demanding professional career… for those of you who have tons of time to train- I am seriously jealous!! I have a coach this year and am trying to determine if I need to ease into the season a little slower since my first race is not until the end of June (70.3). I am on the fence on the training volume but curious to how others approach it.
I’ve also been having these issues for a while now. The MN winter has really hit me hard this year (and another winter blast hitting tomorrow). I’ve also been working a lot, which takes up most of my time.
Mrs. Tropic recommended that I cut back on the training for a few weeks until my mood got back on track. So, I stayed away from my bike and just casually ran on the dreadmill for the past 3 weeks. It was a bit extreme for me. But, has done wonders to reset my attitude and drive. I’m picking up the volume and intensity again, and have a fresh outlook.
I feel ya! Treadmill is the worst, especially without electronics. I started getting back into serious base building and did 9 hours last week. That is a lot for me this time of year - too many early mornings.
Dude, just got to work and feel like S#!T. On the tail end of the flu; have enough energy to work but not really train, can’t get out of bed butt-early like normal, just need to sleep more. Clean cycling kit still on the bathroom counter, it’ll be sitting there till (I hope) tomorrow at 430am . . . .
This is definitely the time of year where the indoor workouts are the hardest. 10 weeks into consistent training, you can just see Spring around the corner, but you still see snow, ice and cold in the forecast. TO make matters worse, it’s finally worm enough and roads are not icy this week so I could run outside again, but not I picked up an Achilles injury. Grrr. So back to the grind on the trainer.
I also seem to have plateaued on my FTP and swim paces. The only thing really improving is my overall cardio fitness. I can’t manage anymore power on my FTP test, but I’m holding the same watts at 5-6bpm lower HR… so I guess that’s something. At this rate I’ll be riding my first Ironman at 125 bpm and running at 135 because I don’t have the fatigue resistance to go any harder without blowing up. I guess that’s a good problem to have.
Blah, I can’t wait to get outside. “absence makes the heart grow fonder”
I’m with you man. I have gotten on my trainer a few times in the last week and only lasted half an hour at zone 2. Weak sauce. Mentally drained from winter. I haven’t ridden on the road since October. And only a handful of runs outside as well. Maine has been a total bitch this year. I’m sure everyone in the Northeast (and elsewhere) is feeling it. Good to know others are struggling with the commitment… hopefully means I won’t get dropped in the first few club rides
Tough to find time to train with a demanding job, wife, and kids. My wife and I both plan time to train… We dont swim much in winter - we hit the running and bike hard… once spring comes - we’ll do some short term stuff swimming at the local gym and open water as soon as we can. Most our tri’s are later in the summer.
I guess I’ll give myself a huge pat on the back then for 228 miles (10.5 hours) on the trainer last week. That’s actually the most I’ve ever ridden in 1 week before in my life and about 2X the most I’ve ever done on the trainer in a week up until this year. I think I ran 100 miles the 2 previous weeks combined, all but about 9 of it on the treadmill. Then again, I also trashed my achillies on my left leg… so what does that tell you. Yes… I got greedy and stupid.
I hear ya, also in Chicago. Got up early for my scheduled hour on the trainer and while I finished it had the hardest time hitting z4 not to mention z3 for my intervals. Settled with what I got, hit the shower, packed the swim bag, and on my way to dropping the kiddo off at daycare had a terrible headache and chills hit me…bagged the swim and am now counting my ST time as training time.
Difference is I’m 2 months into my plan for IMCDA, not late off season. Personally I think I just really needed a rest day as I jumped into this years plan a bit aggressively. You’re subject of “today was just not my day…” just caught my attention as thats how I’ve been feeling for the past few hours since the headache came on.
With all this rain/flooding we’re having…who knows…I might still get my swim session in when I walk the dog later…
On another note, how many hours approximately do you all train in the late off-season? I am gearing this question to you all who have a wife, household, and a demanding professional career…
This time of year I shoot for 8-10 hours CONSISTENTLY each week. I do the best I can Mon-Thrs and then hit it hard on the weekends. That puts minimal pressure to get stuff done during the week if I get busy. Plus, I have two dogs to walk and that is something I really like to do, but it takes time. I also try to do other stuff with friends. Right now myself and fellow ST’er “James Haycraft” are pretty into go-karts. Fast ones. And also mtn biking.
I found having a coach made me force workouts in. I felt accountable, which is good, but forcing it is not. Stress is stress, whether physical or mental.
I have officially conceded Chicago to Winter…it wins. It can have Chicago.
Fooook…this winter has been brutal. I am so done.
That said, between a later than normal start and training at a training center, I’m not really having any issues training right now. I’ve been riding at Amphibian Multisport in Libertyville and it does wonders for your motivation to have 15 others there with you on CT’s hammering it out. Did it last year as well and it never really got old…rode almost exclusively indoors through April. Then PF wrecked my season just as I was ready to get outside. Blech…
Now if I had to sit in my basement and try and knock out the intervals or some of the 2.5 hour rides I have been doing at Amphibian…NFW.
I’m with ya, I think Tom Skilling is predicting a swarm of locusts or some shit to hit tonight…pretty sure he’s just getting his weather projections from the book of revelations nowdays…
LOL…to that point, we had “Thundersnow” this AM up here. Just before my alarm went off (so i could get to Amphibian for the 5:30 ride) there was a huge crack of thunder, and we were getting a snow / slush mix at the time.
