Recovery Week
During the training program, I have 3 weeks of base building and one week of recovery. The recovery week has 2 days of rest built in. On the days where we have a workout, it is shorter and at a slower pace. This week, due to a previous committment, I was unable to participate in the group workouts. This held a bit of a challenge to stick with the program. I took the term "recovery" just a bit too far. I was only able to get in a run on Tuesday morning and a long ride on Sunday morning. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get in a Monday swim, Thursday bike, and a Saturday run, but I will be ok. I may pay for it next week though.
Tuesday Run
Before work on Tuesday, I went to Piedmont Park hoping to do another 5 miles. As I was on my first lap of the park loop (1.67 miles,) I realized that this is a recovery week and I should be running slower and less mileage. I shortened my run to 4 miles, completing a park loop, a lake loop, and a lake/active oval loop. I kept my pace at around 11:30 to a 12:00 minute mile. The run felt good, and I was able to run the whole thing again. I think once I get used to running the distances, I will be able to speed up my pace a little.
Bike Fit
I scheduled a bike fit at Atlanta Cycling to get rid of the knee pain from the long ride last week. I didn't want to get back on the bike without this fit. Mike, the guy who did my fit went over every inch of the bike and how I fit with it. Before we did the fit, I got a pair of cycling shorts since your position changes with shorts on. I immediately noticed a difference in the comfort of the bike!
After watching me pedal, Mike measured my legs as well as the angle of my knee when my foot was in the down position. He ended up raising my seat over an inch. When he got to the front of the bike, he said I was reaching pretty far for the handles and that when in aero I looked was I was out for a cruise, not a training ride. He lowered the handles a few centimeters as well as brought them much closer. He checkout out my shoes and made sure that the cleats were centered and he moved them a little bit back.
After 1.5 hours of a bike fit, the bike was ready to be ridden!
Long Ride - Jekyll Island
I woke up around 7:30 Sunday morning after a beautifu wedding on Jekyll Island. I brought my bike with me and I was ready to ride along the beach and try out the new fit. The minute I got on the bike, I noticed a difference. I felt like I had more power with every turn of the pedal. I spent most of the time in the aero position and it was great! I wasn't stretching to reach the handles; it felt natural. I rode 1 full loop around the island on the road and then 2 partial loops. I did 27 miles in 1 hr and 40 minutes. I was proud of myself. I was moving so much faster than I had been a week ago, and the shorts were absolutely the best article of clothing I have bought in years! The worst part about this ride was on the beach side of the island. The wind was so heavy and it seemed like I was riding straight into it. It took a lot of energy and effort to keep up the same pace with the wind in my face. On the river side of the island, I was able to get much more speed.
I realized that I keep saying, "I'm new to biking," or "I'm not a cyclist," but I realized that I am a cyclist now. I was riding on the road going 16 to 20mph and I didn't freak out when cars drove by. I was comfortable, confident, and enjoying every minute on the bike.
I have a triathlon next weekend, and I am excited to see how things go now that I can bike and run a little better than I could 2 months ago.
During the training program, I have 3 weeks of base building and one week of recovery. The recovery week has 2 days of rest built in. On the days where we have a workout, it is shorter and at a slower pace. This week, due to a previous committment, I was unable to participate in the group workouts. This held a bit of a challenge to stick with the program. I took the term "recovery" just a bit too far. I was only able to get in a run on Tuesday morning and a long ride on Sunday morning. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get in a Monday swim, Thursday bike, and a Saturday run, but I will be ok. I may pay for it next week though.
Tuesday Run
Before work on Tuesday, I went to Piedmont Park hoping to do another 5 miles. As I was on my first lap of the park loop (1.67 miles,) I realized that this is a recovery week and I should be running slower and less mileage. I shortened my run to 4 miles, completing a park loop, a lake loop, and a lake/active oval loop. I kept my pace at around 11:30 to a 12:00 minute mile. The run felt good, and I was able to run the whole thing again. I think once I get used to running the distances, I will be able to speed up my pace a little.
Bike Fit
I scheduled a bike fit at Atlanta Cycling to get rid of the knee pain from the long ride last week. I didn't want to get back on the bike without this fit. Mike, the guy who did my fit went over every inch of the bike and how I fit with it. Before we did the fit, I got a pair of cycling shorts since your position changes with shorts on. I immediately noticed a difference in the comfort of the bike!
After watching me pedal, Mike measured my legs as well as the angle of my knee when my foot was in the down position. He ended up raising my seat over an inch. When he got to the front of the bike, he said I was reaching pretty far for the handles and that when in aero I looked was I was out for a cruise, not a training ride. He lowered the handles a few centimeters as well as brought them much closer. He checkout out my shoes and made sure that the cleats were centered and he moved them a little bit back.
After 1.5 hours of a bike fit, the bike was ready to be ridden!
Long Ride - Jekyll Island
I woke up around 7:30 Sunday morning after a beautifu wedding on Jekyll Island. I brought my bike with me and I was ready to ride along the beach and try out the new fit. The minute I got on the bike, I noticed a difference. I felt like I had more power with every turn of the pedal. I spent most of the time in the aero position and it was great! I wasn't stretching to reach the handles; it felt natural. I rode 1 full loop around the island on the road and then 2 partial loops. I did 27 miles in 1 hr and 40 minutes. I was proud of myself. I was moving so much faster than I had been a week ago, and the shorts were absolutely the best article of clothing I have bought in years! The worst part about this ride was on the beach side of the island. The wind was so heavy and it seemed like I was riding straight into it. It took a lot of energy and effort to keep up the same pace with the wind in my face. On the river side of the island, I was able to get much more speed.
I realized that I keep saying, "I'm new to biking," or "I'm not a cyclist," but I realized that I am a cyclist now. I was riding on the road going 16 to 20mph and I didn't freak out when cars drove by. I was comfortable, confident, and enjoying every minute on the bike.
I have a triathlon next weekend, and I am excited to see how things go now that I can bike and run a little better than I could 2 months ago.
It never gets easier, you just go faster. ~ Greg LeMond.
You never have the wind with you -- either it is against you or you're having a good day. ~ Daniel Behrman
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