Fitness Check

Despite how much I hate time trials, I decided it would be in my best interest to give one a shot in order to assess my current fitness level.  So, yesterday I went out and did the local biweekly time trial and ended up coming in about 18 seconds slower than the last time I did it (in February).  It’s never fun to get slower, but I’m not concerned about it for a number of reasons.  It was extremely hot — much hotter than the last time I did it, I did a really high intensity ride the day before, and the wind conditions were not in my favor.

I now know that I have actually maintained most of my fitness, despite my extended time off.  This is the reassurance I needed in order to confidently transition to the new season.

In other news, I have begun my core and upper body strength regiment to which I will add lower body strength training in late September (when I get my gym access back).  I will start to cut down on riding and allow my body to recuperate starting next week…. just one nice hard week left.

Life Interfering

Well, I didn’t end up really racing at all this summer.  I had to take care of school and I had to give myself some time off.  The stress of traveling didn’t sound great and most of the time I just wasn’t in good enough shape.  However, in the last month I’ve brought myself around and started quality training again.  I feel like I am once again at race level fitness and have done pretty well on the group race rides.  The group rides I have been doing are as hard, if not harder, than the races I’ve skipped.  I will continue to follow my original plan and ease off during September followed by base miles and weights in October.

With the extended break I took this summer, I feel more enthusiastic about racing than ever and feel that my fitness has not really been compromised.  We’ll see what happens!