Good Days and Bad Days...today is bad!

[hgrill02]

Hi Girls,

So as some of you may know I am training for the Houston to Austin MS150 in April, I just started riding in January and have been faithful to ride on the weekends and have been taking spin classes for a month now two nights a week.

This may just be a personal thing with me since I am out of shape and new to riding but I rode yesterday, 30 miles, got home and was ready for more, I had so much energy. Tonight at spin class I could NOT keep up! It was a recovery class too...i'm so disapointed that I feel so out of it today. I have also noticed that if I put alot into a Thursday night spin class that my Saturday morning ride is a real strugle. My heart rate is getting up there too 198!! (I'm seeing a cardiologist about this now).

So am I alone in this? Where is all my energy going and why am I not getting stronger yet???

Thanks again for all your help everyone!

Heather

[Starfish]

Heather, I am not familiar with your story, training, age, whatever. But, I know that this year I am finally learning how to listen to my body and my training diary, and I am taking more rest than ever. And, I am getting stronger, faster.

I am 41, and I noticed in my late 30s that my recovery time really changed. I read all the schedules printed out there for training guides, but I am finally listening to my own patterns and discovering that I need more rest than a lot of people. When I give myself that rest, I make better progress.

It is frustrating on any given week to do less, but over the course of weeks, I end up farther ahead in the end.

[DarcyInOregon]

Heather, I hope others comment about your heart rate. Is that your high or your average? You said 198, and that seems real high for an average.

I cycle more often than you. Even though it is winter, I am out cycling in the elements as much as possible. On the longer rides, with some climbs, my average heart rate is in the 130s and my high is in the 150s.

Are you eating appropriately before, during and after your rides? I eat a balanced meal (including protein) within two hours of finishing my ride, and I am ready to bike again the next day. I start my exercise about two hours after the last meal, typically breakfast. And I eat one fitness bar (Genisoy) for about every 700 calories I burn while cycling. This is my routine, that I arrived at through trial and error, and which suits me fine. You will need to figure out your eating routine also, because it has a lot to do with recovery time and the ability to cycle again within 24 hours.

There are some good books written about how to figure it all out for yourself, with respect to how often to cycle and when and how to eat.

Darcy

[Grog]

Hi Heather

I'm sorry you felt so bad at your spinning class. Is it possible that you would have been pushing it a little bit? It's important to build in rest in your training schedule... A day or two a week, and a week a month too (with lower intensities, less volume, etc...).

Regarding your heart rate, I might be wrong, but I don't think you should be too scared. I am nearing 30 and I still hit 220 once in a while. I have a much higher heart rate than the charts would predict when I'm exercising. One value on its own is not a very good indicator, too. How did that 198 happen? What are usual heart rates/exertion rates combinations for you? Are you sure that 198 value comes from your heart, not from some interferences? What about your resting heart rate?

Take some light time/time off, and hang in there! You need to ride the distance for that MS150, but nobody says you have to sprint it!! Good luck!

[hgrill02]

thanks everyone for your replies. I guess I am not taking it easy enough durring my down time. I am 31, mother of twin boys who are almost 3 years old so I spend alot of time chasing after them.

Grog - My HR gets up to 200+ easily, I can be on the bike just spinning a high cadence on a very low gear for a couple minutes before I hit 190's and my recovery rate will be near 160 - 170. My resting HR is 100. I went to my cardiolgist on Friday and have had a bunch of test done, EKG, 24hr Heart moniter, ultra sound on my heart yesterday and ofcourse blood work so hopefully that will tell me something if not we are going to do a stress test next on a treadmill.

I am learning every day and I just think that I should be able to do these things, I have two days to rest before my next spin class and hopefully I will be ready. I need to learn to listen to my body. Thanks everyone!

Heather

[Grog]

Grog - My HR gets up to 200+ easily, I can be on the bike just spinning a high cadence on a very low gear for a couple minutes before I hit 190's and my recovery rate will be near 160 - 170. My resting HR is 100.

I'm curious to see what the cardiologist says. I know some cyclists who have a very fast beating heart (but a slightly lower heart rate)... It might not be a big problem, and with training (years of training...) it might go down somewhat...

Keep us posted!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just started riding in January and have been faithful to ride on the weekends and have been taking spin classes for a month now two nights a week.

This may just be a personal thing with me since I am out of shape and new to riding but I rode yesterday, 30 miles, got home and was ready for more, I had so much energy. Tonight at spin class I could NOT keep up! It was a recovery class too...i'm so disapointed that I feel so out of it today. ...
So am I alone in this? Where is all my energy going and why am I not getting stronger yet???

Heather, You say you are out of shape. You are only riding on the weekends, and have only been doing spin classes twice a week for 4 weeks so far. Assuming you were not doing much exercise before all this, I would say it is NORMAL for you to be exhausted after a 30 mile ride.
Jeez, when I started biking I was pretty out of shape and I thought i would DIE every time I pumped up a hill! It would leave me gasping for air and my heart racing like mad. And a TEN mile ride would exhaust me for the day! After 6 months of biking between 10 and 30 mile rides about 5 times a week, I got into much better shape and the hills did not make me feel like I was about to have a heart attack. I breath heavily on steep hills now and my heart is pumping faster, but I am not in real discomfort and distress like I was before. It takes MONTHS of regular riding and/or spinning to make a difference- you can't really expect to feel stronger after somewhat intermittant exercise for a month or so.
Keep at it and soon you will notice real improvement. Stay on top of your doctor and your medications- if they are making you feel bad, then QUESTION them. In any case, whether you stay on heart drugs or not, regular workouts should eventually make your heart stronger and healthier.
Good luck and hang in there!