big ride...week off...

[bouncybouncy]

should I panic?

I have a rather big ride this Saturday. I have been training like a fool (weights, riding, running) For no reason other than just "didn't want to" I have done zero cardio this week...I have done a round of weight training which raised the heart-rate for the duration.

My question is: is it going to affect my performance by taking a week off? I am really hoping to knock 1/2 hour off my last years time (it is a metric century) or should I have continued with light cardio this week? do I have a chance?

***on occasion the last few months my legs have felt completely exhausted on long weekend rides...I just figured it was because of my intense training. I am hoping that this week off will be good?

***hubby believes I should have kept up with at least 30 minutes a day of light cardio through the week.

[Trekhawk]

should I panic?

I have a rather big ride this Saturday. I have been training like a fool (weights, riding, running) For no reason other than just "didn't want to" I have done zero cardio this week...I have done a round of weight training which raised the heart-rate for the duration.

My question is: is it going to affect my performance by taking a week off? I am really hoping to knock 1/2 hour off my last years time (it is a metric century) or should I have continued with light cardio this week? do I have a chance?

***on occasion the last few months my legs have felt completely exhausted on long weekend rides...I just figured it was because of my intense training. I am hoping that this week off will be good?

***hubby believes I should have kept up with at least 30 minutes a day of light cardio through the week.

Mate I am no coach but I would think that you either have it by now or you don't. If you were feeling exhausted after long rides it probably was from all your training and the week off might be what your body needed.

Good luck for Saturday and let us know how it goes.

[indysteel]

I agree that another week of training likely wouldn't have increased your fitness. If anything, taking a week off may help your performance because you'll be well rested. I usually just do some light spinning in the week/days leading up to a big ride.

Good luck with your metric!

[bouncybouncy]

Thanks...I am not so worried about doing the century...I regularly do 30-40 mile mtbike rides and/or 50-60 mile road rides on the weekends. My concern is doing it in 4 hours! This will be my 3rd year (first year - 5:30, second - 4:35) this year I am really trying to shorten my times!!!

I hope you are right in that it will just have given the tired legs a rest...I normally would have ridden lightly this week...but like I said "just didn't want to!" I guess if I had I might have burned out!!! OK...this is good! I am sure I can do this now....

and Trek...welcome home!!! sounds like you are getting back into life...glad the move went ok for you!

[PscyclePath]

What they call "active rest"... some easy spins on the bike to keep your legs in tune and your system going is a good thing. Don't push it, other than to get upi to a good. warmed up state.

Remember that even the Tour riders take an easy ride on their "rest" days to keep tuned in...

Your body repairs/rebuilds itself and gets stronger during the rest phase, so this is a good thing to do throughout your training regimen, not just go out and hammer every day.

[Geonz]

Sounds like you've been tapering to me

I did a mini-triathlon just after returning from going home for my grandma's funeral and spending a week doing absolutely nothign. I did great. All the training *before* that is what counted. Maybe 'active rest' would have been better ... I wasn't looking to be number one, just to have fun and do well. Psychologically it prob'ly helped because I was more careful to pace myself.

But if you'd rather panic, that's an option too :P