Last 3 weeks of training for 111 hilly miles

[Starfish]

Bklynmom...sorry I didn't see this sooner!

I am in the midst of my 2 week taper. I, too, feel that I am not as aerobically fit as I'd like to be, and yet, I am trying to trust the process. The past 3 weeks have definitely been hard weeks with very long climbing rides. Right now, in the first week of my 2 week taper, it is tempting to be discouraged, because I am very tired. But, that kind of tired is to be expected with the training I have been doing, and I have faith that in another 1-1/2 weeks, I will have bounced back a lot.

If I look at my journal, I CAN see that I am handling harder, longer rides than I was even remotely able to handle 2 months ago. So, I KNOW there has been improvement.

I suspect that if you have been doing a hill repeat program, you WILL also feel the benefits if you rest up enough and don't push it during your taper. It is no wonder you are still feeling tired...that is the training.

I am not very experienced with this, but if I look at the hard facts, on paper, of what I have been doing, I can see the improvement. So, I am trying to trust the taper process and truly recover before my event ride, in order to reap the benefit of this training.

Good luck! We will have to post ride reports when we're done!

And, I hear you about training this winter. I am committed to staying fit this winter in a way I have never been before. I don't want to lose the benefit of all this hard work, this year.

Oops: edited to add actual plan, as requested. Exactly 2 weeks before the event, I did a ride that was 80% of the climbing, and 60% of the distance. The previous 2 weeks I had done 80% of the distance and 75% of the climbing. During the week, I was doing recovery rides and 1 interval session.

For these 2 weeks, I am doing recovery rides during the week. Short and easy. I am continuing my ab/back work in the gym. This weekend (1 week out), I will do a very FLAT 40-50 mile ride, easy and slow. Relaxing. Just to keep the aerobic system up. I really want all my joints and muscles to repair and rebuild.

[Bklynmom]

I bet you will rock on your ride. My neighbor the gym teacher claims that it can take 6 weeks for a training program to show improvements in your athletic performance - remember - your muscles actually get stronger while your resting, when they re-build.

My last heavy Long Distance ride was about 6 weeks ago. Not really on purpose, but I fell going to NJ for a long ride about 5 weeks ago, (Plastic bottle on entrance to GW Bridge) and had to take it easy for a week (elbow not broken). I did a century end of May that was flat and easy.

I have been doing lots of 30 - 35 mile rides with intense hill repeats. 3 weeks ago I spent 2 days in the Berkshire mountains, 35 miles one day and 25 the next. Last weekend I did 75 miles spread over the wekend. Hopefully this is enough.

This will be a good test to see if intensity triumphs over mileage.

I also belatedly got myself a pro bike fit and coach - same great guy! The fit totally changed my position on the bike and dramatically improved my breathing and hill climbing. I went on a great ride with him this morning - mostly fast and flat.

In some ways, I could have done better planning for this in hindsight, but considering I stared out a slightly fit 149 lbs 47 year old, I sure feel great today, and I'm now 48.

I think you are being really smart about your training - betcha the results will be excellent.

Looking forward to your report!

Lisa

[Starfish]

I have been doing lots of 30 - 35 mile rides with intense hill repeats. 3 weeks ago I spent 2 days in the Berkshire mountains, 35 miles one day and 25 the next. Last weekend I did 75 miles spread over the wekend. Hopefully this is enough.

Your training sounds awesome. Harder than mine, for sure! I'll send a report when I get back!