January Indoor Challenge

[linzq]

Hey, this looks like just the thing to keep me accountable. Can I join too?

[maillotpois]

My real goal for the year is 2 classes per week - they're an hour and a half, power based, and really push me. (They also periodize, so it's not all go go go.) I find that is all I really need to be able to turn out a solid double century on the weekend (if I am building my weekend mileage rationally). Last week I "cheated" and rode outside one of the weekdays.

Threshold intervals last night. Long ones. At least the cadence was lower. I can push a large # of watts at 70 - 85 RPM but the ones that are 95 - 105 make me crazy. Suffering is good, though.

I am trying to use a friend of mine as a pain totem during the really hard intervals - I try to visualize him to make myself push through. This is a guy who's close to 60 who did 2 super rando series last year (including the one I did) on a fixed gear bike. It was such fun watching him get up and down some of our climbs. Really inspiring and shows you there's always going to be someone crazier than you.

[Susan Otcenas]

Pretty sure I'm not going to make my goal. I just hired a coach for Ironman Canada. She's going to take me off the bike almost entirely for awhile. This is going to be a huge mental adjustment for me! But her assessment really is correct. At this point in the season, I have little to gain on the bike, but TONS to gain by spending more time running and in the pool. So, that's what I'll be doing. I'm hoping I get to go to my cycling class one day per week, but I'll do whatever she tells me to do.

[Red Rock]

Well, I had a terrible first week or so of the month. I am happy to say that I have now added two more hours. It is such a mental boost and motivator to see the percentage change once you input your numbers. I hope that I can keep this up for the rest of the month.

After all some is better than nothing.

Red Rock

[five one]

Here we have this indoor challenge, and almost all of my time has been outside. I figure I may as well count it since I'm being active.

The front derailleur on my trainer bike had something break on it several weeks ago. I finally determined it was beyond my very limited repair abilities, so it's in the shop. The weather has been unseasonably nice, so all my riding has been on the road.

That may change soon. Rain is forecast for later this week.

[sideways_skies]

I know it's a bit late, but I've been tracking my hours for January. Any chance of me joining, too?

[Catrin]

Here we have this indoor challenge, and almost all of my time has been outside. I figure I may as well count it since I'm being active.

The front derailleur on my trainer bike had something break on it several weeks ago. I finally determined it was beyond my very limited repair abilities, so it's in the shop. The weather has been unseasonably nice, so all my riding has been on the road.

That may change soon. Rain is forecast for later this week.

Some of us are counting our outside riding and others, like me, are counting all activity (spinning, trainer, weights, etc). In the end it is a personal challenge, and whatever it takes to encourage ourselves is a good thing It seems that currently the only time it gets warm outside enough for me to ride is when I am either working or ill

[Veronica]

Here we have this indoor challenge, and almost all of my time has been outside. I figure I may as well count it since I'm being active.

Yeah, it's going to be hard for me to make my goal. I like riding outside in the sun.

The challenge is what YOU make of it. I'm only counting my indoor time because I need to get my butt on the trainer and do those more intense videos if I want to finish the ride I've got planned in April. I never push myself outside the way I do on the trainer.

Veronica

[Catrin]

... I never push myself outside the way I do on the trainer.

Veronica

I am the opposite - for some reason I can never push myself as hard on the trainer. However I am improving, I just have this mental barrier of 1 hour on the trainer - mentally I can't sustain it for longer than that. The road/trail is quite different...

[Norse]

Just back from visiting sis in FL so its back on the trainer for me. Left the bike (the '04 Trek 5.2) with the LBO for a tune-up while I was gone and they had it ready to go when I got back yesterday. Did 30 minutes of Fat Burner intervals this morning and the shifting is sooooo much smoother now. Less than 1 week off the bike and my legs felt sluggish and my waist (even though sis and I walked each day) expanded.

[katluvr]

I have not been on my bike since my last spreadsheet update. No way I'll make my goal unless I plan to spend the whole day on the trainer...a inside trainer century! That does not sound like fun!
K

[maillotpois]

Tuesday's class was a total of 20 minutes at threshold - OY! I'm hoping today is easier. I had to schedule work calls around class because DD's play is tonight. Priorities.

[Blueberry]

Tuesday's class was a total of 20 minutes at threshold - OY! I'm hoping today is easier. I had to schedule work calls around class because DD's play is tonight. Priorities.

Love it

I think I need to get more organized on a training plan in February. I've gotten myself past the "I don't want to exercise" point - it has become part of my routine, and have kept up my goals (and am doing really, really well on my January hourly goal). Now, I need to focus on improving my eating and training with more focus (instead of exercising just to exercise). But - that requires setting some goals (and planning the rest of my year).

[maillotpois]

Good for you! I find long range goals are really the best thing to keep me motivated. I'm literally using my to do list from my failed Terrible Two as a training plan. That's in June. I have monthly target rides between now and then as well.

Sometimes it's hard to find the right combination of things that work. I've had plenty of unfocused and unmotivated years and I know how hard it is to break out of that slump.

[Blueberry]

If I can get in, I'm thinking about doing the century version of this. If I can snag a spot - it has been selling out quickly. I'm just worried about the time cut offs + that much climbing (and the fact that I don't live near great hills for training). I did the 50 last year, half a$$ed the training, and finished (though it wasn't pretty).

Then maybe an iron or half iron aqua bike in October? Maybe.... So much is still up in the air - it's hard to plan!