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

[Funhog]

Your reason of "just don't want to" is actually quite telling. It sounds to me like you went into overtraining mode - so "just don't want to" is your body's way (through lack of motivation) of saying "Halt! No more!" Picture a dog on a leash with his feet planted resisting going to the vet and no amount of pulling that leash will get him to change his mind.

The intense exhaustion you describe after some long rides were also telling you something. Yes, you do want to occasionally "over-reach" as it is called, but only with ample recovery. Looks to me like your subconscious and your body were in cahootz and scheduled its own recovery through resisting getting on a bike - and fortunately just in time! As Geonz said, looks like you're tapering!

I think that any more riding this week, except for maybe a light spin here and there or a short (30-min) hard ride after 4 days off, might have held you back. The last thing you want on your century is heavy legs. You want to feel fresh. Sounds like you should be there - let us know how it goes!

[bouncybouncy]

Well Ladies...it sucked!!! I, however, felt fine!

The day started with flashes of lightning, claps of thunder, drops of rain, and a pissed of cyclist!!! I usually never register early for events for this very reason, but for some crazy moment I thought it to be a good idea...so I was committed.

A few hundred of us stood at the start waiting for the "GO"...all was ok for the first 18 miles...then the sky opened up!!! We missed a turn and it all went crazy from there...

We sought refuge in a self carwash...ran into a few guys who were going next door to the laundry mat to dry a few items (gloves, toe covers, socks...) waited for the nastiness to pass...got directions to the quickest was back to the town we got directions from a fellow at the postoffice across the street...and pedaled our way back to the start. 30 miles total.

It was a cold nasty storm that defeated us...we spent the next 2 hours waiting for our friend who actually had the kaonas (sp?) to ride the whole thing justifying our decision!!! We are ultimately ok with our decision but I still feel a little pissy that I did not try harder!!! Oh well, I am safe and a little more motivated to go it again...

Thanks for your comments...back to training!

[Trekhawk]

Sorry about the ride Bouncy. Still I think you made the right decision sounds like terrible weather to be riding in. Glad you made it back safe and sound.