I’m in two minds as to whether to do a (very late) Quarter 2 review in this post or not.
The issue is that I noticed I hadn’t done my planned Quarter 2 review post when looking back earlier this week, and I said I’d do it instead of this post.
Trying to think back as to why I missed this, the best I can come up with is that I kind of did it in the weekly review immediately after my previous FTP test.
So, to correct this – and maybe to cheat a little – I have ‘rebranded’ that post as my Quarter 2 2023 review. And by cheat I mean, this is my blog and I can do what I want, so that’s what I’ve done. After all, this is not some kind of punishment, I’m meant to be enjoying doing this.
In short, having re-read that post I don’t think there’s anything in there that doesn’t cover what I would have covered anyway. All good.
OK, so on with normal weekly review proceedings.
Here are this week’s rides:
- 25th – Ready To Increase? (Indoors / Zwift)
- 26th – These Roads Don’t Exist (On Your Garmin) (Outdoors)
- 27th – Zwift Beach Party: Stage 4 – Turf n’ Surf (Indoors / Zwift)
- 29th – Triple Outside Flat-ish Loops (Outdoors)
- 30th – Wet, Windy, And Lacking Motivation(Outdoors)
Outdoors then three times this week.
I’m actually a little bit, dare I say, bored of doing the outside rides at the moment. Back to the turbo we go.
On the turbo I enjoyed both rides this week.
Kick starting the week with an SST session is both taxing and rewarding. I come off feeling like I’ve worked hard and set up the week ahead in good fashion.
Then Thursday’s race… well, I always get annihilated, but this time around I do think my SST sessions are once more starting to pay dividends with having more stamina for climbing later on in the races.
One thing that I got “reminded” about in the race this week was not to give up before the line. It’s so easy to ease off just before the arch, but I think I lost a place this week because I slacked a second too soon. Whoops.
Outdoors then…
Well, it was nice to get out on Wednesday. But beyond that I didn’t massively enjoy the outdoors rides this week. Sunday in particular was a chore.
The problem, as such, is that lately I am massively cautious of route choices and staying away from busy main roads and potential traffic. It doesn’t always work, but in my head, the less time spent near motor traffic, the better.
That’s a big reason why I am favouring the turbo again, mentally at least.
That, and the weather.
But yeah, definitely looking to get in more turbo this week. And some variety around that may include doing some other platforms such as MyWhoosh for a change.
I managed to get Golden Cheetah up and working again properly this week. The newest release being 3.6 release candidate 6 I believe, finally works again as before on my machine.
Hurrah.
What that means is that I managed to pull my 12 months stats out (in mind of doing a Quarter 2 2023 review post).
It’s really interesting to look at those stats, because it scientifically proves that I am down in terms of my numbers. It’s not just in my head. February through March were good months, and since then it’s been on a downward trend.
I’m really not sure what to make of that, because it feels like I’m trying just as hard, and my fitness has never been better. But according to the numbers that is not the case. Sad times.
It doesn’t change my game plan.
I think I have a good plan for Quarter 3 which I have been sticking too, and I am convinced it will yield good results. Positive thinking.
The one downer this week is the weight.
What is up with this?
I cut out crisps and beer, and have done now for the last few weeks. I wasn’t a heavy drinker – one or two on a Friday night maximum, and nothing else. Crisps, I ate daily.
My diet beyond that hasn’t changed. I’d say I’m doing more exercise lately than I had been doing 6 weeks ago, and yet here we are. Steady weight gain.
All that has changed is switching to peanut butter for breakfast. I have my doubts the two are that intrinsically linked.
Right then, plan for the week ahead:
- Stop getting fat…
- SST, easy, Race, rest, SST, easy
- Tick up the FTP by 5w…
Yeah, that last one is going to make this week’s SST session a bit more fun.
I think it’s valid though. I knocked my metrics down and said I would gradually increase them. Now we begin August, I’m a month into the new plan and I have to keep to my goals.
It’s going to be a wet one.