Each week Zwift sends me an email summarising my activity for the week. For previous weekly reviews click here.
Last week consisted of four rides, of which two were races and two were long group rides. All fell under the banner of the Tour of Watopia 2020.
These rides were as follows:
- Tuesday – Stage 3: The Climbs – Race (C)
- Wednesday – Stage 3: The Climbs – Longer Ride
- Saturday – Stage 4: The Jungle – Race (C)
- Sunday – Stage 4: The Jungle – Longer Ride
There’s no doubt about it, I enjoyed Stage 3 vastly more than I enjoyed Stage 4. I’m not a fan of the Jungle Circuit at the best of times, so to do 7 laps in two days was a bit much for me.
The scheduling of Stage 3 was a real pain. Putting the entirety of the available Alpe du Zwift climbing on week days – and at bad times, too – was not Zwift’s finest hour. Still, it’s not the worst piece of planning they’ve done these past 7 days.
I enjoyed both of the Climbing rides this week. The racing on the Volcano circuit wasn’t my best ever performance, but I got a solid workout and gave it a good shot throughout.
Whilst I wouldn’t have done so had it not been for the Tour schedule, the very next day was a trip up the Alpe du Zwift which I ended up enjoying more than I expected. Well, enjoying is perhaps not the right word, but there is always some element of excitement to be had when the finish line comes in sight.
Somewhat unusually, and definitely unexpectedly, I managed to set a new PB on the Alpe du Zwift. I still feel I can better this time given fresher legs. However, I’m also still unconvinced I can put a sub 60 minute climb in just yet. For that I reckon I still need to be hitting a steady 3.3w/kg average over an hour, which I am still a long way off.
Going into the weekend, I felt alright in the Saturday race, but immediately after I feel like my lungs began to hurt and it hurt when taking a deep breath. I put this down to over exertion and didn’t think a great deal more of it.
However, after Sunday’s ride – in which I feel I performed considerably weaker than anticipated – I encountered the same thing again, but worse, after getting off the bike. Things have continued into today – late in the day as I write this, I am feeling very under the weather. Right now, the primary problem is dizziness. Constant bouts of it, several times per hour.
I’m hoping against all hope that I wake up feeling considerably better tomorrow, and as I’ve taken the day off work today as a precautionary measure, that I am back and able to work tomorrow. I’d say it’s 50/50 at the moment.
After this I need at least a days recovery, but the Tour of Watopia 2020 ends on Saturday and I’ll be disappointed not to finish the racing aspect. I will forgive myself the longer group ride, if needs be. Hopefully though I’ll be fully recovered by the end of the week.
But right now, it’s time to rest.