Thursday, August 16, 2007

2 solid days of training

After a good threshold workout on Tuesday and a Tempo/Threshold ride yesterday, I am ready for an easy day today. The Tempo block was mentally tougher than I thought it would be. I did an hour block and it took a good bit of focus during the last 15 minutes. Then a 10 minute break. Then a 10 minute Threshold interval, which felt short compared to the 15 minute Threshold intervals I did the day before. The 10 minute interval felt harder because I was fresh on Tuesday coming off a rest day. I also averaged 5 watts lower during my 10 minute interval yesterday than I did during my 15 minute intervals on Tuesday (255 vs. 260).

Overall, I am very pleased. My FTP has been creaping up all season and my weight has been coming down. I was 176 on January 16. I was 158 this morning. I would love to get back down to the 143 I was in college, but I am taking it slow and steady to keep it off. But this is the lowest I have been in 6 years or so.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out for cross. I am in my third week of this block and then a rest week next week. Then another 3 week block of training, with Sucker Brook coming at the very end. Mentally, I am looking at the season really beginning at Gloucester. I can focus for 10 weeks. 14 weeks would be a bit much. I want to be fired up for my trip to Portland for the GP and not fried. I am going to skip Agawam myself, but Dr. Z is going to race. I'll be in full support mode for her.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the cross crowd in a couple of weeks. I've missed you guys!