Hey guys need some help/ideas with a for me new situation.
I’m back training since Dec. and body is adapting well. Trainig for around 5 years.
At the end of last week (rest week) i did a 5min test (~350w) and it’s near my PR without much VO2max trainig bevor and much lower HR. Longer power should be PR by far. Feeling way better then last years. HR and RPE is way lower across the board then i’m used to.
The last years my legs and heart was the limit, now it feels like my lung is the limit by far.
AI FTP is at 263w (3,91w/kg) and predicted 289w. Yesterday did Sierra +3 and could’t do it. Breathing was maxed out, Lung and Trachea felt ‘‘tight’’. HR was little higher then 2 weeks ago. RPE was a lot higher. 3x10min @280w was moderate, the second 7min @275w was very hard. The 5min @285w was near all out. Breathing was maxed out after 1:30 and after that legs started burning. I stopped pedaling, HR dropped under 100 and breathing was still near max. Felt almost scared.
Thinking about it, at tempo HR (~160) i’m starting breathing hard. The last years this was more around 170.
Is this normal after almost no VO2max training and a long winter with a recent cold (4 weeks)?