My goal for 2024 (at the ripe old age of 53 and a life long cyclist) was to exceed 20mph for 100 miles, on a standard road bike, I’ve managed to do this twice, first one on 22nd June.
Felt hard but doable, was tired for a couple of days and then back at it, 2nd attempt was 21st July,
I have not felt right since this ride, no motivation, no power, higher than normal HR for similar efforts, I possibly know this is just a trip into over training/over reaching but I’m happy for any critique or comments, I keep a consistent TSS 300+ on 8 ish hours a week, eat/sleep well, I feel ok otherwise, no sore throat or other niggles, appreciate any feedback.
PS I just noticed both rides are within 10 seconds of each other, nice!
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I think that’s a great goal to have had – nice work achieving it not once, but twice!!
When athletes go through a full training cycle and “peak” for a goal, we recommend taking some time off afterward. Training is hard – mentally and physically – and most athletes encounter burnout/loss of motivation if they keep pushing for too long.
With the symptoms you’re describing, I’d recommend taking some time off the bike. 1-2 weeks off as a “mid-season break” might help you refresh and get some mojo back.
Additionally, if you don’t do so already, an “end-of-season break” is also recommended during the fall/winter before jumping back into base training. Regularly scheduling time off upon completing training cycles is key for long-term progress so you don’t overload your body and mind.
So, I’d say take some time off and relax – I’d keep other forms of exercise to a minimum as well. The main goal of these 1-2 weeks off is to rest and recover – ideally, the itch to get back in the saddle and train again will come back!
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Appreciate the replies, noted on the need for a time out, luckily my other passion is mountain walking/photography and I always schedule some time each August to do this, looks like it’s needed.
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