Lost my way a bit

Training
47

@russell.r.sage - This all sounds very familiar and normal!

Before joining TR, I had hired a coach. I was supremely motivated, hit all my workouts like you. There would always be some point where I would mention something in a workout report, or on a Strava post and my coach would say - “OK. That’s it. Time for you to take a break.”. At first I’d be like, “Huh?”.

One time after months of training, (mid-summer) I went on a weekend trip with friends to some normally really fun trails. Instead of having a blast like I normally would, I was riding like shit, felt low energy - got frustrated with my bike and threw it down a couple times. Yeah.

I mentioned something about it on a Strava post - I felt an inexplicable loss of cajones. Next day, coach said - time for a break!! So that meant, no structured workouts, take some time completely off the bike and then return to riding whenever I felt like it. This unstructured time lasts a couple weeks or maybe even more. When I return to the bike, I inevitably feel the motivation return. I just wanted to add that these unstructured breaks occur at least twice a year - I usually require a mid-season as well as end of season break.

So with TR, we are essentially self-coached athletes. We have to be our own coach who says - “OK - time to put a pin in it!” Trainerroad isn’t going to have enough AI to be able to sus out how you’re feeling on the bike. We have to be really careful, pay attention to the signs and take time off both physically AND mentally when we need it!

Thanks for your honesty in posting this, because I think it will help a lot of people.

10 Likes
48

I used to look at HR on group rides outdoors, and would freak myself out, so I stopped looking at it, and eventually created a custom screen with Di2 info, and speed, cadence, and other rather meaningless data, and was happier that way. I would upload my data and THEN freak out. I believe that it gave me the ignorance to progress to a higher maximum. I only started looking at the power stats after a guy on many of the rides was teasing me on my efforts. He stopped after I blew some of his away (jerk).

There are times when too much data is just too much data? I was sure I was going to kill myself on the bike. I was riding with ‘young bucks’ that tended to drop me a bit, but it got less over time. Not watching the data seems to have worked?

BUT if someone has a known or suspected medical problem, or a fear of death (?) watching the data would be a great idea. YMMV

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49

I’m the opposite. I would MUCH rather end my pull a few seconds early and finish with the group than blow up because I went too hard for too long trying to extend a pull beyond my limits.

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50

100%….there is no glory in pulling so hard you blow yourself up.

1 Like