Been on a LV climbing road race plan since January 1. Until mid-summer, I completed every workout on this plan. I started skipping the easier workouts for outdoor rides this summer, while trying to do every v02 max workout. I stopped squatting in spring to take the load off my legs as spring-early summer featured what seemed like all v02 max workouts.
I’m planning to prioritize lifting again this F/W, especially squats. It’s my weakest compound lift and I’m aiming to get to a 1RM of 300, just because. Ultimate goal is 3 plates. My previous max was 280. Anyhow, I started squatting again a few weeks ago, increased the weight this week, and today’s v02 max workout was too hard. Although It wasn’t just the legs, for whatever reason, it was very taxing aerobically, more than normal, and this was the first time I failed a workout.
I don’t race and don’t plan to. My only goal on TR was to “get faster” outside, measured by whatever average speed I record on my normal training routes that I ride over and over. That and climbing better. I’m already dialing back outdoor rides. I don’t want to lose too much cycling fitness, but as I get back into prioritizing lifting, I just want to maintain my cycling fitness as much as possible. I was pleased with my progress on TR this year. Could I do this by transitioning to a higher volume but lower intensity plan? Like a lot of Z2 rides, or sweet spot, but nothing more intense? The v02 max workouts seem like really good bang for the buck so I’m a bit reluctant to drop it completely, but then it just seems too hard to do those while I’m going hard on my lifting as well, especially squats.
my current lifting program has me doing squats 3xweek, 3 week blocks with progressive overload.