This is interesting. I’ve not checked in this thread too much as I found myself getting too wound up, but your post resonates with me as I logged on after noticing that my RHR is still ~2-6bpm higher consistently from pre-Covid. I’m pleased you’re finally rounding the corner to (hopefully 
) full health.
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I put Covid in as a “sickness” annotation. My AI-FTPD did go down due to two weeks of almost complete inactivity, but not as much as I’d have expected based on what I could have done when I first got back into it. I’m starting to feel a bit stronger now, but still not there airway-wise. I’ve got my rescheduled “Build” coming after this week, I’m very interested to see what the system suggests as my training number. I’ve shifted most of my VO2 sessions from the first half of build to the second. It’ll essentially be three weeks of Threshold then three weeks of VO2. Not sure yet if it’s going to work but I hope so.
I also noticed (and am still noticing) an elevated HR. My cycling HR is up to 10bpm higher. I had put it down to deconditioning. It’s only now that you mention it and I think about my elevated RHR that I wonder if it’s not entirely to do with condition.
Back on bike in 10 days - most likely.
A 5 days MTB race in the mountains in 10 days? Seems like a stretch at best. I think that most (if not all) ‘back-to-play’ protocols would suggest after 10 days you are still gradually returning to training (you have to be symptom free first)
It really sucks. I myself have an event in the alps later in the summer and can only imagine what it would be like to cancel.
That being said, I hope you prioritise yourself and your future health.
I have made the decision to prioritize my heath and have made peace with that. I was lazer focused on the race and broke down in tears when I tested positive, but I have a lovely family, friends and many, many adventures still to have so have shelved my Alps dreams for now and am enjoying a respite from worrying about training and racing.
When I’m fully recovered then I’ll use up some holiday days bikepacking new areas in the UK.
For now I’m still full of all kinds of symptoms (covid is wierd!), so am on the sofa watching the world cup.
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It’ll take some time, I would ride for a few weeks before looking into lactate. I have a meter as well, but will probably test again in the fall, before trainer season, so I can get the zones super right for the 3-4 months of indoor riding…
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Now… that sounds like a fantastic consolation prize indeed! Enjoy! And until then, best wishes for your recovery.
@Skyewalkr Keep in mind Forum Rule #1: Be excellent to each other.
We’re all trying our best to process and deal with a health setback, and to support each other.
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Small update from my side!
HR is finally starting to come back to pre-covid levels 
Now, there has been a lot of trainer riding pre covid, and very much less so after, which needs to be taken into account as well. Also riding very fatigued in the mountains on Mallorca brings low HR while climbing for X watts.
April 25th was the first ride back post COVID, then also compared to 2022 HR, and 2020 just for reference (year before I started with a coach and was just doing TR).
Its been a total of 8 weeks since my first ride post covid, until today
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Posting as a bit of encouragement for anyone suffering with longer term symptoms. You can recover, though I don’t really think it’s within our direct control aside from just doing the best you can with your general lifestyle / diet etc whilst you’re not able to train (and I still wouldn’t suggest forcing it).
In 2018 I did the HERO Südtirol Dolomites MTB race and got around in a reasonably respectable sub 9 hours. I wasn’t at peak fitness (or at race weight), but it was still a solid achievement for an old dude. Last weekend I went back, post two bouts of COVID (with long term symptoms), and after having recovered from major surgery to repair my hip socket (smashed in a downhill MTB crash).
Despite a puncture 4 minutes before the start (FML!) which I spent most of the race trying to get to seal (don’t descend on a sub inflated tyre… ouch!), and a serious heatwave in Italy (I ended up having to stop a number of times to deal with hamstring cramp)…
I took 45 minutes off my previous time. An hour off the moving time.
https://www.strava.com/activities/7329866703
At this point I’d consider myself basically recovered from COVID, though I’m not yet quite hitting pre-COVID FTP / power output records. I’ll get there though. Good luck to anyone still dealing with it, I’m sure it’ll come back to you eventually.
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Is starting over after Omicron v. Delta v. original COVID19 different?
I ask as of 7 days ago I now have Omicron in me which acts different than previous variants. Should all variants be treated the same? An impossible question to answer I know…just starting dialogue.
I’ve had both the “original” and “new and improved” Omicron variants, and my experiences were different:
- Original - my body basically did the windows thing and rebooted - I literally sleep for ~48 hours straight - but I was basically fine after that. I had no impact on training / elevated heart rate. This was just at the start of the pandemic
- Omicron - after Pfizer full course + booster - the symptoms weren’t as severe, but they lasted for the better part of a week. I had lingering fatigue that took ~2 weeks before I could even walk my dogs 4 miles on a basically flat route. Since starting easy riding on my trainer, my heart rate is still pretty elevated - for the same heart rate, I’m putting out 20 - 30watts less
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Thanks @AlphaDogCycling for the info. In our family of four three of us have recently come down with Omicron in the past month. All vaxed+1 booster. Daughter (20) just sniffles for a couple days. Wife had a fever, congestion and general flu like symptoms for maybe a week. Both fully recovered in 2 weeks.
As for me, I’m now day 7 and getting better. I’ve had at most what could be described as head cold like symptoms. Short ride today super easy. Felt normal but, I was just turning the pedals over. Not sure what HR is doing as I don’t monitor much anymore. I’ve gained weight which is just adds insult to injury.
One thing that was odd though…early on I was actually racing before any symptoms showed. Peak power even at the end of the races was ok but, sustained (think break) was really bad. Recovery during the race was abnormally/uncharacteristically hard. But, I had chest tightness after each race which I’ve never experienced before. It went away but, a strange feeling for maybe 30 minutes to an hour after the final sprint. Covid being more vascular I’m wondering if some damage was done? Time will tell.
Had it Dec 2020 and two weeks ago. Both made for a miserable week. I’d say I’m coming back a bit quicker from the latest one but that is probably because I’m being less cautious.
For both wrote off a solid month from meaningful training.
If you use Intervals.icu, you can easily track HR vs. power pre and post COVID to compare - see the below for me. I’m using this as a check on how I’m doing / coming back. Plus I have a stress echocardiogram scheduled for August, which should be interesting
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My lingering effects were the same, but the virus was far, far worse the first time around for me (pre-vaccine).
Based on prevalence at the time I likely had Original / Delta.
I think all the consensus is don’t underestimate this virus. It’s wierd. I’ve had symptoms that I’ve never experienced before.
Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture, fellow TR obsessives. Stay calm, take a break, have a beer with your partner. You’ve got your whole life in front of you, it’s ok to drop the ball for a while.
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Anyone have any idea what protocol pro teams/athletes follow?
I’ve posted several articles, here is a link to one post:
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Here’s my diary so far.
28th May Covid strikes a few hours after a hard run where everything felt normal
W/C 30th May : Everything just feels exhausting but can’t sleep. Short walking at a stroll is exhausting.
W/C 6th Jun: Endurance bike pace HR is at +10-15bpm, Walk pace/HR returns to normal.
9th Jun: Covid test negative.
W/C 13th Jun: Easy run pace is at +15bpm, swim exhausting, Endurance bike pace returns to normal.
W/C 20th Jun (so far): Sweet spot bike pace/HR recovered, run at recovery pace tiring but normal HR, swim pace/HR returned to normal.
I’ll be testing easy run pace later in this week and threshold bike next week.
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