Hitting a low when I need a high
Every day I log into TrainingPeaks.com and enter my metrics for the day. This is how my coach, Jim Cunningham, keeps up with how things are going off the bike. Earlier this week he gave me an assessment of how I was coming on the bike for this weekend. He added, “Let’s get those metrics into the green before Saturday.” Well, yesterday didn’t help.
Things started out pretty well. Yesterday’s post about the new Low Cadence kit design drew a lot of traffic and better yet, I got 16 responses expressing interest in buying one. I also was looking forward to getting my Boyd Bikes wheels and a iAero from iBike was supposed to arrive on my doorstep.
The day ended with my wheels at the wheel builder. The arrival of the spokes was delayed and the builder wasn’t able to get them complete in time. The iBike didn’t arrive by the time I started out on my ride. Plus, someone had relayed some information to me that shouldn’t have gotten under my skin, but the more I thought about it, the more perturbed I got about it.
But that wasn’t what got me the most. The training plan called for me taking an easy hour spin. My son had left for his baseball scrimmage out in Greer and I wanted to see him play. So, I figured I would go out there and watch for a few minutes.
Now, riding from Greenville to Suber Road in Greer at 5 PM can be a hair-raising experience on a bike! I cut through as many neighborhoods as I could, but still ended up having to ride a short distance on Brushy Creek. I was feeling pretty good about it until I came upon some road construction that had stripped the shoulder away.
The cars were squeezing through on the even more narrow road than usual. There simply was not room for me. So, I went off on the dirt where the asphalt and grass had been removed. This worked for a bit until I came to a rough section. This was worse than cyclocross and I was on my race Michelins!
I tried to go over a ridge of dirt and clumps of grass and it stopped my bike cold. I went down unceremoniously into the dirt. Popping up, I lifted my bike up over the obstacle and continued my ride in the grass farther from the road until I came to a spot where the ditch and trees would not allow me any further.
At that point, we were near a flagman and the traffic was slower. A kind driver let me into the line and I continued past the construction following a white Corvette. The driver was talking on a cell phone and didn’t see me. For a bit I was able to motor pace behind him until he looked in his rear view mirror and saw me. Once he did, he stepped on the gas and was gone until I caught up with him at the next light.
Finally, I made it to the field. The practice had not yet started. After saying hello to Thing Two, I sat to watch hoping to get the opportunity to see him play. As I did, the sun kept dropping in the east. Time required me to leave before he got on the field.
As I rode back – taking another route that allowed me to avoid the construction – I got hit with some doldrums. One of the reasons I started riding was so I could be in shape to do things active with my children. Now, here I was riding a bike alone while my son was sitting on the bench at a baseball game. This wasn’t what I envisioned.
I don’t know if he will ever get bitten by the bicycle bug. If he doesn’t that is okay. I don’t want to force my sport of choice on my children. The fact that he wasn’t riding with me wasn’t what bothered me. What bothered me was that I was not there at his scrimmage. “Here you are a forty-year-old guy riding down the road in a race team kit,” I said to myself. “What are you doing?”
It sent me to bed feeling a little down. What I know is that physically the bike saved me. I would not be in the condition I am in today – in my forties – had I not started pedaling when I did. Ultimately, I is good for me and my family.
I’ve scheduled my riding around Thing Two’s baseball games for the season. I’ll be there for him. There is also time yet for him to discover the joys of riding. There is no reason to give up on that… only he will have to come to the decision himself.
Most likely the wheels will be done today, the iBike will arrive, and I’m already getting over the information that was relayed to me. Besides, just spilling my guts here at Low Cadence has helped. I think I’ll be okay.
Today’s metrics:
- Sleep – 7.5 hours
- Heart rate – 54 bpm
- Weight – 166 lbs
- Body fat – 15.2%
- Soreness – Low
- Fatigue – Low
- Stress – Low+
- Sleep – Best
- Overall health – Best
I think today is going to be a “green” day!
Tags: Metrics
Leave work early and watch a movie with your wife.
Get that win this weekend.
You should have told me you were looking at an iAero — I just unloaded mine for peanuts!
Ahh…now I understand you better:)
That’s one of the reasons I don’t race. I don’t have kids at home, but I do like to be there for Melissa, especially this year with the stress that she has as an intern. Good luck at the races this weekend, I hope that you get that win that you’ve been looking for. I wish that I could be there to capture for you, but this is the first whole weekend that Melissa has off in a while.
Eddie
Now you know why I do NOT race anymore. Do I miss those great race weekends and the fun that goes with it? Sometimes, but I’d much rather be coaching my 6 yr. old in soccer or watching my 8 yr. old score her first goal anyday! I can ride later in the day, but I plan to watch my kids while I can:)
It can be balanced. Sure, it means the team doesn’t have me every race they might want, but I told them that up front. As far as time is concerned, I actually spend smaller blocks of time training to race than I did recreational riding.
Although my resting heart rate is down there with yours, I do wish that I could get my weight down closer to yours. Hopefully I’ll get there if I keep my goal of riding more than I did last year. Being “several” years older than you, cycling does still keep me in shape to keep up with my students and younger friends.
I hope you and all of the guys have a great weekend.
Good luck.