CSU Group ride

Today I woke up ate a really good breakfast and stretched for about 40 minutes before heading out to partake in the CSU group ride. We headed south towards "Windsor Wall" and then beyond. Not completely sure where it was that we had all gone but it was a good ride. Averaged around 21 mhp for about 3.5 hours, then split off from the group and headed to to the Masonville loop. Three of us were rolling turns at around 28mhp with a wicked head wind. Then, did some uphill sprints that pretty much hurt oh so good. Ended the ride with a total time of 4.5 hrs and 80 miles...not too bad. easily could have done 100 miles if we weren't planning on riding for another 5 hrs tomorrow.

Joining the Rio ride to warm up and then possibly going our own way to get some more intensity built in.

Struggling

So this week hasn't been the most productive training week. I mean it hasn't been bad but it has been a struggle. Its my easy week so as long as I am semi-productive it doesn't really matter. With my training plan I have been lifting (painful, but have been seeing/feeling the results). The weather sucks right now. The days that I have been able to ride my bike it has been so windy that it is nearly impossible to ride outside.

I did interval training on the oval (in the center of Colorado State University's campus) because the buildings sheltered the road from the wind. With slowly working more intensity into my training things have been getting harder. Recovery Has been taking longer due to my muscles being shocked.

This weekend I plan to get some good riding in. There are two group rides that I am planning to attend and hopefully will have a quality workout.

Well back to reality and studying.

Change of Pace with training

After putting some quality time in on my bike I thought it was about time to change some things up. This past week I noticed that my lungs were giving out before my legs and heart (not very technical) so after talking with my Friend Erick Carlson (also teammate for CSU and possibly Velox cycles) we planned a camping trip at Lake Agnus, Cameron Pass, Colorado. The deal was that we would pack in enough gear for the weekend, dig a snow cave, and then climb the crags. The crags usually are only climbed in the warmer months due to snow and ice. They are basically cliff like mountains.

We hiked in Saturday morning (packs weighing around 60lbs.) 1.5 hr hike, dug our snow cave (2.5hrs), then scouted the route that we were going to take in attempt the summit the crags.

The Snow cave was pretty intense. If you have never dug one or slept in one I will admit that it isn't for the average person. The Cave was about 7ft*9ft*4.5ft. The temperature in the cave was above freezing all night even though the outside temperature was around zero.

Sunday we made our way to the base of the crags. Already sitting at almost 12,000ft (on The lake) we were looking at another easy 1,000 feet of climbing.


The climbing was intense. This is where the cross training took place. Being high in altitude and pushing your body to do things that shock it (breathing at high elevation while doing work). It was physically challenging as well as mentally. You had to rely on the person on the other end of the rope. One slip and you could easily fall and not stop till you either hit a rock on the way down or the lake itself at the base.

This weekend was a good change of pace. I was able to clear my head, think about what I have to do in the next couple of months, as well as let me know what stresses my body is able to stand (pushing through the pain threshold barrier is a constant struggle).

Back to business with Monday's 8AM classes.