Starting a new training plan for 2020, so we start the numbering from 1 one again. It’s going to be an interesting start of the year.
First sessions are going to be with ZWIFT FTP Increase Training Plan. And the title of the plan might have taken things too seriously maybe. The first two “warmup” sessions were hell on earth for me. After a few weeks of break I can say that I took a real training session – were suffering enormously, heart was pounding like crazy and legs working at times like they were made out of rubber.
The first question I’ve asked myself after the 10-minute warmup part was if I haven’t by mistake switched the turbo trainer load to a tad too high setting than required. After next 30 minutes I were nearly sure that my cat has done that for not giving him yesterday his favourite treat and now he’s laughing somewhere behind the corner hearing me suffering, sweating and cursing.
But there is another side of this medal: maybe I just did overestimate my capabilities. Nothing works as bad on your psyche as your training estimated power being below 150W. And you’ve died two times on the way reaching this wonderful result. Well… I did it. Maybe the training sessions I did back in December were just a myth and I were just laying on the couch all the time… just imaging these efforts.
Things definitely need to change. If I’m planning to actually crush this year’s result such situations will of course happen. There is no result without suffering before. A couple of excuses now: maybe it was just a bad day. I haven’t eaten properly before. For sure did not sleep too much lately. But hell… estimated (virtual) power below 150W and that weak leg feeling just after the warmup… c’mon! Nobody would expect such a result and there is no proper justification other than I’m weak.
Plan adjustment: check and modify the estimated FTHR and FTP settings in ZWIFT. Educate myself more on how each setting influences the difficulty level of each workout. And lastly – prepare myself mentally for suffering.
Lessons learned:
- As usual: never overestimate your capabilities
- Check the turbo trainer settings three times before you start a difficult training session
- Get your cat out of your sight – you will think at some point he is laughing of you
Caesar's Cycling 