What Happened?
Steady, productive week. Nothing extreme; just consistent training, smart adjustments, and continued progression. I shifted things around after getting back from camping Monday, but everything still got done. I skipped the planned Sunday 5K intentionally to keep the focus on biking for now. That feels like the right priority, though I’ll want a few longer runs prior to Pat’s Run (4.2 miles).
What Worked?
Metronome Running Progress – I am using the metronome consistently during runs. It is currently set to 57 beats per minute with a goal of 3 steps per beat. My goal is to work up to 60 BPM. I don’t hit it every time, but most of the time I do. The key right now is rhythm and control.
Stacking Workouts – Cycling class to EoS strength training to incline treadmill to sauna. This stack worked really well. When I’m already out, it’s easier to extend the session than start again later. Efficient and productive.
Best Training Ride – We went approximately 20 miles on Saturday. Taking turns leading helped pacing and consistency. I accidentally ended up being the first to go at it when another cyclist had a mechanical failure, but I feel like I jumped at the opportunity when I could. I felt noticeably steadier with my pedaling, which is exactly what I’m working toward.
What Didn’t?
I had planned to keep running on Sundays while I’m cycling on Saturdays though I decided against this to give myself a true rest day. I will want to work in some longer runs before Pat’s run, but I am trying to give my attention to cycling for the rest of the BEST training program as well as the St. Patrick’s Day themed poker run.
What am I going to do about it?
I’m planning to stay the course, BEST ride goes up another 5 miles to 25 miles, then I’ll take off this coming week’s Sunday 5k as well so I know I’m more rested for the final BEST ride at 30 miles. I’ll do some more work on my cycling, purchasing an inexpensive computer with a cadence sensor and a mirror to better keep track of what’s going on while I’m on the bike.
What do the numbers say?
The numbers were a bit mixed, I was hoping to go down in weight a bit for a new record, but I ended up gain 3.2 pounds. I knew the prior week was an abnormally large drop so I think this balances it out a bit. I also feel better because I did lose 2 inches on my waist which is great. I may have pulled a bit tighter than normal, but my goal is to pull as tight as I can since I can be fairly sure that’s relatively consistent.
Summary
Another steady week this week, nothing exceptional, nothing terrible. While it was a bit of a boring week in a lot of ways, that’s the way it should be most weeks, steady progress. I’m really enjoying the BEST training rides, so I’m looking forward to building cycling more, potentially completing the metric century at Tour de Scottsdale at the end of March.