Last week didn’t go exactly as planned. Between NASCAR events, a packed schedule, and a lot of time away from home, workouts were limited. But a strong bike ride and some perspective on endurance reminded me that progress often comes from simply getting out there and moving.
What Happened?
Last week came right after a bit of a bumpy stretch, and the schedule didn’t exactly calm down. I spent a lot of time at NASCAR events, which meant bringing the trailer out one day, doing a pedal party another day, and then being at the track most of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Needless to say, the routine was a little wonky. Because of that, workouts mostly fell by the wayside. After the last two weeks already being inconsistent, this one was even tougher. I was tired in the mornings, tired in the evenings, and there was just too much going on with packing and logistics. Outside of a couple of bike rides, I ended up pushing most workouts aside.
What Worked?
The highlight of the week was definitely the graduation ride from the BEST program. We ended up doing 32 miles with some hills, including a long 2 mile stretch with a light grade. The route hadn’t been published beforehand, so when the ride leader mentioned we were heading toward the zoo, right away I thought that was impossible because of how far the zoo is. But this is something cycling has really started to teach me: distances that seem intimidating on a map often feel much more manageable once you’re actually riding. Once you get out there and start clicking off miles, the distance goes by faster than you expect. I’ve noticed the same thing on some of my solo rides along the canal trails. Heading north toward places like Bell Road or even farther up toward Happy Valley sounds like a long way when you think about it in advance. But once you’re rolling, it doesn’t feel nearly as far as it seemed. It’s a good reminder that endurance sports often look harder from the outside than they feel once you’re moving.
What Didn’t?
The biggest issue was consistency. Between the busy schedule and general fatigue, most workouts just didn’t happen. I had planned gym sessions and swims that never made it onto the calendar. Sometimes weeks like this happen, especially when life gets busy. The key is recognizing it without letting it turn into a longer slide.
When tailgating at NASCAR, it’s hard to stay within the allotted points. The food is one of the best things about these events. I tried to manage my points early in the week and minimize the overshoot that was inevitable Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Of course being on the go this week made it a bit harder, though I think I did a good job of making better choices and managing my points, despite going way over.
What am I going to do about it?
Like any rough week, the goal is simple: reset and hit the next week strong. Monday already started off well. I had the day off to pick up the trailer from NASCAR, I ended up swapping my usual Monday and Tuesday routines. Instead of forcing the original schedule, I just adjusted things and moved forward. That flexibility is important. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
What do the numbers say?
Interestingly, the scale still moved in the right direction. I lost weight again, which honestly surprised me. My exercise wasn’t great, and my nutrition was off too. I stayed within my plan for about four days, but Friday through Sunday—tailgating at NASCAR—pushed me over my daily and weekly points. I wasn’t completely irresponsible, but I definitely ate more than I should have. Even Monday went over my dailies (though technically that counts toward the new week).
Still, overall progress continues, which is encouraging. While it feels weird, there have been plenty of weeks I thought I nailed working out and nutrition, but ended up gaining weight, I have to accept that there’s not always a strong correlation but generally speaking doing the right things will lead to the right results.
Summary
Last week wasn’t perfect. The schedule was chaotic, workouts were limited, and nutrition wasn’t ideal. But progress isn’t built on perfect weeks—it’s built on showing up again the next week and getting back to work. This week is already off to a better start. And sometimes, all it takes is one good ride to remind you that you’re capable of going farther than you think.