This week was another bit of a challenge, my sickness continued on from last week which made for a late start. I did some pivoting to start to get back on track and feel better going into next week.
What Happened?
I started the week still feeling pretty sick. I took a few mornings to rest, which was the right call, but it meant I didn’t get everything that I had planned. It was also a busy week overall, so some evening workouts just didn’t happen. By Wednesday, I was able to get back on track. I made it to the fitness center in the morning and completed the gym session I had missed the previous week. That felt like a turning point — not perfect, but forward progress. Thursday I got my swim in, but we had plans that night, so I missed the evening workout. Friday was similar. We went out again, but I made sure to handle business in the morning. I did treadmill work with incline and added some of the extra work I had done at EOS a week or two prior. Saturday was the BEST training ride: 25 miles planned, closer to 27 miles completed. I felt more prepared this time — better cadence, more control, more confidence. Then we added hills. Despite my confidence with hills from last week, the hills threw me off. I struggled for a bit and had to fight to stay with it, but I kept going. By the end, I felt stronger for having pushed through it.
On Sunday, we drove the Tour route out in Scottsdale. Driving the course confirmed what I suspected — a lot of hills. Honestly, it felt like 75% uphill and 25% downhill. There was a solid downhill stretch, but not enough to offset the sustained climbing. Between the additional distance and the elevation profile, I’ve decided to skip it this year and plan for next year instead.
Most of the climbing appears in the half-metric section, which could make it a great training ride. One option is to use that section strategically, ride the climbing portions for training and potentially shorten the full loop where it doubles back on itself. I still want to pursue South Mountain training and Mount Lemmon training, but I need more consistent hill exposure. My normal route has gradual uphill sections, and even Saturday included hills, but nothing with a significant sustained grade enough to really build confidence for an event like this.
What Worked?
I got back on track midweek. Wednesday continues to be a strong workout day for me. Morning workouts are more reliable than evening sessions. Even while still feeling slightly sick, I resumed consistency. If I can secure more work-from-home days, I think I can solidify that routine even more.
What Didn’t?
I missed more workouts due to illness along with a busy social schedule. I had limited hill preparation relative to my goals. This upcoming week is NASCAR week, which adds another layer of scheduling complexity.
What am I going to do about it?
I need to sit down with TrainingPeaks and get reorganized. I haven’t been in there consistently, and my plan isn’t laid out the way I want it with the upcoming challenges. I need to prioritize the BEST training ride, 30 miles planned this week, but I’ll also need to rush back to make the Indycar race. If I can’t do all the workouts I want, I will still need to watch my steps to get back on track for the month. I should get a lot with NASCAR week, but want to make sure I at least hit my goal if not exceed it.
What do the numbers say?
My weight was slightly up for the week; I gained back one pound from the lowest point I hit recently. I used all my Weight Watchers points. It was a lighter workout week. Given that combination of lighter training, full point usage, and staying mostly flat, I consider that a win. I’m usually more comfortable leaving a few points in the bank, but maintaining weight under those conditions shows stability. This week will be another challenge nutritionally with NASCAR. But I’ll likely offset some of that with increased steps and activity.
Summary
This week wasn’t about big gains, it was about starting to get back on track after being sick, testing myself against hills, and making a mature decision about a race that may not align with current fitness. Skipping an event isn’t quitting, it’s planning. Next year, I want to line up at that start confident — not hoping I survive the hills, but knowing I’ve trained for them.