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It happens to the best of us and it happened to me yesterday at T3 Spin Class---BONK!
As per usual, I didn't really *want* to go to indoor cycling class last night, but came alive once I arrived. The energy and spirit of these people is simply transforming. Dooley was looking adorable in her green knee socks for St. Patty's Day! And a wave of gratitude overwhelmed me when Jess gave me an amazing gift. The woman had baked me a freaking Engine 2 Sweet Potato Lasagna. See...she can cook and I really can't. I mean...I CAN cook. I just usually choose not to. I let her borrow the book for less than one day and voila! She shows up with a freaking lasagna! How do I love thee??? Let me count the ways...That truly put me in a great mood as I'm constantly uplifted by the kindness and generosity of others...
So, after several humorous technical tire issues, I finally got on my bike thanks to Logan. You'd think after several years of riding that I would at least be able to properly pump up my tire. For whatever reason, I couldn't get the valve on any of the four pumps I tried to hold air. Enter Coach Logan...Problem solved...Ass on bike...
I felt like crap immediately...Legs not turning over at all...even in easy gears. I got off the bike not once, not twice, but at least three times to ease the tension on my trainer...still not working. Coach Mo was calling out cadences and I was nowhere near them...Weird...My heart rate was ok, but my legs were like cement...
I had also had a tough swim that morning and I started putting it together...In a word??
OVERTRAINED...was visibly frustrated and convinced my self to stay on the bike for 45 minutes. Logan could tell...It wasn't easy to hide since I wasn't really pedaling with power. My workouts from the previous days had officially caught up with me. My legs from cycling, running and squatting were officially toast for the day.
Saturday: 15 mile run
Sunday: Computrainer Ride for 3.5 hours, pilates for 30 minutes
Monday: Cross Fit, 2800m Open Water Swim and 7x 1000m Repeats on Hills that evening
Tuesday: AM Swim and PM Spin
After 45 minutes, I got off my bike, threw on my shoes and went for an Ironman shuffle for about 20-25 minutes. Not even a glimpse of the athlete I train to be...Ah well...no biggie...it happens. I'm freakin tired!! It is what it is...
I came back as spin class was finishing just in time to invite some friends over to the house for wine and lasagna!!!!!!!!!!! It was a great night even with the first bonk of the training season!
Some people have asked and I've also wondered too if the "bonk" is a result of not getting enough calories or protein on my recent diet (no meat, chicken, fish or dairy). Honestly, I don't think that is it at all. I'm eating a ton of really hearty food including tofu, veggies, texturized protein, hummus, pastas, brown rice, black bean burgers, etc. Believe me, I'm eating a ton of food. It wasn't fatigue as much as it was simply soreness, if that makes sense.
Speaking of the eating plan, I'm still loving it and have been receiving a few, "You can definitely tell" comments. I "feel" cleaner, but don't notice any visible difference at this point. The real proof and my main goal is to see what happens to my cholesterol numbers at the end of March!
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The lovely Jess with me and my lasagna!!
3 comments:
Oh, no -- you ARE human! I was seriously starting to wonder. :) With the diet thing, just make sure that you are not ditching good fats along with the other stuff. Olive oil, nuts or pure nut butters, avacados -- whatever you like that works for you. I normally eat meatless and dairy free, but the fat free just about killed me.
Sounds like you nailed it with your overtraining guess, IMO :) It doesn't hurt to take a day off, ya know? But FWIW, you really showed your true colors when, after all that, you still made it a brick and added a half hour run at the end! I mean, damn, girl!
BTW, how was the lasagna? I haven't gotten around to making it yet, and I keep meaning too...
Sounds like fatigue to me. It happens. We are not battery operated Energizer bunnies - we are human and sometimes the machine just needs a rest. I hope you took a whole recovery day because it sounds like you needed it and in my experience a day of recovery lets you come back stronger.
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