Heeeyho Readers! Getting inspired to post my trainings again.
Butt hurts. Legs, back, head, and everything else too. That's competitive cycling.
Sometimes I ask myself: Why competing if it's so demanding? Then I remember the joy of going over the limits of body and mind. It hurts, no doubt. That's the nature of competitive sports... whoever withstands the pain the longer gets to the podium. There's also the relief of putting into action those endless hours of training.
Yesterday I participated in a XCO (Olympic Cross-Country) race in my local place. The race consisted of 10 laps, totaling 23 kilometers in a short technical track. Most of the obstacles were jumps, roots, a staircase and a bit of sand.
Going over a drop
Olympic cross-country requires quite a lot of raw power. We are constantly going over obstacles and around turns; accelerations are short and intense. It's tough to keep focused. Different than marathon, we race in a circuit where spectators can watch us from different places.
Strava Data
We lack the elevation here, although that doesn't diminish the effort of running 10 laps without making any mistakes. See the average and max speed to have a glimpse of how intricate that trail is. Anyways.
The result was 2nd place in my category and 5th overall. I gave my best to follow the leader, but I was caught behind slower riders, which opened a huge gap between us.
It's amazing, considering most of 2021 I spent recovering a broken leg and 2022 trying to recover my racing fitness.
Recovery Monday
Yup. The best medicine for sore legs is more cycling. An easy, low heart rate ride. I plan to write an in-depth post about post race recovery (not that I'm certified to talk about it, but... any knowledge should be shared.)
Active regeneration
This week should be easy with longer, less intense rides. However, next week I'll add more volume to prepare to a 60-kilometer marathon in June, plus another 45-kilometer marathon next month (short but intense).
I don't post my Strava that much as in the past, unless it's some bikepacking trip. Most of my rides are repetitions of the same routes, but varying the objective (interval, volume, easy rides, etc). By the way, let me ask:
Do you guys follow any training schedule?
I'm curious to know what the fella Cycle-hivens do.
Now it's time to stretch, foam-roll and start it all over again {laughs}.
I hope you've enjoyed this post. Don't stop pedaling and have fun!
Peace.
Did you know that I have a book out? Check this!
Access Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/6500272773?
If you enjoyed this post consider leaving your upvote for a hot coffee.
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrprofessor_
~Love ya all,
Disclaimer: The author of this post is a convict broke backpacker, who has travelled more than 10.000 km hitchhiking and more than 5.000 km cycling. Following him may cause severe problems of wanderlust and inquietud. You've been warned.
