Cross Training
For the past three weeks i have been training for the upcoming cyclocross season using the Intermediate Cyclocross Training Plan presented by The Sufferfest. For those who have never heard of such a thing, The Sufferfest offers HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) sessions ranging in duration from 30 minutes to 2 hours. The workouts are very tough and is not my first go with this plan. I have done this cyclocross training plan before and have even been dubbed a “knight of Sufferlandria”, a true test of endurance accomplished by completing 10 Sufferfest workout videos back to back.
This blogs aim is mostly because I wanted to start a record of things I learn not only about training to race but also how hard i can push myself and just how far I can get in cycling if I just hold myself more accountable. I will be posting weekly updates with my progress and any tips and tricks I pick up along the way as well as race results. This year i will be racing in the Eastern Ontario Cyclocross Series. The season is 10 races long with one of them being a madison style race. A riders top 6 races are used for season placings.
As I have said I am three weeks into my training plan and so far have been suffering greatly. It started with a functional threshold power(FTP) test to see exactly how strong I am. My FTP was 297 a bit down from last years 340 so i have some catching up to do. A typical week consists of 3 to 4 actual Sufferfest workouts and 3 outdoor rides focusing on sweet spot training or cyclocross drills. These weeks have been very hard on me as my body is adjusting to the intensity levels that I am subjecting it to. Hopefully, once week 4 is done the rest of the plan will hurt a little bit less. Thankfully Monday is a rest day where I can take it easy, play on one of my other bikes and maybe let my legs recover a bit. So far one major lesson I have learned is to not miss any workouts if I can help it. I skipped week two to go camping with my partner Holly for our holidays and catching up on the missed workouts during regular training proved to be very difficult. That being said if you do miss a workout it is not the end of the world just continue on with your training plan as normal. Structure your plan around your life not the other way around. If the opportunity to catch up on a missed workout presents itself take it.
This is my first time writing in a very long time and I have never previously considered a blog so hopefully I did not ramble too much. I will be updating this blog every Monday with notes from my previous weeks workouts, rides and anything I think might be important to my training as well as what happens during my races. For daily updates I will post ride info and pics to my instagram @velodan_Kos.