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Lisa's Micro Thread

I finally got everything worked out with TR and my kickr.  I plugged in the EN workout for my plan (Beginner, OSwk 3) last night and was struggling to turn the pedals on the intervals. Should I re-do my bike power test tomorrow, instead of the scheduled workout?  I wonder if with all the tech problems I had early on if my FTP (179) is too high.  I am not strong on the bike, but not being able to turn the pedals doesn't make for a good workout.  I was off to a late start and don't want to fall behind on my biking.

 

Thanks.

Comments

  • @Lisa, yes, re do that test...your other option is to SWAG it (dial it back to 155, for example) and see what number seems "hard enough". A test is best, but I know many folks opt for the SWAG vs the " I think I'll just add a test in here" option. image
  • Coach - I decided to dial the FTP back and hold off on the test. I was still having some technical issues with TR and the Kickr (probably operator error). I got a couple of solid rides in and things seem to be working better. I will do another test when I am confident I have all the tech stuff worked out. Thanks! :)
  • Perfect!!! In the meantime, lets get a profile picture up for you!!! Info under Resources > Wiki > Team EN....
  • Hi Coach:

    I got the profile pic up!

    I need to adjust training for this weekend, but also need a long term solution as this will be a repetitive issue.  We have a 2nd place we go to many weekends (head out from work Friday and return Sunday night).  My plan is to leave my Kurt Kinetic bike trainer there and I got a sweet deal on a Scott that I will leave there. (My Kickr & other bike will stay home) However, running is a problem in the winter because it is very snowy and rural with no safe place to run.  I am hoping I can get a late run in Sundays when I return to town, or at least hit my elliptical at home on Sunday night.  That is a super long way of saying, what do I do about my runs?

    On the upside,  the weekend is filled with hours of snowmobiling and snowshoeing

     

  • Lisa....nice work on the profile picture!!!! image I think the weekends are kind of a moot point for the run as you are so active. Last thing we need is to add too much, especially if you get in the Sat ride. What I might suggest is this....

    Move Wed Interval run to Tuesday...then Tuesday FTP ride to Wed....Thursday is your Sunday run....Friday off...then Sat is Sat bike and Sun is Thurs bike. Thoughts?
  • Coach - Thanks for the alternate schedule.  I think that works great and I don't feel like I will be short changing myself too much. 

  • Hi

    The alternate schedule you suggested is working out well.  I now have the opportunity (work schedule permitting) to head out to San Diego the end of April. If I do so, I would like to add the La Jolla 1/2 marathon to my schedule.  I would like your thoughts on the advisability of it before I submit something to Rich.  After watching the video of last night's chat, I decided to check with you first. My A race is the Pain in the Allegany (Oly), which will be a challege for me on the bike and I don't want to mess that up.

     Sorry I missed the live chat, but you got bumped by updates from the Sahara4 desert race.  My daughter's boyfriend is participating to raise money for a charity.  That is some crazy stuff!   I suspect she will be run along side him next time around, despite her mother's protest

  • @Lisa good call on the right channel...nothing we do is THAT important!!! image Good luck to him (and her)!!!!!

    I say that you can do the half, it's far enough out from your race and I don't think it will hurt your overall build. That said, if we start this and you decide your bike is really suffering, please let me know so I can adjust!
  • Great, I will submit the change to my training plan today.  I will be mindful of my biking to be certain it doesn't suffer.  We received word that Chris completed the 4Desert race and we can all rest a bit easier.  I wish you much success on your charity run, which I was glad to support. 
  • Thanks so much for your support!
  • Hi Patrick: Sorry to be a bother.  I submitted my new season plan to Rich to include the 1/2 marathon 4/27 after reaching out to him in the macro.  Not sure where I should direct these next two questions, so you win! 

    First  Do I just stay with the Jan OS Beginner Plan that I am on, or do I need something more regarding running volume? Second, assuming I stay on the current plan can I repeat this week for two reasons: (a) it puts me on target for my run test on 4/27 versus 4/20, and, (b) I seem to have pinched a nerve in my neck/shoulder area that has left me pretty well gimped up for the past few days.

  • Never mind as to Question One (Rich loaded up my new road map), I just need to know if I should repeat this week

     

  • @Lisa, no worries on #1, and yes to repeating....are you seeing anyone for that nerve? OUCH!
  • Hi Coach:  Great job in Boston!  I am currently in week 12 SC/Beginner.  I have La Jolla 1/2 marathon on Sunday and for the most part able to follow Wiki guidance for workout modifications. Next Wednesday will be a full travel day, so not sure how to jump back in on Thursday. Also, signed up for masters swim program to assure access to lap lanes as pool hours compress for the summer.  MWF mornings - will this be okay?  I plan on getting OW swims on the weekends that we go to the lake house.  How long should I spend on the OW swims, assuming I am doing Masters MWF.
  • Lisa - after the half marathon, that Thursday run becomes less important. I probably have you do the Wednesday bike workout that she'll miss for the day off instead. We can always pick up the long run the next week.

    Swimming on Monday, Wednesday, Friday is totally fine. In that case, I suggest you drop the run after Wednesday's bike. You can add a few minutes to Tuesday's run since it will be the only workout you have that day without the swim. Otherwise you should be fine!
  • Hi Coach:

    Thanks for letting me talk myself through my new approach to a "race" season this year.  As discussed, I am looking for an alternative schedule for weekends that we go away and snowmobile (we head out after work Friday and return Sunday night).  I leave my Kurt Kinetic trainer there along with a bike. (I train on the Kickr at home) However, running is a problem in the winter because it is very snowy and rural with no safe place to run.  The best I could do Sunday nights is hit my elliptical at home in lieu of a Sunday run. 

     You provided an alternate schedule last year, which is below in this chain, but based on our discussion it sounds like you may want to do something different.  Just as a reminder, I will continue with my master swim (MWF) and I have early season bike events (April - 66 mile ride w/ 13 mile run) and century ride at the end of May.

     Thanks again - hopefully this will be the year of the bike!

  • Lisa, thanks for reaching out to me on the Micro again. I think I'd like to get a bit dynamic with your week, structuring it as follows:

    Mon - OFF
    Tues - FTP Run (From Wed)
    Wed - FTP Bike, 75-85' (From Sat) + the Run
    Thu - Long Run (From Sunday)
    Fri - OFF
    Sat - FTP bike of 60' -- from Tuesday
    Sun - VO2 Bike of 45' -- warm up and Main set Only (this is your Typical Thursday ride)

    This gets you a double bike weekend, but a bit hard...without sacrificing and of the running on the calendar -- or the rest!

    IF you want to be more about the bike (as your note intimates) we can go more bike heavy but I think that you can make a "normal" OutSeason® work!
  • Hi Coach:

    Thanks so much for giving me an alternate plan for the weeks when we travel.  I will stick with the "normal" OutSeason work since Coach Rich has me going into the Bike Focused plan after my April races.

  • Hi Coach: I hope it is okay to keep building on my old micro thread. I am on week 13 of 14 for the OS - beginner. I began to experience significant knee discomfort in both knees during my warm-up for Wednesday's run, enough to make me bail. I have tested out other movement (walking, biking, swimming) and the discomfort is nominal. I am 10 days out from the Cherry Blossom 10 mile run and 17 days out from my 77 mile relay race (I will run 3 legs which will total 12 miles of running & 65 miles of biking). I have not experienced anything like this before and am not sure what I should or should not modify over the next couple of weeks.

    I appreciate the help.
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