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8 1/2 Weeks to Go - Check In

Ok everyone, it's a testing week how is everyone doing? 

I have to push my FTP test to Saturday so I can do it on the roads.  This week got in the pool for the first time since Xmas. 

Hope everyone is having a good week and can't wait to see folks at the Rally next week.

Comments

  • @ John - Thanks for the encouragement, FTP test was a bust yesterday, hoping 5K is better tomorrow morning. Also looking forward to the rally!
  • I had another 10 watt increase on my test. Up to 282 watts now. I was worried the more endurance workouts of the past few weeks would zap some of my FTP but not at all. I'm going to aim for a NP of 200W on May 21st. That's about 20W more than IMFL last year.
  • @Bob - congratulations! That's a strong test.
    @Geoff - sorry to hear yours didn't go as well.
    @John - Good luck on Saturday.

    I got mine done late Tuesday and got a 14 watt (6%) bump to 268. Here are the #'s in 5 min increments:
    First 20' : 268; 277; 271; 273 : NP = 273
    2' = 153 avg
    Second 20' : 263; 268; 266; 273 : NP = 268
    Total test NP = 268
    Might have pushed a bit too hard on the first 20' b/c I was hurtin' bad at the end but pushed through. I'm pleased though: it's my best test to date and bodes well in terms of overall fitness (swimming is another story altogether).

    Sure wish I could join those of you at the Rally... it's just too far and too much going on with life, kids, etc.
  • Nice work folks....hard to believe that race day is so close!!!
  • @ Paul...
    My first 20' was on par with my previous FTP (272 or so). 2' was around 170 and the final 20' was above 290. I try to keep my first 20' at my previous FTP so that I can attack the number better on the second 20'.
  • @Bob: I hear what you're saying and might try that myself next time. But I felt I could surpass my former 254 watt FTP by a fair bit. In order to get to the 268 I ended up with, I would have had to ride mid 280's for the second 20' if I had only done the first 20' in 254. That's almost a 30 watt difference... which seems like a lot.
    So what I was trying to do was find a pace I thought I could sustain for a full 40'. In the end I came pretty close but maybe overshot a bit early on. It's an inexact science though and I'll probably be more conservative on subsequent tests. Nonetheless it sure helped the mental six-pack to drill through some serious discomfort and more or less hold on (and even get a bit stronger at the end).
    BTW.. this puts my 69% IF goal right around 185 watts. Now if I can only lose a few pounds to get the most out of it ;-)
  • At least one of my three tests this week was a success, unfortunately it was the swim test, the one that matters the least! I will keep my bike FTP and run pace base upon my tests from a month ago and keep pushing through the plan.

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