Lunch: ~78 minutes on the trainer w/ ~30' Zwift race.
30:51 @ 262 watts @ 165 BPM
Did the same race that I did toward the end of last semester. It times nicely for a warmup, race, and cool down with the boys nap. Tried to hang back but also not let the group get too far out. Felt that the effort was conservative, but unlike in a running race where you can just kick the tar out of someone with fitness, you cannot do that really in a cycling event, virtual or otherwise. Did some strategizing and made a mental note of a landmark on one of the laps that there was around 2' to go, so I figured I would start pressing there, knowing I descend a bit fast than some partially due to weight, partially due to overpedaling. I had the "feather" powerup and knew that on the uphills I tend to sag a little bit either due to weight or underpedaling. On the last lap I hit the power up just at the base of the hill and I shot up it quite well around third or maybe I was in the lead going up the hill. I then pressed and came out of the saddle trying to sprint several times. I could see the line and figured the whol group would pass me and one guy did at the last second. So I took second in a C race, which oddly felt pretty good because it was a decent sized race.
Not the same as in-person racing but it is fun and it is actually quite difficult and you get a good workout in. My first Zwift race was about two years ago, and I generally do them a bit more in winter. I think this year as my running continues to pick up I will do fewer bike interval sessions and more of these races, which are essentially unstructure intervals. I think when warmer weather picks up (yes, already thinking ahead), I'll probably do a trainer ride/Zwift race once a week, Thursday Night Dirt, and a long Sunday ride at whatever effort feels right after my long weekend run.
I was hoping to push the running mileage up a bit this week, and it will go up but we have a storm Friday and I don't think anyone is going anywhere, so that is likely a 2-hour trainer ride.
PM: 3.4 miles, averaged 10:43. HR 135.
40 degrees, dark, and raining. Not a bad run though. Got this in after Megan got home. Figured it will help get into the rhythm after a week or so off around the holidays.
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