3 Peaks Challenge 2012 Training Log #4: Conning the body into thinking today was just a "recovery ride"...

Before sunrise this morning, less than four weeks after I first fell ill I returned to my hills for the first time. In reliable company, I managed to get out early and make my way up Lofty. An ordinarily simple ride and extremely short – only 40km return and total vertical ascent of ~850m – but today it was my Everest.

To say that yesterday evening I was nervous about this morning, is an understatement, especially given all the doomsayer articles, blogs and discussion posts I found online on how to manage glandular fever (both its symptoms and recovery) and my ongoing training. I was envisaging that my body was going to let me down and I was preparing myself for the psychological blow that that would have caused. To be honest, I was also consciously measuring the level of risk of serious damage to my liver/spleen caused by too intense physical activity too early.

My goal was to get from home to “the gum tree” and thereafter roll home again feeling good for being able to get out - albeit, a little sad for not being able to join the lads on the ascent. However… having made the gum tree reasonably comfortably, the goal was reset to my getting to the kennels… then to the bollards… and finally, to the top of Lofty. Time by my account (to the summit) was about 9 minutes slower than normal, but the fact that I made it without severely struggling or having to stop was such a victory for me.

My legs felt great; loose and well looked after despite my forced absence, and cardiovascularly as well, I didn’t feel too bad, albeit I recognise that there has been an impact on my aerobic fitness. It was in the general energy stakes primarily where I felt lacking, and having the body resist the immediate calling up of additional energy supplies through the processing of glycogen in the liver etc.

I am certainly not the medico in the family, and hence have no real basis for the following, but there are a number of things which I believe (whether rightly or wrongly) had an impact on this morning going well and also my pulling up reasonably ok this afternoon and evening:

• My (high??) level of fitness prior to contracting GF has had (and continues to have) a (beneficial) impact on my recovery;
• By forcing myself, despite being unwell, to manage my legs and body through regular Zone 3 spinning on the trainer, followed by rolling and stretching, has reduced loss of “muscle memory”; and
• The support of SD and DD, who in acting as domestiques this morning and giving me a wheel to follow, enabled me to make it this morning, and for that they have my thanks.

Don’t get me wrong, it is still necessary that I remain vigilant to my recovery and continue to look after my body without getting too far ahead of myself. I am a realist and I realise that it will still be some time before I am back to where I was before this, and from there, continue in building for my planned summer riding schedule and ultimately the 3 Peaks in March.

I have had such an emotional rollercoaster ride in the last four weeks, and will continue to do so over the weeks ahead. I’ve been depressed, angry, in “ill health denial”, optimistic and rash about my getting back into it. But today was a good day for me. It was what I needed psychologically and hence why I thought it needed to be shared.

Despite the high from my psychological success getting me through such a huge portion of today without my hitting the wall, needless to say, I am now feeling somewhat buggered, and already I feel that bed may soon beckon.

ZZ

P.S. My apologies for the lack of humour or visual accompaniment in this Blog post. As already noted, little thought has gone into other than to record my current state of mind.

P.S.S. Other random comments:

I also think that my liver benefited from the work out it received this morning in that, for my having engaged in such exercise, it was required it to “start thinking like a liver again”.

In terms of recovery my doctor made me take most of last week off from work to generally rest (having committed myself to work up until that time despite feeling unwell), abstain from panadol and alcohol (not that I drink), eat well, and “listen to my body and trust my own instincts” (I liked that advice). Notably, I was not told to abstain from exercise.

Now that I am back at work and focused on multitasking recovery and training, in my obsessive compulsive manner, I have strictly committed myself to going to bed very early and eating as healthily as I can. I should admit to managing my diet so closely to ensure that I don’t overconsume during this period of reduced physical activity; my daily target calorie intake has been lowered so that, in a months time I’m not having to additionally stress about losing weight.

3 Peaks Challenge 2012 Training Log #3 (edited): Short and not-so-sweet with only 5 months to go...

So much for the end of winter and the start of spring in terms of my continued 3 Peaks preparation; the cycling gods for me have had a different idea.

In short, the last five weeks have been difficult as I have been largely kept away from my hills, and when there has been an opportunity, the weather could hardly have been described as “spring like”. Oh well, I’ll remain philosophical and try and believe the myriad of clichés that I often hear quoted about adversity, things not killing us, being stronger etc.

First there was my slight tear to my right ITB (as noted in September) and in the last two and a half weeks, without going into any detail, I have been struck down by some virus which has had me feeling somewhat fukd to say the least, and has me sadly missing my planned 225km extended GS effort tomorrow. However, as I am feeling on the improve, I will remain positive and optimistic without presently moping or dwelling further on this missed racing opportunity. I have fingers crossed that the blood test results due on Monday are squeaky clean, and it won’t take too long to regain that which I’ve lost these five weeks now past.

Blood test results came back today and my fear was confirmed; glandular fever with high liver function requiring me to “take it easy”. All the optimism and positiveness that I had on Saturday evening has been shattered, and barring the always assumed “it could always be worse” I am asking myself “where the Fck is the silver lining in such a diagnosis”? “Where in the ‘take it easy’ is there time for my ride specific training, employment and parenthood”?

I know how bad this made me feel when I it first hit me several weeks ago, but whilst I don’t wish to risk that happening again, I can’t do nothing. Some sort of middle ground needs to be found and I’m searching for constructive assistance in regards to how to manage the training and the health.

As for what I’ve been doing with my frustrated time, I have (with some assistance) spent time planning my ride regime for the months ahead, together with focusing on mitigating any potential future muscular issues and to maximising the muscular benefits of having reasonably strong legs. To be more particular, I have stretched more than I’ve ever stretched before, and my legs have spent such considerable time getting masochistically intimate with my foam roller.

For those of you unfamiliar with physio rollers, please don’t confuse them with floating pool toys or water aerobic aids; physio rollers = pain!! As I have kneaded (and continue to knead) all the little knots in my quads and ITBs, to the amusement of my children, I surprisingly laugh out loud to the pain – I guess the alternative is to cry.

"It’s fun, you should try it!"

Focusing on the condition of my legs and listening to my physio during these last five weeks will hopefully establish a healthy routine which will continue as the season progresses.

* * *

Anyway, there’s still five months to the 3 Peaks and I realize that in terms of preparation I am (I think) still on track. Ignoring the daily commute and easy spins on the trainer, this forced layoff following such a tough winter regime, has allowed me some well earned rest ahead of the season ahead.

Lastly, can I also say (and - as it is my Blog after all - I can) I have also these last five weeks had the joy of watching my Boys'n'my beloved Cats in another fantastic AFL finals season; the following picture taken (minus my youngest) Grand Final morning:

Until next month

ZZ

PS I thought I might as an aside, for the purposes of the present record I would elaborate further on when my body first told me “something wasn’t quite right”; CFFRS 23 September 2011...

I know that my alarm going off at 3:45am and 1,800 metres of vertical ascent in less than 75km before work on a Friday is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it!! Suitably rugged up consistent with the conditions, having eaten what I think is a suitable pre-ride breakfast and sleeping what I thought was quite well that week, I left home looking forward to the hills and the company of my fellow CFFRS grimpeurs who I anticipated later meeting at the bottom of Norton – they allowing me to time trial my way up Greenhill solo beforehand.

Almost immediately I felt that this morning was not going to be the best. I ascended Greenhill with some difficulty (relative to normal) in the sense that my gears were lower to match the same cadence and I really felt the conditions; for example, I remember feeling the wind more acutely despite it not exactly being gale force and I felt extremely cold. Once I got to the top and started riding across the saddle before descending Norton I was chilled to the bone despite my warm attire, it being dry, the temperature only being about 8 degrees, and the fact that I had just slugged it out up Greenhill. Oh well, we all must ‘Belgium Up’ and I had thought that ascending Norton again before Ashton and Forest Range would warm me up; which it did, to a point.

The ascent up Norton with Snappy et al was tougher than normal – three minutes tougher in fact – and keeping up with him with his shiny new wheels was incredibly difficult. He got the KOM points without raising a sweat and I knew he was in fine form for the rest of the hills. Ascending Ashton thereafter was... ‘functional’, but once through the gully between Ashton and the final rise to Forest Range I knew that this was not a particularly good day for me and I was easily dropped by Snappy. There was just no energy to call upon and I was just so listless on the bike. It did not feel like, and the conditions didn’t match, my just “bonking” through lack of consumption or hydration.

Along Deviation Road between Forest Range and Carey Gully I was dropped by all, although to my psychology’s benefit I forced myself to muster the strength required to take second to Snappy in the uphill sprint to “stage end” at the top of Greenhill in Summertown. Although, in the Smiling Assassin’s defence he had already sat up content with his podium finish.

The Assassin departed down Greenhill leaving Snappy and I for the final “neutral” ride up Lofty (via Summit Road) and down via the old Freeway; an ordinarily casual ride. Unfortunately, the body was by stage seriously struggling and I was helped significantly by Snappy, who sans his domestiquing I think I could have possibly passed out on the bike or side of the road were I to have allowed myself to stop. Needless to say I didn’t, I made it to work and ate like I had not eaten for week and felt better for it.

Now my medical explanation for the constant headache, aching muscles, listlessness, sore abdomen/lowerback and nightsweats.