Beer Drinkers' Appreciation Society (BDAS) 2020 Version - ALWAYS OPEN (Page 42)

Investing in your future you.  I like that, Nathalie. 

@Nicole, I think we all have to decide why we do this - body image, health, competition, community, endorphin-rush...maybe a combination, then use that as motivation.  I used to be very competitive so preparing for competition was my main driver to train, then life, injuries and age moved me away from the field and court, so I had to adjust and would up in endurance sports (running) and then eventually triathlon (because swimming came so naturally to me...not ) because of the community, endorphins, and maybe a little body image as I got older and it became harder to keep lean.

With COVID, we've lost competition and community almost completely (and given your experience and what you write about, I betcha those are high on your list...), which sucks if those are your main drivers.  That'll end eventually (fingers crossed), so we've got to figure out what else we can use to motivate ourselves in the meantime. I used to love the challenges here on 6-8 years ago.  One of my favorites was "Work Your Weakness" - focusing very hard on the discipline you're the worst at (and it could be core strength, muscle imbalances, mental focus, whatever, not necessarily just tri sports - though mine was most definitely swimming ).  I swam 4-5 days a week for two months and it made a huge difference, almost to the point where I could physically survive a masters practice.  LOL  This year I focused on fixing my @#$#$!!! back, especially once I realized my Tour de France at 52 years old dreams were over .  Didn't fully accomplish it but I've never had a stronger core, and I'm a little better at Zwift racing and they have a new virtual France world so there's that.

We know you hate the bike , so dust off that bad boy and ride those figure-8 loops in Patterson Park.  It's good hill practice (and handling as you dodge the dog-walkers), plus it's right there and the weather should be really nice here soon.

Make My Weakness A Strength.

Two days of Zwift racing...yesterday was a 24km criterium, put in a good effort and executed well, finishing MOP in Cat C.  Today was an 18km time trial, in theory anyway, that was an absolute disaster as I couldn't even hold my FTP power past about 10 minutes.  Legs were dead.  I definitely don't recover the way I used to.  Easy day tomorrow and then another race on Thursday.  Pic on my virtual TT rig:

Hey Nicole, if/when I get into a bit of a slump I just try and do something fun. It might not be formal training, but trying something different. Motivation wise, I mainly exercise to keep my mental health decent, and so I can drink beer/eat pizza! Also to get healthier, lose some weight. I joined rugby to meet new people and to get fitter. 

I think during these weird times, just doing anything that gets you through is worth it; maybe try yoga for a bit to help with the stress, or go for a ride minus the computer to just enjoy it. 

Just some ideas from a rather toasty brit....why do our houses not have aircon???????????

 is a t-shirt I have ordered, which sums up my feeling about temperature! (50f btw) 

Btw if anyone wants cheering up on a Thursday, here is a video of a paddle boarding goat!

https://youtu.be/PXkBwHvrrzk

Basically we're living in a tropical rain forest right now.  It's been high 80s every day and thunderstorms, plus the 8+ inches of rain we got last week it's rather soupy and gross out.  A/C only helps so much.  Late August and September is usually the best time of the year here once the humidity drops, so we'll see.

Final race of the week at 6 AM this morning, a circuit course around Richmond VA (UCI Worlds course from 2015?? I think).  Flat, then a downhill, then flat, then a hard hill on cobbles, then downhill, then a really hard hill, then a downhill, then a $R#(*!!! uphill finish.  You do it twice.  A little over 12 miles in all and I finished very solidly in the MOP C group.  Legs felt a lot better than Tuesday but still didn't kill it but I think I could have hammered the flats a little more.  I had never raced that course so wanted plenty in the tank for the hills so I sandbagged the flats a little.  I rode with a group for most of it and then we splintered big time at the end on the triple-hill finish.

Taking it easy for a couple of weeks until the Tour de France starts and I'm sure they'll be some kind of wacky challenge going on.

EDIT:  Just passed my 2019 bike mileage total and 2500 miles for the year so far.  Still pretty much exactly on pace for a 4,000 mile year, but I'll be I'll have to hammer a century out on New Year's Eve LOL.

Thinking of you andrew. 

Hey all,

Did a ride today and re-started some stretching/strengthening work as my achilles is sore. Feels good to get back on it. 

How are we all getting on?

Hi, all.  I've been on vacation so off the grid a bit though I did some working out at the beach.  Back at it this week with some light cycling and some strength work, then going to hammer three weeks on the bike for a Tour de France challenge.

@Andrew - bummer about your ankle.  The problem is once you stretch those ligaments they're always susceptible to being rolled over. I've rolled my right ankle more times that I can count playing basketball and volleyball (and yes being a clutz, too ).  I finally had to wear a lace-up brace to play and finally just decided to stop playing sports before I really hurt myself.  I've only lightly rolled it in running shoes.  Running shoes aren't exactly designed for lateral stability, even the ones that are stability shoes as they just maintain foot alignment.  If you can find a wider platform shoe that might help.  My Brooks Adrenalines are like showshoes.