Zone 1. Actually legs didn't feel too bad. I was surprised.

Basecamp with Dale (and late join Rusty!)
14,560 FT Elev gain - 4.3X up Alpe du Zwift @ 100% Trainer Difficulty
11/34 casette on brand new Kickr Core
183W Avg/ NP 209

The 3rd time up I was feeling so good, I decided to try and go sub 1 hour on 4th and final time up the Alpe for the first time. I started on the first segment up and I was hammering!! I was definitely going too hard and I felt it as my hips and upper quads started to cramp. And I never felt that part of my body start to cramp! So I texted Dale and Rusty and I was like "I'm abandoning the sub hour attempt on the 4th time up the Alpe. What a stupid idea." But then I felt a caffeine gel and a Monster Energy drink I just cracked open start to kick in. And I though 'well let's at least go for a personal best'. I ratcheted down the power and just kept an honest effort. And to my surprise I was still keeping the watts around 250 to 260 -- which is the minimum needed for a Sub 1 hour. So immediately I texted Dale and Rusty back and I was like "Naw, I'm stlll going for it!"

I blasted my music, Dale sent me lots of encouraging one-liner messages, and before I knew it I was into the single digits of segments left. The whole time my HR was Zone 3 so it hurt (a lot) but it was tolerable. With the final segment to go I couldn't believe I was about to do it. Almost 3 years and 30-something attempts, I was actually going to go Sub 1 hour for the first time. I actually got really choked up and had a moment.

In the end I finished 57:40 ... still :02 seconds behind Doc Dale's PR!!

Basecamp Brick Run
117 BPM

I guess I fueled properly because I had consistent energy this whole Run, and actually could've easily kept going. I think I'm at or near the fittest I've ever been. But it's also cold out which I Love. This would've been much tougher in the heat.

Run #90!

vEverest Basecamp Prep

Got a brand new Kickr Core trainer! And put an 11-34 cassette on it for climbing Alpe du Zwift. Just making sure everything is working, and calibrating the new trainer.

4 X 500's

First pool swim in a year!! I did swim in the Long Island Sound a bit during the summer/fall ... but boy did I miss the pool! Amazingly my stroke was pretty decent, or at least the same as it's been. I was surprised to swim my average time right off the bat. The aerobic engine I built from cycling and running transferred nicely to the pool. Yay!

The Swim Goal for 2021 is to refine my stroke, increase turn-over, and reduce my times to 1:30's so I can nail a sub 30 at EAGLEMAN.

I keep bouncing between 171 and 174 pounds -- water weight fluctuations I'm sure.  But being stuck at plus 170 is making it clear to me I have to really, REALLY dial in my calories if I'm going to keep dropping.  Meaning, lowering portion sizes; being stricter with deserts; and focusing more on eating with a purpose.  And that purpose being fueling pre-workout, during, and post workout (Recovery.). And if a meal doesn't fall into that category it's gotta be a low calorie/ high nutrient density food -- whole fruit or veggie basically.  

Time Crunch Run
119 BPM Avg

Daughter's 15th birthday today so I have a few things to get done. I really should've ran this morning but I was still exhausted from the ZRL Race yesterday! Love my Saucony Endorphin Speeds. So light and zippy!

I am still wiped out from the TTT yesterday.  I'm happy to do it; thrilled even... but it take so much out of me. I'm actually happier to do a regular points race cause then I don't have to pull teammates.  I can just draft in the pack behind competitor teams... like I did in last weeks race where I did finish 11th OA and "almost" was a factor in the final Sprint.  One of these days I'll contest a B Sprint!!!  Just gotta keep racing and dropping kay-gees!!

WU

ZRL - EMEA 2 Div 2 (B) TTT
Mighty Met course
281 AVG Watts | NP 295 watts
140 AVG HR/ 156 Max
20' @ 287 Watts - 3rd best power

This was a very hard effort. We had 6 riders to start and dropped one on the first glass highway climb, and dropped another on the descent right after the NYC KOM. I gladly pulled A LOT. Many long big pulls. Unfortunately we still finished 11 out f 14 teams. First place team is borderline A cat and they finished 2 full minutes ahead of us. BUT... I'd rather be BOP B then FOP C.