Training & Nutrition - Starting over again... again.

Decided this spring that I was going to do my first century, and in the process decided to get back on the bike, and train after a couple three years of idleness.

I felt good, and it was great noticing the progress from shorter rides, breaking through the fifties, and past a metric over the course of the summer. Not exceedingly fast, but I felt like I was on track for the century...

A few days after a metric century, I developed a problem that made it painful to ride, and after a week of trying to gut it out, I went to the doc, and was told to stay off the bike for three weeks.

Three weeks was just the amount of time (less a week) that I had left till the ride on which I had planned.

As they ended, I had another week-and-a-half where I couldn't ride with some nasty muscle pain from a long kayaking trip on vacation.

So, now I find myself starting all over again, all over again, right as the season ends.

I'm disappointed, and trying not to be too disheartened, but it is really difficult to get back on track mentally if not physically. I went on the first ride (other than a few errands) in about five weeks the other day... it felt surprisingly comfortable, and hopefully it works out.

The toughest part? I had planned for the New York Century, and on the day of the event, the ride went right past my building.

Any experiences with detraining? Setbacks either of your own making or not?

Just venting here, it's been a rough thing to deal with. The health issue was not in itself a big problem, it just made it out of the question to ride for a bit. Now, onward and upward from the beginning like this all never happened. :mad:

I feel your pain. My fitness took a major hit with crash recovery, vacation and two deaths in the family this summer. Since June 8, the day of my crash i have been off the bike for 10 weeks total. Not all of it consecutive. I just came off the last 3 weeks forced rest period due to a death and being sick with bronchitis. My first ride was so depressing i just wanted to get off. I gained back 20 lbs total and every ride is back to being an interval session. I should be ok in a couple of weeks, but the suffering to get back some form is disheartening to say the least. If it werent for the Seagull Century comming up, my motivation would be even harder to come by.

My biggest experience with detraining is that there is nothing I can do about the setbacks. But i also know that if I work smart and work hard, i'll be right back in top form and lose the weight.

I feel i've been presented with a no pressure opportunity to finally hit a goal wieght for racing that i couldnt get to this year because i was training to race. For me it would truely be a dissapointment to not take advantage of what will be a 6 month off season to lose the rest of the weight and comeback real strong for the 2007 season.

i was sidelined for six weeks out of the saddle & work. funny how when you work with your hands and one arm is out of commission how useless you become. my eating habits went down the toilet due to the funk my brain was in. so all the gains i made in two months of training for the MS 150 in jacksonville, fl went out the window. my riding partner told me that i would have kicked ass in the ride. i didnt know whether to feel good or feel bad hearing that so i felt a little of both. i'm looking forward to getting back on my bike and hitting a coupla centuries in south florida this winter. i saw results the first time around and know i'll see them again.

Same here.

I turned over a new leaf in Feb of this year. Started riding most everday, weighed 215, By June 16th 06, my goal was to be faster and weigh 175. I made it and have held it to this day. However, I took a new job the middle of august and have not ridden the bike since the first week of sept. It sucks, I know I have lost most of my endurance but I dont get home until 6:30 pm and work on saturdays. I am typing from work now. 3 kids, wife, job. Takes a toll. I will resort to the trainer but I cannot force myself to ride it until its cold outside. At least my weight is holding.

Good luck