"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - so i have absolutely no training plan

[VENTING and WHINING]

m hoping to find a decent local coach in the next few weeks because for whatever reason i do not seem to have the ability to read and learn how to come up with my own training plan. All I do right now is just ride whenever I can and and sometimes just ride harder then other times. Ive attempted to read the friel and cts books but i space out with those things. The power book is much better for me but since its for incorporating power into existing plans it doesnt help me enough.

i dont know what my problem is.

Tonight, tomorrow and the next day for instance I have maybe 1.5 hours to ride the trainer each night after work. How do I best use that time? I have no clue! I guess I am going to try one of those 123454321 pyramid sessions tonight and see how that goes. What about the next days? When do I try one of those pryamid things again? etc...

On my off days (sunday - tuesday, every other wednesday) I pretty much have the entire day to myself.
Sundays are usually race day or group ride day so thats the easiest for me. The other week days I usually just get in about 50 - 70 miles each day of easy to moderate riding with about an hour of fastish group riding.

at this point i think its worth it to me to pay $150 a month or whatever to have someone to just tell me what to do.

[/VENTING and WHINING]

Training for wussy (swissy?)!

riskus, you might want to take a look at trainingpeaks.com. They have a "virtual coach" feature that you can put in a whole bunch of parameters and it'll build you a training plan.

Riskus-- Take this for what it's worth, but this is how I've been training and my results/performances have gotten better.

Have you done your power profile testing? That might give you a good place to start.

For instance, my 5-minute power and FTP are OK, but my 5-sec and 1-minute powers are kind of low. So I try to get at least 2 interval workouts focusing on those things-- Low cadence hill repeats, 1-minute intervals at 150% of FTP, Sprintervals, etc. Recovery rides come after hard days. The rest is tempo or longer FTP intervals, maybe some VO2Max intervals. Group ride or race on Sunday. Mondays are pretty much always off.

Occasionally my legs just feel tired and I take a day off. Other days I'll just go for a ride and just ride how I feel, no power goals etc. For group rides and races the powertap is just a recording device.

I have to say I've gone away from the Virtual Coach. Mainly it's because now that I specifically know my weaknesses, etc and can follow my training load with the Performance Manager in CyclingPeaks. I mean, I'm no power guru, but I feel like I've been able to target my weaknesses and make better use of limited time.

Do you have "the good book?" There are some good workouts in there depending on what you want to target...

Steve, send me a PM if you're interested in contacting my coach (Todd Roberts). He lives in VA, so he's not too far away. I know he has an opening or two. He's a great coach and really takes a personal interest not just in my wattage improvement but also my race results.

EDIT: one of the things I'll add is that having someone to write me a training plan is only a small part of why I like having a coach. It's great for accountability and motivation, it's great for talking tactics, etc.

--Steve

yeah i have the good book. my numbers all suck but my 1 min is the worst. ive only had the pt for like 10 rides including one book test but hell here is the profile

http://criticalthrash.com/images/profile.JPG

i dont really know where to find specific workouts and how to space them etc

Steve,

i will definitely be interested in that. i will send you a pm later. im out the door from work now and i need to rush home to hop on the trainer before bed.

Have you done your power profile testing? That might give you a good place to start.


well what do you know. i am an idiot once again. i havent done this test yet just the ftp test.

Get off the trainer and go find some serious hills to ride up fast, when your done climbing them rinse and repeat. Coaching session complete.

None of this is relevant, though, because as CastIron already pointed out, training is for wussy.

All hail the Leader/CEO/Overlord/Grand Master/Messiah/Supreme Field Marshal R600 of DuraAce.

Get off the trainer and go find some serious hills to ride up fast, when your done climbing them rinse and repeat. Coaching session complete.

i dont have time to do anything else other then trainer stuff on my work days.

where do you work riskus? i'm in the city near foggy bottom and will be looking to do some zippy after-work rides to prepare for poolesville.

Sterling =(

hm, maybe mike at pedal shop in ashburn could help you out? dunno if you've met him but he's super nice and i'd go riding with those guys a lot if i lived out there. they're just up the trail a click.

edit: mike owns the shop, he's not a coach. but the shop's got a team, and i bet they'd let you tag along for some training rides if you ask.

Go to the races, ride aggressive. Go to the groups, ride aggressive. Go to bed, sleep aggressive. Go for a spin when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping.

Forget the programs, learn to race. Fitness comes through anyway you train it, but tactics and technique take years to develop and can only be perfected through practice, so do yourself a favor and try it old-school, before ploppin' race funds on an interval coach.

None of this is relevant, though, because as CastIron already pointed out, training is for wussy.

All hail the Leader/CEO/Overlord/Grand Master/Messiah/Supreme Field Marshal R600 of DuraAce.

i have to agree, because the simple truth is that i too have no training plan.

i have to agree, because the simple truth is that i too have no training plan.

Perhaps you need to hear another sermon:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/r600preacher.jpg

Perhaps you need to hear another sermon:
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p85/dr_pete177/r600preacher.jpg

(maybe i can get away with posting this here, as opposed to road cycling)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/954/fredth0.jpg

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

Go to the races, ride aggressive. Go to the groups, ride aggressive. Go to bed, sleep aggressive. Go for a spin when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping.

Forget the programs, learn to race. Fitness comes through anyway you train it, but tactics and technique take years to develop and can only be perfected through practice, so do yourself a favor and try it old-school, before ploppin' race funds on an interval coach.

I feel the same about this as well. Spend you money on race fees and gas money. Race twice a weekend, every weekend of the summer. That's my plan, and while I would like to say I have a structured training plan, I really don't. I have no coach, have no advisers. I read up on FTP/sprint/kilo training and try to apply it to my workouts, but I'm not placing too much emphasis on that stuff just yet. Going to buy a cheap track bike and race that till I puke one night a week this summer. I'm going to race the kilo even though I'll get hosed by the tall skinny kids, the sprints and keirin to get it handed to me by the big boys, and the madison and points race to take my sweet revenge. I want to be a 3 on the track by the end of the summer, and a 2 on the road.

Get strong on your own, don't look for any shortcuts, and really learn how to race are the three things I was told by a friend who has been dominating the masters scene for years.

No amount of coaching can make you a better racer. They can analyze your PT data, listen to you or watch your race, but there is no way they can be with you during the race and tell you if and when to make a move, go with the flow, or let a break go. They can't make your body produce 10w more going up that hill. It's on you.

Go to the races, ride aggressive. Go to the groups, ride aggressive. Go to bed, sleep aggressive. Go for a spin when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping.

Forget the programs, learn to race. Fitness comes through anyway you train it, but tactics and technique take years to develop and can only be perfected through practice, so do yourself a favor and try it old-school, before ploppin' race funds on an interval coach.

this has been my plan up to this point but i feel like i need something else. I dunno, maybe next month when the weekday training crits start it will get easier to see results that way.

I feel the same about this as well. Spend you money on race fees and gas money. Race twice a weekend, every weekend of the summer. That's my plan, and while I would like to say I have a structured training plan, I really don't. I have no coach, have no advisers. I read up on FTP/sprint/kilo training and try to apply it to my workouts, but I'm not placing too much emphasis on that stuff just yet. Going to buy a cheap track bike and race that till I puke one night a week this summer. I'm going to race the kilo even though I'll get hosed by the tall skinny kids, the sprints and keirin to get it handed to me by the big boys, and the madison and points race to take my sweet revenge. I want to be a 3 on the track by the end of the summer, and a 2 on the road.

Get strong on your own, don't look for any shortcuts, and really learn how to race are the three things I was told by a friend who has been dominating the masters scene for years.

No amount of coaching can make you a better racer. They can analyze your PT data, listen to you or watch your race, but there is no way they can be with you during the race and tell you if and when to make a move, go with the flow, or let a break go. They can't make your body produce 10w more going up that hill. It's on you.

Im not looking for short cuts.

I am not looking for a coach to teach me how to race. Im looking for someone to help me be in proper race shape.

I like the race you way into shape plan and thats what ive been doing and most likely will continue to so but when it comes to training for specifics I get confused.

Im not looking for short cuts.

I am not looking for a coach to teach me how to race. Im looking for someone to help me be in proper race shape.

I like the race you way into shape plan and thats what ive been doing and most likely will continue to so but when it comes to training for specifics I get confused.


You are not looking for a coach, you are looking for a "mentor". Just showing up week after week to the groups and races will give you all the knowledge you need. The mentor or advisor will be able to help you process it, but absolutely hold off on any kind of periodized program until you are ready to go pro and even then I'd be leary.

YMCA,

Ive heard you say that or similiar things many times. I do think there is a lot to be said for that line of thinking and personally i kind of like it but do you really think riders in the lower cats can not benefit from a structured plan?

Im not trying to argue or anything just want to hear you expound on it.

For 30 buck a Spinervals DVD will let you know if your getting all you can from your training time, plus if your using your trainer it would make sense.

Im not looking for short cuts.

I am not looking for a coach to teach me how to race. Im looking for someone to help me be in proper race shape.

I like the race you way into shape plan and thats what ive been doing and most likely will continue to so but when it comes to training for specifics I get confused.

See, I don't understand the whole training for specifics. I mean, sure, you need to go out and do some 2x20min intervals to raise your FT, etc.

But if you're going to do some sprint work, some anaerobic work, blah blah blah, why not head to the track?

My point is that you can learn and train at the same time by mixing up what you're doing. You can become an excellent road racer by hitting the track; it will improve your bike handling, position on the bike, give you a wicked jump, a mean sprint, and a high FT. Seriously, check out a points race at the local 250/333m oval and you'll see what I mean.

Not only is it a great way to train, but it's incredibly fun. I don't care about my results on the track as much as the road, so I can go out there and mix it up and try new things without fear of failure. Sadly, due to the nature of races around here (flat RRs, crits), I might have a better career in the points race.

we dont have a local track unfortunately otherwise i would already be there.

YMCA,

Ive heard you say that or similiar things many times. I do think there is a lot to be said for that line of thinking and personally i kind of like it but do you really think riders in the lower cats can not benefit from a structured plan?

Im not trying to argue or anything just want to hear you expound on it.

You'll hear a lot of arguments "for" structured training, but I am here to tell you, most of those people are either coaches trying to make a buck off of Lance's fanatical periodization b.s., or lower cats that have come into the sport via Tri's or running or swimming or Mt Biking. Those sports are all about fitness and pushing right at the red line. Bike racing is so much more than the strongest guy wins. There is so much to learn, that if you spend inordinate amounts of time worrying about power meters and such, you'll probably miss out on all the stuff that really gets you through the ranks.

Take your fire to the race and be aggressive to the point of stupidity. Once you have gotten to a level of stagnation, then you might think about structure. For some, that might be making it to cat3 and after a few years realizing they are not going any further, so they start thinking at that point on how to do their best in cat3's with some analyzing from the years they have already put in. In the meantime, what's the use of trying to win cat5' or 4's or 3's or 2's, if you are still learning the sport and trying to move forward. You want to progress, so hit the groups and the races and try everything, all the time, until you've hit the category that you are happy to be at.

Structure just isn't going to help any of that, other than knowing when's your next hammer session with the boys.

but absolutely hold off on any kind of periodized program until you are ready to go pro and even then I'd be leary.

Yeah, pretty unproven stuff. Hardly any good racers use it.

You're better off just riding/racing around so you have no idea what's working or where your level of fitness is at.

And you'd be leery. Unless you're Dennis Leary. It which case you'd be Leary.

No amount of coaching can make you a better racer. They can analyze your PT data, listen to you or watch your race, but there is no way they can be with you during the race and tell you if and when to make a move, go with the flow, or let a break go. They can't make your body produce 10w more going up that hill. It's on you.

That's just plain ridiculous. By that logic, no amount of coaching can make you a better tennis player, football player, or basketball player.

--Steve

No amount of coaching can make you a better racer.

I strongly disagree. You can "learn" all the racing tactics and technique you want, but if you dont have the legs, yer still toast. I'll advocate using a coach and structured training program as the best way to make the fitness gains that allow you to actually race instead of hang on for dear life and maybe eek out a sprint every now and then. Also, if you use a good coach, who is local to the scene in which you race, their insights can be invaluable on race day. YMMV.

That's just plain ridiculous. By that logic, no amount of coaching can make you a better tennis player, football player, or basketball player.

--Steve

Oh really? The difference between coaches for those sports is that you have to know how to hit the ball many different ways, read a play, or draw up a play, and teach those skills to other people. What skills do you need to ride a bike? Not many, and of those, you have to develop them yourself. Reading a race is something that you can talk about with people until you're blue in the face, but they can't give you any hands on instruction. They can't guide you through the motions like they can with form tackling, hitting a baseball with a "perfect swing", or doing volley drills. I don't know of any races that are going to let your Cat1 coach race in the Cat4 race with you, slow down to let him give you instructions, and then let you execute them.

Take the majority of the professional tennis players out there right now. Do you think they had a coach growing up? Damn right they did.

Take the majority of professional cyclists right now. Did they have a coach before they hit the semi-pro ranks? Not a chance in hell.

They had the legs and the race knowledge before they got the high end coaching. That's how its been since the dawn of amateur and professional bicycle racing. A coach can help your fitness, yes, but the racer wins the races, not his training regimen alone. There are many racers who have won races they shouldn't have, but did, because they were smarter than the guy next to them.

i dont have time to do anything else other then trainer stuff on my work days.

Here is your answer

http://www.spinervals.com/

Take the majority of professional cyclists right now. Did they have a coach before they hit the semi-pro ranks? Not a chance in hell.

You're only talking about US cyclists, right?

--Steve

That's just plain ridiculous. By that logic, no amount of coaching can make you a better tennis player, football player, or basketball player.

--Steve


Try to coach yourself in football (or golf) and lets see how much better you get :)


Agree that coaching helps ... just that most arent honest enough for self coaching. I have several friends that thought they were going 100% during 100% efforts but after yelling at them during to PUSH HARD! DROP THE HAMMER! and explaining they werent going 100% they REALLY started giving it 100%...... to the point of puking and results started to show after a few weeks.

Goes the other way to with easy effort days. Some (including me) cannot take it easy and always end up riding hard. I need somebody to watch me and give feedback.... no device will work because I will ignore it.

What skills do you need to ride a bike? Not many, and of those, you have to develop them yourself. Reading a race is something that you can talk about with people until you're blue in the face, but they can't give you any hands on instruction. They can't guide you through the motions like they can with form tackling, hitting a baseball with a "perfect swing", or doing volley drills. I don't know of any races that are going to let your Cat1 coach race in the Cat4 race with you, slow down to let him give you instructions, and then let you execute them.

Clearly, you're passionate about your opinion and I respect that. When do you think you'll be good enough to start needing a coach?

--Steve

You're only talking about US cyclists, right?

--Steve

You honestly think some of the Euro pro's were paying for and recieving coaching as the equivalent of Cat4s?

They had the legs and the race knowledge before they got the high end coaching. That's how its been since the dawn of amateur and professional bicycle racing. A coach can help your fitness, yes, but the racer wins the races, not his training regimen alone. There are many racers who have won races they shouldn't have, but did, because they were smarter than the guy next to them.

That all makes sense, and it would seem that the basic conclusion is that it really doesn't matter WHAT you do, as long as you're training at or above race intensity and getting race experience. So some people just go out and ride. I'm a geek and like to quantify things, so I used an HRM for a while and switched to a power meter. I like having a way of quantifying my efforts beyond "go till it hurts." I enjoy coming up with my workouts and adjusting the schedule based on how I feel. Others want/need a coach.

If it's really true that just getting out there and riding hard are sufficient to get better in the lower cats (which, ultimately, I think it is), then why dismiss any of the multitude of ways there are to accomplish that? Maybe paying someone $150 a month for and external source of motivation and the reassurance that they're training the right way is what someone wants or needs. I don't see any reason to crusade against professional coaching.

You honestly think some of the Euro pro's were paying for and recieving coaching as the equivalent of Cat4s?

I think they started receiving organized cycling instruction at about the age that my kids started receiving organized instruction in basketball, tee-ball, and (god forbid) soccer.

--Steve

Clearly, you're passionate about your opinion and I respect that. When do you think you'll be good enough to start needing a coach?

--Steve

Zimbo, that's the best question I've heard in quite some time. Seriously.

And to be honest, I don't have an answer to that question. If I'm a 2 at the end of the summer I'll try to join a Cat 1/2 "elite" squad and probably get coaching along with that as one of the perks. The team I raced with last year used VisionQuest but that was only for the 1/2 boys. Right now, my fitness is not my limiter. It's

The thing about "good enough" is that I'm not trying to say that you have to be good to have a coach. Not at all. I just think that a lot of people should race for a while before diving in like that. So many people get wrapped up in the numbers that they lose the real point of racing. It's them saying "oh I averaged 285w for the race...and got 10th" when the guy next to them thinks to himself "I don't know what I averaged, but I won". I HAVE seen that happen with a couple of people and I kind of wonder what they're out there for; couldn't they get the same thing out of a hard training ride, really?

I guess that's my main point. I'd emphasize results over numbers any day. If I could go out and average 150w for two hours in a race and win, you're damn right I would. You don't see cats like Robbie McEwen until the last 200m of a race because he knows how to race to optimize his finishes. Strong as a bull moose I'm sure, but he doesn't take anything out of his legs unless he has to.

I guess that's my main point. I'd emphasize results over numbers any day. If I could go out and average 150w for two hours in a race and win, you're damn right I would. You don't see cats like Robbie McEwen until the last 200m of a race because he knows how to race to optimize his finishes. Strong as a bull moose I'm sure, but he doesn't take anything out of his legs unless he has to.

I think most everyone would agree with that. Two weeks ago I raced "smart" and averaged a mere 200 watts in the race yet won in a fortuitously-timed solo breakaway. Last weekend I raced stupid, averaged 300 watts, and was beaten at the line by a 12 year old kid and a bunch of other undeserving losers (kidding). I was obviously much more proud of the win.

I guess my only caution would be to not confuse a focus on the numbers with coaching. My coach spends very little time talking with me about the numbers. We mostly discuss race strategy when we chat because that's the stuff I can't get from the training plan he sends me via TrainingPeaks or email. I also talk to the more experienced guys on my racing team about strategy. Since I don't have the lifestyle that will allow me to race more than about 10-12 times per year, I'm hoping to reduce the amount of time it takes me to learn strategy and tactics in any way possible. Is it a substitute for racing? No, not totally. But there are lots of guys I've seen racing the 4s who have raced a lot more than I have who are still making the same rookie mistakes they've always made. Clearly in their case just racing more hasn't necessarily translated into winning more often.

Dr. Pete has it right: at some level it doesn't matter what your plan is so long as you have a plan and stick to it. It's pretty hard to argue with the Duke of Kent plan because you have the results to prove it. But it's pretty hard to argue with the Vinokurtov plan because he has results too. Same with Pizza man, Lowcel, and many others. And yet they're not all following the same plan. Not even close.

--Steve

That all makes sense, and it would seem that the basic conclusion is that it really doesn't matter WHAT you do, as long as you're training at or above race intensity and getting race experience. So some people just go out and ride. I'm a geek and like to quantify things, so I used an HRM for a while and switched to a power meter. I like having a way of quantifying my efforts beyond "go till it hurts." I enjoy coming up with my workouts and adjusting the schedule based on how I feel. Others want/need a coach.

If it's really true that just getting out there and riding hard are sufficient to get better in the lower cats (which, ultimately, I think it is), then why dismiss any of the multitude of ways there are to accomplish that? Maybe paying someone $150 a month for and external source of motivation and the reassurance that they're training the right way is what someone wants or needs. I don't see any reason to crusade against professional coaching.

Dr. Pete,

You've got me all wrong. I am not against professional coaching at all. But I just think that if some people have to chose between racing more as a Cat4 or personal coaching, the majority would benefit more from the race experience than they would from coaching. I've seen a couple of guys with coaches race half as much as they could/should have, pass too many of their races off as "B/C" races, and spend a lot of saturday and sunday afternoons on long group rides. They ended up lacking experience, intensity, and the all important race fitness.To be a racer you need to race, often and hard. (And take a break every once in a while)

I agree with all of your points, and I like my numbers as much as the rest of you guys. I like to quantify my exertion as well. The PT is great for workouts and identifying my strengths and weaknesses. Also, I've found that my PowerTap is actually MOST effective on my easy days, when it helps me keep from pushing too hard. But when it's race day, the powertap is turned over on my stem, and it might as well not even be there during the race.

im so glad i made this thread. hearing all the opinions on this stuff is great.

one think i know for sure is coach or no coach, structured plan or not, I am definitely sticking with a power meter. At least with it I can have some proof of my progress when otherwise it may not be obvious.

I still am up in the air over getting a coach. Part of me really really wants to because I need someone to tell me what to do. On the other hand i dont feel like i am on that level wear I need a coach.

The best solution for me if probably just to race more and see what happens, use the power meter more as a recording device then anything, and talk to some coaches to see exactly what they can offer me.

thanks everyone

I think they started receiving organized cycling instruction at about the age that my kids started receiving organized instruction in basketball, tee-ball, and (god forbid) soccer.

--Steve

I was under the impression that that's along the lines of how to take this turn, stand up on this hill, don't downshift your FD on the bumpy section, etc. Not "today we're going to be taking blood samples to test your lactate threshold, Gert/Alessandro/Paxti". :D

And soccer rules, by the way. You want your kids to crush souls in cycling, have them play soccer as kids. Great combination of fast twitch fiber and aerobic endurance development.

im so glad i made this thread. hearing all the opinions on this stuff is great.

one think i know for sure is coach or no coach, structured plan or not, I am definitely sticking with a power meter. At least with it I can have some proof of my progress when otherwise it may not be obvious.

I still am up in the air over getting a coach. Part of me really really wants to because I need someone to tell me what to do. On the other hand i dont feel like i am on that level wear I need a coach.

The best solution for me if probably just to race more and see what happens, use the power meter more as a recording device then anything, and talk to some coaches to see exactly what they can offer me.

thanks everyone

Again, there is NO LEVEL you have to be on in order to have a coach. But definitely check out the various options and if you find someone you like and feel comfortable with, and can see yourself improving under their guidance, go for it.

You've got me all wrong. I am not against professional coaching at all. But I just think that if some people have to chose between racing more as a Cat4 or personal coaching, the majority would benefit more from the race experience than they would from coaching. I've seen a couple of guys with coaches race half as much as they could/should have, pass too many of their races off as "B/C" races, and spend a lot of saturday and sunday afternoons on long group rides. They ended up lacking experience, intensity, and the all important race fitness.To be a racer you need to race, often and hard. (And take a break every once in a while)


At this point in my brief time racing I dread the idea of passing up races and that does make me worry about getting coaching.

I hope EDR chimes in because I know he mentioned having a big problem with that at one time.

Again, there is NO LEVEL you have to be on in order to have a coach.

I dont mean race level on a literal sense. I mean it more on a personal level if that makes sense.

Riskis

Once your off the trainer, just come out the the Davidsonville, MD tue/thru rides. They tend to be harder (and longer) than most of the D20 cat4/5 races. If you can get to the point of hanging on to the end of the Tuesday ride, you will never get dropped in any D20 4/5 race. Thursday pace is alittle eaiser, but not by much.

Thankfully there is another fast group ride right near my house on tuesdays that is starting soon so I can do that.

I do have friends out in davidsonville so maybe i should make the trip out there some tuesday.

The trainer thing is something I pretty much cant get around because of my work schedule. I leave for work at 5am and dont get home until after 7pm so that leaves me very little time to actually ride anywhere.

riskus, just don't make it more of a mystery than it has to be.

Looking at my Powertap data from races, I see that the TSS from all of my cat 4 crit/circuit races has been between 100 and 150. Knowing that, I try to get at least 3 days per week at that TSS. Any reasonably fast group ride will do it. If I only have 45 minutes, I know that I can do some VO2Max or 1-minute intervals (with 10min warmup/cooldown) and still get that same TSS. Once you do some more rides with your powertap, you'll be able to see and predict the TSS for a given ride quite easily. And I know that if I do that, my body won't be surprised on race day.

Beyond that, if you know your 1-minute power sucks, work on 1-minute intervals. My attacking was horrible, so I looked at what constitutes a good attack (15-30 seconds hard, then reaching a steady state near FTP) and reproduced it with intervals starting with a 15sec sprint, then leveling out at VO2Max/Threshold power.

The great thing is that as you try this stuff in races, you can look at the power data to model your training after it. And if nothing else, you can be reassured by the fact that Duke of Kent is right--really anything that we do at our level is going to make us faster, so it's not like it's a loss if you go out and do 3-minute VO2Max intervals instead of 2x12 FTP intervals one day.

I'm not saying don't get a coach--that's your decision. But you can still train effectively in the mean time. Give yourself some credit.