photonick

Super stoked, my first century is on the 19th and i feel alot more confident about it now. Took me a long time though, the better part about 6 hours. I decided it'd be better to go slow and eat more than usual, its better to finish than to bonk or blow up i figure.

took in about 1400 calories of energy foods on the ride and and ate a small sandwich for lunch in the middle so i didn't bonk but i did experience sore lungs and somewhat tight breathing at the end, i've had this happen before when i push myself past my comfort zone.

Only thing that bums me out is i started getting nasal drainage afterwards and sneezes and bam i got sick so i guess i stayed out a bit too late this weekend and pushed myself too hard, has that happened to any of you guys after a long ride?

Machka 

I'm wondering if this sore lungs, tight breathing, and then post-ride nasal drainage etc. isn't EIA. Those are very similar to my EIA symptoms, when I'm having a good day with it. I rarely get sick after a ride (unless I know I'm coming down with something before the ride, and I ride anyway).

Have you been tested for EIA?

When you finish your ride, do you cough a lot too?

Do you have an inhaler? If so, you might try using it right before and right after your ride.

photonick

Machka i was thinking it might have EIA after last time you brought it. I don't cough really, i did once or twice, and both times before this when i had the tight lungs i didn't get sick, i've actually really gotten a cold after a ride or a run, i did kinda rage this weekend with my friends on friday night and only got like 6 hrs of sleep before the ride.

You know its funny since i dropped all this fat off my body and got in shape my father told me that people with low body fat are more likely to get sick...and i've noticed that i've gotten sick more since i've lost weight, i've never been healthier in my life but i've gotten 1 or 2 more colds than normal.

photonick

I was also thinking it might not be EIA and just a reaction to pushing my lungs harder for longer because once i hit a certain distance and go back to that distance i don't get the tight lungs again, i think it might just because i've never had my heart rate up for 6 hours almost straight before.

Machka 

Cycling seems to ward off the colds for me. If I slack off from my cycling, that's when I seem to get sick.

Maybe you were coming down with something before the ride.

photonick

Yah probably, i will get tested for EIA if i ever go to the doctor lol. I was curious, my first century is on the 19th and for the last month i've been alternating every weekend between a long ride pushing 10 miles each week closer to a 100 miles and then doing speed work or climbing. Assuming that i'm all better by this weekend should i take this weekend off from riding or just ride like normal.

Machka 

I wouldn't take this coming weekend off ... just do a mid-distance, mid-paced type of ride. Go out and ride somewhere for fun! That way you won't wear yourself out too much.

photonick

I was thinking about doing a hill frenzies, maybe speed work, I'm getting a little tired of the long rides. They're extremely inspiring and i feel accomplished afterwards but my buddy i ride with can't do this/doesn't like to anymore so I had to do my 60, 70, 80, and 90 solo, at least i got a lot of thinking done.

Carbonfiberboy 

I'm with Machka on this. I'm the same as you with the lung thing, but I never get sick from riding, quite the opposite. BTW, 6 hours is plenty of sleep before a century. After the first 50 miles, none of it matters anymore, your whole previous life doesn't matter any more. Training takes over. Try to find a group to ride with. You'll get burned out otherwise.

Get your doctor to give you a peak flow meter and use it before and after your hard rides. You can even take it with you. They're light and small. That'll tell you if you've got EIA. I use mine every morning and put the number in my training log.

photonick

Interesting, I'll check it out. I figure I must have gotten something at one of the clubs i went to the evenings before the ride and my body being exhausted let it take control. I was only really sick the day after though, I'm almost all better already.

Nickel

Long rides give you a great period of time to work on different things. My most recent ride was 40mi but I included hill drills (seated/standing/seated with standing sprints), tempo work and fast starts (getting up to speed as quickly as possible from stoplight). You can come up with a lot of fun things to do.

Machka 

Which makes me think even more that it could be EIA or something similar. Colds usually last longer than that.

And yes, 6 hours is lots of sleep ... more than I've been getting lately!!

photonick

Colds typically don't get the best of me I get alot of sleep and eat really well, lately i've been going to alot night clubs and drinking so i have a feelin' i just wore down my immune system.

Nickel

Your immune system gets depressed after intensely exercising for a few hours....I don't think I'm inventing that information....

Hmm it might be even a few days: https://www.abcc.co.uk/Articles/immune1.html

ericgu

My advice is to go out this weekend for 2-3 hours at a comfortable pace but don't try to work hard for any of it.

A week away from a century you can't do anything that will make you better prepared for it, but you can do lots of things that will make you overtired for it.

Machka 

These night clubs ... do they allow smoking in there? If so, it's possible your lungs are somewhat clogged the next morning when you set out on a ride, or you are exhibiting allergy symptoms.

Also, drinking puts you in a position of being dehydrated when you start the ride. Make sure you start drinking water or sports drinks right away on your rides ... and before too.

photonick

they don't allow smoking indoors in california..but alot of clubs let it happen in these patios where they're really inside but they have like large open sky roofs...all my friends smoke and i was drinking so that might be in. I've really got addicted to 60-70 plus mile rides but i gotta say i'm excited i don't have one planned this weekend.