GreenAnvil

Well, sooner or later it was bound to happen.

I took an FTP assessment this past Tuesday (280) and was feeling pretty good since I felt I had left something in the tank. Instead of properly resting before my next workout, I did a 1 hr "recovery" ride yesterday, and today my wife and I went out for a 5-mile walk. I slept a couple of hours and then did my upper body workout (weights). Drank a glass of chocolate milk and an hour later hopped on my bike/trainer to do my session. Starting HR was ok (around 70-something), I was feeling good.

But the workout's (TrainerRoad) instructions dictated a higher cadence than I normally do on these workouts, and I was also supposed to raise the front wheel to simulate climbing (I used two CycleOps blocks stacked). So I went with 36x15 (I think it's 15), 36 being the chainring I use on my local "steeper" hills/bridges and 15 being whatever in the back felt comfortable to maintain a cadence of about 85 and the required threshold power.

Then something happened. Halfway through the workout, in the middle 3-min recovery period, my energy disappeared! I was empty! It all happened so quickly... I am not one to quit easily, if anything I would have still completed the workout, power levels be darned. But somewhere in the back of my mind my body was telling me that it had nothing left. So I accepted defeat and realized that I need to learn to listen to my body.

However, I feel awful that I had to quit the workout. A part of me wanted to just suck it up and complete it, but at the same time I also knew it would not be possible. I have decided to take a few days off to rest and sleep properly and come back to the same workout early next week. No club ride this Sunday; Monday is my regular day off.

I think I made the right decision, but I still feel bummed about it (not completing).

How do you deal with days when you know there's just nothing in the tank?

Kindaslow

Short memory is the best solution, as long as you get back on and go for it as though nothing happened.

KBentley57

If it's not there, it's not there. Take a few days off, get back to it when you're feeling good. It's nearly as big a deal as you're making it out to be.

no sweat

That's not a "setback". lol.

At least once a month, I'll attempt a really hard workout that I can't get through. BFD. That just means I'm setting my targets high enough.

When I fail an interval workout, I keep riding, but it turns into a Z2 ride.

Number400

Interesting. I don't feel that I have ever aborted a workout, but I have certainly learned to know when I have it or don't, and when to abort an effort for the sake of finishing. Now that I have typed that, I did bail from an indoor rowing session just a few weeks ago after only 6 minutes. I felt bad/sick before even getting on the rower so I am not counting that.

Sounds like you just bonked, maybe caught out by the higher than normal cadence or elevated position on the bike. I think you did the right thing to stop because your body gave you such a clear signal to do so. Don't look at it as a setback, rather a lesson about rest and preparation and what works best for you leading up to an FTP test.

Carbonfiberboy 

yeah, same here. And then I don't "take a few days off." I change my workouts to z2 and slightly drop the volume, then do another interval test when I feel better. If your HR was normal for the RPE up until you decided to quit, it could very well be a simple nutritional issue that caught up with you.

ModeratedUser150120149

Apparently you are a youngster. In a few years you won't feel badly at all for listening to and respecting your body. You will know that trying to flog your body into doing more just results in injury, scars and more time off for major maintenance.

chaadster

I agree that it was probably just an empty fuel tank; a glass of chocolate milk ain't gettin' it. Also, I don't think a 36x15 gear at 85rpm on a trainer could get you very many watts at all, so I doubt you blew up as much as you just gassed out. As others have said, it happens, and while it does mess with your head, you just need to have the confidence in your ability to know that you can get back to it and get it done...whether that means doing very light recovery workouts or taking a day or two off while you rejuvenate. Eat before hard workouts to perform at your best.

GreenAnvil

Thanks all for your comments.

The last group ride I went to (before my failed workout) we were hitting well over 21mph with some pulls at 26mph for well over 10 min and I was feeling fine. Now, I look at my trainer and actually go like: this little piece of metal and plastic just kicked my butt! LOL!

I think I bonked. After some time off the bike my weight ballooned to 220 and I've been desperate to get back to my riding weight of 170 (still heavy, I'm 5'9"). I'm currently at 197 and have been pushing myself too hard and I guess it just doesn't work that way.

So the next day I hopped back on the trainer and did an easy 45 min at Z2 (HR). Yesterday I rode 30 miles with my family but it was an easy ride; I took out my hybrid and in the middle chainring kept my cadence at 90-110. Today I resisted all temptations... no club ride today and additional rest tomorrow. Tuesday it's back to business and I will make sure I'm properly fueled and ready to go.

Another resolution is: no "A" club rides until at least March. I'm supposed to be building my base but every A ride seems to be a mini-race.

chaadster