I don't really know where to start! Maybe lying on my bed after a 90 minute sleep really struggling, not just motivate myself but physically struggling, to get up, sounding reminiscent?
The day started in a quite usual way at the moment, I inexplicably woke at 03.28, this has pretty much been that case for the last week, fortunately I had an early night. I struggled to get back to sleep and we were joined by Thomasina who came upstairs. I had heard the rain start on the velux window about 05.00 it sounded a bit on and off but did not sound too bad. There had been a potential for ice, so at least that threat had passed.
Glucose: 4.9
Ketone: 2.0
Breakfast: Yoghurt MCT, broth (pre-ride)
Breakfast: Cauliflower mash. chicken, cheese, seeds, broth (post ride)
Lunch: Roast beef, LC Cauliflower cheese, peas, wine
Dinner: Italian meat selection, almond butter & MCT oil
Ride: 60k, 159avHR, 205avW
I had arranged to meet JamesS at 06.30 for ride, although he normally is not that keen on the rain. With my mountain bike back ground I have spend many an hour wet, dirty and sometimes cold, so once I am out the door, I am usually up for the ride.
Once I remember following the grand union canal to Guildford and then heading over the surrey hills to get home, it was wet windy and cold and I was only 3.5 hour into the 6.5 hour loop.
James did not text to cancel, I was ready and waiting. Outside the weather was unusually worse than it sounded, properly wet and very cold. I have yet to winter ready my road bike, and my arse saver was not much use, with the lack of a front mudguard my feet, despite my sealskin socks and overshoes, were soaked through within minutes.
I was pushing hard, in part just to try and keep warm, it was a hard mental and physical effort, I could not really hold a conversation. With the occasional glance down at my garmin my helmet light showed my watts looked good and that my heart rate was as high as I expected, right on threshold. 45 minutes in I thought I was doing well but really finding it tough. Cold, wet and petty tired I suggested we shortened the loop to a 90 minute one. No such luck, James's response "Na let's get the 2 hours in, we are only cruising", my head dropped I dug deep but I was certainly not cruising, I was pretty much spent.
I had to drop in behind and draft, but in this weather that had it own issues. My feet were already freezing sloshing around in a sock of water, the cold was spreading from my feet to my calves, not something I really experienced before. Despite James's bike being fully winter equipped I was getting a constant face full of cold water, so I rode half a meter to the side. 30 minutes later my left side, which had been taking the brunt of the water, was really cold and my hand was pretty painfully. The cold had now taken over my calves, it was making it painful to turn the pedals in addition to my drained power resources.
We hit Runnymede, a wide open road we normally push on, I gave all to keep James's wheel but it started to go. It ebbed and flowed for a while but I was done, I didn't even have the energy to shout. It was not long before James looked back, he backed off and I got back on, we took it easier for a little while. I was not in a good place, there are not many rides, particularity short ones, where I wanted it to end so much. James had another push after about 10 minutes, I tried to stick to him like glue and now the water was leaching through my zips.
Almost home, spin the legs out, like always you are glad you have done it, but that without doubt this was an extremely hard, true winter training ride. As I hosed down my bike the tap water felt pleasantly warm!
On the first hour of the ride I averaged 223 watts still about 15% down and without the endurance, although some of this will be due to being not as fit. Either way I could push for a while, it wasn't pleasant but the power feels like it is starting to improve.
After my lunch like breakfast. I was totally wiped out, I felt totally drained, I would have checked my bloods but I didn't have the energy to climb the stairs. My food/sugar cravings were so strong I was finding it really hard not to eat anything or everything sweet. After a little TV time I started on lunch and we had really nice roast beef and a bottle of wine. My cravings were still on fire, I wanted to eat the crumble Lucy had made, the ice cream just anything. It was weird I was not hungry I had eaten a fulfilling meal, I just wanted sugar or carbs.
Lucy kindly let me go up for a rest, my waking state was very reminiscent of my sugar overdose state of Christmas eve, but this time I think I was just truly exhausted, there were no sweats or shaking. Slowly over the evening are stated to feel a little more recovered, I again had that strange unsatisfied, but not hungry feeling. I tried to eat a little as I felt my exertions warranted some more sustenance but I still wanted something sweet. I stayed strong but that was a hard day.
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