Man oh man I am hurting today. It was just one of those days when you wake up that your legs still feel like you just got off the bike. Lactic acid started to creep into my thighs just from walking up and down the stairs at work. Today... today is not going to be a good day.
The video for today:
Preview video:
Yep. Pretty painful stuff. Although I have done this video a few times before, so I don't think there will be too many surprises in store for me today. Enough whining, time to get to the action!
Warm up: 6:30
Finally, a nice long warm up!
And footage from the San Diego Velodrome! WOOT! San Diego represent! Over/Unders: 10:00
Legs are feeling a little better after the warm up, but noticing that I can't raise my heart rate to the usual levels with the effort I am putting in. Just another sign that my body is fatigued.
Let's tackle these over/unders!
Low, fast, and powerful! Got it! Overs: just over your lactate threshold. Unders: just under your lactate threshold.
These actually really helped loosen up my legs. Just getting those pedals spinning near my LT really got them going again. Feeling pretty good going into the first climb! Rest: 3:00
A little detail of the climbs to follow
I expected nothing less from you Sufferfest, but maybe you could just give us one? Climb 1: 8:00
Off to a fast start, but the legs are cooperating thus far.
God. You knew it was going to happen, but that still doesn't make it any easier.
I can settle into a rhythm, even if it is in a bigger gear than my legs are comfortable turning.
Haha I must be doing something right!
And done! Wow that wasn't unbearable. High, sustained, intensity, but not too bad. Maybe my tolerance for suffering is just increasing.
Climb 2: 8:00
Interesting guideline. Sounds like there will be lots of attacks ahead.
Dang. Standing up and keeping a high cadence is harder than it looks! It just feels awkward to spin so fast!
Ok the legs are starting to burn now. You'd be surprised how much out of the saddle riding at lower resistance and high cadence kills your legs-- and arms for that matter.
Stay with Contador to the finish!!
Climb 3: 8:00
This is going to hurt. It's the mother of all cycling climbs. Yeah that's right, you guessed it
And if that wasn't motivation enough:
Going for a stage win with a mountain top finish on d'Huez? Say no more! I'm there!
Some how it always feels better when you are the one attacking and dishing out the pain than reacting to a move.
More pressure? I'm already going flat out! Good thing I brought my shovel, because I need to bury myself to keep this up!
Yeah, I think my face agrees with that statement. Only 2 minutes left! SO CLOSE YOU CAN TASTE IT!
Changing gears now and winding it up for the sprint!
GO!!!
And that's stage 5! I am completely toast as usual after the stage, but I at least feel good about it. Funny how just a little carrot like a stage win on Alpe d'Huez can make you dig so much deeper. I think it's the added objective at the end of the suffering that makes it better. Suffering just to suffer? Not many people want to do that. Suffering to win, however? Completely different. Then all the pain has a purpose! This has to be one of my favorite stages thus far.
Halfway done! Let's see how I do on stage 6 tomorrow!
Another early morning workout. This time my legs are really starting to feel the wear and tear of the Tour. Well... it's either the tour or the fact that I played 2 hours of tennis after completing yesterdays stage. Either way, what's done is done, and my legs are feeling quite tired and heavy.
What video am I doing today?
Preview video:
Well it looks like the suffering will continue! At least it's only for an hour this time unlike the near 90 minutes in yesterday's stage. And I get to warm up too! Maybe that will help get my legs ready.
Let's go!
Warm up: 5:00
Dang. Even this 5/10 effort feels hard for my legs right now. I'm not dying yet, but this definitely isn't a good sign.
Warm up Sprints: 2 x 30
Doing some quick jumps after the warm up to get my legs ready for the pain ahead.
Yup. That confirms it. Today is going to be a long bad day. My legs feel like molasses and these jumps are hurting way too much for the beginning of the stage. So what's my strategy to finish? Hold on tooth and nail and save my bullets for another day.
First Dark Place: 4:00
Until the lights go out? Man they are already dim to begin with!
Time to get low and dig! Remember just hang on! After this attack, settle into time trial mode and stay relaxed. You have a lot of suffering ahead of you!
Still 1 minute left? Hang on until the end! Rest will come soon enough!
Rest: 3:00
Whew! Made it. All in all that one didn't hurt TOO bad, but it wasn't fun by any means.
Doesn't the country side look so nice when you aren't riding hard?
Second Dark Place: 4:00
Well at least this time I have some others with me so I'm not just cooking off the front!
8/10 right away? Dang looks like my legs got a little too used to resting.
A small steep climb. Time to really grind that big gear. You can hold on. It will pass soon enough.
See! You got this. Just keep on spinning those pedals and ignoring your legs!
Wait a second. We are climbing Huy?! And this is only the second interval?! *gulp* Time to get on that 11 tooth gear and really stomp on the pedals.
ARG!!! I will never be bad again! Just make it stop!
Rest: 3:00
I'd say that's about right. Good lord.
The local media is interviewing my competition:
Why you gotta call me out like that Gilbert? Now I must crush you!
Third Dark Place: 4:00
Starting off with a bang, but I expected no less! After all, it is Gilbert and myself in the middle of a Schleck sandwich.
Alright! Alright! I'll stand!
I'll show you my commitment to suffer! You aren't dropping me!
OK... well maybe you are. Curse my lead legs!
Opening the bomb bay doors now!
FOR SUFFERLANDRIA!!!
(Do I really make that awful face?)
Rest: 3:00
Well, that's it. My legs are officially jello. Why couldn't you listen to the plan of saving your bullets for another day?! Oh right... he called you out. Well... at least you showed him!
Fourth Dark Place: 4:00
What's next now?
Paris-Roubaix? Dang this isn't good.
This REALLY isn't good!
Looking down already? The interval just started!
Hey Fabian! Why you gotta make this so hard! Slow down will ya!
Dang. I think I just made him mad.
Rest: 3:00
I can't even remember anything about this rest. It felt as if it almost never happened.
Fifth Dark Place: 4:00
Big gear? Low cadence? Sounds like climbing is ahead.
I hate it when I'm right.
Gotta be getting close to the end! Just push it for a few more minutes!
Damn it Rodriguez!
If that's not a picture of suffering, I don't know what is!
Well I made it through the stage! Not after torturing my already beat up body, but I still made it! And do you know what the best part is?? I GET TO DO IT AGAIN TOMORROW! YAY!! *sigh...*
