Training Plans and the Effects
It's now been just over four remarkable years since my intense 12-round bout with sepsis, and during this time, I have faced a monumental struggle to succeed in my journey of getting back to fitness. I've worked hard to return to cycling, training, and reclaiming my physical well-being.
However, the training I undertook upon my return was serious and incredibly intense; no longer was it simply about cycling for fun or adopting a casual “let’s just see what happens” attitude. Instead, it became a highly structured and, at times, brutally challenging regimen, meticulously designed to push my limits. Alongside this rigorous training, I also focused diligently on my diet to further assist in the process and fuel my body for the demands ahead.
Training Peaks, Zwift, and structured training became my way of life every single day without fail. Staying healthy and avoiding illness undoubtedly boosts your training, as there are no setbacks in that regard. Admittedly, I was never really one for structured training; I found it somewhat boring because the process to achieve success is slow and relentless. It felt so different from jumping on Zwift and racing as hard as I possibly could, then repeating this exhilarating process weekly. Those long outdoor cycles were only enjoyable when the weather wasn't absolutely terrible for Scotland. However, my approach began to stagnate. While my fitness would increase rapidly at first, it would soon plateau, hovering at that altitude regardless of how hard I tried to push past it through relentless racing. Sure, there was a slight increase, but after that, I had to focus on letting my legs recover and solidify after the “jelly” state they found themselves in. Consequently, my fitness would drop rapidly afterward, leaving me frustrated and on the brink of giving up cycling altogether. Fortunately, I eventually discovered Training Peaks and training plans that actually matched my plans and goals, reigniting my motivation.
Right, that’s it! I gave it a real go and have not looked back since; it has truly transformed my cycling experience forever. The way I train, how I feel physically, and, more importantly, I have become stronger, leaner, and faster thanks to the various training plans I've embraced. While training plans can sometimes be perceived as boring and overly structured, which might not suit everyone, I have found that for me, they provide a sense of purpose, direction, and focus. I can now effectively target specific goals and, unlike in the past when I would simply wake up and decide, “this week I’m going to tackle this aspect of my cycling,” only to fail miserably due to a lack of preparation and no clear goal or realistic time frame, I now have a solid strategy in place to reach my objectives.
Apart from getting stronger on my bike, I now find myself increasingly leaning towards tackling those gravity-defining hills and long, steep climbs that appear absolutely breathtaking when you look at them from a distance. However, once you actually start the ascent, you inevitably ask yourself, "WHY on earth did I ever agree to do this?" In that moment, it feels like you want to just stick to the flats and embrace the comfort. But wait! Now that I’m lighter, stronger, and faster, climbing has truly transformed into my newfound passion. Don’t misunderstand me; climbing is still incredibly tough, no matter what shape you are in. However, it does get a bit easier the stronger and lighter you become, which means you start to feel much more comfortable with your body, even in that intense "hurt zone." It’s almost metronomic in a sense—some might even call it sadistic, right? Probably! Yet, the overwhelming sense of accomplishment that follows each successful climb is nothing short of amazing and leaves me wanting even more. That said, this exhilarating headspace is definitely not for everyone, regardless of how fit you may be. So yes, this journey is certainly not for the fainthearted! Lol.
Structured training gives you that slow build up of tolerance to suffer and get through it which in turn allows you to find that as your training goes on the sessions get harder as you get stronger, fitter and more tolerant to suffering. Ironically this does give you a false sense of suffering as when you decide to do a race you find that the suffering goes to a whole new level and you ask yourself why after all that training why am I still suffering like crazy, the simple answer is there is always someone stronger and fitter than you who effectively will be the hammer and you the little nail lol.
But the point is you are able to stick with it not get dropped and spat out the back with no chance at all, and that’s what it is all about hanging in there and fighting for a chance because everyone will be suffering some more that others but that’s racing especially on ZWIFT, and structured training will give you that base maybe that edge to compete and then you can be the hammer that deals the blows.
Try it stick with it and complete it Job done!!
