And Now I Go For 200 Miles In A Week

Well that is the plan anyway. With May rapidly approaching the RAAM2CC ride is now less than ten months away. Meaning I need to start getting my backside used to some long days in the saddle. 

It sounds simple on paper yet stringing four consecutive days to achieve 200 to 225 miles is not as easy as it sounds. For one I sure don’t want to do an almost identical route every day. Talk about boring! 

On the other hand I need to control as many ride variables as possible so I don’t push my percentages of climbing or peak power demands just to mix it up a bit. So using ride mapping tools like Strava, Garmin Connect, or Map my Ride comes in very handy to develop new routes with detailed elevation profiles and even turn-by-turn directions. All conveniently displayed on my Garmin Edge 830 bike computer. 

As I write this I have a whopping 8.5 miles and 33 minutes of Zone 1 with a little Z2 on a stationary trainer at the Courtyard hotel in beautiful downtown Holland, MI. Home to my company’s industry First Prussian Blue sodium-ion battery factory. Go Team Natron!

So my plan to edge towards 200 miles this week, not pushing all the way yet calls for a 42 to 44 mile in the morning (Thursday) despite the jet lag I am bound to have from the three-day business trip. As a reminder I am Winding Down Towards Retirement only working three days a week. 

To be followed by a 50 mile group ride on Friday.  Then if my wife is up for it a 23-25 mile recovery ride (for me anyway) on Saturday. This brings the weekly total to around 120 miles. 

Leading to a 55+ mile ride for Sunday to hit my year-to-date best distance of 175+ miles. 

Again, all great on the iPhone Notes app I’m writing on but life, weather, traffic, fitness, Soreness-Aches-and Pains have a way of messing it all up.

Update on actuals next week.