Trying out our new training regimen

This year we are training for the STP by doing more frequent, but shorter rides.  Last year we rode 1000+ miles in the three months prior to the STP.  We did these miles in 21 rides.

This year, with about three weeks left until the STP, we have slightly exceeded last year's total miles, but have achieved those miles in 45 rides.  By the time the STP rolls around (ha ha) we will have done 2 1/2 times more rides than last year, and two-three hundred more miles.

And it has been easier, and more fun.

But has it been as effective as what I have done for the past four years and we have done for the past two?  We won't know for sure until we actually do the STP, but this weekend was a good test.

We rode our first "century" (100 miler) on the relatively flat Burke-Gilman trail.  In previous years, I and we took our first century ride early in May, so clearly there is a difference in how we are approaching things.

We literally (for us) flew.  We beat our previous 100 mile Burke-Gilman speed by .5 mph.  That, for us, is astounding improvement because being at the age we are, and with all of our orthopedic problems, we have probably almost approached our ceiling for how fast we can ride, especially since we do no riding for about seven months because we are in our camper in places without roads.



We were actually shocked with how strong we felt at mile 90.  The only problem is discomfort from the saddle, but there is little to be done about that.  That is what it is.  A pain in the a$$.