I needed to take almost fourteen days off in early-mid July and only just now really feedback in the saddle, back up to my earlier fitness level. I may have surpassed it but to tell the truth even, climbing out of this fitness deficit wasn’t easy! What happened is that I went on a five-day hike in the Presidential Mountains with my dad, his brother, and his brother’s wife. It had been a good hike and very challenging at times, but it’s wasn’t like redlining it on the bicycle, foot, or in the pool–very steady-state, slow-moving type of work. I reasoned that the fact that we were heading 8 hours a day would keep my fitness up.
But it’s that old SAID basic principle: Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands. Following the hike Heidi and Kate and I were away in New England for a few days still, basically hanging out, though I did get in a nice lake swim–maybe 3/4 mile or so? Hard to state. Fun to do, and my first experience where, hey, if I don’t make it across, I could actually DROWN! Or I possibly could get shredded by a passing motorboat, which there have been many. But I experienced down my anxieties, left my children on the beach for an impromptu workout.
Took it slow and did just fine, actually–probably required me about 25 minutes, if that. Took a break on the much shore, going out on some wealthy guy dock/waterslide/diving board float while I captured …