Pelofondo Training

 Pelofondo is an event that happens a couple times a year (from what I can tell) and it is coming up next weekend. Being the lover for all things endurance, and with my goal of a Half Ironman, I knew I needed to  work towards this. Individuals register to ride a set number of miles, and so I selected the lowest amount, 35 miles. 

It seems that there is quite a bit to Pelofondo, such as joining a team, or fundraising, but with me still being relatively new to this I just decided to register as something to work towards. Over the last couple of weekends I increased the time I was riding, going from 60 minutes to 75 to 90. This weekend was going to be the real test of where I was at. I could tell that I would be able to make the 35 mile distance, but what I didn't know was how I would feel during it. Well, today I found out.

I started riding at 8am. I had picked out 4 rides on my Peloton that would be the structure but I knew I would not go with the cues of the instructor. My plan was to stay in zones 2 and 3 for the whole time (I am still new to Power Zones, and plan to dig into that more after Pelofondo) but the gist of it is those are the zones to use to build your endurance, or when riding for a long time. I knew I wanted to keep my heart rate mainly in zone 2 as well (also endurance). 

The rides were:

  1. 30 Min Speak Up Ride w/ Tunde - I had been wanting to take this ride. Tunde shared her experiences as a black woman and spoke about white privilege
  2. 45 Min All For One - This class featured all the Peloton Cycling instructors, so it was fun to hear a bit from all of them
  3. 30 Min Hamilton Ride w Robin - Took this one for the music obviously. At points during this I had a hard time keeping myself in the ride zones because I was just feeling it
  4. 30 Min XOXO Cody - Finished the day out with some laughs
The results: I rode 36 miles in 2 hours and 15 minutes (this is 16 MPH) and I felt good. I executed the plan :). Towards the last 10 minutes or so I started to get super fidgety and I was ready to get up, but I think that is some of the mental game of knowing the end of the ride is coming. If I knew I had another 30 minutes to go I don't think that would have happened (but maybe I am wrong). 

And because I am a bit nutty (because you have to be to be an endurance athlete), I am going to aim for 50 miles next weekend during Pelofondo. 

I finished out the day with 15 minutes of stretching and then later did 20 minutes of Slow Flow Yoga. 

Today I learned that I think I am a bit farther down this path then I really know. I am looking forward to continuing to explore that and push myself a bit more. 




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