stats of the week: runwalked 10 km, cycled 37 km
stats of the previous week: runwalked 7 km, cycled 155 km
It was a fortnight of recovering after the strenuous Ventoux ride. More due to low motivation rather than to weakness. I developed what I call a beginners' course for my calf: walking and jogging alternately with jogging of max 400 meters. It works so far.
Watching the Tour de France is my daily sport now and I look forward to spotting the heroes on the slopes of Ventoux next week.
stats of the week: cycled 351 km
stats of the previous week: cycled 323 km
The fortnight culminated in the participation at the Gran Fondo Mont Ventoux. There were roughly 2,500 cyclists taking part thereof half each chose the short route of 100 km / 2800 am and the long route of 120 km / 3800 am.
It was a piping hot day with degrees well beyond 30°c. I did fairly well until Chalet Reynard after the former food station already had run out of water. Obviously this caused problems for a lot of cyclists not only me. Mounting my bike again for the final stretch of 6 km to the top I suddenly felt totally exhausted. I managed to keep riding at a speed of 6 km/h while many others had to push their bike or stopped.
However, at the final bend 50 m before the top I suffered a horrendous cramp that forced me to stop and rest. After a couple of minutes I was able to finish the very steep final meters on my bike again. I only did the short route but it was one of the toughest days I ever had and by far the hardest climb up Ventoux of the 7 ones I did. Surprisingly my ranking at 661th place out of 1,200 finishers was fairly sufficient.
stats of the week: cycled 285 km
stats of the previous week: cycled 174 km, zwift cycled 41 km
stats of the week before: cycled 162 km, zwift cycled 146 km, tm walked 14 km
Still no running due to the calf problem. I tried to jog several times but after less than 1 km the muscle striked again. So I now decided not to run during the 4-week-holiday in France. As we entered the London 10K which is on now I have to walk it to get at least my shirt and medal that I payed for.
The area around Mont Ventoux is still the very best I know for cycling. Although I miss running much I can enjoy cycling here. There are lots of passes to choose from and the landscape is more than lovely. There is no better way to spend the final years of your life than to settle in the Provence and just enjoy day after day.
stats of the week: run 10 km, cycled 85 km, zwift cycled 217 km, tm walked 8 km
stats of the previous week: run 2 km, cycled 281 km, zwift cycled 51 km, tm walked 12 km
Still no running due to the persisting calf problem which maybe caused by a back problem my physiotherapist guessed now. I do daily back exercises now but without success so far. Will try diclofenac for a next attempt.
Luckily cycling keeps me alive. Life without running is a life on brakes for me - cycling still feels only like a deficient substitution. However, I have completed 3,000 km this year so far and look forward to the Gran Fondo Mont Ventoux taking place on June 13th.
stats of the week: run 3 km, cycled 227 km, zwift cycled 31 km
stats of the previous week: run 3 km, cycled 180 km, zwift cycled 70 km
Having a week on Majorca proved to be a good decision although the weather could have been better. Apart from one rainy day we were able to cycle daily and it was good to meet long-missed relatives.
My cycling performance didn't bolster me up, however we had fun to be on the beautiful island again and cycling the well known routes. Having Covid tests before both flights didn't make big circumstances and outside life on the island let feel nearly normal life until 5pm when bars and restaurants had to close and streets suddenly emptied.
stats of the week: run 9 km, zwift cycled 185 km, tm walked 7 km
Zwifting remains the main exercise, I am happy this is still possible while the calf problem persists. It is a sneaking process but I have to face the development in direction of a non-running person. I turned 68 this week, the oncoming year will show if I am happy to stay against this process. Around 90% of my running mates at the same age have retired from our sport but there are still a few ideals.
Equipping your Zwift avatar you can choose your hair!
stats of the week: run 12 km, cycled 176 km, zwift cycled 51 km, hiked 15 km, tm walked 8 km
I am back to slow running with first attempts by very short distances on the treadmill. Summer turned in for a few days and made outside cycling possible in bright sunshine.
I won't hesitate to fly to Majorca to get more fine cycling but unfortunately C is still doubtful. Luckily I will get my first vaccination on Thursday. If figures stay good on the island I hope to convince her to go for a sunny week of cycling.
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