What an epic day.  Early morning start in order to beat traffic as well as get the day going as the previous day we spent all day out doing the Bend triathlon.  Makes it hard when you leave your kids al day with your friends.

37 and clear made for a chilly start but the beauty of riding uphill to Mt Bachelor from the first pedal stroke made this a lot more manageable.  We had 75 miles planned with a one hour transition run.  Quickly an athlete of mine asked about wattage and how to ride today’s training…and most heard me say: just ride …but what HR?…just ride…but what watts?…just ride…but how do you want me to just ride?…just ride!   I know that may seem short, and not like a good coach answer…but I tell most of my athletes that when out on the road, whether for work or play, that new roads, especially in epic places…just ride, just run, just go on feel.  There are a few benefits to this:

1. Chill out!  We are so technology driven in this sport, that just going by feel or how the body WANTS to that day is a very important ingredient in a good training plan.  If you are wound that tight that you can’t enjoy a beautiful ride in one of the most scenic spots in the country (Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway), then I am concerned more about your approach to the incredible fitness and health you have, and not enjoying it for what it’s worth.  I ride quite often just on feel, with no devices, and there is still a great training benefit as well as I am able to soak in the surroundings and my environment.
2. If your devices go out or don’t work on race day…uh oh.  You have no idea what to feel…plenty of stories and examples out there if devices being stolen, not working or just malfunctioning on your BIG day…no biggie if you have also trained plenty on feel.
3. Even if all your computers are working, there are race days when the HR is just not doable or the watts are way too forced.  So many things can favor into that, whether outside environment or internal stresses.  But riding and running on feel allows you to find you natural feel and cadence for the day, and often the watts/HR settle in after, but you allowed your body to dictate the day, vs. dictating a forced number to your body.  At every Tour de France you see riders get spit off the back, but once they settle into their own rhythm and feel, they often regain their placing or stay quite close!  It’s all about practicing YOUR Feel.
4. When we are home is when it is ideal to do intervals.  Sure – I have been on the road for 3 out of 4 weeks now…and I need to get in some intervals…BUT – usually I say – when you are at home – in your usual, measured and familiar environment – that is a great time to do the focused interval work.  But when out on the road – for work or for play – it is important to not force intervals in where you don’t know the route (frustrating!) – and to not try and look for great results as often too many variables come into play.

So, off we rode:  I told that athlete to put his computer in his pocket and look at it after, see how he rode on feel!

A great ride with 5800 feet of steady grade climbing in 75 miles. Beautiful crater lakes, mountain vistas and great roads.

After a gorgeous, and I mean incredible, run along the Deschutes river trail:  white water rushing amongst lava rock and through some beautiful forest landscapes.  As one of my athletes said: she felt like she could run forever on the soft dirt, pine needles and the amazing visual stimulation.

Another 5 hrs of training in the books!  Rest day tomorrow!