It has been more than a month and my return to fitness is going well. My attempts to do this last year fizzled out after three weeks because of flu. I am fortunate to have avoided the flu this year and part of that is getting adequate rest. Sufficient sleep is critical and thankfully my wife has been supportive and my kids cooperative.
My workouts remain short, averaging around 30 minutes. Cycling wise it has been fully indoors and I pick from a mix of – Zwift races and individual workouts. Individual workouts are aimed at hitting anaerobic targets and for recovery days. Zwift racing has been very effective in making me push harder. Nothing like having someone in front and someone close behind to make you put more effort on the pedals.
Running is different. It has been purely solo. It is easier to push when running and there has been noticeable progress on this front.
I was surprised when a new set of small personal bests were recorded. Maybe I would be able to do 5km under 5min/km some day.
Looking back, it takes around 3 weeks to feel strong again. Quads noticeably being able to produce more power and for longer, and lungs able to open up and get that oxygen flowing quickly. I am probably now in the sweet spot where daily improvements are noticeable. Gains will be marginal going forward. More focused on keeping up the consistency and getting fit. Fingers crossed!
