Reeeee... set

So, there I was.

Heading out to grab some long miles on the W&OD and I see B. Vaughan getting out of the car in Vienna. Pulled over, hooked up and off we went. It was a pretty good cruise, high tempo. It felt good after a couple easy days. My legs had been feeling pretty sore, so I had a few light days. We hit the turn around up by Dry Mill and I was cruising on back when I started to feel a weird twinge in the right knee. Backed off the pace a little and cruised along. By the time I was pulling through Fair Oaks area, it was really starting to hurt. By the time I was by George Mason, I couldn't stand up on the pedals. I worked as little as I could - basically single leg effort all the way home.

Got home, popped some aspirin, hit the salves and rested. Got out the next day and things felt okay as I headed out for 4 hours. 1 hour in, the pain was creeping back and I knew I wasn't making four hours. I turned it around and 30 minutes later I couldn't apply any pressure to the right leg at all without my knee buckling. I got home and just about tipped over the toilet trying to stand up. Injury... crap.. crap... crap.

For the first time in almost 3 years, I was going to take a week and some change off the bike. What a crappy time of year to do it - even though the weather has been crap, so that's not an entirely bad thing, but man.

So, there I was. I didn't download powerfiles for two weeks. I hadn't downloaded a powerfile since the week before the injury until tonight. I got on the bike twice this week but my legs are friggin sore as all heck after no real work on the trainer. Crap, crap. So, there I am. For the first time since November 2006, my CTL has dropped below the 100 mark. My prospect of clobbering some crazy base miles this winter has just come to a screeching halt and I'm rolling back to the mortal hours.

Where to go from here? Start over. Base 1.

This weekend I'll get a couple long ride 2 1/2 hr rides in, low effort. Next week will be all 2-2 1/2 hr long rides, low zone 1. Then.. January will be the reset now.

There it is.

Post 1 of the real new season.