Alright folks! Get ready because I’m about to take you on my wild journey back to France. Why, you ask? Well, because I’m prepping for a colossal race at the end of June – La Marmotte. We’re talking 177km (around 110 miles) of relentless riding, scaling over 5000m across 4 mountain passes. Now, this isn’t new territory—I’ve done 5 Etape du Tours, holding my ground among 15,000 pedallers. Best placement? Somewhere around 2000 out of 15000 competitors. So, crossing the finish line isn’t my main concern.
What gets me buzzing is the challenge. Initially eyeing the longer Ultra fondo—227km with a beastly 6000m climb—until it got axed by the event planners. A setback, indeed. But it sparked a question: How far could I stretch my limits? With 12 solid hours weekly on the bike, I’m fine-tuning my nutrition and seeking human coaching alongside my trusty AI tool. Intriguing, right?
If you fancy joining me for this ride packed with mindset hacks, focus tips, nutrition tweaks, fitness tales, and, of course, the grand finale results, then welcome aboard!
Now, let’s talk about where I’m at currently.
This journey kicked off last November. I’ve been hooked on Trainer Road, an app focused on structured interval training, both indoors and on the open road. Now with AI-powered plans adapting to each ride, it’s a game-changer—no more gruelling tests for me!
Back then, my stats? An FTP of 263w, weighing in just above 66.5kg, and a power-to-weight ratio of 3.95w/kg. Decent, but performance stagnated. I was fatigued, those summer pounds refusing to budge.
Time for action!
I scrutinised my diet, realising a carb shortage was probably a large part of the problem, with occasional sweet indulgences not helping. With insights from my nutrition journey (more on that later), I’ve revamped my fuel plan. Aiming for a slight calorie deficit to shed weight while powering through rides.
Trainer Road’s a gem, but navigating the plethora of info out there overwhelmed me. Cue Loz from BPM (https://bodyperformancemethod.com), stepping in as a coach for fresh insights.
Fast forward 6 weeks—let’s talk numbers
My FTP rocketed to 275w (pre-Loz collaboration), weight dipped to 64.2kg (thanks, birthdays and festive events!), and my power-to-weight? A stellar 4.28w/kg, an 8.3% boost!
Not bad for 6 weeks of graft for a 43 year old dad, right?
Stay tuned as I pedal closer to that triumphant French finish line, documenting every twist and turn of this improving cycling performance journey for La Marmotte!