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Get Fit, Stay Fit, Feel Good - 2026

I walked two continuous miles and didn’t die. I feel the back muscles a lot more when I walk now. It’s a nice stretch.

Anyway, this is pretty same exciting. I like how free a walk is and I did some deep thinking.
 
I was right to be weary of how my coach would hurt me after such a good workout a few days ago. He scheduled a 30min power test today. 😳

There’s a great road for this out east called Honey Springs - 6.9miles, 1870 vertical feet, 5.2% avg grade, very little downhill and no stops. Last time I did that climb was May ‘24, during my last power test where I set my 30min power PR. So the comparison is solid. Drum roll….

Crushed it. New 30min power PR is +28w, +11%. 18mon of training for 11% is fucking solid! 🥳

IMG_4020.jpeg


I cut 2:12 off the Honey Springs climb, down to 35:23. One kinda funny thing. I was on the verge of passing out at the end of the 30min. My HR hit 190bpm and vision had gone blurry. But at 30:01, I hit the lap button, dropped the power 50w, and felt fine. My body just turned back on and I rode to the top lol. I rode another hour at 190w, got to the truck, and went to Taco Bell for some bean burritos 🤪

IMG_4022.jpeg
 
stangmx13 said:
I was right to be weary of how my coach would hurt me after such a good workout a few days ago. He scheduled a 30min power test today. 😳

There’s a great road for this out east called Honey Springs - 6.9miles, 1870 vertical feet, 5.2% avg grade, very little downhill and no stops. Last time I did that climb was May ‘24, during my last power test where I set my 30min power PR. So the comparison is solid. Drum roll….

Crushed it. New 30min power PR is +28w, +11%. 18mon of training for 11% is fucking solid! 🥳

View attachment 587678

I cut 2:12 off the Honey Springs climb, down to 35:23. One kinda funny thing. I was on the verge of passing out at the end of the 30min. My HR hit 190bpm and vision had gone blurry. But at 30:01, I hit the lap button, dropped the power 50w, and felt fine. My body just turned back on and I rode to the top lol. I rode another hour at 190w, got to the truck, and went to Taco Bell for some bean burritos 🤪

View attachment 587679
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Victory Burritos!

Congrats on creating MORE power.

Almost 1900 feet of very over seven miles sounds like sore buns. Tell your coach I said he’s a meanie. 🤭

Did you basically climb straight up a wall?
 
stangmx13 said:
~5% is an avg CA climb. “Walls” tend to be 12+%. I think the steepest long climb I did last year was Otay Mtn Truck Trail - 2800ft in 5.25mi, 10%.
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Jesus. I felt all beastly getting 819 feet in like ten miles yesterday. :laughing

But hey, guess whose cardio capacity is steadily improving? Guess who also will not be riding any walls, please and thank you. :laughing
 
stangmx13 said:
Def beastly. And I’m sure you’ll have fun moving your goal posts as you improve.
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Strava is helping me track climbs. Being a dopamine addict, I now know a single 500 foot climb will set my record. I live at the base of mountains. Apple Maps says I have a 3000 foot, 9 mile long climb to the summit of the little pass and lots of other options.

Today? I rested. I am exhausted and not sure why.
 
The last 6 months of 2025 I worked to loose 90 pounds. This year I want to distribute the rest of the fat to muscle. Good luck.

Now my girlfriend says she doesn't want no skinny man. Don't want no, don't want no, .. .. ...
 
Holeshot said:
Maybe a Hip Hook? These work wonders for back pain, IME.

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My hips are okay. They just got a little sore on the NordicTrack.

It’s the tendinitis that’s still being a brat. And my right shoulder (multiple sprains from bicycle/horseback injuries as a kid). Although I wouldn’t be surprised if I was carrying all sorts of tension from compensating for this that and the other that I’m totally unaware of.

Time for a massage.
 
I rode my butt off yesterday and slept horribly last night. WTF.
 
PT and Tai Chi #1 done an hour ago.

Fucking dealing with the pain... and frustration of the healing going so damn slow. Thinking of getting one of these for below my desk.
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It would allow some warm up before doing my thing. I have noted the pain is less when at home and I start with a 10-20 min bike ride.

:afm199
 
Climber said:
Most of the people who get those machines use them about as much as people who got rowing machines in the 80's. :laughing
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Probably true... but I think I would use it every day I am at the office which is 7 days a week right now and will be usually 6 once I get healthy enough to ride.
 
IMO, a walk will be well better. Getting out of the office chair several times during the work day is important, especially for chronic back pain. I'm with Brett on how much those things actually get used...instead you could try mounting a hook into a wall stud and use bands for ab/ resistance exercises while on phone calls, etc.
 
However... I am still limpy on a cane so real walking is not an option yet unless you consider 25 steps a walk. I am feeling like I will still be working this BS at 6 mos. at least. Probably 9.

I walk to the restroom several times a day. :laughing
 
two wheel tramp said:
I rode my butt off yesterday and slept horribly last night. WTF.
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That’s not unreasonable. All the extra stress can make it hard to sleep well. A few years ago, hard rides would make my whole body hot for the entire day which would prevent me from sleeping. Also, hard efforts often impact my diet. If I end up really hungry and eat right before bed, I’ll sleep worse. And I’ll sleep worse if I don’t refuel well.
 
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