Listening to your body!!!!!

Question: 05-23-08

Am I correct in listening to my body when it says that it can not keep going at this pace and it needs a little break? I have been trying to ramp up my training for Vineman. I personally do not want to take a break and I want to keep pushing, training harder, getting stronger and faster. However, this past week I have noticed that I just wasn’t firing on all cylinders. I wonder if that has anything to do with the lack of sleep I have been getting recently, or if it has anything to do with a lack of iron in my diet. Since having gastric bypass surgery, by last few blood tests have shown lower levels of Iron. I also know that this may cause fatigue. I wonder if this is what I am going through. Normally, I do not get anymore than maybe 5 hours at best of sleep each day during the week. So, I wouldn’t consider the lack of sleep to be the problem, maybe a day or two at best. However, this has gone on all week. It must be the iron….. Boy I can certainly use a nap at this time…
I was wondering technically, what gearing did you run in Arizona? Do you find yourself changing out your cassette specifically for the races you might enter? What gearing would you recommend for what type of course? Have you ever heard of the rotor Q cranks and sprockets.

Response; Generally, yes. But that's really a question for your coach or doctor
or both. Listening to your body is always a safe bet. Beyond that
(sleep, iron), I don't feel comfortable answering.

In terms of gearing, I ran a 11-23, which is suitable for most
courses. I have an 11-26 if the course is REALLY hilly, but generally,
most courses are not. However, you have to pick the gearing that is
appropriate to your ability. Most people would probably do fine with
an 11-23, but they should be running a 50/34 pair up front, not 53/39.
If you want to adjust your gearing, that is the change I'd recommend
to most people - get a compact crankset.

I know of the Rotor / Q-Rings. I'm generally an agnostic on them,
since I haven't used them. But I'm of the philosophy that,
physiologically, there is not "free lunch." So I'm automatically
skeptical of any product that advertises giving you something for
nothing...

Cheers,

Jordan