PIG Week 4

I just finished the first four weeks of the Performance Improvement Guarantee program and it was tough. When you start, it says it's going to be hard and it was. This week will be a recovery week followed by another test to reset my CP30. I'm excited and worried at the same time. I want to see how much I've improved but I'm scared because the CP30 will reset the level of effort for the next four weeks. The last four were tough, how much harder will the next four be?

PIG Week 4 Session 1 Intervals

This had to be the hardest interval workout yet. The 20 minutes at 225 Watts wasn't too bad but the 2 x 10 minutes at 240 were tough. I almost didn't make the last minutes of the second interval.

Cycling Peaks

If you're going to try the Computrainer PIG, I think you have to buy Cycling Peaks ERG software. It makes creating the interval sets a breeze. I tried to create an interval set using notepad and it was painful. In about five minutes with Cycling Peaks ERG software, I had created the first four interval sets.

Ouch

I don't know what I did but while delivering cat shelters, I tweaked my foot. Sitting at home with ice and elevation.

PIG Week 3 Session 2 Tempo

I'm finally motivated enough to do the first workout on Monday instead of Tuesday. I'm still starting with the second workout first but I like to start the week with the tempo workout.

Another good workout but I have to work on holding back just a little. The tempo was supposed to average 205 for 45 minutes but I averaged 213. I'm also having trouble with the silver man. I set his average to 205 and when I average 205, he keeps getting away. Maybe it's time to slow him down.

PIG End of Week 2

So far, I am impressed with the PIG training plan. It has me working harder than I have in the past. I need to work on the scheduling a little more and insert a recovery day or two into the week. I have a gap between the first workout but then the last three are back to back. I think if I can put a recovery between the second and third workout, it's going to be easier.

PIG Week 2 Session 1 Intervals

This week's interval set was a little easier mentally than last week's set. It was still tough and it makes killer minutes seem easy. 2 x 10 minutes at 225 and 4 x 5 at 240. Looks like the second set is to push the limit.

PIG Week 1 Session 3 Tempo

Two hard workouts down and one more hard workout to go, another tempo set. This time is a little easier with 45 minutes @ 180 watts.

It definitely felt easier than session 2 tempo. I'm glad I have the rest of the day off.

PIG Week 1 Session 1 Intervals

And I thought the tempo session was going to be hard. Not when you compare it to the interval set. 2 x 10 minutes at 203 watts followed by 4 x 5 at 225 watts.

Talk about sweating buckets.

PIG Week 1 Session 2 Tempo

I wasn't modivated enough to start with session 1 intervals so why not start with session 2 tempo.

What was I thinking? 45 minute tempo set at 191 watts?

Well, I made it but it wasn't easy. This could be a long 20 weeks.

Critical Power 30 Test

After thinking about it for over a year, I've finally decided to take the Performance Improvement Guarentee challenge. The first step, the critical power 30 test to measure your average power over thirty minutes which will set the training levels for the first 5 weeks.

After a rather pathetic and half-hearted attempt on Friday, I decided to give it another try. Friday I averaged 195 watts and didn't feel too bad. On Saturday, I averaged 225 and definitely felt it at the end.

Now it's time to get ready to work.