Setbacks, Sickness, and Staying the Course
I haven’t posted in a few weeks, so here’s a quick training update.
My last post in January was about waning motivation. Ironically, that’s not why I’ve been quiet. The real reason? Life.
Still, after writing that piece, I took my own advice: just do the work. And like I said then, momentum creates momentum.
Between January 12 and 25, I logged seven rides totaling just over 100 miles and added three strength sessions. Nothing heroic — just consistent. The kind of steady work that builds a base.
Then real life stepped in.
In my role as an elected trustee for Palomar College, I attended a conference and legislative meetings in Sacramento. Thanks to the momentum I’d built, I even squeezed in a couple of Peloton rides while traveling.
I flew home on January 26th feeling a little tired and fighting a sore throat. By the next day, whatever flu bug was making the rounds had me firmly in its grip. For the next 12 days, the bike didn’t move. I barely moved.
On February 6, I attempted an easy post-flu ride, followed by a short endurance session the next day. It felt ok, but then it was off to Washington, DC for a national community college trustees conference and more advocacy meetings. Training that week? One ride.
It wasn’t until the week of February 16 that I truly regained momentum. In total, nearly three weeks of disrupted training. A setback - no question.
But here’s the part that matters: working with my coach we adjusted the plan. The last two weeks have been strong — 69 miles one week, 75 the next. My long rides have progressed from 18 miles back up to 30 miles as we gear up for the 60-mile San Diego Medio Fondo in April.
Progress resumed. Just not on my original timeline.
Some Key take-aways:
1. Have a plan — and hold it loosely.
It’s easy to build a beautiful plan in January and assume the year will unfold accordingly. It won’t. There will be work travel, family obligations, unexpected fatigue, and illness. The goal isn’t rigid perfection — it’s intelligent adjustment.
2. When you’re sick, recover.
At 62, I recover more slowly than I did at 32. That’s just reality. The best advice my coach gave me was simple: rest and get healthy. Don’t layer stress on top of illness.
My ego doesn’t love that. It wants to prove something. I read about pros riding through minor and major illness and pushing on. But I’m not a pro — and most of them are 40 years younger than I am. Longevity requires humility.
3. Don’t resume at full throttle.
You can’t jump back in where you left off. My first week back was intentionally light. Then we gradually rebuilt. Within three weeks, I was right where I needed to be for April. Smart progression beats forced intensity every time.
4. Keep the bigger goal in view.
Yes, I have events circled on the calendar. Yes, I want to ride strong in April. But ultimately, this isn’t about one ride. It’s about longevity and health span. Being strong at 70 and beyond — not just fast at 62. When I frame missed weeks in that context, the only real failure would be not getting back on the bike.
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Setbacks are part of the process. So are comebacks.
These are the lessons this month reminded me of. I’d love to hear what yours have been on your own health journey.
For now — enjoy the ride. 🚴♂️
