oxygen dep

[mjriebsc]

Lately I seem to blowing through HR zones really fast, and recovering from a hard effort during a ride seems to be non-existent.  Does anyone know what's going on?  I have been doing intervals, but I don't seem to be improving as fast as I want or should.  If I am improving at all.  I am sure it is the way that I am training, but have no clue on how to rectify the situation.  Anyone have suggestions?  Alex your input would be much appreciated.

[Aiar(Izzy)]

exactly what are you doing? how many times you are riding a week, what type of intervals you are doing, what type of recovery?

are you doing any long rides?

[Vanessa]

sounds like you're overtrained/not recovering between intensity workouts!  get some sleep, dammit!

[SHASTA]

Yeah, get more sleep. Drink water. You'll be fine.

[Vanessa]

i'm serious about the sleep.  changes in heart rate is generally due to one of three things:  temperature, hydration, and fatigue.  it's not that hot down there yet, is it?  and i assume you haven't changed your drinking habits.  or maybe you have.  increase in caffeine or alcohol could be affecting you.

but i'm guessing it's fatigue, particularly since it doesn't sound like you are seeing improvement in spite of intensity work.  it's a vicious cycle:  you want to get faster, so you train too hard.  you don't get any faster, so you train even harder.  without rest, it's counterproductive.  you'll actually get slower.

fitness does not improve during hard efforts;  it improves as your body recovers from (adapts to) the stress of the workout.  take a week off.  take your pulse every morning, as soon as you wake up, and compare day one to day seven.  i bet you'll see a significant change. 

[architec]

drink beer

[mjriebsc]

thanks vanessa and i will consider the beer jeff.  I appreciate all the input.