Thanks for the links Sid. The university pool is only a mile away, so there's a good chance I'll take the plunge, on snowy or sub-zero (F) days at least. I wonder if I can reserve a lane by the side . . . ?
Abide, yeah, consistency over the high frequency/full-body routine is working its magic. But curiously, I've also come to appreciate Wendler's approach, especially the start easy part, and possibly the deloading part too. I've deloaded both the SLDL and P Row recently, and there's something to that. I've also deloaded the Bench Press by once again linking it to my Press at a 3:2 ratio, to help with my sore thumb. Now I'm thinking of deloaded the squats 5-10 pounds, but I'm closing in on my old 1RM PR, as projected from my 5RM, so I think I will continue until I hit that at least. The Press should also be at my former 1RM PR by the end of this cycle. And I'll begin microloading the Pulldowns in earnest next week. So yeah, I'm loving the simplicity, micro-loading, and frequency, although just yesterday I wondered a bit about trying a two-day split routine again at some point. But for the moment, the mindless do-it-every-time rhythm is working.
I'm also getting better about letting the workout play out as a whole, which makes deloading certain lifts easier mentally. Instead of chasing specific load goals for each lift, it's more about how the entire workout or my whole body feels at the end. Squats still drive everything though, so it's hard not to push the load there a bit. And it would be nice to top 300 lbs 1RM by the end of the year, if my knee will allow it. Then it would be nice to top out somewhere around 350 sometime next year, after which I would probably call it a day and focus on bringing up some of the other lifts.
BA you're putting amazing mileage. Should kick ass on your race.
I'm also enjoying the inherent easiness of cycling. You really can just coast at an easy pace most of the time if you like, but I will probably do the opposite of BA and Chris and start pushing the pace a bit more when I have more confidence in my knee and my updated gear set-up is finalized. I think I'm more of a tempo pace sort of guy, for fitness purposes, although I appreciate the wonders of a purely aerobic pace too, and that was the way I traveled by bicycle, obviously. You can't do tempo for eight hours straight with a loaded bike, you have to stay aerobic most of the time, discounting hills/mountains of course. And if I were to go out everyday, as BA and Chris do, I would probably stay aerobic too.
I would like to get in more climbing, but the Twin Cities is relatively flat for the most part. Just a few places down by the river . . .
It's interesting you bring that up about Wendler, I think I overshot my strength levels especially with the 5 rep sets and will probably drop down the maxes next week. I was hoping of skipping the deload week and I think it will be fine with a drop in weights. I have also lost a significant amount of strength over the last few months that I wasn't expecting... The main reason I went with his plan was to coincide the 6 weeks left with 2 cycles. Now I am thinking maybe I'll keep the wendler thing going until I stall out eventually or get bored with it. I think its meshing pretty well right now. I am adding in some daily back work though, the importance of a strong back was very evident at Leadville.
I'm still bouncing around with goals for the rest of the cycle too, I really want to drop 10 lbs. and I think it might be a good time to do it. Need to wirte my race report too. Alright better get to work!
I was also thinking of doing some speed work on the bike like you, I have a nice stretch of straight 8k that I think I could push a couple of times a week.