Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
  • Get Started
    • Create Zwift Account
    • How To Get Started On Zwift
    • Zwift Course Maps
    • How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More)
    • Women’s Racing on Zwift
    • Links Every Zwifter Must Have
    • More “Get Started” Posts
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Training & Nutrition
    • Racing
    • Zwift Hacks
  • Reference
    • How Zwift Works
    • Course Calendar
    • RoboPacer Calendar
    • Climb Portal Calendar
    • Route of the Week Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Game Updates
    • Smart Trainer Index
      • Current Models
      • Exhaustive Trainer List
    • Achievements & Unlocks
      • XP Basics for Riders
      • XP Basics for Runners
      • Kit Unlock Codes
      • Master List of Badges
    • Frames & Wheels
    • Routes & Maps
      • Master List: Routes
      • Master List: Climb Portal
      • Master List: KOMs
      • Master List: Sprints
      • Master List: Rebel Routes
      • Downloadable Watopia Map
      • Printable List of Routes by Difficulty
    • Speed Tests
    • Tiny Races
  • Women
    • Race Calendar
    • Why race?
    • Women’s Teams
    • Racer Spotlights
    • More Women’s Racing posts
  • Shop
    • Watopia Map and Other Posters
    • ZI Indoor Cycling Kit
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Get Started
    • Create Zwift Account
    • How To Get Started On Zwift
    • Zwift Course Maps
    • How to Race on Zwift (Setup, Strategy, and More)
    • Women’s Racing on Zwift
    • Links Every Zwifter Must Have
    • More “Get Started” Posts
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Training & Nutrition
    • Racing
    • Zwift Hacks
  • Reference
    • How Zwift Works
    • Course Calendar
    • RoboPacer Calendar
    • Climb Portal Calendar
    • Route of the Week Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Game Updates
    • Smart Trainer Index
      • Current Models
      • Exhaustive Trainer List
    • Achievements & Unlocks
      • XP Basics for Riders
      • XP Basics for Runners
      • Kit Unlock Codes
      • Master List of Badges
    • Frames & Wheels
    • Routes & Maps
      • Master List: Routes
      • Master List: Climb Portal
      • Master List: KOMs
      • Master List: Sprints
      • Master List: Rebel Routes
      • Downloadable Watopia Map
      • Printable List of Routes by Difficulty
    • Speed Tests
    • Tiny Races
  • Women
    • Race Calendar
    • Why race?
    • Women’s Teams
    • Racer Spotlights
    • More Women’s Racing posts
  • Shop
    • Watopia Map and Other Posters
    • ZI Indoor Cycling Kit
More
    Training & Nutrition

    Couch to Route Hero, Active Rest Week Done

    Monica Schlange
    By Monica Schlange
    March 3, 2020
    LAST UPDATED March 3, 2020
    16

    Editor’s note: Monica is undertaking the “Couch to Route Hero” challenge of riding all 67 “free-ridable” Zwift routes (and getting all the badges) in 11 weeks. Each week she shares her story of the previous week’s struggles and accomplishments. Follow along on her journey, take the challenge yourself, and be sure to give her a Ride On if you see her on course!


    I’ve found there are two horrible things about taking an active rest week. The biggest one is that you can’t eat as much as you do on the big ride weeks. Sad. The second is the feeling of guilt and sadness as you pine for your bike. “It’s okay, little bike. I’ll be back. It’s not you, it’s me.”

    On Monday I rode the Volcano Climb route for the badge and while I did finish I just didn’t have anything in me for that ride. Both Sunday and Monday I had a sore throat and general fatigue. Also, my left hip/lower back/leg weren’t really happy with me anymore. A handful of people had told me I might consider a rest week in the middle of this 11-week challenge and it seemed my body was beginning to agree with them. So with bravery I resigned myself to an active rest week. 

    The Rides Lined Up

    Because I didn’t decide until Monday that I’d take time off I did end up getting one badge this week, making that 48 done!

    Route completed: Watopia’s Volcano Climb

    The ACTIVE part of the rest week

    Wednesday I rode Watopia’s Tick Tock (which I already have the badge for). It took me 47 minutes as I forced myself to stay in Zone 1. That was HARD to do! I averaged 71 watts, trying to keep my heart rate between 105-110bpm. Haha! Was I even riding?

    Thursday I walked outside. It was a warm, sunny day here in Northern California. As I was about to leave I called up to Eric, “I’m going on a walk!” He yells. “Have fun!” I inform him, “I won’t have fun. It’ll be slow. I’m walking. Slow isn’t fun! Fast is fun!” And there it is, folks! My first time finally realizing what Zwift’s new tagline meant! Fast is fun! So true!

    On Friday I rode Innsbruckring. A whole 8 miles on the bike since I was trying to stay in Zone 1 again. I averaged 81 watts, this time with a goal of keeping my heart rate between 110-120. That kept me just inside Zone 1 but let me push the ride just a little bit more than when I rode Tick Tock.

    Saturday found me itching to just ride again already. I no longer had a sore throat or fatigue. My body was feeling better after going to the chiropractor on Wednesday. He said I must use my left side more as my hip was so tight it was rotating my entire pelvis in that direction anytime I moved. No wonder I was in pain! Since I was feeling better by now I really had to resist the temptation to give a real effort. Instead, I stayed in a lower Zone 2: 115-125 bpm, averaging 81 watts.

    The NON-ACTIVE part of the rest week

    I found I was really behind on some projects at home and at work since I started this whole challenge. Riding was consuming more and more of my time so each of my real jobs were being done more sloppily. This week I caught up on projects. What a relief!

    I also decided that my brain really needed a rest week as well. Remember the time I almost jumped out of my skin during a ride because of Eric sneezing while I was intensely concentrating? This was my week to let the brain relax. So I quit berating myself over food choices and I ate a piece of cake mid-week. And I sat out in the sun during some of my lunch times instead of trying to catch up on work while I ate. And I put my loud cycling music on while I cleaned instead of listening to a podcast. Little things that made a difference to me.

    Lastly, I was intentional about doing what my chiropractor told me to do: use the Accugun on my hip and IT bands, do plank exercises, and continue to stretch my legs for long amounts of time. 

    What I learned

    This is the first time in my entire life I’ve ever started to get sick and was able to stop myself from it. Between the active rest week, taking my supplements, praying and sleeping well things turned around for me! So exciting!

    It was apparent in the first half of the week that I was slacking off about drinking lots of water. Drinking lots of water during a rest week is still important. I ramped that back up.

    And my biggest aha moment came when Eric told me one key system the body uses when trying to recover from hard effort rides: the immune system! THIS EXPLAINS SO MUCH! 

    Coming up this week

    Since I already rode one of Route Badge Quest routes this week I’ll finish up with the other 4. Likely riding Tour of Fire & Ice, Greatest London Loop, Surrey Hills, and the 2018 UCI Worlds Short Lap in Innsbruck. 

    Coming up this month: London PRL Full

    I’m planning to do a world-wide group effort on the London PRL Full! Read all about it here and start preparing now to join me!

    How about you? 

    What did you do this week?

    Related Posts

    Facebook
    Twitter
    Pinterest
    ReddIt
      Monica Schlange
      Monica Schlange
      Monica wears many hats but the three most important to her are: GranMo of a little granddaughter, Mom, and Wife to Zwift Insider editor Eric. A casual cyclist, her resolve is stronger than her legs, which still gets her pretty far! She enjoys trying new things on Zwift that others find intimidating so she can write about the experience and inspire others to push themselves as well.

      16 COMMENTS

      Subscribe
      Notify of
      guest

      guest

      16 Comments
      Oldest
      Newest Most Voted
      Inline Feedbacks
      View all comments
      wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz

      Get Started on Zwift

      Sign Up (Free Trial)
      Buy Zwift Ride
      Buy KICKR CORE One
      Read More...

      Newest Featured Posts

      Zwift Offers Free Play Controllers To Level 85+ Riders

      Hardware/Equipment

      Join the CommuniTTTy: On-Demand Zwift Time Trialing!

      Racing

      Support This Site

      Write a post, shop through us, donate or advertise. Learn more

      NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

      Zwift tips and news every 2 weeks! Click to subscribe.

      More Posts

      Zwift Will Not Be Hosting an Elite Zwift World Series This Fall

      Racing

      Zwift Charts: Climb Portal Growth

      Routes & Maps

      Friday Night Fun Races Announced

      Events

      Zwift Releases Fitness Trends Charts on Companion App

      Game Updates

      This community-driven site is maintained by Eric Schlange and a team of Zwift enthusiasts. Zwift Insider is independent of Zwift corporate (www.zwift.com), although Zwift does provide funding to help defray site costs.

      This site contains affiliate links to Amazon, Wahoo, and other brands. Zwift Insider makes a small commission on purchases made from these links, so please shop through them to support our efforts.

      Terms of Use/DMCA Copyright Policy

      Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent

      [email protected]

      Latest articles

      “Hautacam” Climb Portal Details

      Zwift Route of the Week Schedule

      Notable Zwift Events for the Weekend of July 12-13

      Popular Categories

      • Racing1509
      • Events1014
      • News833
      • Training & Nutrition712
      • Interviews564
      • Routes & Maps447
      Comment Author Info
      :wpds_smile::wpds_grin::wpds_wink::wpds_mrgreen::wpds_neutral::wpds_twisted::wpds_arrow::wpds_shock::wpds_unamused::wpds_cool::wpds_evil::wpds_oops::wpds_razz::wpds_roll::wpds_cry::wpds_eek::wpds_lol::wpds_mad::wpds_sad::wpds_exclamation::wpds_question::wpds_idea::wpds_hmm::wpds_beg::wpds_whew::wpds_chuckle::wpds_silly::wpds_envy::wpds_shutmouth:
      16
      0
      Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
      ()
      x
      | Reply
      You are going to send email to

      Move Comment

    • Related Posts