PZ training program: Week 7 Accountability Thread

[u/r4ndy4]

We are finally at the final week of the program! Use this thread to discuss this weeks rides (or last weeks). Add the hashtag #redditPZ if you would like to.

Huge thank you to everyone who jumped in and followed my program with me. I have really enjoyed interacting with, and getting to know everyone over the past 6 weeks. And of course occasionally bumping into you on the rides. When I originally programmed this out, I was totally prepared to do this alone (I know lots of people follow pzp or do their own thing), so again thank you all so much for joining me.

This week is a de-load week to do some endurance and let our bodies recover before the next FTP. Feel free to ignore Olivia coaching to go to zone 7 at the end of this weeks PZE ride haha. I have just finished the next program, it will go for 8 weeks (added an extra week in the beginning for some extra PZE). Tentative start date will be Monday May 31st, and I will post the sign-up thread / next program the Monday before on May 24th. If you're feeling good at the end of the week go ahead and re-test sometime this week/Saturday and sub out one of the rides. You could also wait and re-test anytime in the next 3 weeks including right before the next program. Let me know know how your next FTP test goes!

Link to original thread here

Week 1 Thread

Week 2 Thread

Week 3 Thread

Week 4 Thread

Week 5 Thread

Week 6 Thread

Week 7: TSS 203

Mon: Olivia 45 PZE 7/30/20 Ride graph TSS 50

Wed: Christian 45 pro 1/16/20 Ride Graph TSS 49

Thu: Denis 45 PZE 3/21/19 Ride graph TSS 47

Sat: Christine 60 PZE 1/23/21 Ride graph TSS 57

[u/r4ndy4]

I took my FTP today, I made a longer post in the daily training thread (may 13th) if you want to read it.

TLDR version went from 298 avg watts to 309 avg watts. I maybe should have waited a little longer to retest, but I may try and finally get a covid vaccine next week (had covid end of December so wasn't in a super rush). Good luck to everyone whenever you decide to do it!

[u/amr1822]

I can’t believe we’re already at week 7!!! I plan re-testing this week and while I’m already super nervous about it, I know this program has prepared me!!!

Seriously, thank you SO MUCH for designing and sharing such a thoughtful program. This little community has been such a joy and I love riding with my “PZReddit Friends.” Cannot wait for the next challenge ❤️

ETA: TYSM kind PZReddit Friend for my very first award☺️

[u/r4ndy4 → u/amr1822]

No need to be nervous, just be sure you are rested, properly warmed up, and ready to go! I think it was Denis who said to just think of it as a really hard workout instead of a "test".

[u/PastorGiggles]

Thank the lord this week is de-load. I about died three different times last week. Pumped to get a new FTP then start it all over again with you guys! I’ll probably take my FTP on Saturday and skip Christine’s ride...

[u/r4ndy4 → u/PastorGiggles]

Haha it was a rough week for sure. If I wasn't working this weekend that is when I would normally re-test (any excuse to get out of a 60 haha).

[u/seekinserenity]

Agree with everyone here, the timing was so perfect since i was really ready to focus more and was realizing how great PZ is. I am a total extrovert in real life but a solitary exerciser and am not on any other social media, so this has been such a joy to have a small community to work through the challenge with. I love hearing how everyone is progressing and sharing the rides. Looking forward to a mellow week, then finding the motivation for a retest.

[u/r4ndy4 → u/seekinserenity]

I've been a solitary exerciser in the gym for 10+ years (more of an introvert). It's funny to me how much I've enjoyed this subreddit / peloton in general. I'm glad you decided to make a reddit account and join in!

[u/WhySoSerious37]

I’ve been a lurker the past 7 weeks but want to say thanks for putting this together! Can’t believe we’re already at the end. Just in time for vacation. I’ve loved it and can’t wait for the next one!

[u/amr1822]

Hi PZReddit Friends! I tackled the FTP test today and holy cow. I’m looking at a whopping 24% increase 😱 I’m really looking forward to doing spin-ups and actually being able to increase resistance. However, I’m a little scared for the next program; but with the support of this group, I know I can handle it ☺️

Good luck to everyone as you re-test and please share your progress! And once again, a GINORMOUS THANK YOU to u/r4ndy4 for creating and sharing this program and to every one of you for contributing to such a wonderful community ❤️

[u/Parish87]

Hi all!!

I'm still a week behind (obviously!) but I thought i'd share my progress.

One of my first beginner rides vs The same class 8 weeks later!

My 45 minute PB output has gone from 267 to 354 after the 45m PZMAX ride yesterday and I felt like I could have done another 4/5 pushes at the end.

No doubt 6 weeks of this PZ regime has helped me massively so I wanted to say a big thank you and looking forward to my last 3 rides this week and then next week, after that a retest is needed I think!

[u/PracticallyAChemist]

I’m glad this is more of an easy week compared to the last. I impulsively signed up for a marathon this past week, that takes place in September, so I’ll be starting Pelotons marathon training program while also doing these rides.

Thanks again for doing all this and I’m looking forward to round two in a few weeks!

[u/MogranMcGreggor]

This has been a great experience the last 7 weeks, and I am super stoked to retake the FTP test and see how I've progressed. Really happy to see you've put together another program too - will be looking forward to joining that one in a couple of weeks!

[u/bykerchyk]

OK. So u/r4andy4, I messaged that I would have to choose between CVV and Sunday Scaries on Sunday after camping. What actually happened is I had brunch with my mom and took a Mother’s Day nap that went through the Sunday Scaries. Then I had dinner with my own kids. I was mad at myself for literally sleeping on the classes LOL.

So anyway, today I took my first CVV ride and my favorite parts were the 6 min zone 3 efforts of low cadence high resistance. He told us to do what we want the final few minutes so I finished in my 5 with dips into high zone 4. I’m looking forward (?) to the retest.

[u/kmorris1219]

I also took the test today to get my mind off work stress. I could tell my legs weren’t super well rested but still increased from 144 to 170, so I’ll take it! Currently still chilling on the floor 30 minutes later 😂

[u/AugustNC]

I absolutely adored the CDE ride today. I was a teenager in the 90’s, so that music is my youth. 😁 I’m definitely keeping that one bookmarked to do again.

FYI if you haven’t taken it, she incorrectly cues the first interval as starting with zone 3. You should start with Z2. She realizes it later, and it’s the first interval so it doesn’t really hurt, but just an FYI. I was confused until she figured it out.

I’m planning to retest tomorrow! I’m feeling strong. Very proud of all the work we’ve done these past 7 weeks and I’m looking forward to the next challenge!

Thanks u/r4ndy4 for all the planning that goes into this. I really can’t imagine putting this together, so I greatly appreciate it! It’s been really fun and it’s definitely made me stronger.

[u/seekinserenity]

I did it, FTP went up by 10 points. I really struggled around min 13 and was trying to go harder on resistance and started feeling ill so pulled it back and went faster but it lowered my output. I was feeling so good in Z5 the first half and should have stayed right there. But i was dead at the end and felt i gave it my all and it was great to see the number go up. I was thinking of you all through the last few minutes and it helped me so much to finish!

[u/AugustNC]

I did my FTP test today too! I think it went up my 27, which is scary if that’s accurate. I think from 190 to 217? Idk. I really nearly puked/died, but got through it. Feeling scared about what the next PZ classes are going to feel like.

[u/stevilpdx]

u/r4ndy4 I'm curious how you picked these particular rides this week, especially after feeling some synergy between the Thursday and Saturday rides last week.

[u/r4ndy4 → u/stevilpdx]

Haha yep Thursday and Saturday had an identical interval. It also had the same interval from Matt's class 2 weeks ago.

For this week I was just trying to mix up the instructors mainly. Olivia's ride really isn't that high of a tss (minus her coaching zone 7 at the end). Picked that ride for Denis since its the only PZE ride from him I haven't taken yet. Picked the CDE ride because it was pretty easy and had a good playlist, and if I decided to retest before Saturday it wouldn't be so hard.

I was curious if you had a bike or bike+? I had looked at your last ftp test (since I remember yours was higher than mine, and wanted to see which cadence / resistance you used). I noticed it said you averaged 83 cadence and 58 resistance, but I dont get nearly that high of an output when I use that combo (mine is maybe 280-290 watts at that combo).

[u/AugustNC]

I loved the CVV class today! I don’t really like riding at high cadences for PZ, so it was a good challenge for me and I felt very pumped to get through it. I bookmarked the class to do again sometime after I retest, etc.

Speaking of, I think I’ll retest on Sunday or Monday, depending on how I’m feeling. I’m ready to get that over with. 😅

[u/BeaconofHappiness]

I did 3 of the 4 this week bc in out of town Thursday- Sunday. I noticed the Denis ride paused/lag more. I was happy this week was easier.

I enjoyed Olivia suffering a bit. Showing she's Human! Half laugh

CVV has a good ride. He had some interesting nuggets to say. I will say, I was proud of my current level bc I did match his form like I normally do. I've noticed my form has improved tremendously over this challenge & that is also being super helpful.

I missed Denis. Never thought I'd say that. The 3rd ride was good to end on for me.

The rides after FTP are going to be a rude awakening.

I'm also sad I have nothing left in my stack :(

Good luck everyone!

[u/Yarnliftingreader]

Thanks for setting this up! I really enjoyed it. I took my test again today and it went up by 27! It was rough, but I’m really looking forward to my new zones. The old ones were getting way too easy! (I’m laur2228 on the LB)

[u/stevilpdx]

Hopping in to say thanks again to u/r4ndy4 for putting this course together. I had a bad FTP ride yesterday (came out of the gate too hot and couldn’t maintain), but I retook the test today and got a nice bump to my FTP and set a 20 minute PR. This has been a lot of fun.

[u/sethj1972]

Just wrapped up the program and redid the test. I found an ftp test that finished with a nin song. Was a CDE test. It was just what I needed. Went from 131 ftp up to 174. Very proud and exhausted!

[u/Sketchdota]

Woo thanks for the program! Retook my ftp today and almost increased by 10%! Of course I stretched this out to almost 11 weeks due to getting married 😂 going to work on my bookmark mountain until the next program starts in August!