Satisfied with what I can do.

Are you satisfied with your workout results?  I bet most of us are not satisfied and if we are satisfied we tend to be humble.  Of course, we know a few braggarts, don't  we?

During my ride yesterday while I had to downshift to the granny gear to make it up the hill.  I was hit with a feeling disappointed. Luckily I quickly shifted by thinking, instead of my gears. I decided that I was pleased to still be able to do what I can.  This effort will serve as the  baseline for this year.

Throughout the riding months I will quite often do route multiple times.  Some sections will be timed segments on the Strava app and I will occasionally look and compare the last couple times on that section, but I am satisfied with self-assessing how I was feeling.

I just want to push myself as much as I can feel I can handle.  When I take my pulse during rides my range will be 90-110 beats per minute.   The chart at the fitness center described is range based on my age as the "Health Zone", 50-60%, which help fend off chronic disease like blood pressure and cholesterol.  I can also see benefits with helping these issues.  I got off the cholesterol medicine and now I need meds to help the BP. My pulmonary and asthma doctors say that my regular exercise help slow the decrease in lung function. In this zone I will be able to workout everyday.

When my heart rate increases during exercise to the point of the "Fitness Zone", 60-75%, I will start to wheeze and need to reduce my effort to calm my respiration down.  That is when I shift to easier gears.  If, by chance, I do a harder workout, I will do easier rides before I push it again.  

​I am happy to maintain what I have.