are you ready to be heartbroken?

I've been having mechanical problems all week. A broken crank arm, a replacement chain, worn derailleur pulleys, a worn BB, a wheel hub overhaul..... I seem to be at Enosan's place every night.

Mechanical problems are nothing though compared to a broken body. “Heartbreak” is what Enosan calls it. When the heart refuses to respond. No matter how hard you push it, it refuses to respond. What causes this?

• Over training
• A lack of recovery
• Poor sleeping patterns
• The hot weather
• Dehydration

The warning signs were there yesterday. I did some intervals on the coast. The standard 30 / 90 s intervals seemed all well and good.

Returning into a headwind I tried to do 30 mins at 150HR. This is my staple winter training. I can hold this for hours on end, day after day. But not yesterday, I just couldn't hold it.

Today I did 2 climbs of a planned 3 climbs of Ishikawa Pass. This Pass is tough enough to get me up to 180HR when I'm going hard and going well.

Today I couldn't get above the low 140s. On the descents I was yawning away, really sleepy. Shouldn't be on the bike in these conditions.

I have three days to turn things around before Norikura. I can do it. Enosan's recommendation? Two days off the bike. 3 early nights. A light spin on the course on Saturday afternoon.

Not ready to be heartbroken just yet.

Tuesday's training: coast road (70 km, 200 m climbing)

Wednesday's training: Ishikawa Pass x 2 (50 km, 600 m climbing)