September came with a headwind of real life: work turned hectic, both me and my wife took turns traveling which meant solo-parenting shifts, and we kicked off a much‑needed home decluttering project. Add a nagging cold that seemed to loiter for days, and the month became a lesson in adjusting expectations and keeping the wheels turning—sometimes literally, sometimes not.

Month at a Glance (2025‑09‑01 to 2025‑09‑29)

• Total duration: 26 hours and 0 minutes
• Total distance: 221.8 km
• Total TSS (estimated): 948

Wellness

• HRV average: 56.0
• Resting HR average: 55.8
• Weight average: 74.7 kg

Quick takeaways

• Good consistency with short, intentional sessions when time was tight.
• Several days swapped to camping and hiking, which kept general activity and aerobic time ticking even if it wasn’t on the bike.
• A lingering cold and shifting schedules cut into planned intensity, especially late-month.

Week-by-Week

Highlights & themes

• Weeks one and two: a good combo of AM Z2 + PM sweet spot when healthy and at home.
• Week three: mostly camping & hiking (off‑bike aerobic) with minimal riding.
• Week four: back to structure, but a lingering cold capped intensity.

Notes on Context & Health

• Illness: A mild but persistent cold knocked out several quality sessions. I kept easy movement when possible and avoided digging a deeper hole.
• Life load: Solo‑parenting blocks and a promising home decluttering push added cognitive load. Worth it, but it compressed training windows.
• Data quirks: Some rides logged with TSS 0 (commutes/easy spins). They still served as low‑stress fillers to keep frequency.

What Worked

• Stacking intensity on good days: Pairing AM Z2 with PM sweet spot was efficient when the schedule cooperated.
• Using camping & hiking as aerobic glue: Kept total hours up and maintained the habit of daily activity.
• Short runs around 30–45 minutes slotted nicely on busy days and helped with general aerobic balance.

What Didn’t (and What I’ll Adjust)

• Illness management: Next time I’ll pull back sooner at the first signs, prioritize sleep, and protect the next hard day.
• Over‑ambitious weekly targets: With work and family travel, I’ll plan fewer “must‑hit” sessions and add optional backups.
• Strength training frequency: I’d like to hold two sessions per week, even if one is a 20–30 minute minimum viable session.

October Plan (Flexible by Design)

The original plan through October–December had a steady rhythm of Z2 commutes, sweet spot, threshold, and long endurance rides. Given the current life load, I’m going to rethink the structure to fit better:

• Anchors: One long Z2 ride each week and one quality session (sweet spot or threshold).
• Fillers: Short Z2 runs (30–40 minutes) or easy spins on tight days.
• Strength: Two short full‑body sessions (even 20–30 minutes counts).
• Health guardrails: If HRV dips or the cold lingers, I’ll swap intensity for Z2 or full rest.

Calendar (planned, subject to tweak)

• Z2 runs, strength sessions, AM Z2 commutes, PM sweet spot blocks, and a weekly long Z2 ride. There’s also an FTP test penciled in for 2025‑10‑26—I’ll keep it if I stay healthy for two solid build weeks prior.

Closing Thoughts

This month was not about peak numbers—it was about keeping momentum when life got louder. I’m happy I kept the chain unbroken most days, even if the links looked different. October’s goal is to do the important things well, accept the constraints, and keep building the aerobic engine one hour and one minute at a time.