Thoughts before first race of 2023 Race Season (check out my 2023 race season schedule).

Since 2015, my riding has been very sporadic and training, especially structured training has been non-existent. This is because I returned to school full time to study Civil Engineering. I wanted to continue to ride, but my class load did not allow for it.

Mid-COVID in 2019, I decided to make a comeback and began training again. I had a solid 6-month period of training, and my power numbers were looking pretty solid. I did not have any training goals, or a race schedule determined per se, my initial goal was to get back some good fitness to hang with the local fast riders. 

Come February 5, 2020, disaster struck.

While skiing in Colorado, (not doing anything crazy) I fell and ended up tearing my ACL. After months of physical therapy, I finally got ACL replacement surgery in June of 2020. Recovery and post-surgery PT were tough and painful. Recovery seemed to take forever, and I still was not allowed to ride a bike yet.

Once I achieved about a 90° bend in my leg, my physical therapist allowed me to get on the reclined stationary bike. It was not a real bike, but I was happy to be able to spin the legs again. Then shortly after, I was allowed to right the upright stationary bike and my bike trainer.

Fast Forward to May of 2022, the second comeback (do not call it a comeback) begins. I decided to prioritize cycling and made a goal to get fast again. I started out slow to easy back into it, then purchased a structure training plan (16 weeks of Sweet Spot: Fascat).

Since returning for the 2023 race season, I have upped my volume to 14-15 hours a week with regularly scheduled rest weeks planned in. Except for approximately three weeks total, I have been consistently riding and hitting all my planned workouts.

I have increased my FTP by about 80 Watts, and I am hitting power numbers I have not seen I quite a few years. Overall, I am feeling healthy, and I have lost quite a bit of weight and I am almost to my race weight. I am feeling highley motivated for the 2023 race season.

I have dedicated a lot of time to this 2023 race season journey. Though, I may never win any races being out there and mixing it up with the fast riders is what I enjoy so much. I expect some ups and downs along the way, but I will keep pushing on. Thank you for everyone who has supported me along the way.

I have some upcoming reviews that I excited to share. If you enjoy my blogs and reviews. I ask you to support the companies I share with you.

The 2023 race season is coming with a lot of expectations. First of all, I want to win one race and place 10 ten in a few races. Easier expectations are to meet new people and make lots of friends. I want to motivate people to get on bikes so they too can experience some of the joy I regularly experience.

I hope to grow my following and bring value to the cycling and fitness community. I want to inspire and motivate people to become their best self is whatever form that is. If you see me out there, say hi.

Follow along on my 2023 race season journey. I will be giving race recaps and hopefully be getting some podium action too. Subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with the latest info at jaylocycling.com.

I want to thank all those close to me, mainly my sweetie Sarita (see picture below) any my loving mother, that support me in so many ways. It is impossible to show enough gratitude through simple blogs or social media posts. I would not be able to go on this 2023 race season journey if it was not for them.