The Abominable Triathlete

These are indeed the times that try our souls. And our sneakers. And our 5 shirts. It's amazing to me how deeply I have fallen into the local New England amnesia: "Awww, winter's not that bad!" I say this now...if any of you hear me say that this summer, smack me. Becuase this winter is bad. It is wreaking havoc with my training plan! I mean, didn't Old Man Winter get a copy of my assault on IM Arizona? Doesn't he know I need to be out on my bike for three hours this weekend?? Does he know no mercy???

Why We Need Winter
It makes us tougher. Sure, it's hard to watch the weather and see folks out in shorts and t-shirts on the Left Coast. But I think they are missing out on that extra layer of toughness that a 3+ hour trainer ride brings!

Take a moment and post a message on the PTS forum on how winter makes us tougher!

Train On!

~P

Jan 14th VO2 Test @ Casa del McCrann

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. During this test, I think I only got three words out: "Thirty....more....seconds!" This was my first VO2 Max test, and I will never go back.

Testing is important; real testing is really important.
A VO2 Max test captures the cardiovascular system's ability to utilize oxygen by measuring the volume of oxygen consumed while exercising at maximum capacity. Simply put, VO2 max is the maximum amount of oxygen in milliliters, one can use in one minute per kilogram of body weight. So you get a cool number, right? Well, you also get very specific heart rate zones as the equipment can determine the point at which your body relies less on fat as the primary energy source and begins to use carbohydrates as the key energy source. This point of exertion is called the anaerobic threshold (AT) and corresponds to the lactate threshold (LT).

Lot's of big words, right? Well, to make it simple, you can see the results of my run test here. (Note: This is a large PDF file, so it may take a while). You can also see the power zones as derived from my bike test here. As I use a PowerTap to measure my power output, I don't need to use my HRM alone to measure intensity any longer...this is a much more reliable, real-time source of data on my effort level.

My Zones
Based on AT testing from 2004, I though my run AT was 176 and my bike AT was 162. Thanks to this test, I discovered that my run AT is actually 164 and my bike AT is 151. In other words, all the time I thought I was in Zone 2, building my endurance, I was in that evil Zone 3 area for waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to long...reducing my ability to recover and reap the benefits of teaching my system to burn fat (instead of switching right to carbs). This explains why, when last year I went to training at a super low HR for my run (135-ish), that I say such phenomenal results (b/c it WAS my real Zone One!). There is something for subjectivity after all!

So class, what have we learned??? :-) Get Yourself Tested! Know your zones! Don't rely on old data for your new season! If you want the whole enchilada, contact Doug at Endurance Factor for info on VO2 testing, or contact me for an AT test. Either way, don't miss the boat...you season could be on board!!!

Happy Training,

Coach P

Moving forward in 2005...

If you are like me, then you are already way into your 2005, despite the fact that it's only been 10 days. If, like me, you are the kind of person who thinks 10 days is a lot of time (heck, it took God 7 days to make the world...well, 6 really), then you are well on your way to meeting the goals you set out for yourself in this new year. Or so you think...

Moving Forward...But Where Are You Headed???
Being athletes, our breed is typically fascinated by the energy we consume and expend. We eat and drink "energy" products like PowerBar, inifinIT and Accelerade. We slap computers on our bike like PowerTaps and SRMs to measure our wattage outputs. We wrap GPS transmitters (Timex) on our arms so we can chart our exact distance and pace, regardless of course. Some of you might even be like Lance, weighing all the food that enters your body. But where is all of this getting us? If all goes according to plan, we are hoping it will get us a faster time, a better placing a new athletic best. A worthy goal, no doubt. But we can't forget that as people, we don't run on carbs alone, and in terms of results, the finish line isnt' the only place we should focus our energy.

We Are Over-Achievers
Seriously, we are. Not content to "just exercise", we have specific exercises. Not content to "just eat", we have specific ideas of what is - and what isn't - good for us. We congratulate our co-workers on Friday (genuinely, of course!) on their 3rd trip to the gym that week, all the while thinking we've already logged 10 hours and are looking forward to a long-ride weekend and a long run (if the weather holds out!).

When Is Too Much Too Much?
I don't know personally (having multiple jobs myself), but I think we all have our limits. And being creatures of progress and technology, I believe it is easier now - more than any other time in history - to overload ourselves. I think we need to focus on getting back to basics. Here is a fantastic article by Jim Collins on how to craft a "Stop-Doing List" and how it can save you.

Visit the PTS Forum and let us know what you plan on STOPPING in 2005...

Happy Stopping,

Coach P