Note and Musings

Just finished the first week of "Back in the SaddlePlan" from Chris Carmichael's The Comeback Training Plan. Today is a rest day but while walking with two dogs in tow, okay I was in tow, I already noticed or felt more leg strength and improved aerobic capacity. actual or perceived, it feels good.

In the, "It's a Small World Dept," while reading The Time Crunched Cyclist also by Chris Carmichael, I saw a name that looked familiar. Carmichael had referred to research physiologist Jay T. Kearney and his work. Upon Googling Kearney's name, I looked at two hits. One was a YouTube video of Dr. Kearney lecturing on how to simulate high altitude training by introducing nitrogen into the air supply. (at least I think thats what it was). The other hit was a bio on Kearney. Not only had he held a position at NASA, the Olympic Training Center and with Carmichael Training Systems, he had also established Human Performance labs at the University of Kentucky AND Appalachian State University. Kearney was my physiology and kinesiology professor 100 years ago! My hat's off to him for his successes. I knew I should have paid attention in class!

Week Two begins Tuesday.

I will try to link my training log from bicycling.com for the minions to follow.

Tuesday

OKAY - I AM doing something but two things I will not do; 1. ride sick, 2. ride sub 45 maybe 40 degrees.

Rode the trainer the last two days - after having a cold for two weeks, it hurt but I did something. Tomorrow is a rest day but I will do some upper body work and reverse crunches, I promise!

Saturday called for a 30 mile ride @ pace.
Temps at 32 with windchill of 25, I chose to lift instead.
I have had my sport drink freeze before!
but I did SOMETHING!
Still cold, will probably do the Sunday ride on the trainer, work on climbing technique.

New Year 2010

It is time for my annual posting so here goes!

I have read a lot of stuff and tried a lot of things over the past year.

October being my best riding month since I bought the K2.



Inspiration/motivation - what is it, where does it come from? We are all inspired, lifted up, by successes like Lance Armstrong. Who can't be? But who can be Lance Armstrong? MY hatis off to him for what he has accomplished and what he has overcome.



I have tried to follow the cutting edge philosophies and therories presented in every recent publication I could find and read. Then, this past year, I stumbled across to interesting stories.



First was the story of Mike Magnuson as chronicled in his own book, "Heft on Wheels". Highly recommended reading. Mike's story of an overweight (255 lbs) college professor that smoked, dranked and pretty much partied with his grad students. But he did one little thing different. He rode a bike two hours a day. Not only did he lose weight, he began to compete...and win! (after he changed other things such as quitting smoking and a radical diet he recommends for no one! His book tells his story a lot better than I can! Please, if you are reading this, read his book.



Second is the story of Scott Cutshall. Scott is somewhat recluse. I think he shut down his blog. His story can be seen on Bicycling Magazines website. I will attempt to link his story at the end of this post. Long story short, Scott lost 331 lbs in just over two years. He weighed 501 lbs and left the doctors office to go home and die. The doctor told him that without biriatric surgery and he had only a 50% chance of making it out of the operating room. Scott sat by his living room window and saw a man go by on a bicycle. That was his inspiration.

So what will I do differently in 2010? Nike says, 'Just Do it'! I would say, 'Just Do SOMETHING!" I am taking a less agressive approach, I will do something daily! I am taking the easiest course I have found in any cycling training program and I will build from there. I PROMISE monthly updates minimum!

Other readings I have found inspirational/motivational are:

The New Cyclist Handbook by Bicycling Magazine
Training Techniques for Cyclist by Bicycling Magazine
Bike for Life byt Roy M. Wallack and Bill Katovsky

Happy New Year Cycling!
TB

www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-1-323-21443-1,00.html