Ah, winter.
Had to shorten the last two workouts, one due to rain and one due to a late start in the day. (I would have been just fine a month ago, but the days are getting shorter dammit!) However, I seem to be doing about as well as ever--1:18 going up Page Mill--so I'm not too worried.
I've also discovered that on days when I eat a hearty breakfast (like, a plateful of spaghetti instead of half a melon), I have much more energy and don't have to spend half the way up talking myself out of giving up and going downhill. Food = blood sugar = mood. Henceforth I will eat a big breakfast before working out.
Not much else going on--I'm doing strength training about twice a week, not as often as I'd like but better than nothing. I'm definitely adding strength in the glutes and my core, don't know about the quads. Well, keep working on it, I guess.
I have now finished my book proposal and am back to working on the book. If I find a publisher, all bets are off--I'll gladly drop Markleeville in order to finish it for publication!
But in the meantime, I continue with maintenance training and wait for December.
I've also discovered that on days when I eat a hearty breakfast (like, a plateful of spaghetti instead of half a melon), I have much more energy and don't have to spend half the way up talking myself out of giving up and going downhill. Food = blood sugar = mood. Henceforth I will eat a big breakfast before working out.
Not much else going on--I'm doing strength training about twice a week, not as often as I'd like but better than nothing. I'm definitely adding strength in the glutes and my core, don't know about the quads. Well, keep working on it, I guess.
I have now finished my book proposal and am back to working on the book. If I find a publisher, all bets are off--I'll gladly drop Markleeville in order to finish it for publication!
But in the meantime, I continue with maintenance training and wait for December.
1 Comments:
Hi,
Just read your entries for your Deathride training. Interesting stuff...
I'm rediscovering the joys of cycling after a 10 year layoff. I've done the Deathride for the past two years with pretty much limited training for both but decided to continue training this time around. Did 4 passes both times - the first time cause I wasn't fit enough to do 5 and just missed the cutoff and the last time cause I must have eaten something "off" or mixed the wrong carbo drinks and spent about 90 minutes in various porta-potties in the second climb of Monitor and the first time up Ebbetts.
Oh the joys of rediscovering the effects of long distance rides, altitude and a whole multitude of new foods to eat when riding.
Here's a good book to read on the subject. Written by Arnie Baker, who I believe is acting as one of the cycling/medical guru's currently advising Floyd Landis during his current 'woes', it's written specifically for the Deathride and as such has lots of tips on not just training but what to expect and what not to do on the ride itself. Well worth the $18.
I currently follow Arnies thinking that on the bike training is the way to go given limited time. You could always buy some free weights and do those at home, even though it is less glamarous that the gym. That said, it's a good way to wake you up first thing in the morning. The top pro's only put about 70Kg of force per pedal rev mid-sprint (say 1000watts) so I wouldn't go crazy on the weight. Just my 2cents though.
For some good power workouts, here's a link to an article written by my old cycling coach (when I lived in England). He coached many a national champion as well as some riders who turned pro - Graham Jones who finished 20th in The Tour for Peugeot back in the 80's springs to mind.
How to effectively use an indoor trainer
http://www.abcc.co.uk/Articles/turbotrn1.html
All about interval training.
http://www.abcc.co.uk/Articles/int_train1.html
Yeah, indoor training is not fun, but it's hugely effective.
Hope you don't mind the ramblings and comments :)
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