Racing w/ Power

Found this realy instuctive racing with power article.

FAQ for training with power

FAQ for training with power

A Huge Collection of Cycling Email List

Lists - Cyber Cyclery email archives

Lava Salts

Lava Salts might help me not get those awfull chills and shakes I got last race.

Anyone ever use these thingies?

My Shoes Have a Spec?

I never thought I'd own a pair of shoes that came with a spec. It makes sense though considering how much time one spends on these suckers.

I'm not really sure when exactly to buy new shoes but I purchased these after 260 miles. I picked them up at the running factory in Campbell, California. The owner, Tom Schenone, is a really great guy and I'd recomend his store to anyone needing shoe advice. And I'm not just saying this because he offered to lend me his race wheels. ;-)

Note to self: Buy this --> Selle Italia Prolink Gel Flow Saddle: http://www.bikeworld.com/product/saddle/selle_italia/prolink_gel.html 

Report on blood lactate 1

Everything I thought I knew about lactic acid is wrong.

...lactic acid doesn't produce burning sensations, it does not induce soreness, and it's not a form of metabolic 'rubbish' which must be eliminated from your cells as quickly as possible. In addition, oxygen shortfalls are not required in order to make lactic acid appear in your muscles and blood: The truth is that lactic acid is produced in your body all the time, around the clock, even when you're at rest, and its concentrations rise whenever you take in a carbohydrate-containing meal. Fortunately, we're not telling you all this to improve your chances of gaining a PhD in cell physiology: We're giving you the straight scoop because an understanding of how lactic acid actually functions in your body can improve your performances tremendously!

A Billy Collins Poem

This poem has nothing to do with triathlon... or does it? Enjoy.

Litany

You are the bread and the knife,
The crystal goblet and the wine...
-Jacques Crickillon

You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine.

-- Billy Collins

[Listening to: Where Is the Line? - Björk - Medulla (4:41)]

8/23/2004 Totals

Swim: 6,200 yards
Bike: 97 miles
Run: 21.5 miles
~13 hours

The week's training went well. I ran two longish runs; one 7 miler and one 10. I seem to be running more upright with my chest out and shoulders back. On the cycling front, I got some aero bars for my bike. Oh, I almost forgot. I'm swimming slower! Sounds funny but this is a good thing. I'm finally able to swim longer distances (1000+ yards) without going anaerobic. This skill should come in handy in my olympic distance race in November..

Tri For Fun Race Photos

This is my 180-bpm-across-the-finish-line pain face.



More race photos here.

AERODYNAMICS OF CYCLING

AERODYNAMICS OF CYCLING is a very informative paper describing the aerodynamic effects of body position and equipment.

Nuff said about NSAIDs

After my recent bike crash, I started taking the NSAID ( Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) naproxen sodium. Mind you, I'm not taking this stuff daily but I have been using it on occasion to deal with back pain. Turns out that this NSAIDs can be very dangerous particularly when one is dehydrated.
After reading the accounts of people that have raced or trained while taking NSAIDs, I think I'll avoid them in the future. Of course there are seemingly reputable folks that say NSAIDs are safe to take during endurance events.


I wonder if the use of NSAIDs, coupled w/ dehydration, had anything to do with the elevated creatinine levels (1.5 MG/DL) that showed up in my most recent blood work? Any nephrologists out there care to chime in?


Just to be on the safe side I'm starting a regiment of essential Fatty Acids & Glucosamine.

 

Ultimate Direction :: Lightning

My long runs are starting to last over 2 hours so I'm thinking more and more about Hydration systems.

;-)  

7/26/04 Totals

Swim: 8,500 yards (4.8 miles)
Bike: 76 miles
Run: 27.5 miles

This week saw two 10 mile runs and a 48 mile bike ride. Missing was a long swim and some running speed work.

As for the 4th event, my weight is hovering around 177 with 18% of that being fat. I'd like to get down to 160 (~8% body fat) but I've not set a target date yet. Realistically, I think I can drop to 173 lbs. in time for the PG Tri (6 weeks).

Simpkin's Family Swim Center and Community Center Sata Cruz

Santa Cruz County Parks Department - Simpkin's Family Swim Center and Community Center

Frazz

First 50 Mile Ride

Went out with Maverick and Martin to Fort Ord. I had a great time. The weather was ass but the roads were smooth with no traffic; much better than the roads I've been training on.

Mavrick is doing a brick today (4 hr bike, and 30 min run) but I'm ready for that maddness just yet. If I recover from today's ride quickly and without insident, I'll do the brick with him next week. Sure is nice to know someone that's done this stuff before.

Oh, to be honest, the ride was really more like 48 miles and some change.

2004 Ironman Triathlon television schedule

The Outdoor Life Network (OLN) will televise seven of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship qualifying races each Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern beginning October 3 through November 14.

1. October 3: St. Croix Half Ironman Triathlon
2. October 10: Ironman New Zealand Triathlon
3. October 17: Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene Triathlon
4. October 24: Karnten Ironman Austria Triathlon
5. October 31: Opel Ironman Germany Triathlon
6. November 7: Ironman USA Lake Placid Triathlon
7. November 14: Ironman Wisconsin Triathlon
   

In addition, ESPN International will televise the following races: Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene Triathlon, Karnten Ironman Austria Triathlon, Opel Ironman Germany Triathlon and Ironman USA Lake Placid Triathlon, air date and time TBD.

HOW-TO Tuesday: War Kayaking - Features - features.engadget.com

HOW-TO Tuesday: War Kayaking - Features - features.engadget.com

Look at those legs! ;-)  

Long Beach Triathlon: Sept 26

Long Beach Triathlon

Bean Creek Run: Oct. 3rd

Bean Creek Run

Sept 22nd Santa Cruz Sentinel Triathlon

Yet another NorCal tri: 22nd annual Sentinel Triathlon

7/19/04 Totals

Swim: 8,000 yards
Bike: 75 miles
Run: 10.25 miles

Felt good this week. Made the most progress in the swim. Intervals are getting easier and I can swim slow-and-steady without sinking. Biggest issue is not knowing how much to eat and drink. I'm taking in ~2,000 kcal daily and this may not be enough.

First 10k for the boys.  

August Rides in the Salinas Valley

Thanks to Maverick Malech, I've discovered the letusride charity rides going in the Salinas Valley on August 21, 2004. Think I'll sign up for the 50 miler.

[Listening to: Name of the Game - The Crystal Method - Tweekend (4:15)]

American Cycling Character

I just started reading Bob Roll's book on the TdF. He points out that since American's have started riding in it, they've accounted for 1% of the riders, and 45% of the victories. (Not exact numbers, but something like that.) To me, this is a perfect example of the American character. Completely pragmatic. The goal is to win the Tour: We are going to do what it takes to reach that goal. We are going to go about it scientifically. We don't care about tradition. We care about achieving that goal. And that's what we do.

--vitus979

Like many triathletes, I've been watching US Postal's performance in the tour and find it awe-inspiring but I'm not sure that the US Postal teams approach is necessarily "American", but it is indisputably the most effective.

What

Wednesday Struggle

This week is not starting the best. Same as Rob, I have day off on Monday and Tuesday. However, I peddled on my trainer for 20 minutes yesterday to warm me up for the week and stay with an advice from Marc Evans to do at least light exercise on off days. Today morning I was supposed to get up at 4.30am and run my 3 miles with intervals. But guess what, I couldn’t sleep all night, did not hear the alarm, and woke up feeling fatigue just in time to go to work.
 
After work I tried to meet Rob for a swim.  Pool was full of children horsing around and no space for “triathlete” to practice.  I was too tired to argue with management about the proper use of swimming pool. (“swimming” being the important word here.) So, I returned home and went for a half hour run.  Run was little bit more difficult than usually as I tried to practice higher stride. Other than that it was a good run (of course I’m not counting that my iPod refused to play for the second 15 minutes of the run).
 
I hope this is not an indication how the rest of my week will look like.