Motivation

January 31, 2009

"Motivation can't take you very far if you don't have the legs"
- Lance Armstrong

"Machines don't break records. Muscles do"
- Lon Haldeman

There you have it. Two quotes by two people i admire. You know who Lance is. If you don't know who Lon is, you should.

I seem to have plenty of motivation...that's not a problem. I have a great cycling machine, that's not a problem. I am lacking legs, and a proper cycling base in my muscles. I have work to do!

This past week was a bit of a challenge for me. First, i had a cold. I am a big whiner when i get a cold, so i am begging for forgiveness from those around me for my whiny ways. The good news about the cold was that it coincided with a prescribed rest week. about all the riding i did was some easy spins on Monday and Friday. To a guy who has been obsessed with being on the bike since last summer, it felt strange. The good people at the University who put me on this new program promised results from rest...i hope they are right. It is interesting how your mind thinks killing yourself day in and day out on a training program is the best thing, but your body requires rest and a change up in training plans to grow. Interesting.

I was back in the lab this past Wednesday, this time i did a 7k time trial to determine my "base" What ya do is warm up for 30 minutes, then get on your bike that is hooked to a computer testing thing, and once you get your HR up to you LA threshold, ride a 7k tt! The idea is to see how long it takes you to ride the 7k with your heart at LA. (you spin with your heart at LA, if you go above LA, you slow down, if you go below, you speed up) The time recorded sets my "base" Now with all of this information, i begin a new training program, now that i am all rested and tested. I go back in mid-April to check and see how my fitness is comming along. Looking forward to that! The object of all this is to have fun on my ride in August!

January in Review: I will end the month with about 350 miles under my belt. This is short by about 50 miles my goal i had set at the beginning of the month, but i had not anticipated the over training and the prescribed rest. So, its all good. Each month i will grow from here.

February's goal: increase my VO2 Base and LA threshold by following the training as prescribed for me. Going to the Tucson Area for Desert Camp on the 28th of the month, and yes, that week is included in my plan! ( see at www.pactour.com then "coaching week" I am sure its not to late for YOU to sign up! )

I am pumped! (see motivation quote, above)

"The will to win is important, but the will to prepare to win is vital"
-Joe Paterno

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail"
-Wayne Gretzky