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HE'S A GENIUS
WE ALL HAVE, or should have, wish we had, that friend who can fix anything. Even though we've upped our skills over the years there's always that...
... next level repair.
We can't do it.
Like my SID fork, today...
- packing in on descents
- rebound slower than a sloth
- adjustment dials backing out and loose
... I was in a bind.
Turns out the great C Gonzer lives where I'm visiting,
racing pals from a decade ago.
Within about about 20 minutes,
he had it working nearly good as new.
How'd you learn how to do this?
I just really like working on my bikes.
That's it?
Well, I am a mechanical engineer by trade.
That's it...
- love what we do
- study the basics
- achieve mastery
... genius level work.
===
165ish, no scale
7.5ish hours sleep
690ish anti-oxidant level, no scanner
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
80/57/23 per Strava - very rested
What I'm reading: Feeling Is The Secret, by Neville Goddard
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
GETTING HIGH
TRAINING AT SEA LEVEL is no way to prepare for high elevation activities. Sure we have extra oxygen to go hard, which is always nice. But, it'd be even nicer...
... to be able to rip when high.
Which begs the question...
... why am I working so darn hard, putting out so little power?
Nah, that's obvious.
Kinda.
90 minutes into the ride today,
we'd been ripping up Big Mountain Pass (f'real).
Challenging?
Yes.
Wheezing?
Yes.
Gapped?
Indeed.
Here's the rill dill...
... even though the power is relatively low,
the breathing is labored.
Which presents a realhonesttogoodness truth...
- breathing too hard
- not thinking 100% clearly
- focusing on staying on pace
... it's hard to stay on top of the hydration and nutrition at altitude significantly above our normal.
We, me especially, gotta force it.
Another important consideration at high elevations...
... it's better to pace on HR than PWR.
===
165ish, no scale
7.5ish hours sleep
690ish anti-oxidant level, no scanner
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
83/71/12 per Strava - very rested
What I'm reading: Feeling Is The Secret, by Neville Goddard
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SETTLING...
THE IDEA OF SETTLING, for most of us, is repulsive. We'd never do that because our standards are too high...
... or, so we think.
Because we don't know better.
Welp,
today I realized
I've totally been settling.
While we do have trails to ride near home...
- skinny single track with rain ruts
- weeds elbow high
- punch climbs
... it's nothing like Utah..
Today, outside of Kamas was incredible.
My pals, PViddy and TimmyV, had been telling me it was great up here.
But, c'mon...
- smooth, fast and flowy
- adorned with greenery and trees
- berms so perfect the suspension compresses as you no-brake it
... expertly engineered trials.
Waywaywaywayway better than my home trails.
Once we know we're settling the only question is...
... what are we gonna do about it?
===
165ish, no scale
8ish hours sleep
690ish anti-oxidant level, no scanner
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
82/61/21 per Strava - very rested
What I'm reading: How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
A GOOD BREAK
TAKING TIME OFF can be restorative. Sometimes it's on purpose, other times its an unplanned forced situation. Either way...
... we're anxious to get back at it.
Like right now.
Being that I was committed to be all in at the biz conference...
... I skipped the last few days.
Including the typical epic Saturday.
Everything feels really good except my gut, which is feeling quite bloated...
... after lots of good food.
I suppose that's part of the anxiety, not...
- the drop in fitness
- the packed on pounds
- the connecting with the crew
... the sensation of being a caged animal.
Some might caution,
don't over do it.
A fair warning if working back from an injury.
But, this belly is yellin' at me,
get after it,
right now.
Can't wait to start shedding and shredding manana.
(I've got 10 days to turn it around before BWR UT)
===
165ish, no scale
78ish hours sleep
690ish anti-oxidant level, no scanner
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
83/63/20 per Strava - very rested
What I'm reading: How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams
>
AI DRIVEN?
AI could be all it's cracked up to be, if we can only learn how to use it to our benefit. But, new things can be...
... a challenge to learn.
Even scary.
One of the take aways on day 3 of I Do Epic was regarding AI,
and it got me thinking about racing...
... because as we say, Racing is life!.
My grand takeaway is AI's ability to deliver what we are looking for has much to do with regarding the prompts.
For example, knowing what you know about me...
... create a training program as if you were Javier Sola
Just like us at a race,
AI needs its head screwed on straight in order to deliver.
And a proper prompt is the starting point.
Making it human...
... what is the main prompt driving our training?
===
165ish, no scale
7.5ish hours sleep
690ish anti-oxidant level, no scanner
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/73/12 per Strava
What I'm reading: How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WE CALL IT SPOOKED
THE UNMISTAKABLE ENERGY of the start line can be overwhelming for the uninitiated. We feel it the moment we arrive at an event, and when we line up the vibe can take us...
... from confident and courageous to literal shaking.
Plans melting.
Rather than the controlled missile launch we'd imagined, we are overcome by the complete chaos of undirected explosions.
And, that's okay,
until we want a different outcome.
On Day 2 of I Do Epic, we spent much the day in a massive barn learning how a master horse trainer teaches and guides the beasts with energy vs force.
Demonstrating the animal's sensitivity to each other in the herd as well as to us humans, as we approached and worked with the horses.
Thankfully, the inanimate endurance tools we depend on...
- bicycles
- helmets
- shoes
... cannot sense our moods or energy.
Can you imagine mounting a spooked bicycle?
I've often wondered how I am able to reach a place of calm and certainty with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of my "closest friends"...
... so close to losing it?
I don't have a good answer other than...
- a safe race
- an unleashing of the training put in
- finishing knowing there was nothing left in the tank
... experience and expectation.
But, the old cowboy did share one nugget that really resonated with me...
... We create what we anticipate.
===
165ish, no scale
8ish hours sleep
690ish anti-oxidant level, no scanner
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
87/84/3 per Strava
What I'm reading: How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
START WHERE YOU ARE
TRAVEL BRINGS IT'S OWN CHALLENGES when it comes to maintaining our fitness. Will we have time, will there be space, do we have the equipment...
... will we even want to?
Have the energy?
When I signed up for I Do Epic Live in the hinterlands of Idaho, I figured we'd be starting early and ending late so...
- 27 hours
- 380 miles
- 27000' of vert
... I made sure I'd put in a large training block prior.
Taking a break made sense, but...
... a funny thing happened when I woke up.
I had two and half hours to kill,
while situated on the shore of the Snake river,
with a lovely and lonely gravel road echoing my vibe.
My original plan was out...
- a long walk
- a ton of push ups
- a million air squats
... a quick and glorious spin was in.
===
165ish, no scale
7.5ish hours sleep
690ish anti-oxidant level, no scanner
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
89/97/-8 per Strava
What I'm reading: How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
I WANTED TO STOP SO BAD
GETTING AFTER IT for a long period of time can be a beautiful thing, if we are in the right mindset and our bodies are prepared...
... and we're used to it.
Even addicting.
But, if our head's not into it,
our bodies not prepped,
it's been a while...
... quitting looks might tasty.
Like today.
There we were, riding up one of the most beautiful climbs in Utah, the Alpine Loop...
- few cars on the road
- perfect spring weather
- forever views up into the snowpack
... a coupla dudes riding a good fast tempo.
And, about 45 minutes in...
... I wanted to pull over.
Have a smoke, errr bite of my bar,
dip my toes in the stream.
It would have been so easy,
and lovely.
Which is why I didn't do it.
Because I know from experience pushing through these moments is...
... what it takes to finish anything strong.
Well, and the reward of a chocolate chip cookie at Sundance...
... would be that much sweeter.
===
165.8/12.7%
7ish hours sleep
690 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
91/107/-17 per Strava
What I'm reading: How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE OTHER CROSSTRAINING
IF WE'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP of any kind we're most likely going to be exposed to activities which don't perfectly align with...
... our primary objective.
Got it?
Yeah, we get it.
The thingaboutitis...
... it's usually more than okay.
Surfergirl loves to hike.
Any time we're roadtripping and I'm in a hurry to get to the beddown...
... she's plotting a once in a life time hike.
Like today,
just after 6pm
3 hours from our destination...
... we absolutely had to hike Kolob canyon for no less than 2 hours!
Yes, that's an explanation point because...
... old diesels need their beauty sleep
Her "reward" for this detour is me stretching out while she drives, which I'm pretty sure...
... she purposely fakes like she's tired and unnecessarily jerks the wheel so I'll get behind it.
While I have to admit the hike was outstanding, and served to remind me that I should do some regular hiking to prepare for the potential to be hiking at Leadville...
...it's pretty clear I have not properly trained her on driving in a relaxing and soothing manner nor bowing down to the needs of her old man's sleep.
===
165.8/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
690 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
no Stretches
88/98/-9 per Strava
What I'm reading: How To Fail At Almost Anything and Still Win Big, by Scott Adams
>
BECAUSE I ASKED...
MEMORIAL DAY IS A BUSY ONE around here. All kinds of people out enjoying the day: runnin, bikin, swimmin, surfin, paddlin...
... things were chaotic.
I got a late start.
Preferring to get some work knocked and start prepping the van for our road trip...
... I slipped out just past noon.
There is a steep hill above a picturesque beach that attracts locals, nonlocals and everyone in between.
At the top, I saw an older woman lugging two chairs for her and her ancient father.
Normally, I'd just wiggle around them and the rest and go on about my day...
... but I remembered.
Hi there, can I help you with those chairs?
Oh, yes, please.
Leaned my bike on a palm tree.
Let's go down a little bit more, where it's a little flatter.
C'mon dad, over here.
This looks pretty good.
Thank you.
No problem.
How did you know we needed help, nobody else noticed?
Oh, I prayed I'd be useful today.
With that, I was off on a lovely tour of the southern part of our county...
... pavement, gravel roads and single track.
You're probably thinking Nice virtue signal Todd...
... to which I'll say, thinking of others is not my default or my strong suit.
I have to work at getting my heart to be fully functional.
===
165.8/12.7%
8.5ish hours sleep
690 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
√ Stretches
91/113/-22 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE RANDOMNESS OF PROGRESS
NICHING DOWN is a legit way to go about maximizing results. We study the experts, learn all we can, put it into practice. The goal is...
... supreme mastery.
But, is narrow and deep the only way to get it done?
The best way?
Personally, I think I've learned more studying endurance athletes and coaches from other sports than I have focusing on bike racing.
Maybe, probably, there is more literature and research available.
Here are a few of my favorites
- running - Born To Run, Christopher McDougall
- triathlon - anything by Phil Maffetone
- swimming - Total Immersion Method, Terry Laughlin
- natural fitness - Natural Born Heroes, Christopher McDougall
... because they introduced me to new ways of thinking about endurance and fitness.
Bringing in randomness to our experience...
- events
- people
- travel
... can deliver game-changing progress hacks.
If we'll just open our ears, eyes, hearts.
===
165.8/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
690 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
√ Stretches
88/99/-11 per Strava
>
AFTER TAKING SEVERAL READINGS
SIMULATING OUR 'A' EVENTS months in advance can be quite revealing, in bad...
... and good ways.
Once, isn't enough.
Every weekend is too much.
It's not a damned if we do,
damned if we don't situation.
More like a...
- damn?
- damn!
- hot damn!
... outcome.
With that in mind I turned to Grok to help me assess today's simulation because...
- what happens if I cut ballast?
- what workouts would improve my time?
- are there supplements that aid lung function at altitude?
... AI is damn fine when it comes to crunching numbers.
Because I'm a true and proud supernerd...
- 2 previous attempts in last 7 years
- body weight on those days
- power numbers as well
... I have the data, going back years.
I put Grok to work...
- I can improve
- I'm in a pretty good place already
- This is gonna be a heckuva lotta fun
... and came out with what I already sensed.
Grok thinks I can beat my previous PR,
which seems absolutely ludicrous...
... mainly because I have a lot of higher value things I want to accomplish this summer.
This is a typical use of AI for me...
- confirm/test/explore what's possible
- learn how to do things I can't figure out
- assist in leveraging my tiny helmet covered bean's processing power
... are you using AI to evaluate and make moves?
As the great Wille Nelson sings...
... After taking several readings I'm surprised to find my mind's (and body) still fairly sound.
===
167/12.7% oof!
7.5ish hours sleep
630 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
√ Stretches
90/114/-24 per Strava went kinda deep today
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT'S A LONE WOLF'S WORLD
NO MATTER HOW MANY friends are planning to do the A event with us, regardless of how many weekends we link up to train together...
... the bulk of our efforts are alone.
Unseen.
By nearly everybody, except that neighbor who we pass by at the same...
... godforbidden time each dark morning.
We're on the hunt...
- miles
- skills
- fortitude
... for more.
And even when we do link up, if we're truly committed...
... we might breakup, or off.
For example, I'm committed to ride a spritely tempo between all the worthy climbs tomorrow...
... where I'll move into the bottom to mid-threshold.
Because that's gonna be my pace at the A race,
and I've really got to train it now,
to maintain it then.
So, yeah, 7 miles up the climb I'll probably be alone...
... just like I'll most likely be on raceday.
Which is why I'm working on this jersey to where in in Leadville.
Personally, I feel like an inspirational, personalized jersey is good for...
... a 1-2% increase in performance.
If you're of the same persuasion...
- super aero jersey
- amazing imported Italian fabrics
- no minimum order required, make just 1
... go here: https://pedalindustries.com/pages/start-a-project
===
165.6/12.7% (time to start trimming blubber)
8.5ish hours sleep
630 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
√ Stretches
85/82/2 per Strava (time to bump these numbers up)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
13 WEEKS SHOULD BE ENOUGH
AT SOME POINT, the training for the A event has gotta get real. Sure we have our base miles just because we are base-ically addicted, but...
... that's not gonna cut it.
Gotta get specific.
As of this moment, I'm 13 weeks out from starting the Leadville Trail 100.
It'll be my 8th time.
While I know the drill, I also know...
... I'm nowhere near ready.
Haven't done an hour long climb...
... since I don't know when.
Haven't ridden over 5 hours since October.
Haven't ridden my MTB more than twice a week in ages...
... haven't
haven't
haven't
haven't
haven't.
Equally overwhelming and energizing...
... the challenge is elephant-sized.
And, I'm gonna attack it one mile at a time.
===
164.6/12.5%
8.5ish hours sleep
630 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
√ Stretches
86/89/-4 per Strava
>
STRETCH GOALS
STRETCHING seems to go in and out of popularity. When, how long, which moves are a essential...
... and that's not counting yoga and pilates.
Where to start?
That's a good question.
I'm no expert, which is why I check in with my physical therapy pal, Scott, from time to time.
Mostly when I'm miserable
or injured.
Which got me thinking.
The last couple of days my bike fit felt like it had changed...
... which is impossible, right?
Then, I thought...
... could my body have changed somehow?
Thinking back on my many visits with Scott...
... and how stretches had fixed various aches and debilitating pains.
It hit me like a ton of lycra!
I haven't been stretching regularly,
at all.
Got back at it this morning...
... dang, I'm stiff!
But, guess what...
... the bike fit felt back to awesome.
Stretch goals are the kind that have us reaching to our limits to accomplish what seems nigh impossible...
... I like setting those.
New/old stretch goal...
... stretch every night as part of my shutdown sequence.
===
163.6/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
680 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
√ Stretches
86/91/-6 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHAT MASTERING THE BASICS LOOKS LIKE
THE VERY BEST PROS have mastered the basics. From techniques to tools, from sleeping to sprinting. They have it...
... all down cold.
How do we know?
Because at the very the very best are still practicing the basics...
... only the output is at a much higher level.
Duh!
Yeah, I know.
But, the real question is are we chasing...
- fads
- trends
- shiny objects
... or working diligently on mastering the basics?
===
163.6/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
630 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/83/1 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
FROM FLOOR TO CEILING
BUILDING FITNESS can appear to be a mystery to the uninitiated. For the reasons, holding onto it is illusive. And losing it...
... downright easy.
It's a shame.
If the unwashed simply established a floor...
- a minimum daily commitment
- built over weeks
- and months
... they'd find their ceiling to be nearly limitless.
Instead, they get the bug or come clean with their naked selves...
... and progress rapidly for a short season.
Get thrown off track,
and start over.
We know different.
Our floor maybe is simple as getting outta bed and kitting up...
... knowing it's easy to get out the front door at that point.
After that, it's just a matter of raising the floor...
... to see how high we can fly.
Things I think about while riding zone two for 2 hours...
... because that was my floor today.
And, I always ride on Mondays.
===
165.6/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
580 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
86/90/-4 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
PRISONS WE CHOOSE TO LIVE INSIDE
>
HOW FAR SHOULD WE TAKE OUR BRO-SCIENCE?
ONCE WE FIGURE OUT the gear and products that work for our bodies, it's, honestly, just amazing. It fits. It works. And we stick with it...
... because we rip.
Easy.
We don't want to change.
That can be a problem if what we love goes out of stock or worse...
... out of production all together.
A few years back, when Wahoo acquired Speedplay they dumped my tried and MTB pedals.
The Frogs.
Had I known, I'd have purchased at least 10 pair of pedals and probably 100 sets of cleats.
To my horror, I logged on and learned the sadsad news.
No mas.
When I woke and realized I was out of my favorite carb mix today...
- water
- plain ol' sugar
- and Liquid IV for flavor and electrolytes
... well, yeah, I took a stab a making my own.
You should witnessed the...
- disgust
- concern
- warnings
... from the crew when we stopped to refill our bottles midride.
I shared my mix was 4 tablespoons of sugar...
- you're gonna get diabetes
- go into a coma
- die early
... I could only laugh.
Just what exactly do you think is in your favorite powder or gel?
I got the idea from an ultra-trail runner I follow on YouTube.
He'd wanted to experiment and discovered how sucrose...
- quickly absorbed glucose
- more slowly absorbed fructose
... breaks down in the small intestine.
It's a 1:1 ration,
most high end mixes are 1:.8.
Ever look at the ingredients of what you're drinking?
My 4 very level tablespoons = 50 grams of carbohydrate.
But, isn't that gonna kill ya?
It's about the same as a can of Coke,
or a couple of candy bars.
So, yes, it will absolutely...
- crush our health
- give us that orange with 4 toothpicks look
- and lead to all kinds of degenerative diseases
... unless we are ripping and burning it up.
That 50 grams is about 50% of what I consume per hour...
... when getting after it.
How'd it work over 3 bottles?
Flawlessly.
Gonna test full strength this week.
This is bro-science...
... so take it with a literal and proverbial grain of salt.
===
166/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
660 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/88/-3 per Strava
>
FIRST (TASTE OF) BLOOD
WE'RE LIKE WILD ANIMALS. Once we get the first taste of adrenalin, charging through the countryside...
... with reckless abandon.
We're hooked.
The thingaboutitis...
... we gotta get that first taste.
16 years ago, my pal Dr. Jeff couldn't keep from...
... slobbering all over me.
About gravel riding.
You would love it.
Seems kinda lame.
Trust me.
Tell me why.
Well, it'a a combination of two things you love: road and mtb.
And it's fun?
Oh yes!
It took me 5 years to finally see a signal...
- steel
- heavy
- leather bags
... a lonely gravel bike on sale at the local bike shop.
I thought it was radical to ride the tires at such low pressure...
- 38mm
- 60 lbs
- with tubes
... now I'm on tubeless carbon hoops, rolling 18 up front 20 in the back.
So much has improved!
For the first year or more I rode gravel alone...
... like a lunatic in the wild.
It took 5 more years till a few of us were getting together...
... and another 3ish to do what we did today.
Ruckus URBN GRVL group rides.
In town for the weekend, Jeff joined us for today's masterpiece...
... I'm not sure he made the connection on the impact he's had on us.
===
165.6/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
6200 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
88/101/-14 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
STOP BEING MEDIUM
THERE'S A REASON so many of us struggle to improve. Especially the newest of us...
... doing all we can to hang on.
Never improving.
I heard it said so well and succinctly today by one of my fave running coaches, the great Fred Duncan.
The question how much work we can survive in one session, it's...
- hard
- easy
- hard, again
... how many high quality outputs can we stack over weeks and months and years?
If we aren't resting, active-recovering we can't go hard enough on our hard days to see any improvement...
... we become really excellent at medium.
And, stay there.
Which is fine, if you're into that sorta thing.
But, I know you're not.
Which brings up today's ride...
- 23 miles
- ave HR 93
- ave PWR 102
... we did the impossible.
I say impossible because it's nearly impossible to get a group of athletes together and not start pushing...
... we pulled it off by setting the tone ahead of time.
The BRO ride is a super easy conversational cruiser...
... because bros need bro time.
Before slaying it on the weekend.
If you want to do a deeper dive on Fred's post it's here: https://x.com/Fred__Duncan/status/2055274916199502322?s=20
===
164.6/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
580 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
83/75/8 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ZONE TWO MUCH
ANYBODY CAN RIDE ZONE 2. It's easy. Zone 1 is easy. Coasting is easier. The trick is...
... to stay there.
For a long time.
The past few months I've been doing my Z2 on the mountain bike,
on kinda steep trails.
Not spinning,
a lot of torque...
... then completely off when descending.
Which is somewhat easier than what I did today...
- keeping on the pedals
- with high cadence
- limited coasting
... Zone 2 on mainly flat, with a few rollers.
Turns out 2:80 spend doing...
- 90 minutes Z2
- 31 min Z1
- 9 min z3
... is it's own kinda hard.
1261 calories burned ain't nothing.
The mental game to stay at a given pace and basically never stop pedaling...
... regardless of the terrain.
I know you zwifties are wanting to mock me,
and I'm totally down with how much harder
it can be on a trainer.
I get it.
The real point is this kind of training...
... is extremely effective at building physical and mental endurance.
===
165.2/12.4%
8ish hours sleep
630 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/83/1 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER OF MID-WEEK RACING
MID-WEEK RACING has been around for ages and continues to endure because it's great training, fun to bring the community together...
... and get in some ripping intensity.
400 showed up to race Over The Hump last night.
A very healthy number of age group competitors...
... ready to battle.
I've missed the last two seasons,
so it was exciting to finally make it out.
I entered Elite 45+ looking to see how I'd rate.
Warming up,
I saw a lot of friends.
But, I was missing one.
My pal Eric was senselessly killed last year while riding his bike early in the morning, by a druggy.
After a decade of racing together...
- bro hugging each week
- seeing his babies grow up
- and turn into fine little racers
... there was a hole in my heart.
On the start line,
the energy was high,
the confidence eager.
We shot out.
I maneuvered leading into the first single track,
thinking okay this feels right.
There was only one solid climb,
20 minutes of redlining.
From leading,
to wheezing,
to 7th.
Ouch!
The downhill was a couple of miles long,
and it felt good - even PRd it.
Sliding out onto the double track,
I could see 5th and 6th,
and closed the gap.
Two of the three of us were pulling hard back to the finish line.
Just as we're about to hit the final single track before the finish,
we're caught by some of the guys we'd dropped.
At the same time,
we enter the tight turns we merge with the Beginners and Sport racers.
It's not pretty.
Some of us give the slower riders space,
others mob through.
I go from 5th to 8th.
Frustrated.
Upset about getting beat by the dude who wasn't pulling with us.
Finishing,
I stormed off.
Not my finest moment.
After a recovery drink and some spinning...
- reveling in my anger
- knowing it would motivate me
- looking forward to some specific training
... I realized how great it is to be racing.
Once I'd changed into my tshirt and jeans, I had time to reflect...
- we live in a free and prosperous country
- have the time and energy for mid-week racing
- I'm feeling 100% recovered from my TBI, while Eric is riding in the heavens and his family navigates life without him.
... and be extremely grateful.
===
165.2/12.4%
8ish hours sleep
590 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/83/1 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
CONSISTENCY IS BORING AND...
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHATTER on the interwebs regarding what happens by simply being consistent. What is often left out is the biggest battle...
... which must be won.
Boredom.
That's what the naysayers are thinking as we head out into the morning sunrise doing the unfathomable.
Sure, it can be monotonous to do the same workout over and over.
But, we aren't newbs or drones and know how to counter that by mixing it up, and socializing with likeminded beasts.
With unholy motivation we focus...
... on the rewards.
Months and years later,
we're nothing like the person we started out as.
Consistency might look boring to an outsider, but...
... we know it's lethal.
===
165.6/12.6%
7.5ish hours sleep
710 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
84/80/-4 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS
THERE'S DANGER just crossing the street. But, people do it and a lot more because it's part of life. We, on the other hand...
... like to raise the stakes.
Ignoring the warnings.
For years, I have casually read the signs regarding mountain lions and rattle snakes on our local trails and all over the western US.
In the process I've...
- a close up encounter with a big cat
- run over many sunbathing snakes
- stared down coyotes
... had one real scare and many thrills.
The cat was the most shocking.
I thought I was seeing a large loping coyote way up the gravel road.
Not uncommon.
Keep going.
Kept seeing as elevation changed.
Rounded a corner only to see a giant cat perpendicular to the road.
Staring at me.
Didn't do what you're supposed to do...
- stand your ground
- make yourself look bigger
... back pedaled and ripped up a single track, braking to make the turn at the top.
Went back to that spot many, many times,
raced up that hill as fast as possible...
... never came close to needing to brake to make the turn at the top.
That my friends is living.
===
165.6/12.6%
7.5ish hours sleep
710 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
84/80/4 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
TIMING
TIMING IS EVERYTHING, and there is so much to be timed when it comes to racing. To time anything to perfection necessitates...
... starting very early.
Ultimately, requiring less energy.
We saw this today at the Giro.
The winning sprinter producing fewer watts than 2nd or 3rd place...
- 1480w
- 1870w
- 1580w
... making it look easy(er).
Because he timed his acceleration perfectly.
Not unlike sprinting for the line, the great Scott Adams stated...
... the secret to success is energy management.
Which helped me lean into doing my best and most important work early in the day when I'm most alert and creative.
What else...
- workouts
- relationships
- spiritual exploits
... can we improve with better timing?
===
165.2/12.6%
7ish hours sleep
680 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/87/-2 per Strava
>
BLAME IT ON THE DONUT
STAYING ON TOP OF THE RECOVERY is super easy to skip. Especially, if we are really on top of it...
... day after day.
We're rested.
When the opportunity presents itself to overdo it...
... we do it.
We think we'll be fine.
We aren't going to do die, but...
... we will be less than fine.
Like today.
After shortchanging myself on sleep two nights in a row,
getting talked into more than easy spinning,
skipping the hyper-ice sessions...
... all variables I couldashoulda controlled,
I suffered today.
The sting of ripping,
felt stale and suffocating.
When looked back on the data...
- on trails I've ridden
- raced up
- stomped
... I actually set some PRs.
The difference when between being fatigued vs fresh is stark...
... longfaced-droopy vs JUBILANT.
Eventually, I succumbed to the efforts,
pulling the plug halfway up a steepytechy...
... and limped to the donut shop.
Where, after a few moments and calories and water I miraculously...
... felt very fauxfresh!
===
165.2/12.6%
7ish hours sleep
6500 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
87/100/-13 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
BRO!
ALL RACING AND TRAINING ain't the way to do it. The ubersuccessful connect with others on a deeper level, it's the glue we need...
... to help us hold it all together.
Not the training and racing.
Life.
Some say getting out and getting after is...
... cheap therapy.
I won't argue with that.
Getting out, and away, for a conversational workout...
... can be life changing.
Lifesaving.
But, we already know that.
Most of our friends don't,
or don't make the time,
or have the friendship.
Which got me out on the road way earlier than I wanted to today,
because I knew my pal had been traveling a ton,
and could squeeze in a ride.
And got me thinking...
- early start
- easy terrain
- all bikes welcome
... why not create a BRO ride?
Details in the image.
(Surfergirl has had this going with the Trail Angels for decades).
===
165.6/12.6%
7.5ish hours sleep
580 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/84/0 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
BEST EFFORTS OSCILLATE
DOING OUR BEST. We hear from the time we take our first steps, through our teens, into adulthood. Then we preach it...
... to anyone who will listen.
Because it works.
As the great Tony Horton used to say on the P90X videos...
.. do your best, and forget the rest.
It's a legit way to live, except...
... our best oscillates.
We can get better at our best...
... is there anything more exciting than knowing that?
I found a fun features on Strava today.
The Best Efforts Power Curve has a little box we can check and...
... Show Estimated FTP.
The last 6 weeks I've been pretty dialed.
According to the app I've raced FTP 10 watts.
The feedback is helpful.
Knowing we can improve...
... is a devine gift.
===
165.6/12.6%
7ish hours sleep
680 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
86/91/-5 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
GO BIG, PUNK!
THROWING THE GEARS TO THE BIG RING used to be much more of a thing. With the advent of 13-speed, not so much. Lot's of 1x drivetrains...
... making things simpler.
Better...
- lighter
- more aero
- cleaner look
... depends on the use case.
MTB started it all,
can't even buy one with 2x.
Gravel bikes are mostly there,
some 2x systems.
Road and TT have special use for 1x.
Track and BMX have always kept it clean and simple.
Anyway, there I was this morning doing my dawgawn bestest to try and recapture my PR from Jan 2026 on a segment called Pain Cave because...
... who wants to just cruse home after hammerin'?
And it dawned on me...
... back in Jan I forced myself to stay in the big ring all the way up the steeps.
Did it work?
Kinda.
Knocked 2:47 off of last week's tepid attempt...
... still 48 seconds off the PR.
I looked back at my scale logs...
... I'm 2 lbs heavier, .5% higher in body fat.
Then my weight training...
... I'm doing a lot more leg work Sunday and Monday.
Probably not a great way to prep for Wednesday.
Lastly I looked at time spent in Zone 4 or above...
... 48 min in Jan vs 49 min today.
I'll take another cracky at it...
- come in lighter
- more rested
- caffeinated
... attacking with punk blazing style.
Check 'em out: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/pedal-punk-collection
===
165.6/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
710 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
86/92/-7 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL DIET THAT IS POTENTIALLY KILLING OUR POTENTIAL
THERE ARE A LOT OF SUCCESSFUL plans to decrease our extra ballast. Perhaps the most powerful is one that we rarely actually apply to getting lean...
... yet allow to dictate our ultimate potential.
Case in point.
Eat the same meal, day after day...
... we'll get sick of it.
Eat less.
Waste away.
Lose muscle.
It's just a fact.
Yet, we do that same thing...
- same group rides
- same strength work
- same A race targeted
... with so much of our activities.
The inertia against improvement is overwhelming.
We can't do more,
become more.
We stall,
or worse,
we give it all up.
And why not?
It's become boring.
However, who can blame even the most monk-like amongst us who pack on the pounds because...
... there are so many amazing food choices to be had.
These days, living in any kind of a city, even the smallest, there can be found really creative and fun dining experiences.
We can eat more,
yes, become more.
Maybe not the more we are looking for.
If we're really going to reach new heights...
- new groups
- new strength work
- new A races targeted
... we must mix it up.
PS this applies to everything: love, family, business, sprituality.
===
164.6/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
720 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
84/80/3 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHY COACHING IS MAGICAL?
REACHING OUT TO THOSE we think are in the know is pretty common practice. We can glean a lot. Getting serious about outcomes and...
... hiring a coach is next level.
#worth-it
I was thinking about this because last week I had two different people reach out to me about training questions.
Asking for my input.
Here's the dill.
For the most part a coach...
... isn't going to wave a wand and fix us.
What we're really paying a coach to do is...
... to tell us what we don't want to hear and hold us accountable.
It's rarely a question of knowing what to do.
Much more a question of willingness to do it.
And, ya know, when you're payin' for it...
... it does magically work.
(and, I heckuvalot faster than wingin' it)
===
166/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
730 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/87/-2 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
MASTERY OF THIS LAW = MASTERY ON RACEDAY
THERE IS AN UNDERAPPRECIATED MIRACLE all racers experience, yet often fail to recognize or implement in everyday life. If we did...
... who knows what we could accomplish.
Parkinson's Law.
Regardless of the distance or event...
... given a set of parameters,
a cohort of competitors,
we go faster.
Nobody signs up for a marathon with the idea of finishing...
... When I get around to it.
We laser in on the distance, time required, prep like mad...
... and execute.
Parkinson's Law...
... Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.
We know this because on the week of the A race...
... we magically get all our work down days early so we can travel and chill before the big event.
The gun goes off and...
... amazingly, produce heretofore unknown abilities setting PRs and often hitting or exceeding our goal finish times.
Getting our workdays wrapped up within 8-10 hours was burned into our brains through the school system.
It's a tough habit to break.
Accepting a reasonable output during those same hours is mollifying...
... but, uninspiring.
Dramatically shrinking the time to finish the race or project...
Massively expanding the output...
Defying Parkinson's law...
... should be our nature in all we do.
===
164.6/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
670 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
85/89/-4 per Strava
>
MISSLE LOCK
BEING IN THE DRAFT is such a wonderful feeling. We slot in and feel ourselves get sucked along at...
... a dramatically reduced effort.
It's slight at first.
Just like when we lose it...
... we slowly come uncoupled until suddenly we're on our own.
So it was on this morning's ride to the ride.
Me and my pals, jamming up the coast.
I bombed down a sizable hill in front,
shot up the other side,
they slingshot on by.
And the gap just starts opening wider and wider.
It was too early to be burning matches.
I made the prudent choice,
flicked my safety cover...
... and acquired missile lock.
It took 5 or so minutes of a measured effort, but then I closed enough to start to feel the draft...
... it's like the radar going from beeping to a solid tone.
Target acquired,
detonation imminent.
The rest of the ride would be much of the same...
... alternating attacks trying to drop each other.
I'd learned my lesson,
stayed locked and loaded the rest of the ride.
As a reward to ourselves,
we honed in on Parlor Donuts.
===
166.2/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
710 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
noLower Body: ATG squats and split squats
87/103/-16 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE EPIC SUMMER TRAINING
WHELP, IT'S THAT TIME A YEAR when most of us have/will have/should have/ better have something to train for this summer. Otherwise...
... what's the point of living?
Going all summer without a goal is just okay.
So, let me just tantalize you with something insane,
dare I say the best gravel ride in SoCal.
Dana Point to Big Bear...
- about 50% gravel
- 50% of the pavement is bike trail
- leaving from the sand, summiting before sunset
... qualifies as epic.
Kinda far,
120 miles.
Kinda climby,
14,409'.
Kinda memorable,
nothing like gittin' 'er done with friends.
This will be our 5th year/6th running (2 attempts in '21).
The basic layout is...
- dinner at my place Friday night
- 5am official start on Saturday
- dinner in Big Bear
... leaving just before sunrise, finishing before sunset.
Click on it to see videos and pics.
I'll be posting more.
Put it on thy calendar: 10.10.26
Check my stats... we weren't killin' ourselves, click to go to ride.
===
166/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
610 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: push ups, pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: ATG squats and split squats
83/80/3 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHAT IS STRONG?
WE HEAR IT said of others. We make the comment ourselves, too. It seams so natural until we think about it, that it's...
... being said of endurance athletes.
_____ is riding/running/swimming strong!
Huh?
We're mainly scrawny.
So what does Strong mean then...
- big fitness?
- big muscles?
... things I think about while zonetwoing out.
If it's just a muscle thing, does it mean because they are actually stronger...
... it's just easier for them to generate X than it is for the rest of us?
If it's a VO2 Max thing, does it mean they aren't any stronger...
... it's just not as taxing for them at X effort as it is for the rest of us?
Truthfully, this conversation with myself when I was doing...
- all out 10 second sprints
- atg weighted squats
- box jumps
... throughout the week.
===
166/12.7%
89ish hours sleep
750 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 80 push ups, 20 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: 80 ATG squats and split squats
84/86/-2 per Strava
>
DAMNED IF...
SOME WORKOUTS are better than others. There are those when we just don't wanna do. And those when we're really feeling it...
... that c'mon LFG feeling.
What to do?
Or not.
Like today.
We'd already hit it pretty hard...
- bursts up in the 600W range
- plenty in the 400s
- rest in 300s
... not sure that qualifies as overunders.
At the end of that hellish 35 minutes,
we head directly to a segment called Pain Cave.
I didn't want to do it,
already feelin' smoked.
Told BBB I was just gonna cruise it.
But, you know how that can go.
I looked down and I was doing 380 watts up the final push and you were disappearing.
Since he said that, I thought maybe it wasn't a bad effort.
Numbers don't lie.
24 min today vs 20 min in January (a PR).
What's the benefit of doing it then?
I'll tell ya...
... to get fired up for next week.
LFG!
===
165/12.6%
7ish hours sleep
610 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
yes Lower Body: 80 ATG squats and split squats
85/89/-5 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WOULD YOU RATHER...
THE ENDURANCE WORLD is vast and exciting. So many ways to test our mettle, against others and, more importantly...
... against ourselves.
We must choose one.
Focus.
Go for our own greatness.
So, which would it be...
- Tour de France Champion
- Ironman sub-8 hours at Kona
- Boston Marathon sub-2:05
... that would be personally most satisfying?
Or for you...
- Downhill World Champion
- Unbound Champion
- Leadville 100 sub-6 hours
... dirty racers.
Doesn't have to be any of those, but whatever it is...
... why aren't we 100% committed to making it happen?
This trip ain't gonna last forevah.
===
165.4/12.7%
7.ish hours sleep
640 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: 40 ATG squats and split squats
83/81/2 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHY CONSISTENCY COUNTS
IT ALL ADDS UP. Every effort we make contributes to our pot of fitness, and while the ones half-@$$ don't deplete...
... they just don't get us where we want to be.
As quick.
Which is nothing compared to skipping.
Or quitting.
We're reminded of that every day when we're out and about seeing people of our generation.
It's like looking in the mirror and seeing what could have been...
... kind of a George Bailey thing.
This is why we say Every Day Is RaceDay.
===
164.4/12.6%
7.5ish hours sleep
670 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 40 push ups, 20 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: 40 ATG squats and split squats
85/93/-8 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
19 TAKEAWAYS FROM LBL
THERE WAS A BIG SHOWDOWN at Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the reigning unbeatable king vs the French teenage sensation vs the previous two-time winner...
... and I have some thoughts on that.
Not just that they swept the podium.
Firstoff, there was/is/will be a lot of chatter about...
... a 19 year old coming for the king of July, this July.
Some say too, young...
... should be holding him back.
To which I can only point to two other 19 year olds,
who didn't wait for their time,
their turn.
The very terrifying Mike Tyson,
knocking out everyone who dared.
Cooper Flagg who the critics claimed to be overrated,
before becoming the first teen to score 50 points in the NBA.
Paul Seixas has something more in common with the Tyson and Flagg,
the same quality Pogacar had when he came outta nowhere...
- which I find lacking in Remco, and so many others
... at 19, they were/are all having a lot of fun,
in love with the sport.
Simple.
Pure.
There's something beautiful and endearing to their approach,
we might lean into a little more.
===
164.4/12.6%
7ish hours sleep
650 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 80 push ups, 20 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: 80 ATG squats and split squats
84/84/-1 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
JUST HOW MANY CODES CAN WE CRACK?
THE ENDURANCE ATHLET'S JOURNEY is endlessly fascinating, as continually learn more about what we are capable of. Add to that, the constant flow of new information...
... we are constantly cracking new codes.
That's funstuff!
I tried a new one today.
After years, and I mean decades when I say years, of my tried and true formula....
- 1 bottle per hour
- 3-400 calories per bottle
- under extreme training or racing
... I tried something new.
Yesterday, I was exposed to an old thought via the TrainerRoad podcast...
- drink water, when thirsty
- ingest carbs via gels or food
- increase carbs towards end of the effort
... which seemed very new, to me.
My main impetus for trying it out today was that a week ago at Sea Otter I started to feel very bloated...
... almost nauseous the last 90 minutes.
It was a real struggle,
and it sucked.
So, today I put it to the test on a ripping 4.5 hour ride...
- drank only 2 bottles
- got a little hungry last hour - didn't bring enough
- put out better numbers than I have all year, including racing
... I felt lighter, dare I say spry?
Def worth more testing.
===
165.2/12.6%
7.5ish hours sleep
670 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: 60 ATG squats and split squats
86/97/-12 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
A WEIRD AND INCREDIBLE OFFSHOOT OF LEG DAY
MAKING LEG DAY a regular thing is something some of us do in the "offseason" and few of us do year round because...
... that's just the way it's done.
What if it's wrong?
Since I've been extra committed to hitting the legs 2-3 times a week...
- with weights
- without weights
- super snappy, max sprints
... I've noticed something marvelous.
It's becoming harder and harder to back it down,
and do the spinny Z1 stuff.
Plus...
... threshold efforts are feeling easier and easier.
Why would that be?
I might just be getting stronger, but I think it's more like...
... it just feels so good to feel the burn.
===
163.4/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
670 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: 60 ATG squats and split squats
81/72/9 per Strava (feeling mostly recovered from Sea Otter)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ONE THING NOT TO EASE UP ON WHEN TAPERING
THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT CONFLICTING INFORMATION is that it means most competitors are conflicted about any number of approaches to maximum fitness. Whether that be training...
... or on raceday.
Tapering matters.
We know we should rest.
Just what does that mean?
Here's what works for me, and why.
I cut back the volume, but...
... I never cut off the intensity.
Cutting back the volume lets my body recover and repair,
the fatigue melts away.
Putting out short bursts of race pace in the final 7-10 days...
- 10-30 second efforts
- at 80-100% of max
- then super easy
... keeps my muscles, tendons and brain primed for action.
You might find that conflicting,
test it and figure it out,
for you.
===
164.6/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
690 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 60 push ups, 15 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: 60 ATG squats and split squats
82/74/8 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE TOOL KIT
HEADING OUT INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS we often carry tools of some sort. Usually, the basics. Sometimes more. Depends on...
... how crazy things could get.
Risks we are taking.
But, why do we do that?
We aren't planning to have a breakdown.
Yet, we know shift happens.
It's happened before,
gonna happen again.
The point isn't that we are expecting failure,
we are planning for success.
No matter what comes our way...
... we'll git 'er done.
===
163.8
7.5ish hours sleep
700 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 80 push ups, 20 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: 80 ATG squats and split squats
83/77/5 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
DOES THIS MAKE MY BUTT LOOK BIG?
ADDING ANY NEW EXERCISE or movement often reacquaints us with muscles we didn't know we had, mainly because we've neglected to...
... engage them in meaningful ways.
We're sore.
My latest has been a pain in my arse.
Literally.
After my PT said I need to thoroughly stretch my legs with ATG (ass to grass) squats...
... I got started.
'cause I'm obedient as heck when it comes to my body's performance.
I used to do 'em.
In fact, back then...
- they don't bend over
- they lower down with legs
- to a full squat and make it look easy and natural
... I remembered seeing the little kids pick stuff up.
Anyway,
I'm back at it.
Started doing...
- a few ATG air squats
- to sets of 20 after 20 pushups
- to doing them with a 35 lb kettle bell
... and guess where I feel it most?
Los glutes.
Guess what is one of our biggest muscles,
and if engaged with a proper bike fit,
can develop all kindsa power?
Los glutes.
It's bringing me back to high school when the girl I was crushing on came up from behind in the hallway outside English class and pinched my butt...
... whispering Nice @$$.
Ah, the glory days!
Maybe I'll get it back, lol...
... at least a touch of the onthebike power?
===
165.6
9ish hours sleep
640 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 40 push ups, 10 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: 40 ATG squats and split squats
82/71/10 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE PROJECT AND THE SYSTEM
THE IDEA THAT WE CAN HAVE a system to help us achieve a goal is a mighty fine way to approach any objective. Then, it's just a matter of...
... figuring out the inputs.
After we define the project.
It's looking like this summer is going to be...
- executing our biz plan
- planning a giant family reunion
- and being around for our latest grandchild's arrival
... while hacking Project Leadville.
Without training like a maniac.
By putting a system place,
I can take reasonable action each day...
... knowing I'll arrive according to plan.
Since my bike is already set...
- continue to build strength with sprints and weights
- get back to 2022's svelteness
- fix the everplaguing bike fit
... it's a matter of getting my body ready.
That should allow me to achieve Project Leadville:
- have fun and great energy daily
- put down a sub-9 time at Leadville this year
- stay on track for my very long-term goal of sub-9 at 70
... while keeping the main things - family and business - the main things.
There is a caveat to this kind of systems based action...
- Podiums are nearly impossible to predict
- PRs much easier manage and way more fun to chase after
... it works better for achieving PRs than podiums.
(I'm starting to wonder if I'll every write a complete sentence or an actual paragraph ever again. What is happening to my grammar?)
===
168 (gotta drop 10lbs)
9ish hours sleep
650 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 80 push ups, 20 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
√ Lower Body: 80 body weight squats and split squats
82/71/11 per Strava (there's no way this is accurate, I'm still wrecked from Sea Otter)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
HUNGOVER AND LOVING IT
AFTER THE 'A' EVENT, nearly always comes some sort of hangover. Whether it's mission failure, mission meh...
... or mission accomplished.
Excess is inevitable.
For me that means doing whatever Surfergirl wants to do.
Rather than collapsing on the couch...
... like most Saturdays.
Instead, we drove the opposite direction of home...
- walked the length of the beautiful cove
- picked up insanely good pizza
- 16" not 9", cuz hungry
... to beautiful Carmel.
Followed by 3.5 hours of driving so we could wake when literallyworldfamous
Old West Cinnamon Rolls opened.
Then, 4 more hours on the road...
... cuz the lady likes to detour at the beach stops.
Arrive home,
unload.
Enjoy surprise visit and dinner with daughter and grandson...
... and, finally, collapse on the couch.
(normally, I love Monday morning... not sure about this one.)
===
167ish
6.5ish hours sleep
550 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: body weight squats and split squats
83/76/7 per Strava
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SEA OTTER 2026: THE PLAN WAS...
THERE ARE FIGHTERS and there are wannabe fighters. We all identify with every type because at some point we've been there...
... battling our competitors and our minds.
Executing the plan,
get into Leadville.
But, as the great Mike Tyson sagely said...
... Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
Which is what the start of every race always feels like.
Today, was no different.
5-4-3-2-1 and we're all redlined hitting the opening climb...
... aiming to enter the single track at the top leading, or right there.
Because after that, the next 5 miles are very difficult to pass.
Too narrow.
And, there's lots of passing to be done as we generally roll up on the group that started ahead pretty quickly.
During the first 5 miles...
- Me
- Dean
- and Greg
... our podium was pretty much set.
We traded pulls that first lap,
and entered the second and final lap on the same time.
Here is where I had to make a decision...
- Greg was distanced just a bit
- Dean seemed to be slightly struggling
- The Ol' Diesel was feeling pretty good
... race for the podium or for a good time?
They are different things.
I decided to just ride my pace.
A gap slowly opened,
then, a lot.
I couldn't see them.
Just settled in.
Stayed on top of my nutrition,
kept the pace at tempo or above...
... as much as I could.
20 minutes later,
Dean, that crafty sunnavagun,
was closing on a longish climb.
Race for the podium or stay on pace?
I stayed on pace,
the gap opened back up...
... and I kept my helmet on a swivel the rest of the way in.
Let me just pause for a moment and reflect on how good it felt to be out on my bike and riding well. It had been a rough last couple of days on several fronts, and this morning...
... I just wasn't feelin' it.
Surfergirl sensed it.
You okay?
I dunno.
You're gunna do great.
Not sure I care.
Some days are like that,
sometimes it's on raceday
sometimes it's on workday
sometimes on familyday.
We always have a choice...
... to buckle up and fight
or not.
I'm glad I did.
All went according to plan, except like a newb I neglected to look at the time I should be shooting for: sub 5:10.
5:11
FTW.
I'll gladly take that and the gold coin allowing me entry in Leadville.
===
165ish
7ish hours sleep
680 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: body weight squats and split squats
85/88/-3 per Strava
>
ANDALE PUES
WE MADE IT TO LAGUNA SECA raceway. Checked in, got the race plate, twisties, and free t-shirt...
... then, the pass.
Big bucks, for Surfergirl's pass to walk into expo area,
which she was determined to do.
As the best support crew ever...
... she wanted to see the start/finish and feedzone area.
Proper.
I got in fir free because, I'm a racer.
My mission was to see...
- Andrew, director of marketing at Cervelo
- Ard, owner/founder of Kogel bearings
... a few new customers.
That was fun,
so was running into a bunch of friends...
... which is one of the best parts of being part of a community for a long time.
Once we got to the start/finish area...
- who is your main competition?
- I dunno who's coming.
- when will you come through for second lap?
- around 11-11:15 (2.5ish hours after start)
- which kit are you going to wear?
- something bright to match those crazy shoes
... she peppered with me with the usual questions.
We're ready.
Andale pues!
===
165ish
8ish hours sleep
680 anti-oxidant level
no Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: body weight squats and split squats
81/62/19 per Strava (someone's tapered)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
TRAVELIN' TO RACES HAS IT'S BENI'S AND CHALLY'S
GETTING OUT THE DOOR for local meet up is raceday in miniature. It's still easy to forget the bottles/gloves/shoes or arrive late...
... even for the practiced.
The horror!
A lot of infoolencers will post and vlog...
- terrain
- protocols
- equipment set up
... about the event itself.
Which got me thinking...
- where to stay
- restaurants
- travel mode
... a race travel channel would be cool.
For Sea Otter, I always look forward to breaking up the six hour drive.
It's about 3 hours to Buelton, a little more if you take the scenic route outside of Santa Barabara used by Tour of California...
... and stop in Solvang because your trophy wife wants to.
Why?
Because it's Solvang.
What are we going to do?
It's Solvang.
The Flying Flags RV park has been my layover for like eight years...
- resor-style pools
- Industrials shepherd's pie is insane
- Ellen's Danish Pancake House fueling Saturday's race.
... since Zone2 turned me on to it.
After years of overselling it, I finally got Surfergirl to join me.
Laguna Seca or bust!
===
165/12.6% (wanted to be a lot lighter - oh well)
7.5ish hours sleep
680 anti-oxidant level
√ Upper Body: 20 push ups, 5 pull ups, gripper, heel and toe raises
no Lower Body: body weight squats and split squats
83/68/14 per Strava (someone's tapered)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
NO ONE OF CONSEQUENCE
Jun 30, 2024
by TODD BROWN
IF THERE'S ONE THING I DO NOT WANT when I show up to race, it's respect. Or fear. Or friendship. I'd prefer to be overlooked, considered...
... no one of consequence.
Don't mind lil' ol' me.
The greatest hero of all time operated that way.
He never showed his skill unless it was absolutely necessary.
He was...
- nice
- respectful
- played by the rules
... swung his sword with his right hand to give others a chance.
He was left handed.
We can learn a lot from the Dread Pirate Roberts...
- preparation
- mastery of skills
- flexible and creative under pressure
... it all leads to supreme confidence.
Never show it.
Own it.
---
162.4
8 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
103
Strava
I HATE EXCUSES
Jun 29, 2024
by TODD BROWN
I HATE EXCUSES, even the good ones. Especially, the good ones. The only excuse I ever loved was what we told the schools when we wanted to ditch...
... I have a dental appointment.
The rest,
suck.
Like the ones I wanted to use today.
I had positioned myself perfectly to make it up the worst 3 minutes climb on the planet.
Right behind the super fast cats.
The only chance I have is if I suck wheel into it,
and perfectly carry my momentum,
latch on the tail of the group.
Normally, I like to be just on the outside of the bunch as we hit the bottom.
This time, I rolled the dice and stayed in the center.
This is where the excuses get inserted...
... yawn...
... I missed the decisive move.
It's normal for me, I'm sure not you because you are smarter and braver and tougher...
... to let the excuses pour into my mind.
If only such and such...
... well, screw that!
I missed the move due to my poor positioning.
Plain,
and simple.
The reason I hate excuses is because they are debilitating.
Once they start pouring in the motivation wanes.
The drive stalls out.
We wanna quit.
Excuses suck,
like getting a root canal.
---
162.9
8 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
106
Strava
A SKETCHY SIDE OF GRAVEL RACING
Jun 28, 2024
by TODD BROWN
GRAVEL RACING ALWAYS BRINGS adventure. Most the time, we meet a bunch of new people, and discover miles of new terrain, neither of which...
... we've ever seen before.
And, that's the problem.
Not the people.
The terrain.
Well, kinda the people...
... the ones in charge of the dern thang.
Just today we were chatting about the Big Bear 50.
Last year, the course was...
- pretty fun
- mostly well marked
- from asphalt to gravel to single track
... sign me up for that again.
Just don't sign me up for the lack of signs the last 5 miles.
Yep.
5ish miles to go and all we could see were course markers for the other events going on the same day.
Which would be really really really sketchy if it was 25 miles out,
and we were in the middle of nowhere.
Oh, and we were unprepared.
But, I wasn't.
Neither was Smiley T.
Each of us had downloaded the course and simple pulled that page up on our bike computers.
On we went.
But, that's just the kinda thing ya gotta be ready for when racing in the wild. Because there's no...
- Street signs
- Landmarks
- Uber
... not really anything new.
We love...
- Adventure
- Nature
- Risk
... and jump at every opportunity to be tested.
---
161.2
7 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
102
Strava
WHO'S GONNA WIN THE DEBATE?
Jun 27, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WELL, IT STARTED THIS EVENING. The great debate between, two worthy competitors. In one corner, we have the establishment and in the other...
... a brand new approach.
Who will win?
The tried and true,
road bike for road and gravel bike for gravel...
or
... one bike to rule them all?
Here's what I can tell you after the virgin voyage on road wheels...
... the bike felt fantastic.
What I built, because I've wanted to see if it work forever, is a Specialized Crux with two sets of wheels.
There's a chance it turns into the proverbial...
... Jack of trades, master of none.
I've taken steps to mitigate that,
and I think they'll work.
- a set of road specific wheels
- a set of gravel specific wheels
- each set with Classified hubs
Even though it's a 1x12 set up, the special rear hubs act as a 2x12 drivetrain at the push of a button.
First impression...
... front deraillers will be a thing of the past.
The Classified system is much faster to shift,
can be shifted under a load of up to 1000 watts.
In the coming days, I'll test it on the road to see if it is as fast, or close enough, as my road bike.
I have little doubt it will be a great gravel bike.
And so the debate begins...
... is this bike a quiver killer?
---
162
8 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
103
Strava
HOW I LOST 6 LBS IN 2 A DAYS
Jun 26, 2024
by TODD BROWN
C'MON, can you really lose 6 lbs in two days, without starving yourself or dying of thirst? There's no way that's possible, is it? Well...
... here's how I did it.
First, I fell completely off the wagon over the weekend.
Carboloaded after my big ride Saturday.
Did nothing on Sunday.
Woke up at 166.2,
Monday.
That's the easy part.
I mean it took some work to get off the couch and find the chips and cookies on Sunday,
but not much.
The hard part wasn't...
- eating more protein
- shunning pointless carbs
- or, being properly hydrated
It also wasn't...
- getting plenty of sleep
- hitting the weights
- or, riding the bike
... that was all easy,
and how I should be living anyway.
What was hard was...
- finding time for a 2 hour spin on Monday
- throwing down for 3+ hours Tuesday morning
- and then, lining up for an MTB race Tuesday evening
... all of which would be a joy on an individual basis.
But destroyed me half a lap into the MTB race.
If I had to boil it all down to a formula, it would be...
- eat real food
- do 2 a day from time to time
... for a quick jumpstart.
---
160.5
8 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
104
Strava
IT'S GENIUS!
Jun 25, 2024
by TODD BROWN
ONE OF MY FRENEMIES invited me to lunch. He wanted to download all I know about the Tahoe 100 MTB Race. We're really good friends...
... unless we are shoulder to shoulder insight of the finish line.
Then, enemies.
It coulda been way worse than just giving some insights.
I thought he said Crusher, not Tahoe,
which I signed up for yesterday.
Phew, I wouldn't be faced with the hard choice of giving really bad advice or coaching him on how to throttle me.
How
the heck
could I divulge my hard-earned knowledge?
I've done Tahoe 4 times and more recently vs his once 12 years ago.
So, obviously...
... I'm a genius.
And, there's the nugget of truth.
When we do things a lot, we actually do possess a certain level of genius that would otherwise be unavailable to us.
And we discount it all the time, because it seems obvious and easy.
Here's an example.
When I set out to make the first RaceDay Bags™, all we had on the factory floor for the interior pockets was yellow nylon.
At first I thought Yuck!
Then I realized it was a genius idea because the yellow background makes it so easy to find everything.
If I wasn't already making bags, if I hadn't already struggled to find my HR monitor on the black background of my old bag...
... I never would have made the choice to always have yellow on our pockets.
What's your genius?
---
163.2
7.5 hrs sleep
PullUps and PushUps
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
104
Strava
IT'S TIME TO PLACE YOUR BETS
Jun 24, 2024
by TODD BROWN
LAY TUR DAY FRANZ starts in 5 more days. All signs indicate it's gonna be a doozie. Nothing is normal about this one...
... so let's make some predictions.
It would be easy to say...
- Tadej in Yellow
- Jasper in Green
- Matteo (Jorgenson the 'Merican) in White
- Carapaz in Polka Dots
... and most logical as well.
If those were already taken...
- Jonas in Yellow
- Mads in Green
- Ayuso in White
- Yates (either one) in Polka Dots
If the underdogs had a chance...
- Remco in Yellow
- Cav' in Green
- Del Toro in White
- Pidcock in Polka Dots
If miracles occurred...
- Matteo Jorgenson in Yellow
- Sean Quinn in Green
- Sean Quinn in White
- Neilson Powless in Polka Dots
It all starts on Saturday, and I can't wait...
... been on a TV diet so I can gorge for 3 weeks.
Who are you pulling for?
---
166.2 (so far from my goal)
8 hrs sleep
PullUps and PushUps
30 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
100
Strava
I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'VE DONE TO DESERVE THIS
Jun 23, 2024
by TODD BROWN
MY SURFERGIRL, bless her paddling heart, is pushing me to do something. This is a new one. She's never done this before...
... am I dreaming?
Rather than rolling her eyes as I justify yet another race,
rather than explicitly saying she'll never do another bike race disguised as a vacation...
... she said this.
I think you need to do some races.
What?!
Yeah, it's true.
While I love the enthusiasm,
it's got me scratching my helmet.
Huh?
Since my accident, does she...
- know I'm afraid to race?
- think I've lost my edge?
- care how I do?
... all/none of the above?
Today really set off alarm bells.
She, if you can believe this, suggested we go to the Crusher In The Tushar.
Yep.
Return to take another crack at what was brutal day on the bike.
- 69 miles
- 10,000' of climbing
Th last time I did it the heat (110 degrees) got the best of me.
Massive battle with cramps.
Barely able to finish.
I have to admit, it is a heinous course with potential infernal heat and would be good training at the least...
... revenge at the best.
My motivation,
prep for A race.
Hers,
I'm too chicken to ask.
---
164.2
8ish hrs sleep
No Strength Work
30 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
103
Strava
SHE'S GOT LEGS!
Jun 22, 2024
by TODD BROWN
HONESTLY, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I knew she was fast, being a National Champ and all. I knew I was slow, being, well, being me. But,...
... this was ridiculous.
What was happening????
Once summer hits f'reals 'round here, the cooler coast ride starts to draw the hitters.
The Hulk pinned it right from the start...
... the boys (n girls) we're back in town!
After carving through the roundabout and charging the rollers we caught a light.
Alf looked at me and said...
... Talk to me Goose!
I'm
hu uh hu uh hu uh hu
here.
It hurt so bad,
no words.
Meanwhile, Kody The Kid reminded us...
... the hardest 3 minutes you'll ever ride is coming up.
I hadn't posted a decent time on it in a year,
been getting shelled for months.
Could I make it?
PC made it with all the boys, well most of the boys, all the fast ones.
I could only watch as the lactic ground my cadence to a thud.
How the heck did she do that?
After chasing hard for 5 more minutes I caught a lucky break.
They hit a light.
I asked her handsome, nice, and barely sweating husband...
... Did PC make the whole thing with you?
(There's a short cut, and she looked like she'd just left the spa - fresh as can be.)
Yeah, she's on her e-bike.
Ahhhhh....
To be fair, she's dropped me there plenty of times, but not as easily and gracefully as today.
What was extra cool, was drilling it down the canyon, all strung out on her wheel.
All in all, today was an awesome adventure.
Great to be back again, and on the worst 3 minute climb in the county...
... the ol' diesel managed to crack 3 minutes.
I'll take it.
---
As far as training for the A race goes, this is a really good route. Finishes, after the group ride, on a hellacious hill, and takes me about 4.5 hours to get there. About the same amount of time I'm figuring Gravel Nats will take.
I did better on my calorie consumption. 5 bottles, 1/hour. First 3 had 300 calories. Last 2, 200. Better, but not good enough. I was fading on the final hour, and I think more calories will fix that.
That's exactly why we set up group rides, and C races. To figure out things like nutrition.
---
164.9
8ish hrs sleep
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
103
Starva
ARE YOU FITTIN' KIDDING ME?
Jun 21, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WHY DO WE IGNORE THE BEST ADVICE? I dunno about you, but the moment I'm outted as a lover of having fun on two-wheels I get peppered with questions. They all start out slow...
... like they're testing me.
And then I get it,
every time.
What kind of bike should I get?
It's a fair question,
just it's not the right question.
They already know they want an MTB or road bike or gravel bike or triathlon bike...
... they're asking me, what brand.
My answer is always the same.
If you're not sure you're really gonna be into it, the cheapest thing you can find on Facebook marketplace.
If you're totally gung ho, whatever the best bike shop in your town is carrying.
They're gonna need the support of a good community.
However, that is still the wrong question.
Not the answer they need.
When I tell them what they need, they always,
and I mean freakin' always,
nod their heads.
Oh, yeah, that makes sense.
Proceed to not take my advice,
and too often wind up with the wrong bike.
So, What kind of bike you get?...
... The one an expert bike fitter recommends.
People fork out real money,
on really bad bikes for them.
Don't be pennywise...
... be fit smart!
---
Have you checked out our travel bags?
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-travel-bags
---
164.7
7 hrs sleep
PullUps and PushUps
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
98
A THREE PLUG RIDE
Jun 20, 2024
by TODD BROWN
IF YOU HAD A CHANCE to ride with your top training pal from 10 years ago, would you? Make it happen? Do whatever it takes?...
... let nothing get in the way?
This pal, retired from the sport.
The horror!
But, every now and again, I can coax him back on his bike and we spend some good time catching up...
... the wonderful two-wheeled way.
We rolled from his place,
through some dirt,
to a bike trail.
I promptly managed to get a fish hook in my tire.
Stopped,
pulled it out.
The magic of tubeless,
it sealed.
Not 90 seconds later I hit a perfectly place piece of gravel,
and punctured the tire.
Ugh!
Big hole.
Put in a plug,
aired it up,
no luck.
Put in another plug,
aired it up,
no go.
I'm outta air at this point,
but I must have taught him well because he's prepared.
Put in a third plug,
air it up...
... we're off, and riding.
There was no way we weren't doing this ride...
... now if I can just lure him back into riding regularly.
I miss hanging out with my oldest, son.
---
164.7
8 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra squats
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
99
DERAILLED?
Jun 19, 2024
by TODD BROWN
GRABBED THE MTB FOR DRTY WDNSDY. It'd been a few weeks. The chain started skipping around, and when I shifted down to get over the final steep little pitch...
... it jumped into the spokes.
Did it save my life?
Maybe.
I instantly came to a stop, panicked I'd permanently wedged it between the spokes and the cassette.
A second later, I noticed...
... a beautiful diamond back rattle snake sunbathing about 3' away from me.
Had I been going a lot faster,
had the drivetrain been functioning properly,
there's a good chance one of us would have been hurt.
Derailleur is a weird word.
It's French.
Before I got all hoitytoity roadie, I called it the shifter.
It shifts the gears, or derails the chain from one cog to the next.
Today, mine malfunctioned and derailled my ride...
... shifted my plans.
Which goes to prove not all derailments ruin the day...
... sometimes we just gotta take a breath and find the good in the situation.
---
164.9
8 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra squats
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
101
CALENDERING
Jun 18, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WHEN PLANNING OUT THE TRAINING, it's super helpful to have a large wall calendar. Smaller calendars are okay, too. For sure, avoid my go to form...
... the ever lame, in my head.
That's just plain...
- easy
- lazy
- dumb
... otherwise known as...
- winging it
- hoping
- unpro
... not us.
First, put in the milestones...
- Family vacations and events
- Work trips and commitments
... then, add in the A events.
Now, we can look at when...
- we can do the big training blocks
- it makes the most sense to have a rest week
- and a few B and C events that would be great prep
... that's the truly big picture.
The best way to visualize and predict the future.
---
We still have a few of these, and I'm blowing them out for $15, with free shipping.
---
164.7
7 hrs sleep
PullUps and PushUps
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
100
HAVE I BECOME THE MIRTHLESS MAN?
Jun 17, 2024
by TODD BROWN
THIS WAS A WEIRD ONE, and I'm wondering if it's ever happened to you. A concerned reader reached out and said...
... I'm doing it all wrong.
All this training is supposed to be fun, and give me joy, etc.
According to this judge, I've missed the point.
I can't possibly be happy with all this dedication, striving, yearning to improve...
... and, I wondered if that's true.
You know what I think?
He's right.
People with low standards, set the bar low and can't relate to...
... people fascinated by what's possible, who set the bar impossibly high.
Riding fast...
... fascinates me.
If you relate, click here.
---
165.1
8 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
30 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
97
IF YOU HAD A SUPER POWER...
Jun 16, 2024
by TODD BROWN
AT THE PARTY FRIDAY NIGHT, the gist was to get to know each other better. We each drew a question about ourselves. I drew...
... if you had a super power what would it be and why?
You'd think it would be...
- to climb like a god
- sprint faster than a bullet trail
... something along those lines.
Today being Father's Day, I woulda settled for discipline...
- instead of hogging the delicious pizza we "split" last night
- rising to demolish a fresh apple fritter for breakfast
- snacking on the entire bag my favorite chips and salsa
- prying open the chocolate almonds in the bag
- going tyrannosaurus rex on a steak dinner
... was I desperate to restore my dad bod?
My actual answer to the question was to be a time traveler so I could...
- go back and visit my dad and grand fathers
- go forward and see our sons' families' families
... what could be better?
Oh, well, yeah, also go to the future to finally answer the question...
... what is the truly optimal tire pressure.
---
164.7 lbs (tomorrow's gonna be worse)
7 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps and Squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
98
COMPARING EVENTS AND INTERPRETING THE DATA
Jun 15, 2024
by TODD BROWN
THREE OF THE LAST 4 WEEKS I've hit it pretty hard on Saturday. Twice on the road, once on gravel. All chasing much faster cats...
... doing all I can to hang on.
Today's was the biggest challenge...
... the most feared ride in these parts.
It's called Swami's, and is in the San Diego area.
One of the reasons it's so challenging is because that area has phenomenal athletes, and many of them are cyclists and triathletes.
The other reason, there is only one choice for a Saturday beat down.
I've pulled the data from just the blistering sections of the each day's workouts. Not the warm up or cool down or junk miles.
Below are my results.
Swami's
Two weeks ago, I chased my favorite national class offroad family... they just took 1st, 2nd, and 5th at MTB Marathon Nationals, today.
Gravel route
Three weeks ago, it was another very spirited gallop on the road.
Food Park
What can we see?
Work (kJ) was similar on the 2 road rides, the gravel ride was longer but when extrapolated a similar effort.
For all three rides, my Normalized Power (NP) was almost exactly the same.
A little bit lower on Food Park.
Average Power was highest on Swami's (223), the shortest ride, followed by the longer Gravel ride (216), with Food Park the lowest (200).
Max Power was similar on Swami's and Gravel (739, 730), and lowest on Food Park (653).
Ave Heart Rate, was nearly identical on the two road rides (155, 153) and a little lower on the longer gravel ride (145)... which also had some longish descents.
Soooooo... my fellow lovers of pain,
Which ride gives the best results when I'm searching for more explosive power in the 1-5 minute range?
While you're thinking about that, chew on this:
- I was dropped several times on Food Park but miraculously (stop lights) caught back on.
- On the gravel ride, I came off on most of the climbs, and reconnected on the descents.
- Today, on Swami's, I was shelled about 20 minutes in and rejoined after taking a short cut, then left behind again with 6-8ish miles to go.
My take away is that my fitness is rising, my ability to put out power is increasing and Swami's would be the best effort...
... if I could manage to stay on.
That used to be doable, terrible, but achievable.
My fitness, according to Strava is down 22% from a year ago and 29% from 2 years ago.
Considering it was almost zero in February, post injury, I'm pretty stoked and...
... looking forward to my next crack at Swami's.
What can I do better?
- Still need to carve off some blubber
- Coulda got better sleep last night
- More calories per hour
Now, what to do next week?
---
163.8 (I can do better)
7 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps and Squats
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
100
GOOD AND READY ARE NOT THE SAME THING
Jun 14, 2024
by TODD BROWN
A LOT OF THINGS CAN HOLD US BACK FROM WINNING. Our talent, our equipment, our preparation, our effort...
... being good enough to win is likely not in question.
We often have what it takes to snag the PR, get up on the podium, win the group sprint.
But, we don't do it...
... because we aren't ready.
Could be our mental game,
we aren't hungry enough,
our doubts,
fears.
Other times, we straight up...
... forget to pack our shoes.
Doh!
Whatever the case, not being ready is strictly on us.
---
162.8
7.5 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
98
FATIGUE MAKES COWARDS OF US ALL
Jun 13, 2024
by TODD BROWN
THE HARDEST RIDE I DO ALL WEEK, isn't with the crew, isn't intervals, isn't some ridiculously epic PR I'm chasing...
... for most of us, we'd consider it a nothing burger.
Not me, here's why.
It's the Wednesday ride, on the heels of the blistering Tuesday ride.
By myself.
Zone 2.
3 hours.
What could be so hard about that?
The way I do it.
From the get go, I'm looking to get my HR right into the upper limits of my Zone 2.
Because I'm freshish, this means the power output is more in the tempo range.
One of my goals, is to never take the pressure off the pedals.
Flat, up, down, smooth, bouncy...
... I'm pedaling.
Focused on that target HR.
Last evening, as I rolled into the 3rd hour....
... I was exhausted and badly wanted to shut 'er down.
To quit.
My power HR was dropping and so was the power per beat.
My desire to pedal,
wilting.
I had a choice...
... stay on plan or head to the coast and coast home.
I chose to persevere because I know when September's event rolls around...
... I want to be prepared to battle fatigue.
---
162.3
7.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
99
THE MAGIC OF AN ATHLETE'S LIFE
Jun 12, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WHAT IS A RACE, REALLY? There's all the prep and training. Competitors who are teaming and tapered. A race director who's praying it goes off without a hitch...
... but, that's not the real showdown.
What a race is is a date on our calendar to find out...
... how fit and healthy we really are.
And, this is the magic of an athlete's life.
We actually have a plan, a timeline to follow...
... a deadline to bring it all together.
What are we going to find out at the A race?
Yeah, we'll discover if we're faster or slower or better or worse than the rest.
More importantly, we'll know we are doing everything we can to maximize our physical, mental, social and, yes, spiritual, selves...
... which puts us miles ahead of where we'd otherwise be.
To outsiders the resulting healthy glow looks like magic...
... to us, it's normal.
Because Every Day Is RaceDay.
---
If you like tapping into the power of reminders, check this out: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/id-bicycle-stickers-and-tags/products/ride-fast-id-bundle-copy
---
162.3
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
101
ALL MY THOUGHTS ON AERO
Jun 11, 2024
by TODD BROWN
HOW DOES AN UNDERFUNDED, overenthusiastic athlete figure out the intricacies of aero? No easy access to a wind tunnel, no pal on the inside, just YouTube...
... this is a real question.
And, today, I thought I got a real answer.
I went all in on aero.
- Kask Utopia helmet
- New Speedsuit prototype
- No cell phone bulging out the side pocket
This is the depth of my science.
I was the last cat with a chance to catch the leading 5 riders over the top of The Wall.
There was one rider that I could see in between me and them...
... according to Strava, I was 10 seconds behind Gouldilox.
A legit test ensued.
Generally, if I'm not right on his wheel he rolls away from me, even though we are nearly the same weight and build.
Sensations.
Aero helmets are oddly quieter than the others at 45.9 mph (per Wahoo).
The Speedsuit opening forms a perfect seal around my neck, and the fabric is cut so exact there is zero flapping in the wind...
... just the air flowing around my body.
It felt awesome...
... fast as heck!
Nearly two miles later, as I reentered the atmosphere, we linked up.
Looking back on it, while the ride seemed slowish today we actually posted pretty quick times.
How's that for sciency?
I'm taking this Ride Fast mantra pretty serious.
Check this out: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/id-bicycle-stickers-and-tags/products/ride-fast-id-bundle-1
---
162.3
7.5 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
100
ON BEING SLIGHTLY BETTER
Jun 10, 2024
by TODD BROWN
IMPROVEMENT CAN BE ILLUSIVE. Sometimes it's obviously happening, other times we wonder if we're moving forward at all. Here's how to know if...
... changes for the better are being made.
Where would we be if we...
- rode 3 more miles
- skipped dessert
- did 5 pull ups
- hit the hay 10 minutes earlier
- rattled off 15 push ups
- said no to one piece of bread
- spent 5 minutes on equipment maintenance
... every day?
After a year of this we'd...
- add 1095 miles
- skip 365 desserts
- do 1825 pull ups
- sleep 60 additional hours
- complete 5475 push ups
- go without 23 loaves of bread
- perform 25 hours of equipment maintenance
... and hardly notice a change to our daily lives.
Except, being slightly better each day means being...
... massively better a year from now.
---
162.8
8 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
98
WE CAN'T WIN THAT RACE
Jun 09, 2024
by TODD BROWN
TWO YEARS AGO, when I was going for my PR at Leadville, I was toying with the idea of a special jersey. It would contain something very stealthy. I tabled the idea...
... because I wasn't sure it work.
Now, of course, the concept is cutting-edge.
Which makes this idea...
... just like every race we stand no chance of winning.
What was the jersey idea?
Sewing in a sleeve to hold my hydration bladder inside the jersey vs a camelbak-style pack...
... which is exactly what the winner, and other pros, used at Unbound last week.
I wanted it because it seemed like it would be more secure, not bouncing around over rough terrain.
Aero wasn't on my mind at all, which was the claimed gotta-have benefit for the 200 mile gravel race.
Clearly it works,
clearly I gotta take a crack at it.
Which brings up the point about racing...
... we can't win a race, ever, if we don't show up.
Take the chance,
see what happens.
---
163.1
7.8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
99
THE REASON I'M NOT DOING 100mi TRAINING RIDES
Jun 08, 2024
by TODD BROWN
GRAVEL NATIONALS IS IN 13 WEEKS. Last year's course for my age group was 90ish miles. One would think I should be doing 100 mile training rides...
... there's a better metric to use for prep.
Rather than try and match the mileage,
consider this info...
- The winners completed the course in just under 4.5 hours.
- Add to that, the there isn't a lot of climbing...
- ... 3500' over 90 miles is only 38'/mile.
- Way under my climby course barometer of 100'/mile.
- Most of the roads used look very smooth and fast, maybe a little sand.
... so, what am I gonna do?
That was the question I had this morning as I rolled out...
... how can I best mimic the challenge I'll face in Nebraska?
I had a route in mind that connected the fastest gravel stretches I can ride from home.
My goal was to ride race pace for 4 hours,
then refuel at the little country general store,
and take it easy for the 90 minutes it takes to ride home.
Things went mostly according to plan...
... until my right pedal exploded.
Yep.
2.5 hours in,
I stand up and hear a pinging sound,
looking down I can see the pedal is sliding out about 2".
That pinging sound?
All the teenytiny ballbearings hitting the frame.
First, we need to take care of our gear. I'd been running these pedals for over 2 years, and never done a lick of maintenance.
Bozo Nono.
Second, things can go sideways in a race, so I pedaled on.
Every few miles I'd unclip and kick the end of the pedal to get it aligned. This worked mostly good. I had to slow down a bit, but not much.
Me, being me, there was no way I was gonna quit when I was trying to test my body and figure out a good gravel course.
I arrived at the general store in 3:34,
26 minutes earlier than I'd hoped,
mainly due to skipping bouncy stuff.
That said, my normalized power for the effort was 236, which is pretty good given the pedal issues.
Along with figuring out a 4ish hour test course...
... I wanted to practice nutrition intake.
In race conditions I'd shoot for 3-400 calories/hour, and 1 bottle per hour...
- I downed 1.7 bottles
- 700 calories
... for those first 3.5 hours
This was a total fail.
Next time I do this test, I'll hit the sections I skipped and be on top of my nutrition.
For a first crack,
it was a good effort.
Not great.
One thing I'll be hoping for is some hotter weather.
Today was cool,
and overcast.
Heat will probably slow me down,
but, it could easily be in the 90's come raceday.
So, why am I not doing 100 mile training rides to prepare?
- We don't have endless gravel roads here
- Our local terrain has a lot more elevation gain
- I'm much more interested in being able to rip it up for 4.5 hours
Time in the saddle is a more important training metric for me, than miles.
---
162.3
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Presses
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
101 (finally broke 100!)
BREATH WORK
Jun 07, 2024
by TODD BROWN
BREATHING IS A BIG THING when we're maxing out our capabilities. I've tried nose only, focusing on expanding my diaphragm, and belly breathing. I'd like to...
... blame the belly breathing.
That was my first attempt at improving my ability to process oxygen.
I shamelessly blamed that method for my potbelly and Surfergirl's constant request during photos...
... Hold your belly in.
I am!
It's hard to hold back 30 lbs of blubber.
I felt like The Little Dutch Boy,
only my dike was about to break.
During this belly breathing era, you know where your belly is expanding and contracting in an exaggerated fashion...
... me rubbing legs would wear off the anodized color on the sides of my seatpost,
and my knees would bounce off said belly.
Hard to be aero when belly is in the way.
Maybe belly breathing wasn't that effective?
It took about 5 years to change that.
Not the breathing,
the belly.
But, the most rapid changes happened when I decided to go for it on the local, hilly time trial through the canyon.
While I was shedding lbs,
my coach at the time,
insisted I change.
She wanted me to stop allowing my belly expand like a water balloon attached to a faucet...
... instead, focus on expanding my diaphragm.
Bring the diaphragm down to make room for my expanding lungs.
I didn't see the point.
However, when I did that, and it took some getting used to, I noticed I was more relaxed on the bike and breathing easier...
... when riding at threshold, tt pace.
To this day, I think about that era and occasionally find myself consciously practicing the technique.
As for the nose breathing, which she (the coach) also prodded me to do, I never got the hang of it when going at a pace above Zone 1. I do practice it when at my desk, or reading, or stretching.
It could be anatomical, or mental, or laziness...
... I gave it a shot.
The kids, in the pic above, can't remember the day Surfergirl snapped a pic of me 30 years agon, shirtless, bent over, holding their hands...
... Who were they with? I cluelessly asked.
I didn't even recognize myself when we got the pics back a month or so later.
Changing things like breathing and bellies is fun to try...
... and often makes a positive difference in performance.
---
162.1
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Presses
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
98
MUST BE NICE
Jun 06, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WHY DO PEOPLE SAY THIS? It must be nice to be fit enough to do epic things, and go for long training excursions when you want. To which I always respond...
... it's not nice.
Because it's not.
It's freakin' GREAT!
Which is why we do it.
Saying No to...
- crappy food
- staying up too late
- wasting time watching stupid stuff
And yes to...
... living awesome lives.
Maybe they say It must be nice because we make it look easy.
And it is.
When we commit.
We're like race horses,
with the blinders on.
Our finish line is the fitness which results in us being better...
- parents
- lovers
- workers
- providers
- thinkers
- doers of good deeds
... than we'd otherwise be.
It's not nice...
... it's The Best.
---
162.7
8 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
97
THE GAMECHANGING GOAL
Jun 05, 2024
by TODD BROWN
SOME GOALS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, and I think I know why. It's not that one destination is better than another, it's...
... what is required that matters.
Take my pal Roberto's goal for 2025.
He fell short of finishing a monster ride.
He didn't really fall,
he wasn't able to complete the route.
To say he's going to do the whole ride next year is massive because he quit before the final 5000' climb, which was preceded by 10000' of vert and 110 miles.
That ain't nothin'...
... and he's already planning to go for it.
The only way he's going to make that happen is to change his game.
He's got to be a heck of a lot fitter,
and up his bike handling.
That's what I mean with gamechanging goals forcing us to...
- change how we prepare
- eliminate useless activities
- increase time spent doing the right things
- think of entirely new ways to reach new results
... change everything.
Are gamechanging goals really better?
I think so,
they're the only ones that get me excited about what's possible.
What are my gamechanging goals?
- Take Surfergirl on a weeklong vacation to a dream destination (it's been too long)
- Double our sales over last year, even though we are only 5% ahead y.t.d.
- Compete (not just show up) at Gravel Nationals
---
163.1
8.5 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
99
MY STATS AND WHY I SHARE THEM
Jun 04, 2024
by TODD BROWN
READER BURAK ASKED ABOUT MY STATS. I'd say it's personal, and I'm not going to share that data with anybody, especially a potential competitor. But, it's personal...
... and I want to be held accountable.
To you,
and to me.
Can't tell ya how many times I've wanted to fudge or skip...
... knowing it's public makes it very powerful to stay on course.
So, Burak, here ya go:
I'm 62.
163.8 lbs
This is my weight, first thing in the morning, not after a 100 mile bike ride in 100 degree heat without a water bottle or food. Tracking that number, at that time of day is super valuable. I've used the same app for years, and if i want to see what I weighed when I snagged a PR or had a good race, it's a tap of the screen away.
8.5 hrs sleep
This sleep number is the time I spend in bed. I used an app on my watch for a while, but it stressed me out so much my sleep got worse. I'm typically zonked within about 10 minutes of picking up the Kindle. Nightly sleep time has increased by 60-90 minutes since my brain injury.
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
The circuit is comprised of PullUps, PushUps, Squats, Heel Raises, Toe Raises, Should Press and Nordic Leg Curls (look it up on YouTube). It takes me 15-18 minutes to do them all, at home, in my PJs, right after I stretch and do some meditation.
20 minutes recovery
Most morning I stretch and meditate for 20 minutes, and several evenings a week I'll hit the legs with the Hypervolt for 6-10 minutes. Occasionally, not as often as I'd like, I'll get a proper massage.
90 minutes reading + Journaling
After I do the stretch and meditate stuff, before the Circuit, I usually dive into some sort of uplifting and/or educational reading, followed by some journaling. If it says over 60 minutes, that's because I did more reading during the day or at night. I really like to read and learn.
95
That little number right there I added this year. It's my fitness score, according to Training Peaks. Strava has something similar. When I was finally able to start training again, my score was in the low 30s vs my high score from 2 year ago when I went all in on Leadville. Then, it was in the hight 130s. I've got a ways to go, and I'm super pleased and amazed at the progress I've made.
The only way for me to pull this off is to wake earrrrrrrly, 5am. That's early for me. I love it. The house is quiet and peaceful.
If you want to know more about this, and be held accountable click here... https://racedayripper.com/share/3ombFpNhXntNd8UB?utm_source=manual
... the key is not to be shy, jump in, introduce yourself, access the knowledge base.
---
163.6
7.5 hrs sleep
PullUps and PushUps
20 minutes recovery
45 minutes reading + Journaling
98
3 RANDOM (BUT MANDATORY) EXERCISES
Jun 03, 2024
by TODD BROWN
I'M NOT SAYING I'M SUPER STRONG, just stronger than I was a year ago, and probably...
... a million times stronger than most cats my age.
That might be an understatement.
How'd I do it?
That's the funny part.
There's no magic...
... unless you count patience.
But, it's so simple and so effective and so time efficient I can't stop wanting to share it.
Every day, and by every day, I mean I super very rarely skip a day. Like never, unless I'm tapering for a race.
Every day,
in under 15 minutes,
from the comfort of my garage,
in the leisure of my cozy pajamas...
- PullUps
- PushUps
- Squats
... in that order.
Multiple sets that wind up totaling...
- 25
- 75
- 15
... respectively.
I sucked when I started.
Had to jump up and lower myself down slowly on the pullups because I could barely do one.
One!
I started doing 2x on the pushups vs pullups, and now I'm 3x of however many pull ups.
Currently, that means the first set is 8 pullups, 24 pushups, 5 squats.
Let me put this in perspective for us all...
... basic fitness for the military age male is being able to do 12 pullups in a row and 42 pushups in a row.
I'm going to shoot for my max being 12 pullups, which I could probably do now...
.... if I wasn't such a stickler for form.
Am I bragging?
Nope.
I'm begging.
Begging all of us to be strong,
so our bones and souls are less likely to break.
---
... No one is good at something they've never done before...
---
163.8
8.5 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
95
THE EXCITING CONCLUSION
Jun 02, 2024
by TODD BROWN
SURFERGIRL KNOWS NOT TO INTERRUPT ME when I'm immersed in the final chapters of pageturning fiction. I'm unreachable, time stops...
... just like the final miles of a race.
I'm gone.
My alter ego firmly in control.
At the beginning of a race or quest or book, it's easy to day dream, let the mind wander, be distracted.
But, there's something about the end that demands a shift in concentration and focus.
Is it because it's time to discover the pay off?
Show what we're made of?
See the story ends?
Or, just the sheer adrenaline of the looming finish line?
---
163.8
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
20 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
96
TODAY WAS A PRACTICE RACE
Jun 01, 2024
by TODD BROWN
MY FAST FRIENDS INVITED ME TO TAG ALONG on their gravel ride. For them, it would be "easy". For me...
... it would be an explosive test.
The invitation was on Wednesday,
which gave me two days to be ready.
I wanted to do more than recover.
My plan was to use it as a practice race...
- Recover and taper
- Have a pre-race dinner
- Get to bed early and sleep 8 hours
... that's the basics.
Beyond that...
- I planned a pre-race breaky
- Prepped bottles with 333 calories each
- Stuffed a few crepes in my pockets to supplement.
How'd it go?
The bad...
- Ate half a hamburger and some fries at 830pm
- Went to bed at 1030pm vs the targeted 9-930pm
- Woke up a little late, had to sprint to the meet up vs warm up
The good...
- Legs felt great
- Food strategy went perfect
- Picked off some PRs, and recorded strong power numbers
Which brings up the most important point...
... all races always have shift go wrong.
Always.
While we endeavor to perfect our racecraft, part of the perfection...
... is mastering our response when things go sideways.
---
163.6
8 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
98
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE PRO
May 31, 2024
by TODD BROWN
PRO RACERS GET PAID. That's the qualification to call oneself professional. We'd all like to be pro racers. Wake up, eat, stretch, look over the equipment, train all we want and need...
... recover, and sleep.
You know what's weird about that?
We have to be pro,
to be a pro.
In everything we do.
What's hard about that?
The everything part.
Not only do we have to eat, drink, sleep and train like pros...
.. we have to be pro at work and family.
There's is no room for error,
no time to waste.
Is there any money in being a pro athlete?
Who cares?
It's cool to be...
... pro at everything.
---
161.6
8 hrs sleep
PullUps and PushUps
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
93
5 MONTHS DOWN, SUMMER TO GO
May 30, 2024
by TODD BROWN
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE, and how you like to compete, your race season has just ended, or is just beginning. I either case...
... I have one question.
Are you where you want to be?
Did things go good during the spring races?
Is the fitness coming together as the summer heats up?
It's interesting to consider our progress, and realize...
... it's all about being consistent.
Sure, we can...
- crash diet
- do a huge training block
- upgrade to a new fancy gizmo
... for a temporary performance bump.
Or, would we be a heck of a lot further down the trail by...
... doing the right things, day after day?
---
161.8
8 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
94
THE 5 KINDS OF RACERS
May 29, 2024
by TODD BROWN
THERE ARE 5 KINDS OF RACERS in the world. No matter where we go, we're sure to find all five. Could be on a start line...
... could be on a lonely trail.
Here they are:
- Motivated by the journey, this first group focuses on the racecraft, learns all they can. Then cracks off a blistering time up a mountain, without waiting for someone to organize a race.
- The top of the podium is the domain of fierce competitors, against their PRs and everyone else. They figure out what it takes to win a race, and do it.
- Those on the dirt podium - 4th and 5th and top 10s - are like the top of the podium, but the resistance is real. They're motivated, but internal limits hold them back.
- The rest of the lead group, is willing to expend effort, but not too much. They are fast enough to be there at the end, but don't see themselves as contenders.
- The pack fodder, is cool with just being present and getting by with the least possible effort.
I've been all of these racers, at one time or another.
It's not permanent.
And, that's the cool part...
... we can always change.
---
162.8
9 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
96
SHOULD WE STOP RIDING HARD?
May 28, 2024
by TODD BROWN
KEVI BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT. We were geeking out over polarized training, the poles being Easy days and Hard days. He's new to it, and keeps...
... riding too hard on the easy days.
Which ruins the system.
We can't ride truly hard,
if we aren't rested.
Then, he brought up a good point.
Maybe we shouldn't be riding hard at all?
What?
The horror!
He suggested a mental shift...
... from Hard to Fast.
I slept on it,
then this happened.
Tuesdays are my hard days,
and I like to go hit it on our saucy group ride.
However, things today weren't as heated as I'd hoped...
- guys tired from going long on yesterday's holiday
- one of the hitters riding slow and shutting down attacks
... what to do when we want to ride hard and aren't being pushed?
That's where riding Fast came into play.
I did my little ol' best to keep the pace high, fast.
It didn't help the group's overall speed too much,
still rather lethargic by our standards.
But, it got my lycracovered buns to the front more than I have been lately...
... because I committed to ride fast.
This carried on, after the group split up, for the hour it takes me to ride home.
Calling a ride or effort hard implies, I dunno, something negative-ish.
Fast can mean all kinds of things...
- average speed
- ripping up a climb
- all out for the final sprint
... how we apply Fast depends on the day's objective.
The two words, hard and fast, feel different...
... and I think that matters.
Personally, I'd prefer to be fast.
---
163.1
7.25 hrs sleep
PushUps and PullUps
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
95
HOW TO WAKE UP EARLY(ER)
May 27, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WE ALL WANT TO DO MORE. Accomplish more, win more, lose more, love more, read more, be more. It might start with waking up early, not the time...
... how we spend those first 20-30 minutes matters.
For years, and I'm embarrassed to say this, first thing I'd do is head to the bathroom to take care of business, and...
... wind up playing Chess.com for 20 minutes.
I kidded myself that it was good in a multitude of ways.
Maybe.
There's good,
better,
best.
About a month ago I was challenged by a friend to change it up.
Quit...
- wasting time
- reading emails that need attention
- polluting my brain with social media
Start
- meditating
- stretching
- visualizing
At first it was odd,
going against years of (no my chess score didn't improve much) habit.
My new start involved stumbling downstairs,
laying on the couch and listening
to a recommended meditation.
Two weeks in, I decided to add stretching/yoga.
This was comical.
Reaching for my toes first thing in the morning,
no warm up.
I cold barely touch the top of my knees.
hahahaha...
Now, I'm able to do my more normal stretching routine as if I'd been active all day.
This is enlightening.
It didn't seem at all possible for me to be remotely flexible first thing.
As for the meditation, it could be
- silence
- something inspirational
- here's what I've been listening to
Change Your Life in 18 Minutes - Guided Affirmation Meditation
Is this the best thing ever, be all end all, amazing, incredible way to start the day?
It's working for me.
- muscles are warmed up and ready for my 15 minutes of pullups, pushups and squats
- brain is in a really good place to get after the day
Let us know what you think, or what how you wake up early(er).
---
163.2
7.75 hrs sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
92
TRAINING STRENGTHS VS TRAINING WEAKNESSES
May 26, 2024
by TODD BROWN
THERE'S AN OLD ARGUMENT, and it goes back to the beginning of training and coaching...
... Should we train our strengths or our weaknesses?
It depends.
It's all about the race.
Are we competing in an event whose features align with our strengths?
Let's stop there,
for a moment.
It's an important consideration.
If our strengths are going to be in play,
train 'em up.
Next question.
Should we focus on races that let our strengths shine?
It depends.
Are we looking to win or be challenged?
Not always the same thing.
While winning can be challenging, even when leaning heavily on our strengths...
... the most challenging races often ask more of us.
Then is the time to train our weaknesses or types of riding we aren't drawn to...
... and develop new skills,
which may turn to strengths.
As the great Tony Robbins says...
... Constant And Never-ending Improvement.
---
162.6
7.75 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
93
ARE YOU USING FORMULA 402?
May 25, 2024
by TODD BROWN
JUST WOKE UP. Had an early start. Rode crazy hard. Got a fitness bump according to Training Peaks. And now I'm wondering...
... Are you checking my segment out?
That's kinda personal.
I mean, I do it.
But, that don't give you license to creep on me.
Does it?
Joking aside.
4:02 showed up today.
He hadn't done this particular ride in years.
Smashed all his PRs.
He's different now that he's...
... officially 4:02 up The Wall segment.
Which is a crushing PR he posted this past Tuesday.
Used to be we'd smack this guy around.
Shoot 'im out the back.
Bye-bye.
Not personal.
It's just the kinda fun lovin' crew we are most Tuesdays.
That ended,
when he changed.
How'd you do it?
Started riding to work a few days a week,
eating a lot better,
dropped 20lbs.
That's it,
that simple?
I guess.
Result?
Taking us all to the shed most weeks.
To be clear,
his commute is like 100 miles round trip.
When it gets broken down like that,
kinda makes ya wonder what part of 4:02s hack...
... we can use for inspiration to make our own changes.
---
163.6
7.75 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
96
N + 1 = ?
May 24, 2024
by TODD BROWN
CAN WE HAVE TOO MUCH GEAR? Is there an excess of anything? of a good thing? Just what is...
... the right amount of stuff?
I'm on the path to N - 1,
and it's freakin me out.
A superlight and aero frame for gravel racing is the cause.
If it works,
if I have 2 sets of wheels,
if I'm very nearly just as fast on the road
if I'm mostly just as comfortable riding gravel...
... I can see saying adios to my gravel and road bikes.
The idea of trading 2 bikes for a Frankenbike is intriguing.
Having less.
Simplifying.
Of course, the moment...
- the weather is dodgy
- I want max performance
- the Frankenbike goes down
... you know I'll be kickin' myself.
Yes, I know this is a firstworld problem and it could be metaphorical of nearly everything in our lives, but...
... that's the point.
How much is enough?
---
162
7.75 hrs sleep
PullUps PushUps Presses
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
92
THE PRICE OF BEING COLD
May 23, 2024
by TODD BROWN
IT'S WARMING UP A BIT, but still chilly in the weeeee hours. Normally, I wear less and less as the sun rises earlier and earlier. Not, lately...
... and I think not shivering matters.
I'm not wearing a parka,
still plenty aero.
Just a base layer,
arm warmers,
skull cap.
Yes, a jersey, too.
Keep your mind outta my mirror.
Anyway, what I've noticed is I seem to be riding better because of it.
Am I going against my longstanding tradition of...
... dress for the ride, not the roll out?
Not really.
It's more of a...
... dress for optimal body temp.
This is not intuitive to me.
I'm generally a less is more kinda athlete.
However, this seems to be a more is more.
Good thing, it's a snap to ditch the arm warmers and beanie.
We make our base layers and skull caps out of the same wispy fabric on the front our jerseys. The arm warmers are fleece-lined.
If you're having big temp swings this time of year,
it's worth experimenting with.
---
163.6
7.75 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
92
HOW TO FIGURE THIS DARN SPORT OUT
May 22, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WE'VE BEEN BINGING YOUTUBE LATELY, learning about all kinds of places to travel, inside scoops on trails we want to explore, the downlow on races...
... it's good, not great.
Watching and reading to learn is like watching someone ride a bike.
Nice.
To learn,
we've got to mount up.
Even that is tricky.
It's new.
The progress will be slow,
the failures many.
The best thing,
is to find someone who's done it.
Learn from them.
Ask questions
Attach to their hip,
and soak it all in.
What is said,
and unsaid.
That goes for anything we want to learn.
When it comes to racing...
... we're here to help.
Click that link,
join the community,
and ask lots of questions.
Being Shy = Being Slower Than You Could Be
---
165.1
8.5 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
94
A LITTLE SECRET SPEED TIP
May 21, 2024
by TODD BROWN
THE MORNING WRECKING CREW was not what I expected. First, I wanted to skip it. Second, I got shamed into going. Third, I...
... felt pretty darn good.
Not at first.
Going up the driveway to the start stung my legs.
I said Hi,
figuring I'd be off the back in minutes.
But, a funny thing happened on the way up the paceline...
... the legs kinda came around.
By the end, I was setting fast times on all kinds of segments (for me, this year).
Even got a KOM on the Hour of Power segment, post group ride...
... it stood for a 3 minutes.
Then Love Watts uploaded his ride and stole it by 2 seconds.
Which is a lungwinded way to share a little secret...
... very long slow distance can equal speed if done correctly.
Saturday's ride was very long,
also, very steady.
Mostly Zone 2.
Which means I was tired at the end of the day, however...
... my muscles weren't wrecked.
Was it just the throttled effort?
Nope.
While I didn't drink enough post ride, I did get in a pretty good meal right away.
That matters.
Gotta get those muscles to recover.
Had I pushed really hard and gone way deep on the efforts, or fouled up the nutrition, or both, the resultant damage to the ol' legs woulda been much worse.
Instead, it was a remarkable day.
Nowwwwwwww... it's time for a few easy rides before the weekend.
---
165.6
7.75 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
94
THE DUMBEST DIET EVER
May 20, 2024
by TODD BROWN
I'M LIGHTER THAN I'VE BEEN IN 6 MONTHS. Shocking, since I dropped 3 lbs over the weekend. I've just got to...
... share my secret with the world.
So, you nevereverever do something this dumb.
For the last leg of Saturday's epic quest, I filled up 3 waterbottles, plus a ton of bars in my pack.
Little did I know, we'd be riding for 6 more hours.
That's a good thing, right?
All those supplies.
For sure.
Yes.
One,
giant,
problem.
I barely drank one bottle,
didn't eat any food.
When I finally got indoors,
I didn't eat much,
wasn't thirsty.
And that my fine athletic friends is the absolute dumbest thing we can do...
... racing or not.
Being thirsty,
being hungry,
truly is for dummies.
Training, racing, living,
we need hydration,
We need calories.
---
161.8
8hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
30 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
91
WHAT GOOD IS BRAVERY?
May 19, 2024
by TODD BROWN
WHEN I INVITE YOU THRONGS OF READERS, plus all my local riding pals, to do something seemingly impossible, I get a lot of No thanks because...
... who wants to fail?
Nobody.
Oh, except those want the thrill of owning a monumental personal victory.
It takes guts,
perseverance,
and determination...
... to attempt the diabolically divine.
Which is exactly how my friend and fellow sicko Kevin described the adventure.
From the misty shores of dawn at Dana Point,
to the lofty views 8000' above the world at sunset...
... just taking a crack at it says all you need to know about the brave who went us.
And that's the problem.
Bravery can get us in all kinds a trouble.
Like the guys who left before sunrise,
who'd never ridden the route,
who had to perform surgery,
on a bad shifter.
Bravery can also save our baconflavered gel pack...
... by causing us to look at unplanned challenges and say Bring It!
What else was unplanned?
Spencer getting a nail through his tire,
which ripped the rim tape ruining his tubeless set up.
Me knocking my derailler hard enough to massively deform the hanger,
ergo no shifting.
But, when we're determined, we solve the problems...
- So, Michael goes door to door begging for plumbing tape and finds an off-duty plumber
- Wilt, who joined our group along the way, directs me Cyclery USA for a masterful repair
... and we get back on course.
Bravery can give us unwarranted confidence.
While we enjoyed a hamburger, fries and Coke before the final 9 mile climb up a rough and rocky fire road...
... it was warm and we were feeling great.
We rolled out with tons of sunlight,
some windbreakers,
and swagger.
We were ready to conquer the beast.
Figured it would take about two hours.
It was 80 degrees at the bottom.
Four hours later,
in the dark,
42 degrees.
Not the worst...
- We were exhausted
- Freezing
- Hungry
... and LOST!!!!
Our meager headlights,
lack of solid geographical info,
and the mind numbing cold conspired...
... to ruin us.
Some of us were brave.
All were calm and supportive.
To be honest, I was losing touch with rational thinking.
We'd rolled at 5:15AM,
it was now after 10PM...
... and we made about a million reroute decisions the final miles.
I texted Surfergirl,
Drive to Snow Summit,
crank the heater,
bring blankets.
We could see the city lights,
couldn't get there.
Until we did.
Finally we attacked a fast, flowy singletrack...
... like a lumbering, frozen caterpillar.
---
Huuuuuge, thank yous to Surfergirl for awesome swag support...
... and the brave souls who took on the challenge to do something impossible.
I'd never do alone.
We didn't all make it.
Not uncommon.
We all failed our first 2 tries.
To a rider, all are committed to return...
... and conquer!
---
Now that we've completed the Surf N Summit in October and May,
we've determined May is the optimal month.
You're invited to do the impossible with us next year.
Plan accordingly.
---
163.6
6.5hrs sleep
No Strenght Work
0 minutes recovery
0 minutes reading + Journaling
95
IT'S HAPPENING!
May 17, 2024
by TODD BROWN
TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY. It's been just over 5 months since my brain injury. We never took SurfNSummit off the calendar, instead...
... we aimed for that date!
10 of my closest friends - some I've never met - joined the challenge.
I'm so grateful for the support and camaraderie.
It's gonna be a great day.
Anytime we get the buy-in from of group of people who decide to do something epic together it's...
... a lot easier to prep and accomplish something epic.
And, this ain't nothin'...
https://www.strava.com/routes/3220522868121573398
123 miles
16000' of vert
... it's a heckfire motivating.
What are you planning tomorrow,
or in the coming months,
with your besties?
I hope you get it done, and I hope...
... it seems impossible.
---
164
7.5 hrs sleep
Pullups and Pushups Only
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
85
THE 5 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF FITNESS
May 16, 2024
by TODD BROWN
IN WORLD WHERE EVERYONE HAS their own truth, it's hard to tell what is really the truth. And, it matters. Truth...
... makes everything clear and easy.
So, let me be as clear as I can be.
These are the 5 laws,
commandments if you will.
- REST. Get plenty of rest. Sleep a lot. Doing less and resting may not make sense to a beginner, but we get it. Right? Sleep is critical.
- GOOD FOOD. Keep it simple. Don't eat sugar or drink alcohol or do drugs. Do eat whole foods, meals where we can identify the ingredients. For example, a steak salad vs a protein bar.
- GO HARD SPARINGLY. We need to have the brutally hard efforts, once or twice a week. That's it. Not every day.
- GO EASY ABUNDANTLY. The rest of our endurance training should be easy and fun and rejuvenating.
- LIFT WEIGHTS. Resistance exercise, heavy weight and low reps, builds power and makes bones strong. I like large muscle groups, primarily pull ups, pushups, and squats.
That's it.
Okay, that's not it.
But, that is the truth and when we get that right...
... we're 95% there.
There, being extremely fit and healthy.
Notice, doing that is practically free...
... just takes some dedication.
---
164.9
8 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
85
WHY BEGIN WITH THE FINISH IN MIND?
May 15, 2024
by TODD BROWN
THE PATH WORKING BACKWARDS FROM THE START is a strange one. Who the heck walks, runs, rides, swims backwards? Here's a better way...
... begin with the finish in mind.
It's more powerful.
Want to get married?
Date like the winner you know you are.
Want to raise good kids?
Raise 'em like the winner you know you are,
winners they can be.
Want to win a race, set a PR, win the group sprint?
Train like the winner you know you are.
See the finish line clearly, then...
... all we need to do becomes obvious.
Not a mystery.
Not awkward like swimming backwards.
How do you even do that?
Move forward.
---
166
9 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
85
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS MAGIC WHEELS
May 14, 2024
by TODD BROWN
RIDING WITH LOVE WATTS ON THE ROAD, I'm reminded of how important wheels are. He purchased my supersnazzy, ceramic bearing carbon wheels because I just...
... had to have the latest and greatest.
Off with the rim brake wheels,
on to disc brakes on the fancyshmancy bike.
ENVE 5.6's
I'm glad he got my old wheels vs one of my direct competitors because...
... he rolls away from me any time it's too steep to pedal downhill.
It's annoying.
It bugs me.
I constantly question myself...
... What the heck was I thinking?
And, it gets worse.
The weekly roadride reminder is leaking over into all my wheelsets.
Are they magic?
Or
S-L-O-W?
How to tell?
The lowtech, yet reliable way, is to coast downhill on an windless day and determine which set of wheels is faster.
- Same tire
- Same air pressure
Then, we can go play with
- Tires
- Widths
- Pressures
And, add additional fine tuning via
- Helmet
- Apparel
- Waterbottles
- Cable routing
- Body position
Oh, boy...
... so much fun to be had!
---
By the way, we're just about ready to launch these:
---
166.8
7.5 hrs sleep
Pullups Pushups Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
85
TAPERING QUESTIONS
May 13, 2024
by TODD BROWN
IS TAPERING OUR TRAINING ART OR SCIENCE? We've all had the big quest on the calendar, done tons and tons of training, then...
... decided it's time to taper.
Is it enough to just cut the miles?
How much should we cut?
What about intensity?
Oh, the questions we have!
Got an email this morning from Tony, who lives Downunder. He caught Covid two weeks prior to last weekend's A race, thought his event would was wrecked.
Rested completely for a week.
Did a little training the next week.
Smashed the race, setting all kinds of PRs.
Talked to Andy this morning, he was forced off his bike for months after catching a nasty stomach bug and Xterra Worlds last October.
This week he's off to Xterra Nats and feels better than he's felt in years.
I'm not saying we need to get deathly ill or break bones to have our best days ever, but...
... maybe a little more rest would do our bodies good?
---
166.2
9 hrs sleep
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
82
THESE ARE THE BEST RIDES
May 12, 2024
by TODD BROWN
GOOD FORTUNE TO TRAVEL, allowed me to ride a bunch of new terrain, plus explore a new network of trails. This week will be a good reminder...
... of why our favorite routes are so special.
Our most cherished rides are rarely the obscure, remote places.
Those places are great,
but they are missing something.
I'm already excited to do the local Tuesday Morning Wrecking Crew this week.
Why?
I've done it probably 1,000 times.
You'd think once a week for twenty years would lose its luster.
Instead, the times that we...
- cleared the gap on a big jump
- got caught in a snow storm
- made the winning break
- smashed a segment
- made a new friend
... make all the difference.
Take yesterday's adventure.
We have a trail in St. George that Surfergirl loves: Bear Claw Poppy. A gentle climb, and a fast and flowy return. We ride it often when we are passing through.
After an hour with her, I met up with local friend Kevi, to ride a newly accessible canyon.
We pedaled back to his house and I noticed the right rear van tire was deflating.
A piece of metal had sliced on through.
7pm on a Saturday night is not a good time to need a flat repair.
While showering, I thought...
... We're gonna get a miracle.
At the same time, Kevi thought to call an acquaintance who had just sold a string of tire shops.
My new best friend, Jake, grabs his tools and drives 30 minutes to us and fixes the flat in a about 15 minutes.
Amazing.
We were able to make it home by 3:30 am, able to spend Mother's Day at home with kids.
That was a miracle.
The kind of episode we'll remember for years to come...
... every time we ride Bear Claw Poppy.
These rides and routes we know so well become our treasures because...
... that's where many of our best memories exist.
---
166
6.5 hrs sleep
No Strength work
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
83
WINNING IS NOT AN OPTION
May 10, 2024
by TODD BROWN
IN ANY COMPETITION, it's possible to define winning as climbing to the top of the podium. The moment we finally pull it all together and...
... look down on those who tried and came up short.
There's a problem.
This isn't the reason we are training and racing.
Sure, every now and never we might find ourselves on one of the podium steps...
... maybe even the top.
We'll get the accompanying congratulations, and rightly soak up the moment.
But, winning?
Conquerer of all comers?
Champion for ever and ever?
Not us.
We know there is always something we could do better and...
... we are endlessly fascinated with our personal pursuit, scoreboard or not.
We want to know...
... what are we capable of accomplishing?
What's next?!!
---
165ish?
10 hrs sleep
Pushups and Presses
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
83
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