cycling rocks

Marketing guru, Seth Godin, escapes getting hit by a thrown bottle. Rather than rant about the incident, he turns the experience into a win by seeing the value of personalizing the business world with phone and personal contact rather than e-mail or forms.

Seth has always offered compelling thoughts that can change the direction your company is heading. I mean, it’s heading somewhere right? Might as well think about where you want it to end up. Then once you’re there, rinse and repeat.

On that note, how does this apply to your current cycling goals? Do you want to be race ready for next season? Think about it now and ask your coach to help you structure a training plan for this upcoming fall and winter. It’s never too early to start the process to have an edge on your competition.

I am self-coached for financial reasons, but have considered online resources like Training Peaks and Train Right. Until I can afford and can justify paying for a coach, wearing both hats has worked so far.

Edit: Climbing II DVD on Wednesday night. Kept it in the quiet zone I’d say. Hard efforts at LT. Medium efforts at around 155.

* Time 01:00:00
* Heart Rate Max 172.00 bpm
* Heart Rate Average 149.00 bpm
* Distance 12.96 miles
* Average Speed 12.96 mph
* Resting Heart Rate 58.00 bpm

Alicia, at Trainright, writes, “… all you have to do is roll out of bed to the sight of a 16-ounce glass of water on the nightstand. Chug it down …”

I’ve kept a sports bottle full of water on the nightstand everynight. I don’t “chug it” down in the morning like she suggests in her article, but I do nurse it from the very time I get up (and take my vitamins) and it’s done by mid-morning at work.

I don’t drink as much water as I think I’m supposed to. Still, it’s a good way to get fluids in after a night of fasting. Then, refill the darn thing and nurse that sucker ’til it’s done. Repeat.

Start your afternoon or evening workout already hydrated!

taken 09/14/2006 - Lee discussing hydration.

No workouts these last couple of days. I’ll go on a 40 miler with the Bike Forum guys on Saturday morning. Pace will be moderately easy they say. Perfect for my lack of riding this week.

taken 09/13/2006. Just a quick half-hour spin on the trainer Wednesday night; endurance pace of 158-165 bpm.

I still followed up with a drink of Recoverite. I figure that anytime your heart rate gets in the zone for more than twenty minutes, your muscles are a magnet for protein and carbs. Which reminds me that I should go boil some eggs. All whites save one yolk. Followed up with a small bowl of baby spinach and cottage cheese.

Edit: Wow. It rained on Thursday!

A short recovery ride. But, a recovery ride from what?! The doldrums, of course.

Main Entry: dol·drums
Pronunciation: ‘dOl-dr&mz, ‘däl-, ‘dol-
Function: noun plural
Etymology: probably akin to Old English dol foolish
1 : a spell of listlessness or despondency
2 often capitalized : a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light shifting winds
3 : a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump

The weather was awesome and the gears, the legs, the rhythm worked flawlessly. I did cough up a lung up the first climb and it took a long while for the pipes to clear. The sun was settings as I headed westbound and I thought how perfectly invisible I was to traffic because of the glare. I turned around changing the route to a safer climb up towards OHSU. I stayed in the big ring up, up and around and kept it up on the climbs up Corbett. I still had some power in the legs, but the lungs took the most of beating during my hiatus. I would not last too long. Still, I filled my belly with air and remembered to push it all out on the exhale. Steady. Like Jamie Paolinetti in opening of “The Hard Road“. That was all I could hear.

It wasn’t hard by any means, but in my head it was a win. However, it wasn’t about the weather or the bike or the route.

It was about riding. I needn’t be fast today. Or strong. Or even having my clothes match. (But I like to match, hence the Hammer kit). I just needed to ride. And it really goes without saying, ride for those who can not ride.

Thanks to those to whom I’ve spoken to on the phone; who have e-mailed words of encouragement on getting back in the saddle. Now, to make it a habit again …

* Distance 12.03 miles
* Pace 15.5 mph
* Elevation 1,227 ft