Tabata Week 3

Tabata Week 3 saw improvement again, which this early in the season I figure is mostly due to "general fitness", lots of big gear work, and some longer climbing course rides on the CT, and I suppose the previous 2 Tabata sessions.

I'm not a good counter. My personal record is 83 (I once counted to 96 but later realized I skipped all of the 40s, which, by rule in the official counting handbook DOES NOT COUNT) Anyway, I lost track of how many sprints I had done, therefore completing 7 this week. Improvement was also seen in HR, I topped out this time at 173 bpm, as opposed to 176 the last two times.

My max power output is still pretty (and by pretty I mean Very) pathetic. Considering Craig Alexander rode 112 miles at Hawaii this year with an average power output of 284 watts. Or someone like Jens Voight hitting 1260watts after riding 6+ hours, and he isn't even a pure sprinter. Or David Millar averaging 430w for 2008's Stage 4 29.5k TT (36min at about 5+ watts/kg) with several 1-2 minute efforts on hills between 500-600watts. I'm sure with a quick search you can find even more impressive numbers.

Or if you'd rather compare apples to apples (in this case however, its like comparing organic honey crisp apples to those soft and mushy braeburn apples that are on sale for $0.99/lb. gag!) one of Chuckie V's Tabata results (emphasis on one meaning perhaps not the best)

Sprint 1=1026...... Sprint 6=890 vs my best to date Sprint 1=778...........Sprint 6=570

Merry Christmas Eve

Tabata Sprints #2

Week 2 of tabata saw a more linear steady decrease in wattage, as opposed to my 252w drop off from interval #2 to #3 in the first tabata workout. There were too many possible explanations for the signifigant difference in wattage. First Today's workout was done at 7am (with a cup of coffee in my system) vs 7pm last time. It was done on my Soloist vs the P3 last time, I also used my regular shoes/cleat placement vs the strange SPD modified arch placement. From this point forward today's protocol will be used, minus the coffee next time. I'll do them bi-weekly and track any progression and/or regression. Above is the graphed data of the first two workouts.

John Lajoie

Trying new things is good. It doesn't always necessarily turn out good, but it always turns out. Therefore leaving you with an experience and an opinion. If you haven't tried the comedy of John Lajoie, I strongly recommend it. Above is some video of last nights live show. The vast majority of his material is inappropriate, nevertheless check it out HERE.

Today I tried something new, paying $50 for brunch at the Bears game. It was perhaps the greatest spread I've ever seen, as well as my only food of the day (with the exception of 2 hot chocolates on the way from soldier field to the Corner of Belmont and Broadway for Lajoie's show)

In the end I could have just purchased a cookie dough blizzard from DQ for 3 bucks and got 1300 calories (an amazing deal at 433 calories per dollar /4.3 calories per penny) I'm positive I more than over paid for today's calorie consumption. Nevertheless...

Some of my feast included: Imported Artesian Cheeses, Snow Crab Claws, Oysters on the Half Shell, Pan Seared Salmon, Smoked Prime Rib, Omelets made to order, Belgian waffles, Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thigh, Caramel Glazed Pears w/ Pecan Filling, Fresh Display of Seasonal Fruits, Fresh Baked Danish, Muffins & Croissants and various other fancy foods I didn't even know existed until yesterday. Needless to say, I gained weight (simultaneously dropping my watts:kilogram ratio).

I haven't eaten that well since the Endure It Solvang Triathlon Camp where Norbert prepares unreal meals night after night...

Winter Time and the Livin's Easy

Actually, Sublime said it best, “Summertime and the livin’s easy”. Winter time is exceptionally dreadful. However, at least with my newly acquired living arrangement the livin is a bit easier than my prior situation. After a 2 year stint living in Chicago with three fine modern gentlemen, it came time to renew our lease. After some lengthy contract negotiations, a few months of holdouts, and several signing bonus disagreements, our agents thought it would be best to seek housing elsewhere.

So I have temporarily relocated back to the place of my birth, Elmhurst, IL. As with any living arrangement you must take the bad with the good. Let me explain.

The Good:

I now live 18 miles / 20-50 minutes (depending on traffic and train schedules) closer to work. Therefore I have at least an extra 40-100minutes a day to train/sleep/eat/write this blog out of pure boredom etc. I’m a 12 minute jog to York. Food is plentiful, and much more abundant than at my apartment. Food is cheaper. Downtown there were two local grocery stores, the closest being Treasure Island, which was run by some crazy/deli meat eating shady employees. The second, a bit further away, was the Old Town Whole Foods, which seemed to charge and extra 20% vs its suburban store fronts. The Prairie Path is 0.8 miles from my front door. Below is tonight’s dinner of snacks (rice/tomato/bean/carrot/corn/chicken sausage stuff, low fat salt free cottage cheese with black berries, grapes, almond milk/almond butter/banana/Interphase smoothie, eggs). Below that is a photo of breakfast during the “moving out of the apartment” phase.

The Bad:

Nothing happens in Elmhurst, the fun meter is pretty much permanently set at 2, on a scale of 1000. If you’re a glass half full kind of person, there are actually hidden benefits inside the boringness (as mentioned above, more time). EDIT: Top 6 Nut Butters #1A: Chad informed me the most important nut butter was over looked, dznuts... for proper maintaintanance

Top 6 Nut Butters

1- Trader Joes Raw Unsalted Almond Butter

2- Adam’s Peanut Butter

3- Trader Joes Crunchy Raw Peanut Butter

4- Maranatha raw organic almond butter

5- Whole Foods fresh ground PB w/ chocolate chips

6- Smuckers Natural roasted creamy peanut butter

I came across this blog http://markifood.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html tonight, he has some rather tasty looking snacks and meals probably worth giving a shot.

Finally, below is a picture of a Pinarello Prince with a rather hideous orange Elite Bicycles seat cover... it didnt last long.