Spirotiger

I started using the Spirotiger this week for some respiratory muscle training.  I switched to a 2.5 L bag today, and my lungs have felt scratchy ever since.  I hope it's the Spirotiger and not a looming sickness.

My jury is still out on whether or not it actually helps.  I'm hoping it will help my asthma in some way since I stopped taking my meds like 8 months ago due to my increasing cheapness.  

Erin and I went ice skating tonight, but I couldn't commit to half the jumps I did last year when I went.  Last time, I was able to do everything I've ever learned except an axel (did not attempt), but today I couldn't commit to even a flip.  It was really crowded, though, and I never broke in my skates before I quit, and they are 2 sizes too small.  Excuses. Excuses. 

Recharge

I finally got my oh-so-needed recovery.  I don't know why exactly, but I was feeling really worn down this week, and I couldn't snap out of it.

All it took was a steak, some vitamin D, and a day off instead of a 3.5 hr ride tomorrow, and I am rockin'.  It was more of a mental break that I needed, but my legs are pretty tired too.  By the weekend, I should be ready to kick my training in the ass.  Boo yah.

I got a bike fit today for a new TT bike! Yeah employee pricing.  I'm getting a Guru Magis.  I was so bogged down today that I wasn't even excited about it, but now I am.  

My right inner thigh is oddly sore.  The left one isn't at all.  Hamstrings are very sore.  Oww Romanian dead lifts.

Stab the Beast!

No wait, it stabbed me.

I had a hard week of training.  I ended up being a few hours short, but I am beat up.  Yesterday, I went on the Rocket Ride for the first time.  It's a really fast group ride lead by a few former pros, and it's fast from start to finish.  It's only 50 miles and about 2.75 hours, but it just about killed me.  It's very hilly, and I averaged 190 watts for the ride (most group rides, I average 140ish).

I was able to hang on until the last 5 miles or so.  The thing about the rocket ride is this: it's not if you will get dropped, it's when.  It's almost worse to get dropped later because the pain just lasts longer.  I was digging myself into a special compartment in the hurt box, but TH gave me some awesome pushes that saved me from really turning it inside out.

Today I could only manage 90 minutes on the trainer, and I couldn't ride above my endurance zone.   I also mistakenly assumed that this week would be a recovery week.  Surprise! It's not! 

Vibrating Platforms

I was reading this article in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning about vibrating platforms.  It said that standing on a platform for 6 minutes, instead of doing a traditional warmup, increases power and flexibility.  

It didn't even talk about the possible physiological basis behind it.  Probably all it does is loosen your muscles up, but who wants to stand on a vibrating platform for 6 minutes?  There is evidence that vibrations can improve bone strength, but you'd probably be better off jumping rope, and that would be more entertaining as well.  

There was a study done in Canada where they made little kids jump up and down for a few minutes everyday.  They'd go on the PA at school and announce it was jump time.  The kids loved it, and it made their bones stronger.

It's interesting, though, since stretching increases flexibility but decreases power.  I'd think that a sport-specific warmup is still better than a vibrating platform.

Bus Drivers: What's With Them?

This has happened to me a few times.  Today I was riding my bike on the fun twisty section on Mercer Island.  It has these awesome, perfectly banked turns, so you can fly through them faster than in a car.  Like a velodrome, but better.

This school bus was in front of me.  The driver pulled over to let 4 cars pass, and I was at the end of the line of cars.  He cut me off and proceeded to make me stop and unclip twice before he finally pulled over to let me by.  Come on man! Give me a break.  This used to happen to me in Ann Arbor all the time.  

Otherwise today was a great day.  Work was pretty fun.  I was busy the whole time, and I taught my first computrainer class, which went well.  Then I rocked out a 3 hour ride with some kicks. Legs felt great.  

And tonight Erin and I went to our swing dancing class.  It's fun because we have to switch partners every few minutes, so you learn much faster.  But then I always get paranoid about washing my hands after.    

My ice skates came in the mail yesterday.  I can't wait to go ice skating on Friday and practice my madd skillz.  I miss figure skating.

Veins

My veins look huge right now, which is indicative of a solid ass-kicking I gave myself this weekend.   They are trying to recover me.  

It rained almost the whole time today.  Not hard rain, but misty.  There is grit everywhere.  My poor bike.  These long, steady high E rides wear on me almost as much as the team rides and the cougar mountain suffer-fests.  We had to alter our route a few times due to flooding, but we soldiered on.  

So far, my new team seems really great.  All the women seem pretty cool, not unnecessarily serious, and very talented.  It's exciting to be on a team with so many talented, experienced riders.  We have ~8 cat 1/2 women, more than in the whole state of Michigan!  

I hope that I can hang on.  I have 2 big weeks ahead of me.  

Nice Day

It felt great to finally get back on the road today and hit some real tempo.  

The weather had a nice, spring-in-Michigan feel to it.  It snowed a few inches last night (rare), but it was 45 degrees today so most of it melted.  It was a little windy, wet, and cold enough to make my toes red, but not cold enough to complain about it.  

I was always really excited during days like this in Ann Arbor, usually in March or April.  Something about the way the air smells and feels.  A sign that the weather was changing and the seemingly endless winter was actually ending.  But of course, it would always snow a few more times, just to stab that knife in a little deeper.

In other news, I start WORK tomorrow. Yay!  It won't pay the bills yet, but the understanding is that I will get more hours over time.  Hopefully I have enough stashed away to last that long.