Tag: Functional & Strength Training

Primal Freedom

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I looked over my left shoulder to make sure no one was coming up behind me. The path was clear. Then, I let ‘er rip–my snot rocket, that is. I’ve never been especially “ladylike”. Just ask my mother. Her groans of disgust have been audible since I was a little girl. “Oh, Maria!” She would exclaim, while rolling her eyes, at whatever un-ladylike activity I was currently engaging in. Even so, I’ve had some limits in my life. Yet, one by one, those limits are weakening–thanks to running and triathlon. For example, pre-endurance sport, I would blow my nose into …

Promises to keep

There’s nothing like biting off more than you can chew, and then chewing anyway. ~Mark Burnett   My cycling was a disappointment last season. While my first Ironman was best day of my life so far, I made a promise to myself that this year, my performance will be better. And by “better” I mean faster. A lot faster. In the afterglow of IMLP 2010, I initially set what I thought was an aggressive goal: a 12 hour and 30 minute Ironman for 2011, which would be 1 hour and 3 minutes faster than my debut effort. John’s response? “You’ll …

Sophomore Year at Fireman Ironman

“How did the ride go?” Chris Draper asked me as I pulled up to the Cobble Mountain Lodge, headquaters for the Fireman Ironman Training camp. We met Chris, who is the resident nutritionist for Fireman Ironman, after attending last year’s June camp. “Great!” I responded, beaming from ear to ear. And, then I back pedaled a bit: “Well, I mean, I’m not fast–fast like you, but I was good for me.” “You know, Maria, this is your sophomore year in Ironman. Think about where you are compared to your freshman year, and where you will be junior, senior year.” Success …

Where it matters most: Heading for the hills

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It’s time to test my mettle. It’s time to see if all of this cycling-focused training has made a difference where it matters the most. It’s time to return to Lake Placid. John and I are heading north for the Fireman Ironman May Training Camp, which is run by NY City Fireman Larry Parker. Last year, John and I went to the June training camp, and it was such a positive experience, I can hardly wait to do it again–and again (for the June camp). We made friends, learned valuable tips, and swam, rode, and ran ’til our bodies cried …

CompuTrainer’s Coaching Software versus 3D Software: Assessing value for interval training

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The CompuTrainer comes with three software options for loading rides: 3D software, Coaching Software, and the Real Course Video. Each of these packages has advantages and disadvantages for the particular type of workout you want to complete on the CompuTrainer. My “everyday” training is done using either the 3D software or the Coaching Software, saving my Lake Placid RCV for “special” occasions :). So, I thought I’d offer up my thoughts about the relative advantages of the two packages, specifically with respect to interval training. Until last week, I followed the prescription in the Performance Improvement Gurantee (PIG) program, and …

Getting back to normal

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I’ve come to the conclusion that the Boston Marathon bears a similarity to Thanksgiving dinner: lots of preparation and anticipation – and then it’s over in a flash, and life gets back to normal. With less than 13 weeks to go until Ironman Lake Placid, normal can only mean one thing: swimming, eating, biking, eating, and running, followed by eating and sleeping, which is then followed by swimming, eating, biking, eating, and running. But, the formula is not as easy as all that since recovery from a marathon is just as important (more important?) as preparation for a marathon. So, …

Making goals believable: Sampling the Quassy HalfRev Course

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I might be a desperate masochist, but those Rev3 folks are sadists. The Quassy HalfRev course is proof enough. Cold temperatures drove me indoors for this week’s long ride, scheduled to be a 3 hour session. Hmmm. 3 hours on the trainer – that’s just a touch less than a half iron distance course for me. My mind immediately went to Quassy, which we will do for the first time this summer in Middlebury, CT on June 5th. One of the best aspects of having a CompuTrainer, versus a standard trainer, is being able to download and “ride” almost any …

The cheating metal man might have a point

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Do you see the metal man, thinking he’s all cool and fast and sleek with his uber aerodynamic silvery slick suit? Start screen on the CompuTrainer 3D software. This is how a virtual ride begins. He’s a cheater. That’s right, I said it. He. Cheats. The rider to the left is a representation of me. I’m not a cheater. I don’t have a cool metal suit. I’m vulnerable to metal man’s cheating ways. If you don’t have a CompuTrainer, you may be wondering who this silvery swindler is. He’s the pacer included in the 3D software package that comes with …

Moving from “how far?” to “how fast?”: Part 1

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On Thursday, I received a text from my friend Courtney, “Did another 6 on Monday in 52 minutes. How do u increase speed for longer runs?” I’ve been helping Courtney, along with friends Wendy, Kelly, and Joanna, train for the Atlantic City April Fool’s 11k Run, which will be held on April 3. Most of them had never run that far before (11k = 6.83 miles). Their big question: Will I be able to run this far? I knew they could, so I offered up some tips and tricks to guide their training and boost their confidence. I created a …

Power Meters: Nice to have or necessary?

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The CompuTrainer comes with a PIG (performance improvement guarantee) plan that suggests effort levels based on the results of the FT test, which I took last week. With results in hand, I set to the task of recalibrating my cycling efforts. I had a tempo ride scheduled for Wednesday, and to gauge my effort, I followed the PIG guidelines for a tempo ride, which recommend holding 85% of FT power for 45 minutes. For me, this translated into 187 watts for the main set of the workout. Okay, let’s do this, I thought. I did my warm-up and got into …