Thought of the Day.

Topping Off The Tank.

An event, like a marathon takes time to prepare for, days of running and preparing a plan for the race.  When preparing for an event, remember, you can over or under prepare.  So, from an ammautur to Pro keep in mind a couple of things:

Specificity:

Mimicking your event, more so for the experienced athlete. (Example: 40k Time Trial for a cyclist, go out and do 40k Time Trials).

Activities to enhance your performance: intervals, hill repeats, etc.

The Right Fuel:

Prepare your body, test your fuel, know what works the best for you.  In your training, try different foods, gels are not great for everybody.  Do not go into your event unprepared.  As important as fuel in the race, is fuel for recovery, and daily intake of nutrients.  Make good decisions to enhance performance, eat to live, not live to eat.

Rest and Recovery:

Again, find out what works the best for you:  Increases intensity, extra rest, decreased volume.  We are not the same, what works for one, is not right for all.  Listen to your body, a week before an event, there is not much you can do to help your performance, but you can definitely hurt yourself.

Training, Fuel, Rest and Recovery, be Great Today.

What Fuels You?

They say you are what you eat, whoever they are; Lets take that a step farther.  Food does fuel the body, but what fuels you mind.  I hear the brain uses carbohydrates as fuel, but what fuels you o n a daily basis to be better, improve yourself, and strive to be the best.

Do you push yourself or stroll.

Do you surround yourself with driven people looking for success or ones that want to move to Colorado and smoke pot.

Finds motivation?

Sleep?

Use your brain?

Take time to reflect and remember.

Make time for the ones you love.

Be a friend.

A hepler.

Be the person you want to be.

Be great Today.

The Pain Cave

Let's clear the air about the pain cave.

Urban Dictionary's definition:  A grueling physical workout intended to make you a better athlete. Usually done at home or the gym, and we call that place the "pain cave."



How many times have people asked me about how to Time Trial, well it starts right here.



The second stop, is the pain cave.  Oh the pain cave.  It is a dark and sometimes scary place, but do not be afraid of the darkness, the light is there.  A good TT, you start at the opening of the cave and go deep enough that the light is barely visible.  If the light goes out, you crash into the wall, if the light is too bright, well, welcome to recreational riding.

Training versus Racing

The only time you should be lights out in the cave is racing.  If the lights go out training, well, find a new coach.  You need to train hard, but you have to know your limits, how far you can push your limits and come out stronger.  Training up to the cave and maybe putting a foot in, is ok, both for you Physically and Mentally, but going in too deep and too often leads to Physical and Mental breakdown.

The Pain Cave is a good thing, don't be afraid, train hard, be smart, and remember if you are having a bad day, there is someone having a worse day.

One acknowledgement to my buddy, who would not want to be mentioned.  He is going through his own personal pain cave right now.  I only bring this up, because of the original conversation about the pain cave.  Get better soon.  Trainhard4life, Mike

Live for Today

What defines a racer?  People?

How fast he goes uphill?

How fast he goes downhill?

Cornering?

Aggressiveness?

???????????

How about character, not just on the bike, but in life.  Rarely are we defined in life by how much money you make, or not make, how many races you win.  We are defined how we walk this planet.  How we treat others.  What will you leave this planet with?  Don't define yourself, live it, everyday, and be better tomorrow then you will be today.  What will people say about you when your dead.  trainhard4life, Mike

USPROS and Philly

USPROS and Philly, what a ride.  I love sport.  It will kick the crap out of you one day and have you flying over the moon on the next day.  

Can we go up the Manayunk Wall one more time.

In this journey called life, you can get kicked in the the ass or Kick Ass.  You make the choice and choices,  You live with whose choices.  Be great or be a pile of s%#t.

Stay tuned.  trainhard4life, Mike

Joe Martin Stage 2

Joe Martin Stage Race

Well, we can say we raced today.  We didn't win, but we race.  What a beautiful place to race, you can see Jake is admiring the immaculate pavement.

Fast and Fun.  We put Jake and Efren in the 5 man break, and let Jamis work.  The break rarely makes it on this course 110 mile hilly course, but we had to represent.  The break reached a max of 3:30, but with the attacks being fast and often, the break was doomed.

The plan was a late break away or win out of the break, and with a 9 mile climb, tailwind, and 50k to go, the break back in the field, it was time.  Diaz was relentless on the climb putting in multiple attacks.  I would follow his lead  as we went over the top of the climb,  putting a hurt on the peloton, but the grip of the field was to tight.  We would roll into town in a group of about 70 strong.

As for the finish, we did what we could, with our best finisher, being 14th.  Diaz is still in a good spot in 9th overall and Tyler 3rd in the U23s.  Again today, we are going to try to do some damage.  Thank you to all our sponsors and a big shout out to Cytomax for the great hydration, and Miro our rookie DS, great job yesterday.