I'm a couple of weeks in to a non-interest imposed break from jogging, but I can feel the idea of it lurking just under my skin. I spent part of the day building up my I-Fab and I forgot just how much of a sweet bike it is. I rode aluminum briefly in my career (never was interested in even trying carbon) but have had maybe 8 titanium frames (I was sponsored by Merlin and QR) and now have 2 steel frames. Tomorrow will be a ride to get my blood moving and hopefully get a little motivation back. The weather has been ridiculously nice but I'm bored with it. Plus the fire danger is severe right now and we need moisture in a bad way. I am betting that once the weather turns I'll get some mojo back.
Yesterday I played around with a modified 'leg matrix' workout combined with short and hard intervals on my Computrainer. Unreal. I am nervous to give it to any of my athletes because I don't have them sign a liability waiver. I already prescribe wall-sits between intervals on the trainer, but this stuff is sick... which means I will do it until it's not. My belief is that if something is too hard then you do it until it's easy. 3:00 at 280 watts followed by 8 log flips is difficult... then throw in eccentric loaded jumping (jump as high as you can, and then when you land, lower yourself VERY slowly back in to a BD squat and repeat) and you get sick. I'm playing around with different ideas trying to incorporate them in to a training schedule that will allow me to be competitive at Leadville but not ride 400 miles a week (I have 2 kids and am a jogger remember?). I think I did OK at the 100 run averaging only 58 miles per week with a few 'short cuts'.
11 comments:
I-fab? ooh, sexy.
No... it's I-Sexy. Ha! You still hitting the weights?
If what you do is jogging, I am not real sure what that means for the rest of us.
Need pics of the I-Fab!!!
Steel is awesome-especially when it's done right. I've never ridden titanium but a friend is selling a ti 29er that I've got my eye on. I just sold my 29er but I'm really tempted on buying his...
'leg-matrix' sounds like it rocks! I've always been a fan of insane leg workouts and particularly plyo-stuff. It's amazing how much explosive power you can build through just your legs.
Al- I think that the difference between a jogger and a runner lies in the attitude. There are runners that are much slower than I am. If it was dependent on 'speed' then Bolt could call Geb a jogger... and he of course isn't that. There's ALWAYS a relatively slower person. I'm not a competitor any longer and a runner competes. If I compete at anything then it's only to be a better man than I was yesterday. In that sense I'm a fierce competitor and a freakin' Olympian.
Dave- I love you... You said all the right things :) Unfortunately I HAVEN'T done it right. I had to piece it together. I bought my wife a Reynolds 853 frame off E-bay and gave her ALL of my XTR kit plus a sweet Marzocchi front shock. I wish I could do the I-Fab justice with the build but instead I will do it justice with my legs.
And the 29er... you weren't impressed with it?
The leg matrix/ plyo work in combination with a trainer ride can be amazing in stimulating strength. Particularly bike specific strength. And I think that few people understand what 'explosive' power truly is.
Are you still moving this way?
Got us our first sponsor/supporter for our Bust Your Balls, Swell Your Brain ultra training camp (to be announced, of course, but that's the name I'm working with currently)...
Awesome Tim! Lets post some info and see what happens?
Twice a week, feeling much stronger... Thanks for that.
Yeah the 29er was real nice, but on the stuff that I ride it's too cumbersome. I'm sure there are some applications that it just flat out rocks on, but so far I'm more impressed with the nimbleness and quickness of the 26 inch wheels. Keep in mind that I haven't ridden a "top end" 29er. Mine was an old Fisher frame with XT. The new Specialized 29ers look like they've really done a lot to make the bike more nimble. Shorter chainstays and different geometry probably make up for what mine lacks.
Still not sure about moving out that way. We're looking at all the options, but we're either headed out to Colorado or Europe. Big move either way but Anne has more family in the UK than I have here so it might make more sense to go there. Tough decision, but being together and what works for both of us is most important:)
And you're a better man than me! I'm sure you didn't think twice about it, but givnig up an XTR kit and Marzocchi fork must have been tough! All to a good cause though! And I have no doubt the legs will do the I-Fab justice, especially with those leg workouts!
Keep it up Patrick!
Dave- Europe would be awesome! Leadville has a ton of fire roads and non-technical terrain. Even the terrain on the run was not very challenging and would have been easy to ride. A 29er would be good.
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