* Mar 09 Trng Log - Steve

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#3 MUD BATH 3/5/09
Bill and I rendezvoued in the park for the tempo workout. Numerous wet and muddy patches made for some nice splatter patterns on the jersey and shorts. (Hope the red clay comes out of the jersey.) Bill asked what the best part of the workout was and my answer was simply "being outside". What a difference being off the trainer and rollers makes. Despite Bill's superior power numbers we were able to stay together for each interval and remarkably were within 1 watt of each other for average each time. Bill had more/better power over the last ten yards of a rise than I, but I was able to stabilize at higher speeds on the "trough" portions of the course and carry that momentum into the next rise. I believe we both were feeling the effort by the last interval, but it was good. In a piece of lucky bad luck I flatted after the last interval on the way to the car. Bill went up the road to fetch his car to give me a ride back to mine. Some time later he re-appeared. I really appreciated his dedication to discipline by not exceeding recovery power on the way back to the vehicle. It gave me plenty of time to cool down while observing the flora and fauna in the park. Thanks for the lift Bill. It is teamwork like that we will be fostering in camp this weekend.

#2 TIRED LEGS 3/3/09
Because of the inclimate weather I was not able to pick up my bike from the shop until Tuesday afternoon. That concerned me since the LT workouts were on the schedule and I had not been on the bike in over a week. No cycling plus extended fatigue from skiing (should have known better from the January trip) meant a painful re-entry attempt. I was suspicious when my heart rate was a little high during the warm up and remained high during the tempo session. Confirmation followed in the first LT session. My heart rate shot up and I was pedaling squares with painful quads and hamstrings (and a tender knee from a slight mishap in some deeper powder). I finished the session and added a minute of recovery by stretching. Round two saw my heart rate go even higher into the red and my legs were still not functioning. Hmmm says I to myself, perhaps you have not recovered from the skiing and you need to spin the legs instead of punishing them. So that's what I did for another 30 minutes at low tempo. My heart rate never recovered so I know it was the right decision. I will spin tonight and prepare to do tempo work Thursday. On the good news side, I can look forward to camp and the push from my teammates.

#1 NOT BACK IN THE SADDLE YET
It is inspiring to read all of your training posts. Keep it up. Once I retrieve my bike from Dre' I will be back in the saddle and into the program. Although I was not on the bike last week, it was not a "down" week. As my teammates know, I rarely just sit back and relax. My goal every day on the slopes was to improve and push new boundaries. At the end of each day I felt the fatigue from the effort. My goal for this trip was to ski the big moguls smoothly at speed. I improved but their is still work to do. One instructor suggested my natural talent was at Giant Slalom or downhill, that is until he found out I was in my 50's. Then he suggested I grow up (not happening). Although my hull may be riddled with hairline fractures, I am sure that with a little help from my friends I have a few more jumps left in me!