Training notes...

My cardio foundation is still pretty good from the fall. Here in Portland I am able to ride year round so the base cardio fitness level doesn't drop as much as it did when I lived back east and had to contend with an actual winter. We had a little snow storm here and the whole city shut down. Where I grew up it wouldn't warrant anything more than a mention during the weather on the ten o'clock news. Here in Portland it was the only subject on TV for a week. Regular programming was stopped because there was snow. It was kind of funny. I rode my bicycle almost every day of the "Blizzard of 08".

Anyway, I have now started interval training at the Multnomah Athletic Club, where I work as a Chef. The club has a pretty good spinning and cycling program and I have unobtrusively weaseled my way into it. I also teach Yoga for Cyclists at the club, so it wasn't too hard to do.

The intervals have so far kicked my ass. I am just starting and it is always like this when you jump into a new, more demanding phase of your training. One really good thing that happened concerned the saddle on the stationary bike I use for intervals. The original saddle completely sucked. It was too soft, too wide in the wrong place and made my ass hurt more from a 45 minute interval session than a 375 mile ride on my randonneuring bike's saddle. Because I work there (and because I am a Chef and can bribe people with food) I acquired a spare seat post for the stationary bike that I can keep, so I am now using my own saddle. It is an old Brooks Team Pro, perfectly broken in. The members that have noticed all ask how a seat that looks so uncomfortable can be more comfortable than a three inch thick gel seat. I just tell them that it is about support, not padding. I know they don't believe me, but I still try.

My heart rate monitor picks up interference from my MP3 player. My peak heart rate makes sense, but I doubt my minimum heart rate is really 35 bpm. I am searching for a different heart rate monitor because of that. Oh, and the strap continuously searches for the receiver and runs the battery down very quickly. Maybe I will get a new heart rate monitor when my REI dividend comes in in March. Decisions, decisions...

The recovery aspects of yoga have really helped with the increased intensity of the interval workouts. I focus on Yin Yoga on the days I do intervals and a smooth, two breath Hatha Flow on the other days. I also commute by bicycle every day, so I get a good mix with enough recovery to maximize the interval benefits. Soon I will start thrice-monthly centuries and add an additional recovery day into the mix.

So far I have brought my weight down to 180 lbs. I will try to keep it right there for training and drop five to six lbs. for the race. Being 6'2" I like to keep a little more weight during training. Then I try to drop a couple pounds right before an event. I will start the drop around the end of May and do it slowly. 174 is the target.

More updates later. Namaste