Think like a Bumblebee, Train like a horse

“Think like a Bumblebee, Train like a horse.”

I wrote this post on our team site, but thought I'd add it here:

I was digging through some un-packed boxes last night and I ran across Joel Friel’s Triathlete Training Bible. I haven’t looked at the book in 2-3 years. As I opened it up and started jumping around the sections, I couldn’t put it down. I found lots of good nuggets in there I had completely forgotten about. So simple really. Not sure why I always try to make things more complicated.

It’s sort of funny, over the years I feel like I’ve been a pretty good “student” in learning as much as I could about the science and art in regards to training for endurance sports. There’s so much information out there. Some good, some not so much. But really, I’m no judge. I think I’ve come to the conclusion that as much “science” is out there on how to train to improve, there’s still a variety (the art) of ways to skin the cat. But, all that aside, if you had to boil it down to very simple recipe to success, keeping in mind this quote may help get you there.

I’ll try to paraphrase the meaning:

NASA scientists were bewildered at how a Bumblebee can fly? Small wings for a seemingly oversized body, nowhere close to being aerodynamic. This MUST require a study to figure this out! Hypotheses were drafted. Tests conducted. Conclusions were reached. A Bumblebee can’t fly!!! But nobody told the Bumblebee!!! It just keeps flying without any knowledge it’s not supposed to be able to fly.

Then comes along the race horse. Race horses don’t think for themselves when they train. They follow a periodized training regiment much like we do. Everything is managed under the utmost care down to the food they eat, how long they train and the intensity at which they train. Applied training science at its best. They know no better. Sure they get excited when race day arrives because they understand it’s their freedom to run. They don’t look at the other horse’s quads and care how big they are or how fit the other horses look.

What does this mean to me? Well, if I think like a Bumblebee, I will be able to achieve anything my mind believes. I don’t really care or need to hear if others doubt my ability. No preconceptions on what is achievable, no matter how absurd it sounds when I set a goal. The only thing holding me back is my belief in myself.

If I train like a horse, I’m sticking to the plan. NO second guessing. NO tossing the plan aside when things aren’t going as expected. If I’m consistent and progressively getting stronger, there’s no need to jump ahead. It may provide a short term boost but at the expense of the long term goal(s). When I get to the starting line of a race, I need to put the bad energy aside and instill faith in myself that I’ve done everything right in training. I’m just as or more prepared than anyone else. Remain patient, follow the plan, don’t worry about daily power numbers, it’s the big picture that counts.

Love it.

Jan Excercise of the month

Swiss Ball Rollouts-

Coach has me do these a bunch. I've got a vid clip demo. I do mix it up a little and walk the ball out with my hands. It's also a great shoulder, tricep workout, too. I have one of those ab roller wheels at home which is really good but this seems to be a little tougher.

Demonstration: Click Here

On the training front...

Super glad 2009 is behind me! It was a crazy year. Not really worth re-hashing in its entirety, but I'm motivated to improve myself in all facets of life. I ain't getting any younger that's for sure.

On the training front, things are going really well. I've been following coach's orders to a tee. Knocked out 3 very consistent months of foundation work which included getting back to the gym for strength work. It has been enjoyable and a refreshing change. From a muscular standpoint, the legs are almost as strong as ever. Endurance hasn't really been a limiter for me so I've been really focused on building muscle power. I feel I'm learning how to train like a cyclist and the improvements are showing.

I'm still incorporating a bunch of commuting into my routine. The cold weather hasn't fazed me, yet. I'm actually starting to enjoy it!

I ran some charts the other day and here's where things stand right now. Short term power has increased fairly dramatically. Building a strong base of endurance and tempo riding getting ready for the threshold work later in the month. Really confident I will be able to push past some plateaus I hit last year.

Power Distribution Nov 2009:


Power Distribution Dec 2009:



Mean Maximal Power Oct-Dec 2008 vs 2009:


Performance Manager Chart Oct-Dec 2009:

The Storm...

Crazy weekend! We had about 18" of snow in about 24 hours. I haven't seen a snow storm like that in a long time. It always brings back fond chilhood memories of life on the farm. Building snow forts, pulling the old chevy hood behind the tractor around the driveway, making a snow jump ramp on the hill in the backyard, great snowball wars...what fun!!!

Here's a few pics of the weekend:

Cleaning the car off mid day Saturday:


Off to buy a snow shovel with no success!


Back yard!


Not exactly your St Bernard!


Nice, toasty fire:


Dad's gift basket..perfect timing!


Leo the ham:


Igda & I made it out Sat night to her friend's house for dinner:


Igda busy making sweets for coworkers!!

On the training front...

Everything is on track.  I had a nice little recovery week last week.  Backed off a smidge and finally got my TSB to “0”.  CTL didn’t drop too much since I still did some endurance riding.  I just kick started the next 3 week block.   I’m just beginning to ramp into some solid tempo work.

 

In hindsight, I’m really glad I hired Ken to coach me.  He has me on a very well thought out plan for progressively building a good solid aerobic base.  It’s a disciplined approach and it definitely takes putting faith into the long term plan.   His feedback so far been great.  He has me working on some muscle power intervals often enough, that along with the basic fitness improvements, I’m feeling stronger day by day.    It’s taking some serious patience from not wanting to go out and bang out the threshold stuff, but that’s ok.   Time will tell, but I’m thinking this good revist in establishing a strong foundation will help me push far higher when the time is right.   We shall see…

 

We have a nice team ride scheduled for Saturday so that should be fun to catch up with everyone.  There’s some great guys that will be focusing on the Masters races along with myself.  It’s just important to get out with them in order to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses.   Any result we can put together in a Masters field around here will feel like winning a championship.   Crazy tough competition.  But I guess that’s what will make it fun. 

 

Thanksgiving short recap

Igda, Leo and I had a really great Thanksgiving weekend at home.  We cooked a great meal.  Did a bunch of stuff around the house which we’ve been procrastinating. I got some riding in, but otherwise we just spent a whole lotta time together which was cool.

 

In one of the more playful (not really for me) times, Igda had a good chuckle at my expense.  I have never realized that I like to talk out loud to myself when I’m in the middle of figuring something out.  Well, that turned out to be some electrical work I had on tap for Saturday.  I was going to start replacing old painted over switches and wall circuits in some of the rooms.   I made my trip to Home Depot for all the supplies I *thought* I needed, put my apron on and headed upstairs to get to work.  Oh, yeah, I triple checked to make sure the right circuits were turned off first.  The short version of the story goes like this as Igda listened in from the other bedroom:

 

Me:  Hhhhhmmmmmmmmmm.

Me (a minute later): Hhhmmm, that’s weird.

Me (another minute later):  What the hell is this?

Me (another minute later):  Why are there more wires than plug-ins?

Me (another minute later):  How come I don’t have the right one?

Me (another minute later):  God dammit, what the F—k! (sorry Mom & Dad)

 

In the matter of 5 minutes, I went from a can do attitude to completely frustrated!  7 hours later and one more trip to Home Depot I was finally done.  Geez.

 

 

Training...

Coach was sending me some feedback on how I am progressing with The Plan. He said something that rang so true, "This time, it’s almost a gray zone, we keep pushing forward through the mist, never recovered, never worn down…"

That's exactly how I feel right now...staying patient...sticking to the structure. Body and mind are responding well so far.