Well, we are back at it. January workouts are always bittersweet. I like that it’s time to train again, but as I start the program, I remember all of the work that training entails. I have two choices: 1) I can think about how hard I’ll need to work, the sacrifices …
The new year is a great time to do a “mental reset.” Here’s how I approach the “mental reset” practice: I take time to reflect on the year. I like to identify the things that went well. And the things that didn’t go so well. I use this reflection to set …
What is FTP? The FTP (Functional Threshold Power) concept has been around as long as we have known about the lactate turnpoint, or the intensity at which out body produces more lactate than it can clear. The figure above is from a book published in 1979 by Dr. David Costill. …
This is part 3 of my “Phases of Motivation” articles that I began writing after finishing my last Ironman as a professional (click for part 1 and part 2). It took me almost an entire year to realize what “Phase 3” was, but here it is… The picture above was taken during …
This is a continuation from “Phases of Motivation (part 1). I continue to reflect on my continuing journey as an athlete. The photo above is a picture of me getting my transition area ready next to Luke Bell at the Spirit of Racine half-Ironman. I was definitely lining up …
As I look back on my career, I can pinpoint three major motivators or, rather, “motivational phases.” Within these phases, I had specific motivators, but these three phases encompass the general focus of that time. Motivation Phase I lasted from my athletic beginnings, 1979 (the first time I remember …
From 2002 – 2007 I was “all in.” I ate, slept, and breathed Ironman training. I studied the science of nutrition, metabolism, and psychology. I used myself as an n=1 study. I trained hard. I raced hard. I basically gave five years of my life trying to get the most …
We obviously train so that we can get stronger, faster, and fitter. As you have learned, the way we do this is to stress our bodies and then allow them to recover. This balance of stress and recovery allows us to adapt and continue improving. The goal as we lead …
For the past 6 years, I have trained with the hopes of going 1/5/3. Be on the bike in one hour, less than five hours on the bike and sub-three hours for the run. And for the past 6 years, I truly believed (and still do) that I am capable …
After Canada, I took some time to recover and recharge my mental batteries. The time and effort I put in to preparing for IM Canada totally drained me – especially when I didn’t perform as well as I was capable of on race day. I was fortunate enough to be …
