Computrainer - PIG Improvement Review

The PIG training plan guarantees to improve your performance by ten - twenty percent. The improvement is based upon the amount of watts that you can produce during the CP30 test. While it may be one way to measure performance, how does it translate to performance on the road?

To determine how my improvement went, I competed in the Pelican Fest triathlon that I've done three times with a ten mile bike course. Checking my training logs, the race conditions were relatively the same so it should be a close comparison.

2009 Time: 26:29, Pace: 2:38.9, MPH: 22.66
2010 Time: 26:26, Pace: 2:38.6, MPH: 22.70
2012 Time: 25:42, Pace: 2:34.2, MPH: 23.35

2012 is a three percent improvement over 2011. While this is short of the ten percent quarantee, I think this validates the PIG program.

There is also one other impact that should be reviewed and for a triathlete that is the run. Part of the bike leg is to get to the run leg with something left. If you finish the bike and you can't run, you went too hard on the bike. The Pelican Fest triathlon has a five kilometer run which I used for comparison.

2009 Time: 19:34, Pace: 6:18
2010 Time: 20:38, Pace: 6:39
2012 Time: 19:01, Pace: 6:08

The 2012 run was approximately 8.5% faster than 2010. Reviewing my training logs again, my run training has been realatively the same as 2010 so I believe the run improvement is a result of finishing the bike with fresher legs. I think that the PIG program improved my cycling performance more than the increase at the race because I still had enough in the legs to improve the run leg by over eight percent.

If your a triathete and you haven't tried PIG, your run is suffering.

Computrainer Taper Control

One of the many advantages of using a Computrainer is the ability to enforce a taper. By setting the power for the pacer or by building an ERG workout, you can control the intensity and make sure you don't go too hard while tapering. Of course you have to do the workout but at least with the Computrainer, you'll see if you're going too hard.

Computrainer vs Rain

This morning was supposed to be a two hour endurance ride outside. I got up, look outside and the weather looked pretty promising. By the time I got dressed and out the door, it had started to rain. Time for plan C, put the bike on the Computrainer and find a nice course.

It's good to have options.

Computrainer - The Exercise Effect

One of the benefits of a Computrainer is the ability to ride and not worry about traffic and road conditions. While cycling, one has to think about cadence, balance, handling, traffic and road conditions. With the Computrainer, balance and handling are pretty much eliminated. For me that allow the chance to just clear my mind and let my mind wander where it will. This morning, I identified two risk to my project at work and a new product idea. Let's see if I can implement the product over the course of the summer.

Computrainer - PIG 2, WK2, S2 Tempo

I've been up and down with motivation for working out and it seems whenever I have trouble getting workouts in, I always try to get the tempo workouts in. Today was no different. I haven't finished week 2 yet and so it when this morning rolled around, it was tempo time. It did give me a good change to capture some biometric feedback which has started some thoughts rolling around in my mind. More on that later for now, it's time for breakfast.

Computrainer - Smoking Workout

Ok, the workout was smoking tough but it wasn't just the workout. I was smoking ribs all day yesterday and when I started to workout, the smoke came off the hair.

Computrainer - Athlete Results

I noticed that the RacerMate website has the results of the Computrainer sponsored results. I think there should be a section or link where the age group results could be posted. The market is the age group athlete and showing age groupers how well their peers do with Computrainer would be good advertising.

Computrainer Slogan Contest - Entry 2

Computrainer, helping you manage your most important asset, your health.

Computrainer PIG 2 Wk 2.1 S3 Tempo

It's like deja vu all over again. Since I didn't finish week 2, I'm going to try it again. Once again, I had a long run on Sunday so the legs are still recovering. The legs don't feel as bad this week as last week which is a good sign. The tempo session was easier this week than last so that's a good sign. I plan on trying the interval session before the run intervals which should help.

I think the Computrainer session have helped with my endurance on the run. I don't know about 5k speed but the endurance is definitely better.