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 - Mont Tremblant

Started riding the new Mont Tremblant course and it looks to be a fun course. A quick downhill near the start and then a couple steady climbs in the first ten miles.

Computrainer - Intervals

Finally feeling better but not perfect from my toothache, it's time to get back on the Computrainer. It's funny in a strange sort of way that my tooth feels better when I'm working hard and it really hurts when just sitting on the couch. I guess that means that exercise is better than sitting around.

This morning's workout was a shorter interval session since I'm still getting back into getting up early. I'm still suffering from a little medicine head which doesn't make getting up easy. The two main sets were five by sixty seconds at 325 with sixty recovery, five by forty-five at 350 with forty-five recovery.

I still haven't decided about the half marathon this weekend. I think I'll see how my head clears today before making a decision.

Computrainer - 40 Minute Intervals

Sometimes I don't have a lot of time to do a longer workout so I came up with a shorter interval workout. It's based upon the Spinervals 3.0 workout but I eliminated the middle tempo work and the last two sets. The warm up is the modified warm up from PIG: seven minutes progressive build, two minutes recovery, five by thirty seconds at CP30 with thirty seconds recovery with an additional sixty seconds recovery after the last interval. The first set is five by sixty at 130% of CP30 with sixty seconds recovery. Three total minutes recovery after the last interval followed by forty-five @ 140% of CP30 with forty-five seconds recovery. Soft pedal for six minutes to make it forty minutes.

The Corner

Two days back-to-back. Maybe I'm finally turning the corner that began with daylights shifting time, new kittens and Houdini getting sick. Time will tell but things are looking better and Spring has arrived so it's time to kick up the riding.

Life Gets in the Way

Life got in the way of the Computrainer this week. I guess it happens and you just roll with it. Tuesday Houdini wasn't feeling too well so after watching him for a while and talking to a vet on the phone, it was off to the clinic. A few hours later it was midnight and neither one of us was happy. Losing three hours of sleep does not make for a pleasant rest of the week. I didn't really get my sleep back until Friday so there were a few missed morning sessions. Hopefully everyone stays healthy and happy next week.

Daylight Shifting Time

Yes I know it's called daylight savings time but we're not really saving daylight, only shifting it from the morning to the evening. Whatever you want to call it, I'm still struggling making the adjustment. The mornings are hard to get up and I feel totally drained. Hopefully this weekend will finally reset everything.

Computrainer - Intervals

With a nod to Coach Troy, I created my first interval workout. The difficulty with Spinervals on a trainer is that you have control over the intensity. By creating an ERG file based upon my CP30, I'm able to define the workout and then work to hit the intensity. The result, a tough workout with a variety of different interval sets.

Computrainer PIG Week 16 Session 1 Intervals

Time to step up for one last four week cycle starting with intervals. The second set was six by six minutes at 275 with three minutes recovery. At the five minute mark of rep one, I adjusted the set to six by five minutes. I wanted to make sure I finished all six reps and I was cracking at the five minute mark. The adjusted reps were tough.

Whoever developed the PIG program knew how to make it just hard enough to introduce doubt but not too hard.

Simplicity

With training in three sports, most triathletes don't have time for core or strength training. While it's not a great program, I've come up with a simple program that doesn't take too long and gives me some basic strength training.

Every morning I do three sets of ten crunches, situps, pushups, dips and curls. For the crunches and situps, I use a camping pad and for dips I use a chair. To do the curls, I purchased some elastic resistance tubing. Nothing fancy but it does help me build some strength and it doesn't take a lot of time.

Resolutions

Congratulations to everyone with a resolution to take control of their health and become more fit. It's great to see all the new people at the gym and on the bike path. Remember that you didn't lose your fitness over night and it will take time to get it back. Just stick with it and great things will happen.

Why - Work vs Fitness

Why do we consider it normal to work eight or more hours a day but when you exercise for an hour, people think you're obsessed? We encourage people to work but we don't encourage exercise. I don't think you have to go crazy and workout eight hours a day but thirty or sixty minutes would probably be great.

If you work in an office, you could escape outside for a quick thirty minute walk. Most office parks have actual parks which are great places to escape. You could even walk to lunch. Think about it next time you jump in the car to drive two minutes to get a burger and fries. Maybe walking over, eating and walking back would be something to try.