THE THREE

That five minute quote from RW Emerson yesterday via Iron War really got me goin'. In all honesty, there are only a handful of books that I can truly use the 'couldn't put it down" cliche. This one is, with Dave and Mark's relentless pursuit of that five minutes detailed to triathlon perfection by Mr. Fitzgerald. From the training and motivation perspective, it is better than a dozen 9% hill repeats. Later, Mark would cite a few of Dave's fanaticism's as his motivation, ala learning from the master. It would question his methods, his regimen, his resolve when he learned that Dave would rinse his low-fat cottage cheese to remove that nasty 1% remaining residue.

You gotta WANT it. You gotta LIVE it. You Gotta BE IT. The it, of course, being the manifestation on race day of that five minutes. Santa will not give it to you. Your prayers will fall on deaf ears and if you think that somehow you can pull off something on race day that you haven't done in training, you will be greatly disappointed, my friend. As disclaimer, please understand that we are talking about absolute best here, not 'merely' a finish. Anyone, almost anyone, can do a triathlon. Same with an Ironman. Anyone can waddle for 13.1 miles, same with the full monty.

BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEST, AS IN AGE GROUP WINS OR OVERALL RECORDS, AND THAT MEANS FAST, AND THAT MEANS PAIN AND THAT MEANS FINDING THAT FIVE MINUTES.

So it was with much interest that I scanned this Active.com list of 12 Things to give to Triathletes for Christmas list and found the CompuTrainer Pro among them. The authors go as far as to list cycling DVDs as well, but escape the viscous grading trap by use of the generic.

I, however, will take it a step further, localizing this for maximum benefit, learning from the masters at Active.com (who seem to be able to sell wool to sheep) in presenting the RCVman THREE THINGS to give the local Triathletes for Christmas list.

ONE. You don't have to lay down $1,649 of your disposable income on the purchase of a new CompuTrainer Pro when you have access to one seventeen hours a day at the Bainbridge Athletic Club. We even provide you with all the accessories, big screen TV, monster fans and stereo, professional support and the opportunity to join our racing team. Try THAT at home!

TWO: The new limited-edition BAC-CompuTrainer cycling jerseys are the most colorful garments since Picasso's favorite smock. A serious museum-quality work of art for the discriminating cyclist or spinner on your list. AND with a special Christmas sale price of just $75 of your hard-earned green-backs. Be a patron of the arts today and take advantage of our free shipping offer!

THREE: Make it habitual. Exercise physiology holds one premise above all others: The need for consistency. You must DO IT and then DO IT again (and again). That concept is explained very entertainingly in this cool video. It is why we train as often as we do. Making the CompuTrainer Multi-Rider BAC Loyalty Cards (CTMRBACLC) such an outstanding value. For just 50 of your slush-fund-top-drawer-petty-cash dollars you get five sessions. Another one of them is this afternoon at 4:30 in case you forgot. WITH THE SIXTH SESSION FREE!!!!

There you have it folks. The BIG RCVman Three.

Your improved health and fitness at the BAC
A jersey worthy of Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
And a free ride.

Did I mention the free shipping?

Three Perfect Stocking Stuffers include the BAC jersey's and the new CTMRBACLC cards. Bob Cratchit would go.