Focus on the Glow

"The higher the power up the hill and on the flat terrain, the greater the rider’s performance. The same can be said of speed. Only power and speed are directly related to performance. Heart rate and RPE tell us nothing about performance—they simply reflect what the rider is experiencing. But when compared with power, heart rate and RPE also tell us something about the rider’s fitness. When power is high and heart rate and RPE relatively low compared with previous rides on that same hill, we know that the athlete is fitter and faster."

Joe directly address' several key points in this one powerful paragraph. Read it again and then here in the complete context. I am particularly interested in this topic today as I am, by these same standards, officially off the disabled list (DL) and back in action. I hope. Yes, there were a few twinges this morning as we rode a series of progressive climbs in preparation for Sunday's 33 Hilly miles, but overall the hamstrings felt as good today as they have in the three weeks since initial trauma. Meaning, that the work/rest combination between then and now has created the muscular adaptation required for power increases. Which just so happens to be the key point of this article from road biker on the mysterious reasons causing cramping. Muscular fatigue, bio-chemical imbalance, compensational stress, weakness. Take your pick.

AND THEN WORK TOWARDS FURTHER ADAPTATION.

If I can get through the next three days with the same positive trending, I will FTP re-test on an established course with controlled variables and measure the difference. If that three weeks of healing provides even a ten watt increase, I will hoist a micro-brew in celebration. Because that will also coincide with the 2012 termination of my self imposed no-beer and no-glutens February test. I will tell you right now, that the glutens are the hard part. Eating gluten free bread is like eating concrete. The stuff barely qualifies as bread. I could easily use a loaf in place of a brick if the completion of the PO depended on it. Nasty. The best way I have found to tolerate so far is to saturate it in whatever sauce, juice or gravy I happen to be using with the main course. Yuk is putting it mildly. I can get over the beer thing. That is easy, but now I fully understand the "give us this day…our daily bread" stanza.

Lastly today, here is an outstanding overview of Chrissie Wellington's new book, where she talks about the importance of training the mind BEFORE the body. Powerful stuff.

So there you have it here on Fat Tuesday. Power is fitter and faster. Fatigue fosters failure. Adaptation is the goal. Prayer is good and mInd over matter. Focus on the glow.

Carry on.

Pic: Chrissie at the turn in Hawi last October in an RCVman photo. She was hurting BIG TIME and still managed to keep her glow, as goal, in perfect focus. Something I need to get better at, as both athlete and photographer.