Hermes

Guilty as charged. Great meeting you.

You are welcome to return any time for more riding.

Racer Ex 

I looked him up. Found his current picture:



And here I thought they didn't exist...

I've got a pretty decent GP with a horrible office. I have them fill out a card after my annual physical with their name and address on it. Then I send it to them to remind them to send me my reminder that I'm due for an annual checkup.

sarals 

O2a this morning, done on the trainer because it was freakin' cold outside. Unlike @Heathpack, I'm a bit of wuss when it comes to weather conditions. I rode the Venge, Quark power, which doesn't transmit speed (unlike the PT hub). I got through all four three minute efforts (with two minute rbi), and was pleasantly surprised and pleased that I was able to hold the targets. The last interval was my best, because my legs had opened up and I was fully warmed. My HR dropped below LTHR (it had been above for the previous three efforts) and didn't rise much above 133 BPM for that last push.

However.

When I downloaded my data into GC, there was NOTHING there! Dumbell me ("Idiot Emeritus") had forgotten that my Garmin was set for "autopause", and with no forward motion detected the Garmin only displayed metrics, it didn't record them.

Grrrrrrrrrrr.....

It wasn't a wasted effort, but it sure felt like one.

Hermes

Upper body gym workout yesterday followed by a 90 minute massage. I use an Asian massage parlor that has traditional Thai massage as well as conventional stuff. I go for the Thai / Deep tissue fusion. So there is some of the bending and kneeding from Thai coupled with sports massage techniques. The masseuse is from China and does not speak much english. She knows hard, soft and okay.

She is totally amazing and I go in as a baby boomer and emerge as a millennial.

I was introduced to Thai massage when I traveled to Thailand. I was being entertained by Japanese partners in Bangkok and after 18 holes of golf, we went for a two hour massage. It was so painful I thought I would not be able to walk the next day. Surprisingly, I felt great.

The traditional massage uses no oil and one dresses in soft flannel and the women spend two hours of kneeding and bending. Some of it is very painful but seems to work.

From Wiki...

Traditional Thai massage uses no oils or lotions. The recipient remains clothed during a treatment. There is constant body contact between the giver and receiver, but rather than rubbing on muscles, the body is compressed, pulled, stretched and rocked.[3]

The recipient wears loose, comfortable clothing and lies on a mat or firm mattress on the floor. In Thailand, a dozen or so subjects may be receiving massage simultaneously in one large room. The true ancient style of the massage requires that the massage be performed solo with just the giver and receiver. The receiver will be positioned in a variety of yoga-like positions during the course of the massage, that is also combined with deep static and rhythmic pressures.

The massage generally follows designated lines ("sen") in the body. The legs and feet of the giver can be used to position the body or limbs of the recipient. In other positions, hands fix the body, while the feet do the massaging. A full Thai massage session may last two hours and includes rhythmic pressing and stretching of the entire body. This may include pulling fingers, toes, ears, cracking knuckles, walking on the recipient's back, and moving the recipient's body into many different positions. There is a standard procedure and rhythm to the massage, which the giver will adjust to fit the receiver.[4]

Heathpack 

Lol, ave temp on my ride today was 39F and I was kind of hot. Had to unzip my jersey part way. Although I did have a wee freakout last night when I was getting my stuff together and thought I was missing a glove. No glove would have been a dealbreaker.


A recent Garmin update gave me some new Garmin pages- one for training (which I always had), one for race, and one for stationary trainer. Or maybe I always had this and didn't realize it. The nice thing about this is that you can set up your "stationary trainer" pages differently than your "race" and "training" pages. So I have autopause set up on the "race" and "training" pages. But no autopause on the "stationary trainer" page. This is very helpful at TTs because I warm up on the trainer and now I don't have to be turning autopause off for that and then remember to turn it on again for the race, I just flip to my "race" screen and I'm good to go.

sarals 

I did an update on my Garmin recently, too, and it also added another page, but it's called "Ride". I'll have to look into what it offers.

Needless to say, I disabled the autopause feature!

Good gracious, a missing glove would have definitely been a deal breaker for me, too.

sarals 

@Hermes, I had a Thai massage when I was Thailand some years ago. I recall it as being painful, too, but, like you, I woke refreshed the next day. I recall that clearly!

revchuck 

Coach told me that the cure for legs sore from running is more running. I ran outside this morning instead of on the treadmill. I ran faster (than a crawl, anyway) and it hurt less, though I don't know if that was due to being outside or just getting used to running again. The scary part is that my legs started remembering how to run towards the end. Shoot, it's only been three years since I last ran outside...

Rowan

I read this forum every day. I don't post much because I am not a racer and therefore not entitled to. But I do really enjoy reading everything posted here. Everyone is thoughtful and supportive, and that is something I admire.

Heathpack 

Nice to hear. I'm not sure anyone would be too serious about the "racing" requirement for posting here. Although I guess you might naturally be interested in different topics, if racing is not your thing.

Heathpack 

After exceeding my power targets on both Sunday's TT and yesterday's TT intervals, today I went out for a climbing ride on the TT bike. My plan was to ride some threshold TT intervals up each hill and then rest on the descents. Lol, my legs vetoed that idea. Refused like a recalcitrant mule. I was able to talk them into doing the climbs, just not as hard efforts. So I gathered my brain and legs and lungs and heart, got all my parts onboard with the new plan and then climbed like an inchworm. Good enough for today, thank you everyone for your cooperation. I think we managed 1400 ft over 20 miles. Of course I was dressed for a little bit harder work. So today's 39F seemed way colder than yesterday's 39F.

Still enjoyed it though.

Then a 10 min meditation. Prior to the mediation there was a little talk. It's not just about focus but the ability to refocus. Bringing your brain back after a technical mistake or other distraction. Totally makes sense, that's a good thing to practice.

Hermes

Here you go ladies...Women Want Real Weights at the Gym - WSJ

Equinox Fitness Clubs recently launched their first class to emphasize heavier weights and fewer repetitions. The class, called Pure Strength, uses hand-held weights of 15 to 40 pounds each and a maximum of 8 reps per set. The idea was to demystify the weight room, a spokeswoman says. Since the class’s October launch, 64% of registrants have been women.

Hermes

Loops around Fiesta Island on the TT bike. So today was a chainless day. I was doing on/off intervals and it was stupid easy to make power. I have learned that power PRs have consequences for me i.e. it takes too long to recover even though they were easy at the time. So I did less and shut down early. The workout is over if it is too easy.

Interestingly, it was an Australian track sprint coach that emphasizes caution against PRs while training. And this was for the elite guys not masters.

revchuck 

More running today, this time 20 minutes on the treadmill at the gym as a warm-up for the core workout I did. It was easier again, leading me to think that building on this might not kill me. That would lead to competing, not necessarily complementary, goals for next year; I had been toying with the idea of trying my hand at sprint tris, but that was before I decided to do the Cheaha Challenge and all the climbing and training for climbing that it entails. #firstworldproblems indeed! I'd rather do one of them well than both of them half-assed. Fortunately, there's time to figure this out.

Heathpack 

@revchuck, you have to do the Cheaha Challenge. I already said you would.

Rest day for me yesterday and a fun coffee shop ride this morning. I feel kind of sinus-y and for me there's a 50% chance of that becoming a sinus infection. For now, sudafed seems to be adequate though. Felt pretty good on the ride but that could have been the ephedrine. Lol, slippery slope- next thing you know I'll get busted for doping on the old lady coffee ride.

Long ride tomorrow and then we leave for NY on Sunday (Moms sx is Tuesday). Bringing the TT bike as checked luggage. Yikes. TSA.

And of course because my life is going so smoothly right now, it only makes sense that we've decided to bring the dog to NYon her first (as far as we know) airplane trip. Holidays, bike, dog, weather, and family maelstrom. What could possibly go wrong??!

In celebration of the decision, someone got a new coat for Christmas.

Rowan

Safe travels and best wishes for your mother's surgery. Glad the bike is going with you as your own unwind therapy.

BTW, kudos to Mr H. Getting great support from a spouse puts one over half way in the fun stakes.

Rowan

I find the treadmill one of my favourite ways to get a lot done in a relatively short time. Almost no set-up required, I can walk and run for an hour and at the end feel good, and know that if I eat right afterwards, my weight will be down a few hundreds grams the next day or so. Maybe it's the constant environment and the fact that the metrics therefore are consistent that helps in the satisfaction.

And if you want a real workout, try some sprints on the rowing machine. We've been talking about getting a Concept2 rower for some time, and after my last effort in the gym a couple of weeks ago, we may have to accelerate that plan to fruition.

Heathpack 

Thanks @Rowan. Crossing our fingers for Mom. So far all her pre-op checks are checking out ok- so far, so good.

Totally agree, very grateful for my spouse. Just can't imagine getting through everything logistically without some solid help/support. Lucky for sure.

revchuck 

Had the blood draw for my PSA test this morning. Since it was in the 20s with the wind chill, I went home and took a nap and generally screwed off until the temperature was more civilized, then went out for about two hours at endurance pace. It was one of those days when the headwind never quite went away no matter which direction I rode, but it was nice to be out there anyway.

valygrl

Good luck to your mom, heathpack.

Heathpack 

Thanks @valygrl, hopefully she just breezes through it.


One last ride for me today before I head to the land of frigid temps and snow showers. Its crazy cold in NY right now.


One of my favorite local rides is an out and back along Lake Hughes Rd, a little bit of a climb at the beginning, then a descent, then a long gradual climb. Hit the store, turn around and go back. Its 50 miles and 5000 ft of climbing. Which was just the ticket for today. The ride start is 10ish miles from my house and the day was looking like it was going to be so beautiful that I could not resist riding to/from, so I wound up with 72 miles today.


I didn't eat enough, only 600 cal while I burned 2400. I chatted with people, toasted my legs somehow with a moderate effort up the first climb, suffered up the rest of the climbs, gawked at the scenery, and had fun on the descents- usual stuff.


Gorgeous sunny day with temps in the 50s and 60s. Fall foliage. Low traffic. Great ride.


Sorry @Racer Ex, I went a little long. The sunshine made me do it.

revchuck 

@Heathpack - Please add my best wishes for your Mom's operation to everyone else's. And I think that @Racer Ex will let you slide on the distance, it looked too beautiful to not be on the bike.

Two hours at endurance pace with 4x8' SST intervals as a prelude to tomorrow's 6x1' VO2 max intervals, starting to up the intensity for a while.

LAJ

Positive thoughts for all you're going through, @Heathpack.

Heathpack 

Thanks @revchuck @LAJ, just waiting for events to unfold at this point...

Hermes

@Heathpack Good luck in NY.

Wishing your mother the best possible outcome.