Archives for Factoids category
You may remember the review that I did of the BK-1 a few months ago. They’re a bluetooth-based multi-rider communication system that’s pretty sweet. If you haven’t read my review you should check it out over here.
Anyhow. Cardo is stepping into the “Big Leagues” with a recent announcement. Check this out:
Is More Exercise Always Better? | Sweat Science.
Favorite quote from the article:
The basic result (more exercise = more healthy) held true for both moderate and vigorous exercise; however, the effect was more pronounced for vigorous exercise
Well that’s good news! 🙂
I was fortunate to have borrowed a Recovery Pump system for Ironman Mont Tremblant recovery. I wasn’t sure what to expect or if it’d make any real difference. I wore the legs for 2 hrs after the race and for 30 minutes the next morning, and while I saw people in the village hobbling around, my legs felt really good. Was this the Recovery Pump, my pacing, my physiology or some other factor.
Ian and I decided to put them to a test. Here was the plan:
On 2 subsequent Saturdays (Friday is a rest day), I’d do the following workout at 8am and again at noon. Before the 8am I’d have my normal breakfast (yogurt, bran buds and a banana), after the 1st workout I’d have a First Endurance Ultragen. During each test I would drink 1 bottle of water with First Endurance EFS Drink.
The workout was controlled as a programmed .ERG workout with the computrainer, as follows:
On the 1st week, we did the control. No specific recovery between the trials, just nutrition, tv, web surfing, etc. The 2nd week I used the recoverypump legs for 45 minutes after the 1st workout.
The Results
The Control
| Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Intervals | 7 micro-rests | 13 micro-rests | Performance drop by ~40% |
| Sprint Intervals | Max 626w | Max 603 (but most ~590w) | Performance drop by 5% |
(micro-rest: just can’t keep the pedals going any longer, 3-5 sec rest and go again)
The Recovery Pump Test
| Trial 1 | Trial 2 | Delta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Intervals | 12 micro-rests | 10 micro-rests | Performance improvement by ~17% |
| Sprint Intervals | Max 675w | Max 736 | Performance increase by 9% |
To me these results are pretty compelling and corroborate my gut feel that the Recovery Pump system was making a difference. I was actually surprised to see a performance INCREASE when using the system. It wasn’t just that my performance didn’t decrease as much, but the invigorated legs were able to do MORE than just “morning fresh”.
Ongoing Testing
Obviously, I’m not done with my investigation of the power of the Recovery Pump system. I’ve used it before track workouts to pump up my legs before the speedwork and after to refresh them. I have to say, I’m pretty convinced that this system lives up to every claim on the Recovery Pump website.
The Smog Dilemma: To Exercise Or Not To Exercise? | Sweat Science.
I’m inclined to agree w. Alex: I’ll exercise in the heat and with the smog. I can’t control the weather on race day. If it’s super-hot and humid, I’ll just have to cope. Best to train in it and get used to it, than to hide from it.
Knowing that the smog won’t do any long-term damage is a plus. 🙂
Joe Friel – Coast or Pedal on a Downhill?.
I’m definitely guilty of pushing on the downs. I LOVE to hit 70+ km/h on my bike. I’m not sure that I’d have the discipline to coast above 50km/h…
I guess I should try. 😛
Outstanding Pro Fields to fight it out in the Big Easy » IRONMAN.com.
Wow big (tentative) pro field racing on Sunday. Lets hope we get reasonable weather!
Joe’s blog is always full of well researched material. Here’s a quick blurb on improving your run economy in various ways.
Joe Friel – How to Optimize Your Economy, Part 2.
Also, yesterday, my coach showed me a website that my geeky data-monkey type-a self just loves. I haven’t yet fully explored the site, but love it!
Enjoy!
Training for Ironman in Coronado.
I got written up in the news down here in Coronado, Panama 🙂 Fun
Much as I expected and contrary to what the mainstream press would have you believe, these events are very rare. Perhaps noteworthy because of the endeavour being undertaken and all the training leading up to it, but hardly the huge issue it’s been made out to be.
2011 was an amazing year for me. Racing, training, swimming, biking, running: so much fun. Loving the intensity and focus that comes with the training.
Some totals:
Training:
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