Hi folks, I am a great believer in 'following the Tao,' but this is a work of art. You have to make things happen, but not in a forceful way. How do you know when you need a little force or effort and when to just leave things alone to work themselves out? It's a fine line between these two polar opposites, so I guess you just have to feel your way along 'The Razor's Edge' (didn't like that book in ... Read more
FitOldDog Talks About Why We May Have To Dig Deep To Find The Underlying Nature Of Our Motivations
Hi folks, Now, don't get me wrong, I have great supporters, and they usually urge me on, including my friend Tara, my partner Deb, and number two son, Duncan. Interestingly, it was a very hot day at the track yesterday. Deb, Tara and Duncan had all finished their runs, stair workouts, and so forth and they were ready to get out of the heat and onto Southern Rail for food and cold beer. The only ... Read more
Enjoying The Aloneness Of Ironman Training With My Girly Triple
Hi folks, There is a big difference between loneliness and aloneness. I used to feel lonely a lot when I was younger, but that seems to have faded as time went by. Aloneness is another matter. I find that I really need alone time in order to recharge my batteries and deal with the complexity of people again. In this respect, Ironman training is perfect. You undertake these races on your own, with the ... Read more
Lamas, Llamas, Pan, And This Changing World Seen From My Bike With Sue
"Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. Care about people's approval and you will be their prisoner." Tao te Ching, Lao Tsu, translation by Steven Mitchell Hi folks, I was riding on a lovely spring morning with my cycling buddy, Sue, when she said, "Did you see ... Read more
Hypoglycemic Versus Dehydration Bonking During Endurance Sports
The hypoglycemia bonk: I have experienced this kind of bonk during a couple of full Ironman races, about 100 miles into the bike leg, and in the later stages some long training rides when I did not take due care to eat and eat right as I went along. The key symptom was nausea, in association with a feeling of muscle weakness. During the two races mentioned above, I noticed that my wattage dropped for the same ... Read more
Fear Of Death Can Get You Killed On The Bike
Hi folks, When you undertake long steep hill descents on a racing bicycle, with tiny tires, always remember the golden rule of cycling that I learned at training camp, "Keep the rubber side down." The problem is that fear of falling prevents the relaxation needed to perform optimally, to take turns smoothly, and accurately estimate the effects of poor road conditions as they come racing towards you. ... Read more
Long Hill Climbs On The Bike Provide Excellent Physical And Mental Conditioning
Hi folks, The last day of Chez Ollie in Tucson, Arizona, included a long climb up Mount Lemmon, with a 2.5-hour cutoff time before descending back to SagMonkey, and the ride home. This is a beautiful climb, with cacti everywhere, and breath taking views, whilst the climb goes on and on and on at a 3-8% grade all the time. Great training! As one climbs for a long time like this there is a lot of ... Read more
Enterprise Will Keep America Vibrant Thanks To Operations Like SagMonkey
Enterprise: en·ter·prise/ˈentərˌprīz/ (From: Chez Ollie) Noun: A project or undertaking, typically one that is difficult or requires effort. Initiative and resourcefulness. SAG Wagon: (From: wiseGeek) "The origins of the term “sag wagon” are a topic for debate. Some cyclists believe that it is an acronym for “Support and Gear” or “Support Aid Group.” Others suggest that it may be related to distressed ... Read more
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