Hi folks, Learning new skills always seems to be a kind of stepwise process, be it learning a foreign language, running a business, playing a musical instrument, or becoming an athlete. You reach a plateau, stay stuck for ages, have a breakthrough, and with your new found knowledge work towards the next sticking point. This certainly seems to be true of swimming. I've made major progress in the last ... Read more
Beware The Dangers Of Bonking Out Of Context And The Potential Role Of Network Dynamics
Hi folks, welcome! Noticing a bright and detailed image of the outside world through a small window in a dark room, I was struck by the imperfect or incomplete picture of the world it provided. Knowing the forest outside this house quite well, I could fill in the surrounding details for quite some distance, but what if I was not privy to this information? That little window view would be the world to me. This ... Read more
Don’t Change Your Strategy During The Race
Hi folks, After yesterday's long (80-100 miles) hard (climbing and head wind all the time) bike ride, followed by a 40-minute run, we were left looking a pretty tired bunch, over all. I then found that I just couldn't think beyond what to eat, which became a whole pizza and more, and then sleep, which was long. Now my brain feels fried, but it was my body that did the work - the brain and the body ... 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
A Must Read Article On Nutrition For Athletes And Safe Exercise For Better Health
Hi folks, Nutrition is a key aspect of any exercise plan, so I was intrigued when the following article was drawn to my attention on Twitter by my friend and Bike Guy, Victor. This article by Adrian Hodgson demystifies the issue of incorporation of protein supplementation into the design of power drinks and bars used for intense and/or endurance training or racing. Take a look for yourself, but ... Read more
Endurance Training, Life Lessons, And A Modern-Day Story Of Harassment At Johnny’s Gone Fishing
The Story of Robert the Bruce and the Spider "According to a legend, at some point while he was on the run during the winter of 1306–07, Bruce hid in a cave on Rathlin Island off the north coast of Ireland, where he observed a spider spinning a web, trying to make a connection from one area of the cave's roof to another. Each time the spider failed, it began again until it succeeded. Inspired by ... Read more
From Whence Cometh Motivation To Workout?
Hi folks, The first spoke of the FitOldDog Training Wheel is 'awareness,' including both mind and body awareness. If you do not know how to explore your psyche and your body, how will you progress in an orderly or effective manner? This leads immediately to the question, "Why do we think what we think and do what we do?" Why are we motivated to do this but not that? The purpose of this blog is to encourage ... Read more
Integrate Your Endurance Training Into Your Life In A Healthy Way
Hi folks, This is a follow-up post to the 'early morning swim chicken' one I posted previously. I am a notorious no-show for early morning swims, but I am working to fix this. Like one of my key biking partners, Rory, I also tend to lose the mental debate at 5:00 am and end up staying in bed. But that is no way to work towards a sub-13 hour Lake Placid Ironman time, so I am biting the bullet and ... Read more
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