I ATE 7 COOKIES

Ok, so maybe it was more like 10... But it was over a course of a day... And they weren't all the big giant palm sized cookies. Unfortunately and fortunately, the Human Physiology Department knows food and loves food- so do my fellow grad students. I think the Minson lab is known for our abilities to eat and be merry but know what being active and training is all about as well. And, well-- I feel bad. Not so much on the mental side but on the physical side. Last time I checked (yesterday) I can still fit into my size 2 Abercrombie jeans. However, I still have one problem and that relates to the extra quad "musculage" I have- no tightness in the bootie or waste but extreme constriction in the quads and hamstrings. Thank you bike for donning me with sculpted quads and hamstrings in such a way that designers can't even come to making such an exception and appreciation... OOOOO- maybe they'll just advertise them as compression jeans! (humor- please)


And so the holidays have me already feeling guilty. What's odd is I don't hate that I actually ate the 10 cookies, its the way it makes my body feel physically. Its like having 10 drinks. The body burns the fuel you give it and mine (and everyone else's in the world should) likes to burn clean fuel. I don't know if those cookies count as perhaps maybe 2-3% healthy, but chocolate does have a decent amount of iron in it... I just know that my body loves it when I fuel it with the proper fuel. I feel better and its what's made my metabolism skyrocket. Eating healthy-carbs, protein and yes fat (mostly Trader Joe's) helped me lose 13 pounds since last year (in addition to more muscle mass too). This appalling feeling has made me understand why I treat my body the way I do and eat what I eat. What I don't understand is how other people eat- doughnuts for breakfast, Mcky-D's for lunch and Pizza Hut for dinner. No wonder America feels like crap and has so many issues. It literately makes you sick! However, on the opposite side of things, I've learned to appreciate my body, it's musculature, it's ability to swim, bike and run fast. I embrace my non-stick-as-a-twig body image as I see girls and guys who apparently have issues. Just because you're skinny doesn't mean you're healthy. Heck, I just got reminded today that research says you can be FAT and healthy. It's about what your body is capable of doing. Your size doesn't matter, but how you treat it, fuel it and take care of it does.



Maybe as athletes we feel that we are somehow missing out on being a "normal" individual in that those 10 cookies might be worth it when the thought of "hey, I work out more in one day 4-5 hours than someone who even "exercises" does in a week" crosses our minds. So, in essence, those 10 cookies were actually worth it in a weird messed up kind of way- especially after cooperating and eating healthy for months! Who knows- maybe its our nostalgic athlete way that's similar to college students and drinking. In other words, something you couldn't ever do when you were under strict control, but hey- now its desert time and that plentiful tower of sugar in front of you is calling. Then the truth comes along. You realize that blacked-out night or 10 cookie-count binge wasn't all its cracked up to be- it was fun at the time but it ended up really screwing you over.., In some ways its a blessing in disguise- reassuring your lifestyle commitments and what you want to do and how you want treat your body.


Go ahead and eat those cookies- I dare you.

Or 11. Beat me. That's one competition I'll let you win over me.

THE BREAK AND THE BRICK

Nothing like left over turkey et al. to my right, Christmas tree to my left and the beautiful fall sunlight shinning in through the gorgeous red and orange leaves to really bring out the satisfaction of a good solid 4.5 hour ride and a slammin' 45 min brick run... yeah, I'm finally taking a break from my break- I mean really slowing it down. To most, a 5+ hour day doesn't really mean relaxing and taking a "break"- that is true. So far, my Thanksgiving "break" has been the best shot at me getting work done: thesis, 3 projects, TAI stuff, wrapping up personal sponsorships-- essentially getting caught up in life. It's also been a chance for me to go out and enjoy some training with those I only get to train with on weekends. Overall, everything has really started to take an upswing in my training. As weird as it sounds, I've realized some pretty amazing things and feel even more confident after this past week.


I was on the edge of really considering being mentally burnt out from everything going on in my life- all going in different directions: school, project, coaching, training, life after school... I don't have the typical 8-5 job where you get to leave everything there and your work is consistent and all in the same realm. It's a double-edged sword; I have the ability to manipulate the majority of things in my life to be able to fit everything in. It does take time to plan things out and the more you have on your plate the more you gotta know what's going on and can't waste your efforts anywhere. Anyone seen the "I Love Lucy" episode where she has to be on a schedule? ... yes comical, but ridiculous at times- no time to stop and smell the flowers. The constant switch-to this- switch to that has to be planned to a T in my life. If one thing gets messed up, then everything else waterfalls...


About a week ago, there was a day that I could not take anymore of. My stomach was in knots and all I wanted to do was sleep to recharge and be able to move on to the next day. I ended up falling asleep at 6:30 PM and woke up at 7:30 AM- 13 hours!!! But the scary thing was that I've been having a lot of those days where the mental go-switch-go-switch really had me wanting to relax at night instead of getting more work done right up until bed. My body must've thought the break was coming earlier. Isn't it strange how people's bodies seem to just make it to a specific point until it breaks down? People collapsing mere strides before the finish, fighting that cold through stress and the end of finals, but then having if full-blown once the tests are over?....


I ended up going my chiropractor the day after I felt that tired. Having it only be the second time I've ever gone- I am honestly hooked and really, truly forgot what it felt like to be at one with my bike. I have so much more hip mobility and flexibility. Plus, with the insane ease it was to put out power, it actually had me 5-7 beats per minute lower than before I started getting treated. My body was fighting itself and now that it's not, I realized how efficient I am and how easily I can put out 200-230 watts for 4+ hours only weighing 60 kilos. I can honestly say as well that I have NEVER in my life had consistent 4+ hour rides were my lower back never, EVER-- not once hurt. It is amazing. My efficiency also showed it's surprisingly beautiful face during a recent VO2max test. I reached my highest ever value on the bike 66.2 ml/kg/min.. and what's even doubly crazy is that I saw something I've never seen before in anyone that I've ever tested- which is a lot of people. At 70% of my VO2max for an hour, my RER value was hovering around 0.80-0.83... metabolic proof that I am a metabolic endurance efficiency freak-junkie. I must be doing something good :)



It's also safe to say that things tend to waterfall for me in good situations as well. Once something good happens, everything gels together. I am thankful for at least one thing that always remains pretty consistent and seems to keep climbing; the only thing I do for myself and use as my "me" time-- my training. Thursday's excellent 3.5 hour ride consisted of 5 second, 1 minute and 2 minute power records, yesterday was one of those good steady 90 minute endurance runs and today's 4.5 hour ride and 45 minute brick- went amazing. I've never been able to run 6:45 miles consistently like that and so effortlessly. I was just starting to think that I missed my ability to hit the intensity without excruciating pain, extreme fatigue, or the mer fast-twitch muscle tap-in capability that I used to have... Naw- I like the steady, distance right now... I also like seeing how smooth and easy my body responds to last year's "hard" paces.


2010 here I come!

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE

I don't know what it is when I see someone at 9 PM at night who's running at a good clip that makes me want to hop on the treadmill next to them and run faster. Isn't it enough that I've already trained and ran for an hour and a half tempo-hill workout earlier and swam for an hour and lifted weights? Why the heck am I so competitive?!

Did it ever occur to us that we are the exact people that motivate others- our apparent hard work and sweat dripping in the gym, being the lone rider on the road, or the only one breathing hard in the pool... Its how we got to where we are today by pushing ourselves and having the motivation from others

Anyways... I'm a morning person I think as I leave the gym-oh... and I was running wayy faster than the chic on the treadmill- but I still gave her kudos for a good tempo on my way out. After all with out those to push us, how are we ever going to support each other as athletes to get to the next level without some friendly competition? My work was done earlier. I'm already a couple steps ahead of her (or miles-whatever way you want to look at it)

Dang competitive nature! At least its friendly :)