Beware the Testimonial

I've been bothered lately by some lackluster training sessions, particularly on the bike.  I usually feel strong and powerful, able to hold the prescribed power targets.  The sessions are not easy, but doable.  Up until the past few weeks, and now, it's agonizing.  I'm dealing with fatigue or sickness or low self-esteem or who-knows-what?

Okay, so I don't think it's boredom, even though it is indoor trainer season...

I digress.

The point is, when one's performance starts to suffer, one looks for reasons (as proposed above) as well as solutions.  Right now, I'm that one.  Perhaps my diet is to blame?  Right along with indoor trainer sessions, the winter holidays bring an abundance of refined sugar and alcoholic distractions.  It's not a crazy hypothesis.

And then I read a blog by another [wonderful] age-group triathlete who's pursuing a new diet with great results.  The whole blog is a fantastic testimonial for the diet program. Weight loss!  Better sleep!  More energy!  Spouse had great results too!!  Join us!!!

Yes, of course, I want some too!!!

I start researching the dietary paradigm, googling and skimming, considering how to go about it.

But then I stop, recalling my master's degree in, of all things, nutrition.  And not for the obvious coincidence of subject matter, but for what writing and defending a thesis taught me.  All research data has context, created by the experimental conditions used to gather said data.  This context is often designed and presented to allow the data to be meaningful and significant in other, usually very similar, conditions.  A careful and important layering and reinforcement of data spawns, building scientific facts that are the foundation of our world understanding.  I don't know if there's a term that describes this relatively global context that 'good' experimental data has, but it's key to how humans have built credible scientific knowledge for centuries.

Which brings me back to the blog testimony that got me started.  What is the one very thing a testimonial lacks?

Global context.

Now, a testimonial does have context.  It's a very personal and singular context.  In fact, without it, a testimonial sounds like any random marketing slogan.

In this case, I stepped back and considered the testimonial's singular context and started to compare my own.  How similar or different were our bodies, lives, training, our 'experimental conditions'?  To summarize, there were too many differences and unknowns to assume her solution would be as successful for what ails me.

I'm not saying this Blogger's diet is worthless or that her testimonial is just an empty marketing slogan.  In fact, I'm quite sure that the diet has worked well for her and the testimonial is her own important data.  I just can't translate it to my situation.  The diet may have even some merit for me, but I'd prefer to seek out data via Pubmed or some of my old textbooks to get a better idea.

So, beware the testimonial.  Consider it a marketing tool, and let it get your attention.  Just consider its value in the appropriate context.

Prescription: 30 Burpees

30 burpees really can cure what ails you!  Yes, burpees.  Those infernal middle school gym exercises?  Yes, those.  "Squat thrusts" as we called them, through gritted 8-year-old teeth.  And we HATED them.

After a blissful [I-didn't-know-I-even-missed-you] 30-year absence from my life, burpees returned.  Via an email from Coach Max.

"...I want to challenge you outside the usual triathlete box. You two strike me as the adventuresome type and may be up for this. This challenge is not for entertainment. It's real. ... It's simple; 30 burpees for 30 days."

You might imagine the subsequent incredulous snorts and chuckles from me and Burly, as I read this aloud.  We often joke about whether Coach Max might just be trying to kill us.  He's pretty deliberate with our workouts, and this was no laughing matter.

"What say you? Are you in? Here's a charming meat head demo. Form is everything."

Burly ignored the taunt.  Smart guy.  Me?  Not so much; I took the bait.

"That's like... 900 burpees."

Undaunted, Coach Max embraced my skeptical 'enthusiasm' with his reply.

"It is a indeed a big deal. Go for it! Go for it now."

That was two days ago.  Monday was my rest day, so, umm, no starting then.  And Tuesday was a tough run, with planks and push-ups mixed in, so, umm, clearly no starting then.  Anyone else smell a pattern?

Today, however, I actually took the challenge.  I don't know why today.  Work was, let's just say, less than rewarding, and my return commute was filled with a downward spiral of loathesome career reflection.  Once at the house, it took the prompting of a few Facebook 'motivations' to get me into workout clothes.  

My calendar called for four rounds of mountain climbers and air squats.  Did I mention Coach Max steals Cross Fit ideas to 'challenge' me with?  In full disclosure, I did ask for more strength training this off-season.  He doesn't disappoint.

Once the mountain climbing and air squatting was through, I took a few minutes to procrastinate/play with The Yellow Cat.  Then I got started on those first 30 burpees.  

And they were the ugliest, saddest, fattest, formless, heaving burpees ever attempted!  Utterly ridiculous.  It took me over eight minutes to finish.  Really.  Holy crap, that was hard!

But, I did all 30.

And I'll do them again tomorrow.

Yup.  I will.

WTH?  Why?

Because when I finally knocked out #29 and #30, I laid on the floor and started laughing.  I felt beaten and humbled, and it was GREAT!  All that self-defeating nonsense from work that clouded my ride home was gone.  Nowhere to be found!  Every one of those burpees absolutely sucked, and the sum of it was exactly what I needed to set my head straight.

Got my feet up the wall to enjoy my favorite yoga recovery and laughed some more while The Yellow Cat came over to congratulate me and steal more attention!

870 burpees to go.  Let's see if 30 burpees can cure Thursday too!

Triathlete, meet Cyclocross

A Race Report, of sorts

A well-known inspirational quote challenges us to do something everyday that scares us.  Today it was Cyclocross.

No, Cyclocross, or CX, is not inherently scary at all.  Just some Euro-style off-road bicycle racing on a beautiful day at a local municipal park.  For me, the 'scary' was riding a strange bike, clipping MTB pedals, clambering over strange terrain and negotiating obstacles.

Obstacles?  We triathletes don't do no stinking obstacles!  Other than random seaweed beds or a dropped bottle at the exchange, triathlon is blissfully obstacle-free.  Nope, not CX.  There were hills and drops and jumps and a sand volleyball court to cross twice each lap, to name a few.

So, this little venture into the unknown was a wee scary.  Especially after watching some You Tube videos pre-race.  What have I gotten into?

To be precise, I got myself into the first annual Turkey Cross in Loudon, TN.

Here's my cautious start - that's me in the back, FRCC orange logos and red sleeves.

Then the adrenaline kicked in.

Then the hypoxia.

And all the scary was gone.

Replaced by a wheezing, gasping, red-lined pile of flesh, grinning when I could summon the oxygen, as captured here.  (And what lovely weather we had!)

Honestly, it was FUN.  Once I got the hang of the course and the obstacles, and all that pesky dismounting and mounting (mental note: add to "Skills to Improve in 2014" list), I liked it.  I liked the challenge.  I liked learning new things.  I liked the event atmosphere.  I liked the supporters and hecklers alike (my beau Mr. Burl fits both categories).  And, we all really liked the fresh pommes frites with homemade dijonnaise, compliments of Southern Cycling!

I liked it enough to seriously consider selling my mountain bike for a CX bike.  Which, truth be told, I'm not in love with that beast anyway - heavy, unwieldy thing that it is.

Fact is, short-course Triathlon is my primary goal these days.  And that 37+ minutes to complete three loops of CX scariness was some of the best anaerobic training (average HR = 176 bpm) and bike handling that money can buy.  I sense a nice synergy here... perhaps the 2014 season will have a CX after-party?

Wait a minute.  This is a race report!  How did I do?

I finished!  Three whole loops!  The CX Cat 4 Ladies that won did four loops (I got lapped by the winner at the end).  And I was not last.  8th out of 9!

And huge THANKS to Rebekah for talking me into this! And loaning the bike!!  Much appreciation for Burly, Scott, Allison, Sharon, Jimmy and Gregg for the on-site cheers and jeers!

What scary thing did you do today?

Last Minute Thanksgiving

Just sitting down post-Thanksgiving dinner.  My wonderful mate is washing the last batch of pans and knives and I'm watching the final credits for "Love Actually" roll off the TV screen.  The yellow cat Jethro is crashed on the sofa next to me.  Aaaaahhhh.  It's been a good day.

We kicked the day off with a chilly (25 degF) 10k foot race; both my husband and I set PRs for the distance. *GRIN* Pleasant surprise, rewarded by a little Cracker Barrel breakfast.  No, really, it was little - they now have a breakfast menu of dishes under 500 calories.  YAY!

I didn't plan to cook a Thanksgiving meal. I bought a turkey this week due to my employer giving us each a $15 coupon toward said turkey. I figured I'd cook it Sunday and freeze most. That grocery trip also served to restock some pantry items, but none of the 'fixins' others loaded into their buggies...

As fate would have it, we didn't really want another restaurant meal today and had no alternate plans.  Around noon, I wandered into the kitchen to see if we had options better than eggs over toast (I knew we had four slices of bread left!)

A little digging around, four cookbooks, a few internet searches, and a few more thoughtful substitutions and compromises, a menu sprang to life. And into our bellies!

Long story short, the pantry, refrigerator and freezer, despite appearing spartan, yielded all the goods for a wonderful meal: Turkey (brined 4 hours, spatchcocked and roasted in less than 2 hours), giblet gravy, herbed bread stuffing, baked sweet potatoes, sauteed kale with sweet onion & garlic, whole wheat potato rolls, Trader Joe's potatoes & mushrooms with haricots verts, and pumpkin pie with a homemade whole wheat pie crust.  Nom nom nom.  Two satiated smiles!

Why didn't we photograph that lovely food porn?!

Needless to say, gonna need a restock.  I managed to use up all of the remaining white flour, the last lone stick of butter, olive oil, celery, bread, stock, and orange juice, to name a few things.

I guess the moral of the story is that we are usually more blessed than we might keep in our present thought.  I figured another trip to the grocery was necessary, but once I got to looking, I realized we had everything we needed.  Compromise was essential to make it work, and it took some ingenuity to pull it off (umm, there's mango juice in the pie crust).

I initially failed to appreciate the abundance already at my disposal.  Luckily, no one eating here had unyielding expectations of what the holiday meal should be!

The rest of our lives can similarly lack joy and meaning if we don't appreciate that which we already have.  Our culture advertises limitless conveniences to purchase the "full" feeling, but it never seems to deliver.

My thanksgiving delivered today, and I am truly thankful for the abundance shared in our home.  I won't be searching for happiness at a Black Friday sale tomorrow; good chance I'll find that joy amongst the people [and things] already present in my life.

This doesn't mean I won't seek new experiences and new relationships.  Rather, I will know that those new things are meant to enhance that which I already - thankfully - have available.

May you be similarly blessed!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankfully Not Sick!

It's already the week before Thanksgiving, and I'm simply thankful that I'm not sick.  Last year, something took hold of my body (and my husband's) and wreaked total havoc.  Following the post-race season letdown and a crazy stretch at work, I was stricken with vertigo, chills, GI ugliness, fever and exhaustion.  Thanksgiving consisted of a missed 10K race and canned soup while curled up on the sofa.

Fast forward one year.  New job and new boss.  Still tired post-season, and still not sleeping well.  I learn every day to listen a little closer to my body, and this week it said, "take it easy, lady."  One very long workday and I missed Thursday's run.  And yesterday I was still not feeling it, so skipped a 2400-yd swim (and all the unavoidable disease-covered surfaces at they gym).

I really hate missing workouts.  Hate it.  But, after last year, I'm not second-guessing the decisions.

I awoke feeling okay.  Today was a cool 50 degF at mid-day, with the sun veiled in thin clouds.  My husband and I enjoyed a lovely Field Run test - eight minutes to go hypoxic!  It's been over nine months since Coach Max prescribed one.  My maximum heart rate was 181, versus 184 in February.  The pace today was 7:18/mile, a bit slower than the previous 7:02/mile.  Not sure what to make of that, except that 1. I'm slower (really?!) and 2. a few hours later, I'm ready to pass out.

My body might be telling me something again (like, get more rest!)

We'll see if tomorrow's 3-hour group bike ride happens.  The HIGH temperature is predicted to be a balmy 39 degF, and even though [I hope] I have the right gear, I wonder if my body is up to it.  I'm gonna sleep on it... because that's probably what I need more than anything else.

Here's to making it another week, and hopefully to the start line of that 10K on Thursday!