Beer Drinker Accountability/Appreciation Society - Open (Page 56)

For everyone having troubles with motivation at this time of year I impart these little bits of advice:

1) It's okay to be lazy and indulge a little during the off season that's why they call it the off-season (unless you're in the southern hemisphere and it's summer). Just remember not make your off season last all season. 

2) Now is the time to start thinking about next year's goals. For me, I can't just willy nilly decide to do events just because I feel like it. I spend a few weeks in fall researching different and interesting events that I want to do. I workout the timing and details as much as I can and then once I've established what events I'm doing, I decide how much training it will take and then work back from there to determine when my off season has to end (I'll outline below how I develop my yearly plan for anyone interested). I recommend everyone try working on their yearly goals and if you feel like you need motivation to train now, pick an event early in the year so you have a reason to start training. Looking at cool events you may want to do will also help to motivate you. 

3) This one is the biggest motivator for me to stay off the couch. Every year that I get older the ceiling of physiological capability comes down a little bit. Sure its a very slow process but someday I might not be able to finish an IM (or some other event) let a lone do it in a certain time. (It also takes seven years of training to reach 90% of your physiological potential regardless of age and I want to hit that ceiling while it's still relatively high). I still want to be fit enough when I'm 70 that I can run an IM but I really don't want to bank on that. We all have something that could come back and bite us in the a$$ , whether it be a genetic issue (my family has a history of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and heart arrhythmia) or some injury suffered long ago that could become a chronic problem as we get older (I once smashed my back really badly on a concrete floor when I was 7 or 8 and it's plagued me all my life and I'm sure it will only get worse as I get older). That's not even accounting for the unforeseen things that can arise. You've got the health and the ability to do what you want now. Therefore, now is the time you should be doing it. The overall point is to really figure out why you want to be active. Is it because you love the sport? Is it because you want to be healthy? Ideally, the more reasons you have, the more motivated you'll be. 




Here's my goal setting and yearly plan process:

In September I stop structured training and start riding my bike, running, and exercising for leisure.

In early October I spend a few weeks doing almost nothing at all. During that time I spend some time every night on the internet researching different events and pondering what my goals will be for next season. I've decided that next summer I'm going to race the Ontario Cup Road Races, a provincial race series here in Canada. We have categories 1 though 4, (similar to US which has 1-5) and everyone starts in 4. My big goal for the year is to 'cat-up' to level 3 by the end of summer (last year it was IMMT), which requires 30 points earned by placing in races.

Once I figured that out, I went through the 8 O-Cup races that take place every summer. looked at the course profiles, routes, results from the last year and picked 3 or 4 that suited my strengths the best. Then I worked out how many training hours I could afford to allot weekly to training then worked out how many weeks of training I would need. Counted back that number of weeks from my first A-race and set that as my training start date. 

Then I used the Cyclist's Training Bible to figure out what I needed to work on and how I wanted to spend each training session to improve my weaknesses. (I never get on the bike or do a workout unless I know exactly how that workout is helping me to improve).

Results so far:
I tested my FTP and LTHR before I started training and I tested again yesterday (my last day of the first four week base period) and I had an increase of 34w. My FTP went from 220w to 254w in four weeks of structured training. Today I start the second base period. 

I am highly competitive so I put a lot into the details of training and take it über seriously. Obviously not everyone has to do that, but I urge everyone to make it a goal to be stronger, faster, [lighter?] than last year. Seeing tangible evidence of improvement is amazing for a person's self esteem. 

It looks like they've made some small frame modifications and added a Di2 option. 

I have been drooling over these bikes!.  The only change I'm aware of between the 14 and 15 P2 is they changed from 10 speed to 11 speed Shimano 105 components.  The P3 is the exact same frame as the P2 but the fork and cockpit are different.  I don't think they made any changes on the P3 except for paint.  They are all capable of running Di2, but you can only buy the P3 with it on already.

If you are looking to save money I would go with the '14 P2.  It is super fast and a really good value.  You get 90% of a P3 for 60% of the money and you can always upgrade the cockpit and be almost identical for less.  But you can't go wrong with any of them the are sweet and fast bikes.

My Stages power meter arrived today. The bolts need to be tightened between 12-14nm. I don't own a torque wrench so I used math and constructed the world's first redneck torque wrench. 

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Alan,

Thank you for the off season motivational tips. I also like to plan out my races for the year with a goal of at least one per month.

Happy early Thanksgiving for those who are celebrating! I plan on a 10k Turkey Trot to burn off some calories before the feast. Stay moving!

Can I be the social convenor?

Well tomorrow, I am heading over to a friends house to conquer a "SNOWCASE"!!

Basically it is a 24pk from my favourite brewery(Phillips in Victoria, BC). It is 24 different beers they produced over the past year!! The tend to lean towards the hoppier side...I think I have only seen one fruit beer...sorry David.

Might be a tough go Sunday to get the bonus day on the 10-20-30 challenge!

Have a great weekend everyone!

chalk up a bonus workout on the road to 30 with a 24 minute run today...