Today's ride on the trainer was the worst so far this year (since resuming somewhat serious training in mid-December). My legs just didn't work like they have been the past three weeks or so. They worked just fine on Sunday. I believe this is confirmation that a) the Todd Plan doesn't work or b) work was exhausting today or c) both.
Regardless of the answer, I have decided to do last year's Winter schedule: Base and Base only until the beginning of March. Boring, you say? Yes, you are correct. But we'll see who's shredding the sprints up come April/May and July/August.
This should make many of the participants of the Saturday/Sunday rides much happier as they seemed a bit miffed by my pulls on Sunday. I didn't feel like I was going that hard.
What this change of plan doesn't change is that I want to do some long, long, long rides. Throughout February I'd like to build up to doing at least 7 hours on the weekends (total). None of the riding will be threshold work. As Blogspot is my witness, I will lay a Base.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Monday, January 29, 2007
Lifesavers
There is a certain cancer treatment that is pre-Phase I right now that had better be THE cure for cancer.
OK, so it won't and it isn't. But seriously, if this thing doesn't save millions of lives, I will be one pissed off analytical chemist. I think drug development is a lot like training and racing.
Lots of people put huge amounts of time in early on working for a distant goal. Along the way there are usually some hurdles and setbacks but that's to be expected. After laying down a huge base (a.k.a. pre-FIH), you do an early season training race to test the legs (IND filing). Your performance in the the early season race gives you a good idea of where you stand in your training and may change your plan a bit. Then comes some warm up races (Phases I, IIa and IIb) where you really start to find some form and start logging serious hours. Finally, you build and peak (NDA filing) and, if you've timed it right (got lucky with an efficacious compound), you win (NDA approval and go to market).
But a huge number of people never win in their whole career. So it is with drug development.
More on this later.
OK, so it won't and it isn't. But seriously, if this thing doesn't save millions of lives, I will be one pissed off analytical chemist. I think drug development is a lot like training and racing.
Lots of people put huge amounts of time in early on working for a distant goal. Along the way there are usually some hurdles and setbacks but that's to be expected. After laying down a huge base (a.k.a. pre-FIH), you do an early season training race to test the legs (IND filing). Your performance in the the early season race gives you a good idea of where you stand in your training and may change your plan a bit. Then comes some warm up races (Phases I, IIa and IIb) where you really start to find some form and start logging serious hours. Finally, you build and peak (NDA filing) and, if you've timed it right (got lucky with an efficacious compound), you win (NDA approval and go to market).
But a huge number of people never win in their whole career. So it is with drug development.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Hot City Nights
I'm going to New York tonight. Hopefully for free. I can't really afford the booze I will inevitably consume neither financially nor physically. But it's not too often that Canada comes south of the border. So here I go . . .
Thursday, January 25, 2007
'Cross Training
Last week I started getting consistent with weeknights on the trainer (minus the crappy Tuesday). For those many millions of you that are non-cyclists reading this, time passes during trainer rides much like time appears to pass within a black hole as observed from outside the event horizon (nerd alert!). That is, it goes very, very slowly. One hour on the trainer psychologically equates to about three hours out on the road. This year seems better than last, though. (Note: last year was the only time I've ever consistently ridden a trainer). I feel strong. I know I am stronger now than I was at this point last year.
That is not necessarily a good thing, though, in my mind. Sometimes I feel like I am doing too much of the Nu-Skool threshold-work-only plan. You might call it the Todd Plan. But why am I stronger now than last year?
Maybe my first full season of racing put me in better shape.
Maybe I took less time off over the winter.
Maybe I'm just older and more developed.
All these things may play a role. However, I think the biggest difference is cyclocross. CX, 'cross, the 'cross game, the game, mud-slog, it's-kinda-a-cross-between-road-and-mountain-biking or whatever it is you want to call it. I don't think it built up the endurance much but it sure did make my legs strong. And it was fun. So fun that I'm already looking forward to it next year (but not as much as I'm looking forward to the road season and, strangely enough, also Rahway).
Yes, 2007 will be a good year for the bike game.
That is not necessarily a good thing, though, in my mind. Sometimes I feel like I am doing too much of the Nu-Skool threshold-work-only plan. You might call it the Todd Plan. But why am I stronger now than last year?
Maybe my first full season of racing put me in better shape.
Maybe I took less time off over the winter.
Maybe I'm just older and more developed.
All these things may play a role. However, I think the biggest difference is cyclocross. CX, 'cross, the 'cross game, the game, mud-slog, it's-kinda-a-cross-between-road-and-mountain-biking or whatever it is you want to call it. I don't think it built up the endurance much but it sure did make my legs strong. And it was fun. So fun that I'm already looking forward to it next year (but not as much as I'm looking forward to the road season and, strangely enough, also Rahway).
Yes, 2007 will be a good year for the bike game.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Cross Training
I went skiing on Sunday evening at Blue Mountain in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. The weather has finally cooperated and been consistently cold enough to manufacture snow (there hasn't been much in the way of the natural stuff . . . yet). You really can't beat $19 for a 4PM-10PM ticket.
I was really surprised at how little time I needed to 'get back in the groove' and be able to carve turns like I used to. Usually it takes me a day or two of pretty consistent skiing to get that natural feel back. I pushed myself pretty hard for about three hours and crashed a couple times -- one of which was definitely not my fault. Anyways, I always feel like I can rationalize a day off the bike substituted with skiing because it can really work the quads and core muscles.
And did it ever. Wow, I felt pretty sore on Monday. Tying my shoes was pretty painful, but that good kind of painful that tells you, "oh yeah, you worked me over last night." Then today came. Holy hell, I thought yesterday was sore. I could barely climb a flight of stairs. What does all of this mean? It means I am honestly and truly getting old. Not good, not good. But back to the skiing and its highlights.
Skiing is an absolutely fantastic way to meet the ladies (note to self: never invite NinjaDon skiing). There are two arenas for this activity. First, the chairlift. The chairlift is like being in a crowded bar, where you basically talk right into the other person's ear -- very close physical proximity. Unlike the bar, however, the other person can't turn back to her drink/go to the bathroom/pretend she didn't hear you. It is a perfect forced encounter. I've also found, in my many, many days of skiing, that conversation is generally welcome. Even the most awkward statements seem to go over better than an entire chairlift ride in even-more-awkward silence. The second arena is at the chalet/lodge/deck. Here you have the advantage of the other person being so tired from skiing all day that they can't move, even if they want to. Very convenient. Plus, there's the added benefit of having the fire to set the mood, the bar to smooth out any awkward moments and of course the many, MANY exits available should you somehow find yourself a real 'winner' (and by winner I mean loser).
One final note about chairlifts: I am a rather good skier. I can say with 99.9% confidence that I have the ability to ski any marked trail on any mountain and ski it well. For some reason, my skiing ability does not translate to getting on the chairlift. You couldn't distinguish me from a first-timer if all you observed was my chairlift-boarding abilities. I think this explains the looks and exclamations of surpise when I ride up with a stranger and head for the most technically demanding trail at the top. Thank god for gondolas.
I was really surprised at how little time I needed to 'get back in the groove' and be able to carve turns like I used to. Usually it takes me a day or two of pretty consistent skiing to get that natural feel back. I pushed myself pretty hard for about three hours and crashed a couple times -- one of which was definitely not my fault. Anyways, I always feel like I can rationalize a day off the bike substituted with skiing because it can really work the quads and core muscles.
And did it ever. Wow, I felt pretty sore on Monday. Tying my shoes was pretty painful, but that good kind of painful that tells you, "oh yeah, you worked me over last night." Then today came. Holy hell, I thought yesterday was sore. I could barely climb a flight of stairs. What does all of this mean? It means I am honestly and truly getting old. Not good, not good. But back to the skiing and its highlights.
Skiing is an absolutely fantastic way to meet the ladies (note to self: never invite NinjaDon skiing). There are two arenas for this activity. First, the chairlift. The chairlift is like being in a crowded bar, where you basically talk right into the other person's ear -- very close physical proximity. Unlike the bar, however, the other person can't turn back to her drink/go to the bathroom/pretend she didn't hear you. It is a perfect forced encounter. I've also found, in my many, many days of skiing, that conversation is generally welcome. Even the most awkward statements seem to go over better than an entire chairlift ride in even-more-awkward silence. The second arena is at the chalet/lodge/deck. Here you have the advantage of the other person being so tired from skiing all day that they can't move, even if they want to. Very convenient. Plus, there's the added benefit of having the fire to set the mood, the bar to smooth out any awkward moments and of course the many, MANY exits available should you somehow find yourself a real 'winner' (and by winner I mean loser).
One final note about chairlifts: I am a rather good skier. I can say with 99.9% confidence that I have the ability to ski any marked trail on any mountain and ski it well. For some reason, my skiing ability does not translate to getting on the chairlift. You couldn't distinguish me from a first-timer if all you observed was my chairlift-boarding abilities. I think this explains the looks and exclamations of surpise when I ride up with a stranger and head for the most technically demanding trail at the top. Thank god for gondolas.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Punctuated Equlibrium
Most of the time, especially now that I am working, life ebbs and flows. Occasionally there will be a stoichiometric excess of stress resulting in a relatively higher concentration of alcohol. Other times there will be training rides motivated by a catalyst of grief. Overall, my life is a pretty standard equilibrium (the steady state).
But once in a while it is punctuated by something that changes the reaction altogether. Rather than go all pansy (or, as Don might say, "emo"), let me just say that it is great when someone just 'gets' you. Even better is when you 'get' them.
La vie est belle.
P.C. Today ended on a high note.
But once in a while it is punctuated by something that changes the reaction altogether. Rather than go all pansy (or, as Don might say, "emo"), let me just say that it is great when someone just 'gets' you. Even better is when you 'get' them.
La vie est belle.
P.C. Today ended on a high note.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Driving and Life
I have a new car. Technically, it is a used car. But it is a 2006 that I bought with 14000 miles on it. So basically new. It has a sweet engine for a car its size but the thing that really makes it snazzy is the transmission. But I digress . . . this particular car is very fun to drive. It has a tight suspension and F1-style paddle shifters on the steering wheel. How can you not drive it fast?
Don and I had a discussion regarding his level of comfort -- or lack thereof -- when riding as a passenger. He even went so far as to ask for money to fund research on the subject. What you don't realize in Don's post is that all of his anxiety is misdirected. You see, as we were passing under the new New Street bridge, I casually mentioned that I had no fear of dying. This, I think, is why Don got anxious because, like most normal people, I think he has at least some reservations about the end of consciousness.
Not to worry, I'm not suicidal. Nor do I actively seek out opportunities to risk my life. The simplest explanation I can give you is this: Suppose some guy comes up to me and sticks a gun in my chest, asking for my wallet. I won't give it to him. I've gone over this many times in my head and practiced my response, "If you can live with my blood on your hands -- if you can live with the notion that you've prematurely ended my potential to better this world -- if the oh-so-limited amount of cash in my back pocket is worth that to you, just pull the trigger." You see, I'm quite satisfied with all of the life I've lived up until now. Sure I think I can do a lot more and, yeah, my friends and family would probably suffer (at least I hope they'd be slightly saddened) but everyone's got to go. Death is a part of life and it has to be dealt with just like any other adverse event.
I'd rather sprint for a single win and lose my life in so doing than sit back, play it safe and roll across the line with the herd for the rest of eternity.
Don and I had a discussion regarding his level of comfort -- or lack thereof -- when riding as a passenger. He even went so far as to ask for money to fund research on the subject. What you don't realize in Don's post is that all of his anxiety is misdirected. You see, as we were passing under the new New Street bridge, I casually mentioned that I had no fear of dying. This, I think, is why Don got anxious because, like most normal people, I think he has at least some reservations about the end of consciousness.
Not to worry, I'm not suicidal. Nor do I actively seek out opportunities to risk my life. The simplest explanation I can give you is this: Suppose some guy comes up to me and sticks a gun in my chest, asking for my wallet. I won't give it to him. I've gone over this many times in my head and practiced my response, "If you can live with my blood on your hands -- if you can live with the notion that you've prematurely ended my potential to better this world -- if the oh-so-limited amount of cash in my back pocket is worth that to you, just pull the trigger." You see, I'm quite satisfied with all of the life I've lived up until now. Sure I think I can do a lot more and, yeah, my friends and family would probably suffer (at least I hope they'd be slightly saddened) but everyone's got to go. Death is a part of life and it has to be dealt with just like any other adverse event.
I'd rather sprint for a single win and lose my life in so doing than sit back, play it safe and roll across the line with the herd for the rest of eternity.
Friday, January 19, 2007
The Comeback Tour
Video Killed the Radio Star in the style of The Buggles made a comeback tonight. As difficult as it was to top the last performance before I put it into retirement, I think I accomplished my goal. What the ad lib at the end may have lacked, the rest of the performance more than made up for in style, energy and sex appeal. Nothing says "I can rock this song harder than you can ever imagine" like going into a falsetto "You are . . . the radio star . . . " while lying spread-eagled on a beer-soaked barroom floor.
So yes, folks, I'm back. And I'm bigger than ever. Tonight's karaoke comeback is only a taste of things to come: attacking, initiating the winning break and 1500 Watt sprints can be the only logical conclusion to tonight.
I bet you were wondering how I was going to relate karaoke to cycling. Believe me, I'm as dumbfounded as you are. This post is deserving of a solid tag.
So yes, folks, I'm back. And I'm bigger than ever. Tonight's karaoke comeback is only a taste of things to come: attacking, initiating the winning break and 1500 Watt sprints can be the only logical conclusion to tonight.
I bet you were wondering how I was going to relate karaoke to cycling. Believe me, I'm as dumbfounded as you are. This post is deserving of a solid tag.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Wednesday is CalendarSpeak for "I Just Made You My Bitch"
Sweet. I got some linkage from Mr. AngryVeganBlogger himself, Mark. Now I feel compelled to post today.
When I woke up this morning, my very first thought was, "Great, it's Friday!" That thought was immediately succeeded by a, "Damn, it's only Thursday." I laid in bed a few more minutes, drifting in and out to the incoherent ranting of Jim Gearhart and the morning traffic report. Note to Jill Myra, NJ Traffic South: you need to get a grip. When I did finally throw the sheets off, one final waking thought surreptitiously entered my consciousness and dropped this turd on my brain: "Ah fuck, it's actually Wednesday!" A rather inauspicious start to the day. It only added to the misery of hearing the consistent knock of the flu or a cold at the front door.
I think my initial thought can be chalked up to a conditioned response mechanism; "What's that you say, body? You've been run a bit ragged and you have to tough it out at work? Well this can only mean one thing: you did karaoke last night!" And being that Thursday night is karaoke night (at THE Harvest Moon), it absolutely MUST have been Friday. Well I did tough it out with the help of a nice hot cup of Yerba Mate sweetened with just a dab of Blue Agave Cactus nectar when I got into the office. As the day wore on, I started to feel better.
So good did I feel, in fact, that I challenged Craig (of HermesCraig-of-NTW-fame fame) to a trainer ride followed by some Wii action. Let me just take this moment to interject how wonderful it is to have a proper trunk/hatch -- and a proper vehicle, at that. So the trainer ride was 45 minutes -- good minutes. I dropped some knowledge on Craig in all of the following: Wii Sports Tennis, Red Steel and Super Monkey Ball - Banana Blitz in the Paper Sumo game. I'm hoping Craig will still be my friend after I destroyed him (a couple times with a grenade in Red Steel). It's not his fault, though, he's left handed.
So that brings me pretty much to right now. And I really have to pee, so I'm going to go take care of that and bring today's post to a close.
When I woke up this morning, my very first thought was, "Great, it's Friday!" That thought was immediately succeeded by a, "Damn, it's only Thursday." I laid in bed a few more minutes, drifting in and out to the incoherent ranting of Jim Gearhart and the morning traffic report. Note to Jill Myra, NJ Traffic South: you need to get a grip. When I did finally throw the sheets off, one final waking thought surreptitiously entered my consciousness and dropped this turd on my brain: "Ah fuck, it's actually Wednesday!" A rather inauspicious start to the day. It only added to the misery of hearing the consistent knock of the flu or a cold at the front door.
I think my initial thought can be chalked up to a conditioned response mechanism; "What's that you say, body? You've been run a bit ragged and you have to tough it out at work? Well this can only mean one thing: you did karaoke last night!" And being that Thursday night is karaoke night (at THE Harvest Moon), it absolutely MUST have been Friday. Well I did tough it out with the help of a nice hot cup of Yerba Mate sweetened with just a dab of Blue Agave Cactus nectar when I got into the office. As the day wore on, I started to feel better.
So good did I feel, in fact, that I challenged Craig (of HermesCraig-of-NTW-fame fame) to a trainer ride followed by some Wii action. Let me just take this moment to interject how wonderful it is to have a proper trunk/hatch -- and a proper vehicle, at that. So the trainer ride was 45 minutes -- good minutes. I dropped some knowledge on Craig in all of the following: Wii Sports Tennis, Red Steel and Super Monkey Ball - Banana Blitz in the Paper Sumo game. I'm hoping Craig will still be my friend after I destroyed him (a couple times with a grenade in Red Steel). It's not his fault, though, he's left handed.
So that brings me pretty much to right now. And I really have to pee, so I'm going to go take care of that and bring today's post to a close.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Long Days at the Office
I'm posting from work. It's currently 5:55 PM. I got here at 8:05 AM. That's not an unbearably long day. The problem is, I have to prep a sample at 7:30 PM. So I'm stuck. I have other things to do in the meantime. One of those things will most definitely NOT be riding the trainer, which I was looking forward to doing after a pretty intense Yoga session at the Soma Center in Highland Park.
I have no problem with 12 hour work days on occasion. I do have a problem with finding out that you are going to end up leaving at 8:00 PM when it's 4:30 PM and you're 10 minutes from packing up and walking out the door. I also have a problem with 57 minute gradient elution methods on 250 x 4.6mm columns but I don't expect many to empathize.
Setting the alarm for 5:00 AM and doing trainer rides before work is looking more and more appealing. It started off pretty fugly, so at this point it is still maybe only mildly palatable but on my mind nonetheless.
I have no problem with 12 hour work days on occasion. I do have a problem with finding out that you are going to end up leaving at 8:00 PM when it's 4:30 PM and you're 10 minutes from packing up and walking out the door. I also have a problem with 57 minute gradient elution methods on 250 x 4.6mm columns but I don't expect many to empathize.
Setting the alarm for 5:00 AM and doing trainer rides before work is looking more and more appealing. It started off pretty fugly, so at this point it is still maybe only mildly palatable but on my mind nonetheless.
Monday, January 15, 2007
FP!
NinjaDon's new blog inspired me to create my own blog. And as my Frist Psot, I will immediately take it upon myself to (somewhat) parody NinjaDon's Frist Psot.
So I've created TheJenksster, or rather, I have performed various actions that resulted in transmission of electrons across the IntarWeb resulting in the appearance of creation of what I believe to be a metafile hosted within the nether regions of some far-off data center in The Valley or maybe in Austin, TX. The nickname is one I inadvertently created myself. Now people use it. I wish I had inadvertently created a cooler nickname, like Mr. AwesomeSuperCool or Sir PresidentOfAmazingnessAndWorldDomination. Alas, I'm stuck with the Jenksster (or Jenkster, however you prefer).
The plan for this blog is for a narrow cross-section of posts. Most will, of course, be about bike racing. No posts - EVER - will be - EVER - about - EVER - stupid God damn vegan recipes - EVER. Others will cover: my own awesomeness, other people's testaments to my own awesomeness and ideas to raise my own awesomeness to heretofore unimaginable levels.
So I've created TheJenksster, or rather, I have performed various actions that resulted in transmission of electrons across the IntarWeb resulting in the appearance of creation of what I believe to be a metafile hosted within the nether regions of some far-off data center in The Valley or maybe in Austin, TX. The nickname is one I inadvertently created myself. Now people use it. I wish I had inadvertently created a cooler nickname, like Mr. AwesomeSuperCool or Sir PresidentOfAmazingnessAndWorldDomination. Alas, I'm stuck with the Jenksster (or Jenkster, however you prefer).
The plan for this blog is for a narrow cross-section of posts. Most will, of course, be about bike racing. No posts - EVER - will be - EVER - about - EVER - stupid God damn vegan recipes - EVER. Others will cover: my own awesomeness, other people's testaments to my own awesomeness and ideas to raise my own awesomeness to heretofore unimaginable levels.
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