Some thoughts on the fitness test...

One of the things that I have incorporated into my training over the last several years has been the fitness test. With time, my protocols have evolved, and attitudes have changed, but one thing has remained the same- it is somewhat of a 'final exam' of all of my training prior. A somewhat simple, eloquent answer achieved in a matter of a few painful minutes to the question 'have I done the right thing over X months/ years, or have I wasted my time?' That is a pretty heavy weight to carry (think: world's strongest man keg press weight to carry). I have always had a love/hate relationship with fitness tests. I have gotten to the point that I get the same 'swarms of butterflies' before a fitness test by myself as when I am about to race.

I love the fitness test primarily because It is nice to have numerical standards of your work, and I can properly structure training from the given baseline. It can be self assuring to have proof that you are an athlete and are progressing- you are able to achieve what was previously impossible by measurable scientific standards. Cool. The thing that I hate about the fitness test is first and foremost- they hurt A LOT. I will admit right here that I will almost always whimper in pain, possibly taste a little vomit, and grimace to the point of full body distortion. For some reason, the previous feeling of searing lungs and burning legs is tattooed into my brain and is only associated with my brain saying 'wtf- why are you doing this again?'

Secondly is the fear of the unknown. Sometimes fitness tests go well- good. That is cool. Sometimes they go mediocre. Sometimes they go horribly wrong. That really really sucks. Believe me, I have had my fair share of these complete implosion fitness tests.

Well, the latest battery of tests has been completed, and the results are in. Short and long tests have been completed in both cycling and swimming. Running fitness tests will be put off until a) the ITB stuff is for sure gone (looking good so far...) and b) there is a flat 5 or 10 k on a route that will be free of ice enough that I can run normally and not in Yaks. I am hoping that these two occurrences coincide in their timing soon.

I am not much of a 'let's post all of my numbers on my blog' type of person. If you want to know numbers, just let me know- I really don't care- I'll post them.

Short swim and long swim test: PRd in both. I'll take it!

Short bike and long bike test: I was on par with my best tests of last season- and I had purposely let myself loose quite a bit of fitness this winter and this set of tests was intended to be more of a 'baseline' after some solid weeks of training to allow for enough adaptation that I am not doing a test on 'cold turkey,' but not to be too far from baseline. The good is that I have never had a good fitness test on the trainer and I finally had some good ones that are completely in line with what I know I could do on the road at my peak last year. Not only that, but these were in the aero position- ok, squirmy painful aero position, but nonetheless, aero.

The best part is that I can wait a little bit before I need to do that again...

To another year!!!

Another awesome birthday... nothing too eventful, but had enough fun and laziness to be complete...

Here is how I spent my birthday...

Sat on the couch and drank coffee. I am currently 'dog sitting' for my parents, so I have some good, cozy, company (a 13 year old Maltese who is now embracing his life as a little old man- aka- he loves to sleep)


I purchased a little birthday present for myself. A little odd, but I have a secret love for salted, cured meats. For real. (on the same note, I am a snob about it- I hate 'cold cuts' or 'deli meats' (eww), but give me a good italian style thin slice and I love it!) So, not even remembering when I last enjoyed some of these Italian delights, I got some good prosciutto and genoa salami, and will enjoy them in some of the coming days!


Went for a nice run...I was going to go trail running in a state park, but it started freezing rain on my way out of town- decided to go do the next best thing in the neighborhood- running and out and back by lake Wingra and the through the arboretum. That route is so pretty and doesn't get old- the scenery changes every day. It was still really icy here, but manageable with the Yaks.

Rocked to some good tunes on my run--I am in love with Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis). Although I do not like to admit it (similar to the salted, cured meat thing...), I love pop rock, and I also love mixed music (ok, I really love mixed music). This guy is awesome- it is like an entire iPod worth of songs mixed together, but somehow he makes is sound good! I guess you have to respect anyone who can put on a concert with only a laptop and a microphone.

Got some good food with some good people at Fresco, on the rooftop of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. A wonderful, relaxing dinner. Chocolate filled beignets were enjoyed for my 'birthday cake' mmmmmm!!

Finally ended the evening with some drinks at 'The Nitty Gritty.' Home of the bottomless birthday mug'o'beer- I am not kidding. (Not to mention the free balloon!)

Happy 2009!

Off to Chi-town once again to stir up some trouble on NYE! Got into town after sitting in some classic Chicago traffic and driving over some of the worlds biggest potholes (thank you Illinois DOT...), ate some good Thai, partied at the Wyn downtown Chi-town, embraced the collective hangover of the entire town the next morning, got some good pizza, and most of all, had fun being with some really awesome people and wonderful friends!

I realized that I no longer have any tolerance for booze. The good thing is that as my fitness and training goes up, my tolerance for booze goes down- kind of like a fitness test, but not. An interesting observation...

So, for Christmas, I was on call the whole weekend- partly by choice. My brother, sister in law, and their kids decided on a last minute trip to Orlando doing the Disney thing, and so I told my mom that I would cook her dinner for her birthday, she just needs to come here and get it. :) So, my parents came down for a few days around Christmas and it was great to spend some time with them and have the extra help around to get some things done that you just can't really get done on your own.

My mom wanted one thing for her birthday breakfast... BACON! Now I know where I get it from. Here is our feast of bacon and basil potatoes (it was supposed to be a large potato pancake, but got destroyed when attepting to flip it. Oh well, it turned into 'hash browns' and tasted the same.

Good times were had by all...