www.fuelbelt.com
www.e-caps.com
www.myprrun.com
www.mpstraining.com
www.quadmultisport.com
|
In this
issue:
A
Message from Wendy and Bill:
Looking Forward to 2008
Ask
the Race Director
Coach’s Corner: Data That
Matters: Information to Track and Improve Performance, Part One
Gee
Whiz: Aero or Die
Tri-Living: It’s a Balancing Act
Tri This!:
Two for One—Cadence and Explosive Power
Local
Highlight:
Comprehensive Racing Team—Combining Fun and Camaraderie with Endurance
Sports
Notable Quotable
Special Offers From Our Sponsors
A Message from Wendy and Bill: 2008 Grand Prix
Series
The FIRM Grand Prix is a series of 10 F.I.R.M. races. All races
were selected by the multisport teams of New England at the annual
awards banquet.
To be part of the Grand Prix series, you must be a
member of a local multisport team. Teams may register with FIRM for the
series by April 1st, 2008. Once your team has registered, all
members of your team must go onto Active.com and register for your
roster at the 2008 FIRM Grand Prix Roster (no charge to do this)
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1524739
Benefits of the Grand Prix. FIRM will put $$$ from
each of the 10 events into the grand prix fund along with $$ from the
entries of team members registered for each event. Points are awarded to
teams as noted below. At the end of the season prize dollars are awarded
to teams for points earned during the season.
Dollars and Age Group awards are awarded to the teams
annually. Funds are to be used as your team see’s fit. Some clubs in the
past have used their funds for team parties, others to help reduce
traveling fee’s, others for uniforms.
Prize value’s change year to year, based on the
amount of athletes participating in the series. Cash value are approx.
$1500.00 for first place to $100 for last place…
Age group awards are not monitary but prize selected.
To be included in the series. You must have 3
members of your team compete in 5 events to be considered for payouts.
Fewer than 3 people will still be considered for individual points but
not monetary value.
Points are awarded for 1-5 place in your age
category. (Note: points awarded to only pertaining to grand prix members
of multisport teams)
Individual Category points:
1st place gets 8 points, 2nd
place gets 5 points, 3rd place gets 3 points
4th place gets 2 points, 5th
place gets 1 point
Grand Prix will be 10 races out of the entire FIRM
schedule:
1.
Wrentham Duathlon
2.
U.S. Coast Guard
Duathlon
3.
Ludlow Boys & Girls
Club Triathlon
4.
FirmMan Massachusetts Triathlon
5.
Webster Lake
Triathlon
6.
Old Colony YMCA
Triathlon
7.
Lowell Triathlon &
Wild Cat Triathlon
8.
Witch City Triathlon
9.
Journey for Sight
Triathlon
10.
FirmMan Rhode Island
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Ask the Race Director
Question: Why were there so many time penalties at the 2007 Wrentham
Halloween Duathlon. Did the strong winds tempt more riders into
drafting? Was their increased marshalling at this race? from D.V.
Grafton, MA.
Response: The penalties at the Halloween Du were actually ALL, ready for
this.... ipods on the bike. Plus there were a few more on the run
course. For safety reasons, USAT prohibits the use of music players
during USAT sanctioned events.
Email your questions for the Race Director:
billf@firm-racing.com
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Coach’s Corner: Data That Matters: Information to Track and
Improve Performance, Part One
By Don Vescio, Vescio Multisport Performance Services
There is a tremendous range of data available for today’s multisport
athlete and it can be daunting to figure out what values are of most use
in improving performance. VO2, lactate threshold, anaerobic threshold,
heart rate zones, critical power, normalized power, pace--what do these
terms mean, what are their predictive value, and how should we use them?
What follows is the first of a two-part series that will help you make
sense of data collection and analysis for performance athletes.
Data That’s Interesting, But Not Useful
There is a lot of data available to athletes that are interesting, but
not necessarily useful in improving personal performance. For endurance
athletes, the “gold standard” data point is one’s VO2 max, which is a
measure of the body’s ability to process oxygen during exercise. A high
VO2 max value normally is associated with superior endurance
performance; world class cyclists, runners, and swimmers generally will
have VO2 max values in excess of 80 ml/kg/min. (To put this in
perspective, Greg Lemond reportedly had a VO2 value of 92.5.)
The problem with VO2 max, however, is that it is largely genetically
determined; in other words, a trained individual’s VO2 value will not
vary significantly throughout the training year. As an indicator of
athletic potential, VO2 data has some predicative value, but it has
limited use as a means of establishing workouts and tracking
performance. Values like max heart rate also function like VO2—while
interesting, it has no real utility for day-to-day training and
performance assessment.
Data That’s Interesting and Useful
Useful data is data that can be collected easily and consistently and
has value for both assessing past performance and predicting future
activity. A good example of useful data is one’s lactate threshold,
which is a measure of when lactate begins to accumulate in the body
during exercise. As lactate accumulates in the body, muscle contraction
is impacted, power output decreases, perceived effort increases, and
discomfort is experienced. An easy way to understand lactate threshold
is the highest level of exertion one can sustained for a period of
approximately 30 minutes.
Unlike VO2, one’s lactate threshold does respond to training. As
fitness increases through a structured program of intervals and rides
near threshold, one is able to raise the point at which lactate
accumulates, which means that the same athlete will be able to exercise
longer and at a higher intensity. Lactate threshold can be measured in
a number of ways, including ramp tests on a treadmill or ergometer, or
through blood sampling by an experienced exercise physiologist or other
trained professional. (Interestingly, multisport athletes should
establish their lactate thresholds for each
event, as it does assume a sport-specific component.)
Putting Data in Context
Imagine the profiles of two hypothetical athletes: Gabriella and Chloe.
Gabriella is a genetically gifted triathlete who has a high—82
ml/kg/min—VO2; unfortunately, Gabriella does not train on a regular
basis, so her lactate threshold is relatively low. Chloe does not have
similar genetic potential—her VO2 is 70 ml/kg/min—but she is
conscientious in her training and has a very high lactate threshold.
Assuming that Gabriella and Chloe are approximately the same age,
height, and weight, chances are excellent that Chloe will beat Gabriella
when racing side-by-side.
When collecting data, it is important to recognize that one cannot rely
on a single type of data when developing an effective training program.
A cyclist, for instance, has perhaps the greatest opportunity to collect
all kinds of data: speed, distance, heart rate, power, etc. Focusing on
heart rate or perceived effort alone does not necessarily mean that one
will be exercising at an optimal level (for instance, a cyclist could
spinning at a very high rpm in a very small gear, which would result in
a high heart rate, but low power output and low average speed),
similarly, focusing on power alone does not measure the impact that the
effort has on one’s effort (it is possible that an individual may
experience vastly different heart rates/perceived efforts for intervals
at the same power). The goal in data collection and use is that values
should be collected that reflect both bodily stress (e.g., lactate
threshold) and actual performance (e.g., average power) both for the
duration of specific exercise sessions and for extended periods of time.
What’s Next?
This installment only has touched the very basics of data collection and
analysis. The next installment will focus on tracking specific types of
data over time as a way to assess overall training.
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Gee Whiz: Aero or Die
By Don Vescio, Vescio Multisport Performance Services
There are four strategies that a cyclist can use to go faster: 1)train
smart and harder; 2)optimize body position on the bike to increase
biomechanical and aerodynamic efficiencies; 3)draft someone faster; 4)
minimize the aerodynamic drag of the bicycle and its components.
Minimizing the drag of a bicycle and its components mostly is a matter
of spending money or developing creative engineering solutions. The
goal is to minimize the aspect of the bicycle that must travel through
the wind; one way to do this is to make this aspect as narrow as
possible, or even to eliminate items altogether.
As the front of the bicycle sees the most wind, the greatest returns can
be gained in this area. While one can spend over $500 to purchase
narrow profile aerobars, another—and not recommended—option might be to
go as minimal as possible.
Think of it this way: if a rider is going to spend most of his/her time
on the aerobars, then why not eliminate the base bars altogether?
(http://www.slowtwitch.com)
Eliminating the base bars reduces aerodynamic drag, which should
result in a faster ride. Below is a photo from the 2007 season that
shows Graham Obree (former world record holder) using the “Aero or Die”
position:
(http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/)
Why is it called the “Aero or Die” position? Simple—turning,
braking, and climbing become extremely difficult, if not at times
dangerous. And not unimportantly, some sports federations set a minimum
handlebar width, usually 36cm, that effectively eliminates the removal
of aero base bars.
Recommendation: you will see much greater gains by adjusting your
training plan and getting a good bike fit that you’ll ever realize by
adopting such an extreme equipment option.
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Tri-Living: It’s a Balancing Act
By Tonya Spagnuolo, First Place Female 35-39 2008 FIRM Grand Prix Series
When I was approached to answer the question “how do you balance it
all?” family, a full-time job and triathlon training and racing, it took
me a few moments to realize that wow I did indeed achieve just that-
balance.
My life is so jammed packed that the only way to keep stability is by
keeping an organized schedule for each element: family, job, workouts.
This allows me to stay focused and achieve the requisite balance.
Here’s my approach. I jot down my kids’ schedule for school and other
activities, my husband’s work and travel schedule, and any special
events with family and friends. Then I incorporate my daily workouts
into that schedule. My triathlon coach (Elaine Vescio, from Vescio
Multisport Performance Services) provides me with a training schedule
that specifies what workouts to do each day in each discipline. Since I
share my coach’s philosophy of intensity over volume, this helps me to
fit a strenuous, but effective training program into my life.
In summary, setting realistic training and racing goals, following a
schedule, and keeping open communication with the spouse & kids are
essential to making this balancing act work.
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Tri This! Two for One—Cadence and Explosive Power
By Elaine Vescio, Vescio Multisport Performance Services
Here is one of my favorite cycling workouts. It includes cadence work
and explosive power. If possible, do this workout on an indoor trainer
or spinning bike so that traffic, intersections, or balancing the bike
doesn’t interfere with the intensity needed during the explosive power
intervals.
Warm up for 10 minutes. Then do 3 x 7 minute interval with a cadence of
100 to 110 RPMs. Recover for 4 minutes between intervals. Use a medium
size gear or moderate wattage on a Computrainer. The focus is on keeping
a fast, smooth cadence throughout the interval. Ride for about 10
minutes after completing the third cadence interval. Then get ready to
do the explosive power intervals.
There’s a big learning curve to these explosive power intervals, so be
patient when trying to figure out the appropriate gearing or wattage to
use. The workout is 5 x 20 seconds with 40 seconds recovery in between.
Use a big gear, start with a cadence of about 10 RPMs and gradually
increase your cadence until you reach a maximum cadence of 90 to 100
RPMs near the end of the 20 seconds. If your cadence is faster than
100, you need a bigger gear or more watts; if you cadence is below 90,
you need a smaller gear or less watts.
Each week increase each cadence interval by one minute, and add one more
explosive power interval to each set. After about six weeks, you should
notice improvements in your ability to hold a strong cadence while
riding and in your ability to power up hills.
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Local Highlight: Comprehensive Racing Team—Combining Fun and
Camaraderie with Endurance Sports
By Kurt Maw, Co-founder of Comprehensive Racing Comprehensive Racing is
a multi-sport and cycling team focused in the north shore and central
MA, and southern New Hampshire. Comprehensive Racing, originally known
as Comprehensive Training Systems, was started in 2001 by Todd Crumb,
Kurt Maw and Wayne Maw. What started out as a group of 3 individuals
trying to interest more people in the sport of triathlon and its healthy
lifestyle has since grown into one of the most welcoming and successful
teams in New England with over 50 members. We are a group of athletes
working toward common team goals of:
*Having fun and meeting new people
*Balancing the sports of triathlon and cycling, with the demands of
life, family and friends
*Educating the communities that we live in about the benefits of a
healthy lifestyle balancing both sport and life
*Introducing the sports of triathlon and cycling to our friends and
family
*Competing in local, regional, national and international events to
showcase our talent and commitment
We represent beginner through advanced athletes competing at all levels
in triathlon and cycling. We are Ironman veterans, athletes who have
competed in the 2007 World Long Course Championships, beginner and
intermediate athletes, and everyday people racing just to have fun and
meet new people. In order to support our athletes with the most
convenient and best training options, Comprehensive Racing has
partnerships with two training companies: Comprehensive Training Systems
and Vescio Multisport Performance Services.
In addition to our training partners, we offer our athletes the
sponsorship of Salem Cycle, Felt Bicycles, Rudy Project USA, Accelerade
and New England Running Company. Also Comprehensive Racing gains
support from cycling friendly companies like Dynacept Corporation, and
Essential, Inc. In addition to helping people in their sporting
endeavors, Comprehensive Racing is proud of its athletes’ charitable
contributions. All members of Comprehensive Racing are asked to donate
to their charity of choice for every mile they race, or to complete at
least one charity event per season. In 2007, Comprehensive Racing
raised over $4000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and had more than
a half dozen athletes of all levels ride to benefit the Brain Tumor
Society.
Our athletes have access to cross train and experience other sports such
as trail running and adventure racing through affiliations we have
established. This past year, Comprehensive Racing also worked with
Salem Cycle to revive the revered Witches Cup Criterium in Salem, MA.
As a proud sponsor and with a strong volunteer force, we look forward to
another successful event in August 2008, showcasing bicycle racing at
its finest.
At Comprehensive Racing, we pride ourselves on our friendly nature and
desire to get involved and help people. All of us were beginners at one
point and know what it means to be overwhelmed. A few of us have evolved
into expert resources and are always willing to share what we've learned
through experience and what others have taught us. We always welcome
your questions so please don't hesitate to ask us... It's why we're
here!!! Visit us online at
www.comprehensive-racing.com.
See you in ’08! We’ll be the team in the Black and Orange!
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Notable Quotable
“At least on a bike you could roll down those hills. Come to think of
it, my running pace was so slow that it would have been faster if I fell
and rolled down those hills."
Kurt Maw, Salem, MA, regarding his run at FirmMan 2007.
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Special Offers From Our Sponsors
Fuel Belt
In 2007, Fuel Belt was selected by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest
growing companies in the USA. That is quite an accomplishment for any
business but it speaks volumes to the incredible growth in running,
multisport and endurance sports as a category. As the pioneer of
innovative hydration belt designs, we are in the right place at the
right time. Our fast track is simply the result of hard work, great
timing and being completely relevant to the end goals of endurance
athletes.
We are very excited about our involvement in the FIRM series for 2008.
We look forward to supporting the FIRM team, as well as, all the
athletes that come out to compete in these great events.
To thank you for your continued support of the FIRM Series and help you
gear up for the season, we are glad to offer you a 20% discount. To take
advantage of this offer, log on to our website
www.fuelbelt.com, select your
desired products, and use the discount code “firm” at checkout! This
offer is valid for all products on our site through March 31st. Good
luck to all competitors in 2008! Stay Hydrated!
Vinu Malik President & CEO Fuel Belt, Inc. & Xtri.com
vinu@fuelbelt.com
401.289.0724 x 112
5-Time Hawaii Ironman Finisher
25-Time Ironman Distance Finisher
Vescio Multisport Performance Services
Vescio Multisport Performance Services is thrilled to be the official
coaching organization for FIRM in 2008. To help FIRM athletes get ready
for the upcoming triathlon season, we’re offering a 10% discount on the
Vescio MPS 12 Week Swim Prescription Program. This innovative program
combines two group sessions of in-person swim instruction (including
underwater videotaping of swim form) with twelve weeks of individualized
online professional swim coaching. The next session begins soon. To
receive the discount, enter “FIRM” in the appropriate space on the
sign-up form.
www.mpstraining.com
PR Running
QuadMultisport
QuadMultisport is a full service multisport shop located at 1341
Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington, Massachusetts. We’re excited to be
the official bicycle repair shop and support vehicle for almost all the
FIRM races in 2008. We offer:
| |
**Triathlon specific
gear
**Foot & Biomechanical analysis
**VO2 Max Testing
**F.I.S.T. Certified bike fitting
**Full bicycle repair and service center available
**USAT Certified Coaching
**Wetsuit and race wheel rentals
**Swim bike Run apparel |
As a special offer to FIRM racers, we are offering a
15% discount on all merchandise (except for bicycles) through February
28, 2008. To receive this discount just mention FIRM when you are
checking out. See you at the races!
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