Intensity Timing

One of the faithful posted a comment/question regarding the last article on skimo training. As is my habit, I will answer the question here in a follow-up post as I think most readers will find the answer helpful in working through the details of their own programming.

Alright....back to skimo training! (nothing against cycling). One thing I'd like to hear your opinion on.....what days do you think its appropriate to do lactate workouts (like leg blasters, 3x30 squats, etc)? Combined with leg days at the gym? After a speed/interval session? Also, how many times a week do you think this kind of training is beneficial?
Thanks,
Ray

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Early Season Skimo Training

I felt like I was getting away with something yesterday getting out on my road bike. Hard to believe it's the middle of November and I'm still riding outside. There was a bit of snow on the road in the shadows and I sense the end is near. Might have to put the studded tires on and sneak rides in when conditions permit.

Still rideable...just barely.

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More "functional" thoughts...

A couple of posts ago I discussed the merits and pitfalls of the current trend of "functional training". Since then, I have come across a couple of things that reinforce my beliefs on the topic.

I recently read a description of a weight training program for the Australian National Track Cycling Team. I was thrilled in my usual exercise physiology dork sort of way to read that the coaches not only used a variety of very intense weight training exercises (read: HEAVY) to strengthen their cyclists but they even went as far as to measure the hip and knee joint angles during the cycling movement and then replicated these angles during weight lifting.

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Mount Moran Trip Report

Having abandoned the single-sport focus for the off-season, I've been bagging a few peaks in the last several weeks. Mostly this has been in the role of a guide, using old skills to get friends on top of objectives. Guiding for free is hard work but the reward of facilitating friends' goals makes it worthwhile. I started out getting three friends up Teewinot. Basically, 5,500 vertical feet straight up out of the parking lot. Good thing they were not paying me for my services as I made the all-too-common route finding error near the top, taking us 30 minutes out of the way. In spite of having been to the summit five or six times, I've nailed the route only half the time. It's always a relief to hear similar tales of misdirection from equally-experienced friends. Still frustrating.

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"Functional" Training

Yeah, I've been slacking lately. Ending the cycling season and getting started in a more random training direction definitely took the edge off my focus. Nice mental break, really. And that's the idea, right? I've put on 10 pounds or so and feel strong in new ways. I'm also sore in new ways. That's not always so good. The thing about riding a bike is that you are rarely sore and rarely feel injured. Pushing and pulling heavy weights around in the gym, on the other hand, can create both circumstances.

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