The Tri Town Times: 6/26/23

• Posted on 26 June 2023
• By Antonio Gonzalez
• Posted in the tri town times
• 0

Race season is underway; study on self-guided versus predefined training plans; massage guns may actually work; quotes on the nature of work and man.

Hi all,

Here is your weekly Tri Town Times newsletter:

Weekend race report:

The official start of summer saw a busy weekend of racing across the globe:

- Challenge Roth is a historic race in a small town just south of Nuremberg, Germany. The race brings in immense crowds, who pack the scenic country roads and downtown district of the town that was first established in the Middle Ages. The race often brings in a level competition not found outside of the Ironman World Championships, and this year was no different with both the men's and women's world record ironman times falling to 25 year old Magnus Dietlev of Denmark in 7:24:40 and 36 year old Daniela Ryf of Switzerland in 8:08:21.

- Chloe Dygert, who you may have seen living and training in Boise during the pandemic, won the USA Pro time trial and road race National Championships. Her victory came after years of recovery from a horrific accident during the UCI World Time Trial Championships in 2020. Elite triathlete Taylor Knibb took and impressive 4th place in the TT, only 35 seconds back from Dygert.

- Jodie Robertson and Chris Leiferman won Ironman Coeur d'Alene. Congrats to all the local athletes who made the journey north to compete on the beautiful course.

- The mountain bike season is well underway: hundreds of local athletes are tackling the Boise Trails Challenge, and if that isn't enough the 9 to 5 lap-style endurance race just wrapped up at Jug Mountain.

Events I'm looking forward to:

- Speaking of mountain biking: I'm excited to be a guest speaker at the Boise Mountain Bike Festival this Saturday, July 1st at Bogus Basin. I'll be on a panel with a variety of local community leaders speaking on how to cultivate mental strength on and off the bike.

- The popular Boise Twilight Criterium is Saturday, July 8th in downtown Boise, and the scenic Bogus Basic Hill Climb is the following morning.

Training thoughts and updates:

- In the past I've written extensively on the value of keeping things simple and the value (or lack thereof) of training tools like power meters, GPS devices, and heart rate monitors. A recent study showed that simple, self-reported measures of stress tolerance were more effective at improving endurance performance than following a predefined plan. Often you just need to listen to yourself, and if for some reason you does not want to get out there and move your body in a healthy way, it's worth asking yourself, "why not?" If you want to see real improvement, address the obstacles that are preventing you from putting in the work.

- I am a bit surprised to see this meta study confirm that my overpriced massage gun may actually work!

Shop Ops:

- For the first time in almost a year, we (finally) have triathlon bikes in stock again. Find our bike availability list here, with some select bikes on sale.

- We will be closed next Tuesday, July 4th in recognition of Independence Day.

Quote that struck a chord: 

"I noticed a tendency among many men to feel that their lot was hard- they worked against a day when they might retire and get out of the strife. (Working) life to them was a battle to be ended as soon as possible. That was a point I could not understand, for as I reasoned, life is not a battle except with our own tendency to sag with the downpull of "getting settled." If to petrify is success all one has to do is to humor the lazy side of the mind, but if to grow is success, then one must wake up anew every morning and keep awake all day." Henry Ford, from his hard-hitting autobiography My Life and Work. (note: this quote slightly edited for clarity)

Compliment the quote above with another favorite of mine from Marcus Aurelius' personal journal:

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”

So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?

You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.” 

Train smart and have a great week!

Antonio Gonzalez

Tri Town Bicycles

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