The Tri Town Times: 9/7/20
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- By Antonio Gonzalez
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Tour de France proves to be as entertaining as previous years despite COVID-19; Our Tri Swap & Annual sale starts Oct. 3 & 4th; We are closed Labor Day; A recent study shows some benefits of incorporating fartlek sessions in training.
Hi all,
Like most children, I loved playing with legos as a child. Training for triathlon is a lot like playing with legos.
Every workout we do equals a lego brick, and we need a lot of bricks before we can build something great.
Different types of workouts equal different types of bricks. An aerobic base building workout may be the classic 2x8 brick, while an interval session on the track may be a more unique piece. The classic 2x8 brick is the foundation of almost all great lego sets, but we don't want a lego set that is made of all the same pieces- some variety is necessary.
Even the most advanced lego sets are made of mostly basic blocks. They're just arranged in clever ways.
The lego assembly manual is our training plan. Following it allows us to piece all the bricks together in a unique way to reach a desired result. The manual shows us one way to reach a goal, but the things we can build with our bricks is literally endless.
When we first play with legos we can have fun with just a few pieces. But over time we'll want larger sets and will become more creative in how we piece the bricks together. As we become more experienced, you may want to build more advanced sets. This may take days, even weeks to build.
Most importantly, playing with legos never feels like work. It's fun, playful, and something we look forward to.
It would be odd to see someone complain while playing with legos. Yet athletes do this all the time in training.
The most successful athletes train as if they're playing with legos: they build huge lego sets by doing a lot of work. They build variety in their lego set by doing specific workouts unique to their goal event. And like a child playing with legos, they are completing engaged in the moment and look forward to the training. It's fun. It doesn't feel like work. The best also acknowledge that this is something they get to do, not something they have to do.
Have fun building!
And now for your weekly TT Times newsletter:
Weekend Race Report:
Julian Alaphillippe has lost the yellow jersey due to a feed zone penalty, and now finds himself outside the top 10 in the Tour de France. 5 riders are now vying for the top spot all with the same time.
Events We're Looking Forward To:
The Tri Swap: October 3rd and 4th from 10am-4pm @ Tri Town Bicycles. We will be hosting our popular annual store sale and swap event this year, albeit with a variety of changes to address the realities of the times. Please see our updated Tri Swap page for all details.
Shop Ops:
Tri Town is closed today. Enjoy the Labor Day holiday.
Training Thoughts and Updates:
Triathlon racing often involves trying to hold a steady state, consistent effort (pace, power, etc), and many of the typical triathlon training sessions are a reflection of this. Yet a recent study shows many benefits of fartlek (speedplay) sessions in which you let your power fluctuate dramatically while conducting an otherwise aerobic session. based on terrain, group dynamics, etc. Ironically, this type of riding is more typical of road racing or elite triathlon racing.
Quote that Struck a Chord:
My favorite quote on labor:
"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?" - Marcus Aurelius.
If You Have a Moment to Spare:
Ever wonder how the Tour de France makes money? This fascinating read explains the economics of the Tour de France.
Have a great week!
Antonio Gonzalez
Tri Town
You can find all prior editions of the Tri Town Times here.
Have suggestions on what we should be including, excluding, or changing up? Let me know!
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