VO2 to the Max

Thanks to the Mad Dog Team we are working with Peak Performance and Fitness to get VO2 testing done.  I was so excited when I found out this was available.  The only testing I knew about was up at the University of Utah. I knew they did some at BYU, but was not sure if it was open to the public.  I have always wanted this done (okay not always, only since I started riding a bike), and when I found out (thanks to the team) Peak Performance offers this and many other services I contacted Aaron and made an appointment to get tested.

Today was the day of my test.  I was somewhat tenative about going, because I have gone so far backwards from last year I was wondering if it would be a waste of time.  I know that all of us getting ready for race season say we have gone backwards, but I have gone really far backwards-- I will share the whys and hows at a later date.  Anyway, facing the harsh realities of where you are can sometimes be hard to take, but I felt this would be a good opportunity to gage my progress throughout the season, and give me something tangible to show the improvement.  Luckily the cost is very reasonable, so getting tested mid-season will be well worth it.

The test started with Aaron going over a little bit of my history, weighing me (ugh I hate sharing this), getting my body fat percentage (ouch that really hurt) and my bmi (apparently I am overweight not obese--I already knew this.)  After all of this I got on the bike and warmed up.  After the warm up came the test.  Aaron put this mask with a tube connected to it on you and you start riding. 

At first I felt somewhat enclosed in the mask, but I pushed aside the enclosed thoughts, relaxed and began pedaling.  While I pedaled I watched the dvd "Off Road to Athens" and Aaron gave instructions to increase the tension.  I pedaled, increased the tension, pedaled increased the tension and eventually it was over.

Results much better than I expected....okay way better than I expected.  I may be overweight, but still in pretty good shape!  This makes me happy as it gives me encouragement I am on the road back to being fit.  The other cool thing about the test, I learned my heart rate zones.  They are slightly different than what I thought, which is great, because now I have a better idea of exactly where I should be when I ride.  Aaron gave a lot more beneficial information, and I left very excited about where the upcoming year is going to take me.

I am learning the more information you have the better rider or better fit you can become.  Instead of just riding, there is riding with direction and still having fun while you ride.  All of this information is going to help on my way back to recovery!  Oh, another great thing, I am getting my resting metabolic rate tested next week.  Very excited about all of this new information I am learning!!!
The beautiful mask--just finished riding.

Side view--do you like the rack on the back of the bike!

Beating the Next Snowfall

My office has a view of outside, which makes me long to be out mountain biking on sunny days.  Today, knowing it is supposed to snow tomorrow, I couldn't resist the sunny day, as soon as I got off work I raced down to Racers to get my bike (of course it was not at home on such a beautiful day), and then hurried home.

I decided I would ride water tower since I was pretty sure the snow was probably melted.  And it was!  The good part was the dirt was rideable, the bad part is horses and people have been going in the mud, and near the top I couldn't clear the hill due to to many divits and my lack of technique.  Luckily is was on the last part of the ride.

I went up the hill twice and end up soaking wet.  Lucky for me I took my baclava off while riding, and put it on just before my final descent.  I don't know if I would have lasted had it not been for that--by the time I got home I was fairly cold.  But it was worth it!  So much fun riding outside, I don't think Spring is going to get here soon enough.
Pictures from then end of my final climb.

Locks of Love

I have been bored with my hair lately and decided I needed a change.  I went in with plans of a different hair color, but then started playing around with the idea it was time to donate my hair again (this would be my 3rd time).  After much contemplating, squinching my eyes closed, and holding my breathe, my hair was chopped off.

I don't have any good before pictures since it was unplanned.  The most current is the one below from this weekend (cropped of course).  This is with my hair pulled in to puppy dog ears, but it might give you an idea of how long it was--oh, ignore the funny face, I was going over a couple of rocks.

This is the only after right now.  I come home with helmet head, so I won't let my husband take any pics.  Over the weekend I will get some pics.

My Ride to Work

This morning I took the long, scenic route to work.  I wish I had a video camera to capture everything I say, but I don't usually take my camera with me to work, and alas I did not for this ride.

On my ride I saw two ducks come out of a large ditch, quacking as they flew ahead of me.  I then saw a convoy of tree cutting trucks riding past me in the opposite direction.  There was a group of road workers preparing to do work by the railroad tracks.  It must be an ongoing project as there was an outhouse close by.  I went by where they keep the school buses, and for the first time saw many of the drivers pulling out to go and pick up kids.  I saw 3 deer under some trees in a field, watching me closely as I rode by.  And finally the fog over the vast fields--I love the fog.

I don't think there is any better way to go to work.

Pride

I haven't written forever, and was going to write about my trip this last weekend, and I will, but I wanted to write about today.

Today I rode by bike to work (for those who didn't know I got a new job and it is close to home--yeah!  Also, yeah for the new job, I really like it.).  According to Coach Dan I am supposed to keep my heart rate down on these rides.  In the morning this is not hard, I am tired and really don't need to arrive at work sweating and hot.  Going home is a whole different story.

Riding home I just want to pound the pedals.  I have been in an office all day long and need to just ride hard.  There is something that feels so good when you ride hard.  Going home I ride up 2 small hills, and one long, steep hill.  It takes all the self control I have to gear down and spin up these hills.  I know this may seem crazy, but it takes everything I have to not go up as fast as I can and as hard as I can.  I would say I am somewhat prideful.  I know I can make it up these hills in my large and middle cog, and I want to do it in these hard gears.  Part of it is because I like making it hard and I can, the other is what if someone were to pass me!  I hate being passed!

In the past I have allowed this thinking to mess up my recovery rides.  Someone rides by and begins to pass, and I just can't take it.  I let them go, and then eventually I have to hit into high gear, catch them and pass them back, and then not let them pass me back.  Sometimes I am too horribly competive, or perhaps insecure--who knows.

However, this year I am not going to let that happen.  I am going to be secure in my riding, recovery days are recovery and anyone can pass....now if I can just get my mental state to be as secure.