Entering the World of Watts

This is my new favorite toy.

Ok. So it is not really a toy. And it is not mine.

And it is not even new.

But you get the idea.

It is the spin bike I get to use at the YMCA.

I have been using it since November

but I did not realize just how cool it was.

Until I talked to Coach M.

Sure. I like my trainer, too.

(Although I like my old cheap Minoura trainer

better than my new fancy CycleOps one.)

But here is the problem with riding on the trainer:

The only place for it is right next to my bed.

So either my foot gets caught in the comforter

or my elbow stuck in the blinds.

Plus, it is hard to open my drawers

or get out of bed.

And what husband wants his wife biking around

in the bedroom at 5am?

That is what you get for going to grad school with a family.

Therefore,

I escape to the gym for most of my indoor rides.

Space. Quiet. No interruptions. Ceiling fans.

And watts.

I know. For a girl who claims she dislikes numbers,

I am a little too excited about the whole wattage thing.

But I also like to execute workouts perfectly,

and watts sure come in handy for that.

My little computer can tell me lots of stuff:

cadence

wattage

calories

time

gear

distance

Pretty cool, right?

So after 2 months of riding on this thing

and oblivious to the fact that it shows my watts,

I finally told Coach M what kind of spin bike I ride.

I just did not think it was a big deal.

Well, it is a big deal.

I guess it is the nicest one out there.

Thank you, YMCA!

Tomorrow I get to do a little wattage test:

30 minutes until I fall off the bike.

Report to Coach M.

Receive wattage-specific training plans.

It is kinda like Christmas.

Sort of.

Good bye

I-am-tired-today-so-maybe-I-will-just-shift-down-a-gear-and-no-one-will-ever-know days.

I will miss you!

Hello

You-are-going-hold-250-watts-today-whether-you-like-it-or-not days.

I hope I will like you!

PS: Thank you for all your comments about the Halfmarathon Report. I will talk about the aftermath in my next post. For now, it is bedtime.

Comments

New PR at a High Cost

St. George Halfmarathon Report I have a feeling that this is going to be long . Even though I am going to tell you about the rest of the weekend in my next post. So. Sit back and enjoy, if you are interested. A few days before the race, I told Karl that I have two options : 1. Run the way I usually race. Conservative . Start out at a decent pace, log negative splits, finish feeling strong and in control. 2. Start out faster than usual, hang onto that pace for as long as possible, die a slow and painful death. Karl just laughed . He knew how unlikely it was that I would choose the second option. But, to be honest, the idea kinda grew on me. It was a running event, after all. No pressure. Simply a way of testing where my fitness is at. On my way to St. George, I called Coach M . She told me I was going to choose the second option. Oh, how I love to have coaches! No need to try to figure things out in my own little head. I just ask and do as I am told. There was ju

I am so lucky

I feel the need to write. My thoughts are all jumbled. Can I make sense of them on paper? Writin g gives me perspective and makes it easier to let go. Last weekend I was very frustrated, mad, self-centered, unhappy , wallowing in self-pity. This weekend I was more balanced, a little more patient, trying to be less selfish, happy . How did it happen? I have had to deal with myself for almost 30 years now and, luckily, have figured out a few things on the way. Like how to feel at peace with myself , my family , my life . It shouldn't be complicated to be happy in my circumstances. I realize that. But sometimes it still is. Sometimes being a mom and wife doesn't come easy to me. Sometimes I think everyone would be better off if I wasn't a mom and wife. Sometimes I wish it was easier to just take off and do nothing but swimbikeruneatsleep for a week or two. It's not helping that my German teammates are doing just that. Right now. On a beautiful island. In the warm

Racing Season '09 Second Part

Disclaimer: This post has been driving me crazy. It is too late, too long, too braggy, and boring. But it is what it is and I had to do it in order to move on. So bear with me... Before reporting about my first race of this season, I need to wrap up last season. I started this post in December and it has been waiting to be published ever since. Well, all I really did then was upload the pictures. I figure that whatever memories of each race have stuck with me this long, might be the only ones worth mentioning anyway. Really what I should have done is analyze each race in detail, look at the training, nutrition, times, etc. But how much fun would that be? I will save that for when I am a Pro. Haha. If you want to know what happened before June, go here . Provo Triathlon in June Lowlights : Swimming in Utah Lake Not being able to find the Finish Line Highlights : Beating all the guys to their bikes Biking the first loop ahead of all the men Beating all the women to the finish line Ec

Sarah Borst Jarvis

Search This Blog