Monthly Archives: April 2011

April 11 – 69 days to go – Dynamic Stretching

I work out with Alison, my personal trainer, two or three times a week.  We start each session with a round of dynamic stretching. This is simply stretching while moving. What most of us learned in high school gym class … Continue reading

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April 10 – 70 days to go

I wanted to watch the last round of the Master’s so I went to Pura Vida health club in Denver.  It’s a great club with lots of cool stuff and really good looking people.  It was voted the best club … Continue reading

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April 9 – 71 days to go – Myofascial self-release

Myofascial self-release sounds like it ought to be illegal but it’s actually an important treatment for cross-country cycling.  Remember the IT bands?  They’re a fascia — a bundle of fibers connecting the hips to the knee.  (The Latin root for … Continue reading

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April 8 – 72 days to go — The IT bands

The illiotibial band (IT band) is a thick bundle of tissue that runs down the outside of your thigh, from your gluteus maximus to your knee.  Its primary purpose is to stabilize the knee.  Since it’s not muscle, it doesn’t … Continue reading

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April 7 — 73 days to go – Unbalanced kettlebells

Here’s an training tip from Alison that will improve your balance, core strength, and leg strength all in one exercise. Take two kettlebells of different weights — say, five pounds and ten pounds — one in each hand.  Then do … Continue reading

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April 6 – 74 days to go

Here she is — Alison Eichten — my personal trainer at the University of Denver health club.  Alison has taught me everything from dynamic stretching to weightlifting technique to what the IT bands are and why they’re important to cyclists. … Continue reading

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April 5 — 75 days to go

Back home — from thousands of shades of green in Sonoma to the browns, tans and golds of Colorado.  Denver is about three weeks behind Sonoma in terms of spring flowers. Our pear tree is just showing its first blossoms; … Continue reading

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April 4 – 76 days to go

Up early again and back to the ParkPoint club with Suellen — nice club and very friendly staff.   Younger crowd on a Monday. Did 45 minutes on a stationary bike, 15 minutes on the rowing machine, and a variety … Continue reading

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April 3 — 77 days to go

Up early in Sonoma and went to ParkPoint, a sweet little health club on the outskirts of town to work out.  I’m sure I was the youngest person there – a sexagenarian among septuagenarians and maybe even a few octogenarians. … Continue reading

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April 2 – 78 days to go

We’re in Sonoma with our friends Laurie & Andrew.  Mainly we were car tourists today, driving down to the Pacific coast through the delightful town of Occidental.  Also stopped for a picnic at Dutton vineyards where they make an excellent … Continue reading

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