A bit of a cycling rant

As a newbie to cycling, I decided to follow the sport in more detail. I was going to watch the Santos Tour Down under but couldn't find it on TV or even free streaming online. Not to worry, there are more races to follow and the big one the Tour De France.  Actually, one tour i watched last year was the Vuelta De Espana where I got great enjoyment watching fellow Irish man Nicolas Roche put in a good performance. It's way easier to get more enthusiastic about the sport if you are rooting for someone.

I'm not a book reader, in fact the current number of books  I completed to this day could be counted on one hand with one finger (Famous Five), but new year, new me. My first book for 2011 is Lance Armstrong's 'Every Seconds Count'. I selected this book for many reasons. Nearly everyone knows him.. Battle with Cancer.. 7 time winner of Tour De France and allegations with doping allegations. I have nearly a 100 pages read so far and deeply finding it a great read, then i come online to find more allegations against Lance Armstrong made by Sports Illustrated. Latest claim about an unidentified drug that worked better than EPO. Yes, 12 years since his first tour and they come up with this. Why now? sure the drug was created by and abolished by Baxter in 1998. Test were done on this experimental drug 'HemAssist' and showed no improvement for any cyclist but when your Lance Armstrong and 7 time world champion. You must be a cheat.

There has being a major crackdown on drugs in the cycling sport and it is brilliant to get rid of the cheats. I suppose it is becoming one of the cleanest professional sports and can hold its head up high. When it comes to solving accusations it can dip that head again. Latest major case has to be the latest Tour De France winner, Contador.  Traces of clenbuterol found in system.  Used for asthma's suffers to help them to breathe. For the amount that was found in him, lets just say if i get an asthma attack and that's all that is left in the inhaler, PLEASE CALL A DOCTOR.

The fact of the matter is not that he was 400 times under a dosage that would give him any benefit but further investigation is going on forever which could result in him missing the next tour De France.  Next month there is meant to be a decision but that might not be a final decision. Sure why not drag it over till the 2012 tour

I guess when people asks rider what does it mean to be a Tour De France winner? they will reply: 'accused cheater'. Unless he is French.   

 

Exercise-Induced Asthma

The doctor told me after a 15min workout that my lung age went from a 20 year old to a 74 year old.    I knew I always had breathing problems when I was exercising but I used to take my mothers inhaler before I began a workout

But this in not going to stop me from exercising.  A study found that 1 out of every 6 athletes had asthma in the 1996 Olympic games.The doctor prescribed me an inhaler to take before a session. It is recommended to take 15-20 minutes before a workout.

Exercise Induced asthma is caused by the tube in the airways are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity and react by narrowing the airway. Air is usually warmed and humidified by the nose, but during demanding activity people breathe more through their mouths. This allows cold, dry air to reach your lower airways and your lungs without passing through your nose, triggering asthma symptoms.

In addition to taking medications, warming up prior to exercising and cooling down after exercise can help in asthma prevention 

Exercise-Induced Asthma Links

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/exercise-induced-asthma?

http://www.medicinenet.com/exercise-induced_asthma/article.

http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/exerciseinducedasthma.stm

ARRIVAL: TURBO TRAINER

Woke up with a phone call, the courier was looking for directions to my house. Still wonder why Ireland has not introduced postcodes yet. 

So excitement was rushing through me and the turbo trainer had arrived. It all came pre-packaged with only a small bit of work needed.  The bicycle hooked up nicely and off I went

It was raining outside when I got it and I realised I will be using this alot.  There is one downside to this model is to change the resistance, i need to get off my bike to do it.  I put in a good 50mins today to ease myself back into cycling. My friend just told me about 50k cycle being held near me on January 30th. It is only 20 days away so not sure would i be able to manage it.  I will have to get a few more cycles in before I decide.

There is many events i am thinking about in the early part of the year but i haven't signed up for any of them yet. Even though i have no race goals at the moment, I am still determined and self motivated to keep working hard. In fact, I think I am more motivated now then any time last year.

Now i need some good movies to watch while on the turbo trainer.

Here is my to turbo trainer movie list so far I wish to watch

Breaking Away

Hoosiers
American Flyers
Saint Ralph

chariots of fire

The replacements

Any given sunday

without limits
The Spirit of the Marathon
Running brave

The Flying Scotsman

As you can see they are nearly all running/cycling movies and the rest involves other sports.  Should give me some inspiration.  If you know any links to these movies online. Post them in the comment box below..

New Year, New start. new goals

Living out in the country on the main road isn't an ideal place to run but take that plus all the snow and ice we had sure made me stay inside. Too cold..

So during the bad weather i decided to go to the gym whenever i could get my car out of the driveway. So maybe 2-3 times a week. I knew i wasn't really prepared for the Athenry 10k run which was being held on St. Stephens Day (26th December) but sure I had signed up for it, I'm doing it.  Like many other activities being planned for that time, got cancelled and was changed to the 3rd January.   I am firm man in enjoying Christmas and i ain't going to do that without having some good drinking sessions and big feeds. Christmas time was my time off from exercising and no way was I going to the race.

So its the new year, already got off to a bad start. Three days ago, I was getting ready to do a light run when i got off the chair and hurt my back. I think i pulled a muscle but god I hate it when you cant move freely and I'm also think i have a chest infection.  That's really annoying for someone who needs a puff of an inhaler before exercising.

i visit the doctor two weeks before Christmas to test my lungs.  he inputted data such as height and age and got me to puff into some machine. My lung capacity came back great. Age 20 was the result. He sent me on a hard 15min run and we performed the test again. My new age is 74.   My new best friend is the inhaler. :)

Things are now on the up.  Finally got back into things yesterday and a 45min run today. I will be staying in the gym until this weather clears up. I purchased a turbo trainer two days ago and was hoping it would arrive today.  hopefully it willl come before this nasty weather returns. 

I hope to build up my strength this year. I need to make sure this is a serious year and work even harder to achieve my goals. Hopefully I wont come across to many obstacles such as injuries.  Hope all 2011 goes as planned for ye as well.. Have a great one :)