One of our members, one who I will call The Artist, has never fully engaged with the program. I will say here and now, that what we do is not for everybody. If you are one who needs constant stimuli to get through a session, we definitely are not for you. If you are short on personal motivation and the discipline necessary to overcome the obvious challenges of indoor training, we most definitely are not for you. If you need a coach to hold your hand or a personal drill instructor to scream in your ear, we very most definitely are not for you.
But if you have the DNA, or commit to the process of adaptation, the techniques we offer, in the facility we have created, can be a valuable ally along your path. Whether you are training for an event, managing your BMI, seeking additional fitness, addressing power to weight imbalances, wanting more speed, strength or power, rehabbing from injury, looking for positive change or wanting a safe and supportive environment in which to share and socialize with like-minded adult-athletes, we could be.
I will stand at the front of the line admitting that what we do is inherently difficult. To ask one to sit on a stationary bicycle and spin nowhere for an hour (more or less) in a room, class, or in our case, a converted barn, is asking a lot. One must either be ready to commit to the unknown and allow the indoctrination and subsequent change to evolve, or have a modicum of experience with exercise physiology. It helps to have an empirical understanding of just how difficult is truly is to bring about physical positive change. It helps if you understand how painfully slow this process can be. We are not professional athletes searching for a (legal) magical elixir that will add speed and power propelling us towards fame and fortune. No one in our group is a member of an Olympic team.
However we can take myriad lessons from those that are. We can train like Pros and recover like world-class athletes. We can take the best from Navy Seals, Ironman Champions or countless others who have used certain proven techniques to become, and please pardon the cliche, the best they can be.
What are those proven techniques?
- 1) A genuine willingness to improve.
- 2) A commitment to doing 'whatever it takes'.
- 3) Setting a realistically achievable goal.
- 4) Developing the discipline necessary to dedicate time to the process.
- 5) Finding a support group.
- 6) Being patient.
- 7) Have the strength to 'see it through'.
- 8) Embracing failure and loss as part of the process.
- 9) Augmenting the training with tangential elements (nutrition, rest, structure).
- 10) Having a macro-view of the bigger picture.
These ten immediately pare down the candidates by about 70%. Seven of ten people simply will not do this. It is too hard, it takes too much time, and it is way too painful. Hand me the remote please and pass the pretzels.
But for those honestly interested in self improvement and an enhanced quality of life search for adventure and meaning, we offer one option.
We will measure your existing functional threshold power (FTP). We will assign the proven percentage of that metric to your trainer. From there all one has to do is show up twice a week and turn the pedals. We control the variables to produce the precise training zone proven to return the quickest improvement. All one has to do is turn the pedals and allow this magical process to unfold, to respond to the criteria, remain focused and witness the energy flow as the body 'proves' what the mind, heart and soul doubt. This takes time, patience and dedication. We try to make it fun - but it is always one's personal definition of fun that makes the biggest difference.
During this monumental process certain audio and visual stimuli are employed to make the 45 minute 2x20 sessions more tolerable to those needing such diversions.
Somewhat frustrated, The Artist wanted to know what she was supposed to be doing during the session and would not buy my 'just pedal' suggestion, thereby prompting the detailed explanation, a portion of which I have just shared with you.
I continually seek to advance both my understanding and presentation of said doctrine, so please, if you have a comment or suggestion as to how I might up my facilitation game, let me know. Cheers!
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