Here is the theory to which the Bigun aspires to. First, though, you should know that my beliefs are a bit skewed - it's a poor man's
belief. If I had the money, sure I'd train with a power meter, but I think I'd always rely more heavily on the Heart Rate Monitor. Second, I didn't come up with any of this - it's all stuff I've read, or an interpretation at least.
Each heart beat is like the striking of a match stick. And like a box of matches, you start the race with only so many, plus whatever you can add along the way in the form of food and liquid calories. You train your heart to burn more efficiently each time you exercise, and without complicating that too much, the heart will draw it's fuel - the wood of the matchstick - either from fat or from glycogen stores. There's lots more at work than that, but in the simple world of the Bigun, that's how it works for me.
When you train, you either train your heart to be more efficient at burning from fat stores or from glycogen stores (
again, HIGHLY simplified - you always are burning a combination to some degree). Fat burns much more efficiently, but is utilized mostly at lower heart rates. At some point when the HR rises, the heart switches from burning (mostly) fat to burning (mostly) glycogen. It's been written that glycogen stores deplete in about 2 hrs. I don't think you could burn up all of your fat stores - well, at least the Bigun can't - in even a 17 hr Ironman race (
oh yea, it gets deeper still, with intra-muscular fat being even more efficient...remember, Bigun like candy...).
12 comments:
I think you hit the nail on the head. Or some analogy with a matchstick. either way, I like this post. I've been running slower lately and have seen the benefits. Matter of fact, Wisconsin' favorite son, BigMike advised me to do so.
thanks for the great analogy.
pat
Ummm, Mr Bigun, didn't I just attend your 43rd birthday not too long ago? You know what though? I'm still 49...
Bigun
I totally like the way you worded that. I am by no means qualified to give anyone advice. As a matter of fact, I only pass on what I hear from people who are qualified. Especially about exercise. But I can say this...During my weight loss visits to the exercise physiologists (people who do have the qualifications to give advice and are paid well to do so) all told me the same thing that you described. Plus I have read it over and over. You must keep your heart rate in that low range to be able to exercise longer. Plus for guys losing weight like I was it was the only way and now I know why. No way did they want some 350 pound guy trying to run with my heart rate in the 180's. You my friend sometimes do not give yourself the credit you deserve when it comes to being smart about endurance sports and the whole science thing. You are one smart guy about this endurance stuff. I am not sure if this is good or bad, but I certainly use a lot of your training methods and think they work great for me. I am a bigger guy and I am not sure if I was a 170 pound twig if I would do the same things. Keep up the good work and keep the excellent info coming. See you in a couple weeks.
This IMCdA journey for you is going to be awesome to watch and read about.
That bike workout looks fun. For the most part I also like my speed workouts to be sprint distance races and that's why I race so often. I know that's not so good for recovery, which should be considered a key workout in and of itself, but I'm no pro so whatever, I'm just out to have a good time.
I do seem to have far better overall benifit from long slow runs than I do long slow bikes. When I bike nothing changes much but my bike. When I run my bike tends to get better and when I can't run my bike begins to fade.
Oh, and wealth can not be found in a bank account only in those you call friend, those you love and your personal character. I believe you are a rich man.
What The Baboo said about wealth!
I think you did a great job of explaining it. I do alot of the same stuff but have never been able to explain why, but it keeps me healthy. So, I just go with it.
Do you create your own training plans?
Well put...
Have you done any lt tests to zero in on your hr zones for biking and running?
All it takes is a 30 minute time trial (after a good warmup). Just hit the lap button after the first 10 minutes, and your average hr for the last 20 minutes should approximate your LT.
Whatever works! If it's working don't "FIX" it...I train how I feel on that day. Don't like the "toys" particularly...I just mix it up, kinda like your strategy. But I think I will need SOME kind of plan here beginning in December...who/what are you going with?
You sound like you know what you are talking about, so if you don't you fake it well. ( ;-) )
No really, well said.
I subscribe to the do what you feel like today school of thought myself.
now thats a good bike workout!
I think you might be able to start Coach Bigun Triworkouts..!
rockon`
Oh, and wealth can not be found in a bank account only in those you call friend, those you love and your personal character. I believe you are a rich man.
- S. Baboo
Well said.
as for the: until they write something new and revolutionary and different in Triathlete or Inside Tri.
Everything is new and revolutionary and...recycled.. how else would they sell mags?
You have to do what works for you bro, and you gots to be happy doing it, or whats the point.
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