Ragnar Finding our Way Through Paradise Valley

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay June 2009 #4

Steve dropped Annie, Rena and I off outside a small town called Paradise Valley. We all needed to use the restroom and Sally was due at the exchange point to take the baton from Karli. Steve and Sally had to hurry and find an alternate route around the race course to get to the exchange point on time.

We started to get concerned when we didn't see Steve come back with the truck. We wanted to make sure we got to the exchange point on time because it was almost Annie's turn to run.

We walked down some of the streets and flagged down a few drivers. The first driver we talked to was an old lady who was angry because runners were littering the streets. Rena replied that we were just runners having a good time. Annie stopped a guy in an old red pickup truck. He had a beard and looked a little perplexed when Annie asked him for a ride. I wasn't sure if he was going to help us but Annie jumped into the back of his truck. I stood there for a moment not sure what to do. Do I leave Rena here on the road or go with Annie? Rena helped me make that decision when she screamed, "get in the truck with Annie!!" I jumped in the back of the truck and the driver hesitated. A few minute later we saw Steve driving towards us a few miles down the road. I think we were both relieved as we jumped out of the back of the truck and thanked the guy for his consideration.

We rushed to get to the next exchange point. We saw Sally and checked on with her. We gave her a water bottleto drink from and then headed towards the exchange point.

We parked the truck as close as we could. Annie and I walked to the exchange point together. I asked Annie if I could take her picture. She said sure and she struck a pose. I was delighted; I wanted to give Annie a hug. We saw Sally coming and Annie took the baton and was soon running. I'm next I thought to myself, I hoped I was ready.

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VO2 Testing

I scheduled another Cycling VO2 test at LifeTime Fitness. It has been two months since my last test. The purpose of the test is to determine if I have made any improvements in my VO2 and cycling strength. VO2 max is the maximum capacity of my body to absorb and utilize oxygen during incremental exercise. The name is derived from V - volume per time, O2 - oxygen, max - maximum. The test was performed while I donned a New Leaf Mask (breathe through my mouth), wore a Polar heart rate monitor + watch and cycled on a stationary bike.

The trainer (Casey) incrementally increased the wats or difficulty. He monitored a machine that analyzed my breathing for amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The testing computer recorded and used this data to determine my VO2 maximum and heart rate zones.

The test determined that my threshold increased by 2 points up to 162 bpm. What this means is that it is the last stop for burning fat and when I have reached my maximum oxygen uptake (it plateaus). This is where I start generating energy anaerobically. Lactic acid starts to build up and the muscles burn. The benefit from working out past this threshold are improved fitness and this threshold will increase but I won't burn fat. This is where I burn glucose stored in muscles and if performed for too long, I will eventually "bonk" or run out of energy and then it is really hard to continue running. It is the wall that atheletes face during a long endurance run.

I have attached my first cycling VO2 test performed in November and then my test performed on 1/2/2010. Notice that the test shows how many Fat Calories burned in each training zone. There is a significant improvement in V02 and heart rate zones. Casey was surprised at the amount of improvement and asked what I had been doing to achieve this increase. Who knows? I drank my MonaVie Active that morning, hehe.

Test performed 11/5/2009

Test performed 01/02/2010