Boulder Performance Network Blog Site

Over Sharpening the Blade

2006-01-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

Over Sharpening the Blade

Are you already training hard for the 2006 running, cycling or triathlon season? Does ever workout seem critical?

The Tao de Ching claims
Over sharpening a blade causes it to loss its edge to be lost.

We have all heard about the dangers of over training and yet we are all potential victims. A well rounded athlete is healthier, happier, enviably performs better and generally enjoys more. When we become too focused, for too long, we may loose our edge. There is time for all things. That which seems crucial, may not even be important.

Train hard, but train smart. Lay your base, but be patient. Before hand, the season seems short. During the season, it always seems long. It’s the same in life. In the early stages, life seems long. From the later stages, life seems short.

“Overdoing things invites decay, and this is against the Tao. Whatever is against Tao soon ceases to be.”

Be patient in your preparations.

Weekly Rides Now by Popular Demand!!

2005-10-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Our initial ride was so successful that we will be riding every Saturday now at 10am.

This is a BPN Team ride and also a recruitment ride for any 35+/Cat4 development riders who are looking for a team to race with next year that is organized and has more experienced racers on the team to help newer riders develop tactics, skills, training advice, etc.

So if you are 35 yrs or older, and a current cat 4 on the road (or looking to get an ACA license and start racing this year), we would love to have you join us and learn more about the team and see if there is a good fit there.

Pace for the next few weeks is very easy, just working on developing the aerobic engine.

Email me for more info - brads@boulderperformance.net

Great turnout!

2005-10-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

Great turnout at the BPN ride last Saturday. Weather couldn't have been nicier, and it was great to see all the new faces and to know that people are psyched to find out more information about racing for BPN 35+/4s team next year.

Our next ride will be Novemeber 5th, meeting at Amante (on North Broadway) again at 10:00. Come out an join us, and there will be a meeting directly after the ride for anyone who is interested in learning more about the team, racing schedule, etc.

Contact me at brads@boulderperformance.net if you need any more info.

ciao -Brad

Boulder Performance Road rides this winter

2005-10-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Boulder Performance Network Blog Site

2005-10-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

BPN/Wily Cycles Road Rides this winter

Starting Saturday, October 22nd, the BPN/Wily Cycles team will be having a road ride every other Saturday. These will be starting out easy, but as the winter goes on will get a bit faster, with some organized group interval training as part of the plan.

We will meet at Amante Coffee on North Broadway, at 10:00 am. In case of bad weather, we will try to reschedule any rides for Sunday.

Check here for updates.

Also, we are currently recruiting riders 35 and older who are new to road racing and have a Cat 4 license, or want to get involved with road racing. We will have a 35+/4 team, and will have some more experienced riders/coaches on the team to help with the team organization, tactics, and training. So this is a great way to get started with road racing on an organized team. At this time we are ONLY looking for Masters 35+/4s, as we want to keep the focus of our road team on this category for 2006.

Email me at brads@boulderperformance.net for more info if needed.

Hope to see you out on the rides. - Brad

2005-09-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

Boulder Performance Network Racing Team
Road Cycling and Mountain Biking

BPN CYCLING TEAM MISSION STATEMENT
Contribute to the development and enjoyment of competitive road cycling and mountain biking with an emphasis on teamwork, sportsmanship and passion.

BPN Team History
We began racing in 2005 partnered with Wily Cycles as a mountain bike team. Our squad was composed of a half dozen 24 hour soloists, single speeders, and women cross country racers. After a successful season (go to http://singletrackhowl.typepad.com/ for 2005 results), our mountain bike team will return again in 2006. The project was so much fun we decided to expand to include a master’s road cycling team.

BPN Road Cycling Team Philosophy
The philosophy behind our road racing program seeks to find a balance between our passion for road racing, team tactics, the camaraderie of riding and racing and the reality that we’re amateurs. Our philosophy is to acknowledge the reality that we’re amateurs but not embrace it. (We all have life commitments that need to work around racing and, being amateur’s, chances are we’re not going to resemble the old Blue Train of U.S. Postal or Mario’s old Red Guard. Yet, cycling is a team sport, and being part of a team requires some commitment). We are trying to build a core group of riders that are interested in cycling from that team perspective. Riders that are interested in making an effort to train together as much as possible, to work on tactics and, come race day, realize that being part of a team effort will only increase our chances for success. In other words, we believe the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

BPN Mountain Biking Team Philosophy
The focus of the BPN/Wily Cycles mountain bike team is to have fun, ride our bikes, and be advocates of the 29er movement while representing our sponsors in a positive manner. We strive for excellence on the bike, and graciousness in both victory and defeat. The team is also an opportunity to foster friendships and celebrate each other's successes. Single speed, ultra endurance and good old fashion cross country suffering is the primary focus of our mountain bike riders.

2006 BPN Cycling Roster

Masters 35+ Road Mountain Development
Eric Ray Fred Marmsater David Boynton
Jeff Ofsanko Mindi Seaman
Mike Pierce Tammy Steel
Kevin Cawley Zack Vanderkooy
Cary Gold Daniel McKinnon
Brad Seaman Dan Vardimas
Rachel Ouwinga

Rider Development 35+/CAT 4

In addition to our core Master 35+ team, BPN will field a 35+ CAT 4 development squad. Along with offerings from our sponsors, new riders will have the opportunity to train with a team of experienced racers and enjoy the camaraderie of racing with a team. Beginner and intermediate masters are encouraged to contact team manager Brad Seaman at brads@boulderperformance.net

Prospective Riders
Our primary focus for the 2006 season is to develop a Master’s 35+ team and a Master’s 35+ CAT 4 development squad. We can offer some modest incentives form our sponsors for our team members. However, the major incentive, and the best reason for joining the BPN squad is be to be a part of a fun cohesive cycling team. If you’re interested, drop us a line and we can give you some more info and let you know when we’re riding. Contact brads@boulderperformance.net

Rider Profiles (coming soon)

For Your Health and the Health of the Planet

2005-09-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

I recently had a conversation with my friend Natalie Murphy about health and nutrition. As we talked about the idea of mindful eating - being conscious that we are eating, of what we are, savorring the experience, being present in the moment - she mentioned an artlice she had written with a similar message. For some, this may seem a bit extreme or perhaps unrelated to fitness. For those looking to take it to the next level, start to imagine the implications and the possibilities for your well being and the well being of those around you. Look beyond calories, grams of fat, protien, and carbos. Enjoy.

For Your Health and the Health of the Planet
By Natalie Murphy, dietetic intern University of Northern Colorado

Each day we as consumers are bombarded with information about diets and dieting. We are presented with a buffet of choices on what to eat, what not to eat, how much to eat and when to eat. Yet we continue to see a rise in the obesity epidemic and suffer from a wide range of chronic diseases and digestive disorders. Americans now more then ever are less connected to the food they eat.

In years of past families were self-sustainable and grew everything they ate in their garden. Today, it is more likely to eat a meal that consists of foods that came from 4-5 different states or even from other countries. The strawberry you are eating here in Colorado may have traveled 1,000 miles to make it into your cereal bowl. This may put a new twist on your pocket book as the price of fuel continues to climb. In addition to this dent in your pocket book may come a dent in the earth’s ozone from the emission of the fossil fuels it took to bring that strawberry to your spoon.

It may be hard to imagine that the action of one person can induce change. However, change can become contagious. Making sustainable food choices as an individual has the power to reduce the negative impact on our planet. One individual is part of one family, one community, one nation, and one planet. Adopting one to two of these sustainable changes each week has the power to impact your health, the health of your family and eventually the health of our planet.

10 tips to for your sustainable health and the health of the planet:

1. Learn what foods are in season in your area and try to build you meals around them.
2. Buy foods that are minimally processed. Instead of eating foods that come in a box, can, or package choose whole grains and fresh fruits or vegetables. This minimizes the processing it took to produce the food resulting in less emission of fossil fuels into the environment.
3. Use a list when buying groceries. This decreases your trips to the store decreasing the use of fossil fuels.
4. Ride your bike to the store for picking up items you may need through the week.
5. Plant a garden or sign up for a plot in a community garden.
6. Spend time each day eating at least one meal with others and share your ideas about sustainable health. Good things are contagious.
7. Pack your lunch as many days a week as you can. This will decrease the trips in your car to a restaurant and decrease packaging waste often used at restaurants.
8. Become a member of a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program. CSA’s are small farmers in your area that you can purchase produce from.
9. Support your local farmers market. Spend a portion of your food budget on local produce each week.
10. Slow down when you are eating and enjoy each bite. Think about all of the nutrients fresh food provides.

The Tao of Sport

2005-09-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Tao of Sport

Have you tried to explain why you run, ride, ski, fly, climb, paddle, swim, skate, lift, dance, tumble, jump, swing…play? Have you ever tried to capture the experience of sport in words?

The pure joy of:
Spinning perfect circles
Jamming an endlessly crack
Gliding over the trail
Carving perfect turns
Moving your body
Lifting weight
An effortless stroke
Dropping onto a wave
Hitting the ball
Flying weightlessly through the air
Breathing, moving ……..

Effortlessness. Timelessness. Purity. Awareness. Being.

Regardless of which sport we chose, whether in competition or recreation the beauty of the experience is undeniable. And when it all comes together, it’s…beyond the scope of words.

The Tao te Ching (the natural or the essential “way” of the universe) of Lo Tzu puts it this way.

“The Tao is beyond words and beyond understanding.
Words may be used to speak of it, but they cannot contain it.”

“Therefore, to see beyond boundaries to the subtle heart of things.
Dispense with names, with concepts, with expectations and ambition and differences.”

Perhaps there are no reasons, no words. Perhaps the only answer to the question of why, is…why not?