Home About M2 Training Articles Links Photos Store Coaching Benefits M2 Commentary Training Principles Training Programs Training FAQ Testimonials

I was going through my archives and came across this workout report
from Ryan Davenport, an athlete I have coached for several years back
in Boston.  

Ryan is a young guy with a lot of athletic ability, was
captain of his track team at Boston College, loves to cycle, and a
regular training partner of his is Tyler Hamilton, ex-US Postal Rider
and now the lead rider for Credit Agricole, for whom he finished 2nd
overall in last year's Giro d'Italia.

Ryan has quite a collection of riding stories from when Tyler was with
US Postal.  Lance and Roberto Heras both passed through Boston on 
different occasions and he was able to long rides with these stars.

In any case, I just love this workout report that Ryan sent along 
some time ago.  Next time you are feeling hassled about getting a 
workout in or are feeling short in the motivation department, 
remember this example of what a "can-do" attitude produces.

Ryan's Epic Winter Workout 
Since my landlords have complained about me biking in the house, I 
had to move my computrainer to the backporch.  The backporch, although
enclosed, is not heated nor insulated.

I have a thermometer on the porch which read 18 degree F at the start 
of my workout.  I had to wear a hat, gloves, armwarmers, legwarmers, 
and jacket. After warming up or 20 min., I had to stop and put on 
booties because my toes were frozen.

The plan was EA11 but I was so cold that I was beginning to doubt that
the workout would take place.  However, by 35 minutes, I was actually 
starting to warm the porch up with my body heat and began peeling off 
layers.  I started the workout and was going pretty good. . . steam 
was just flying off me and ice crystals formed on my shirt as I began 
to sweat hard.

Half way through the workout, the wind (which is gusting to 50mph 
here) blew the door to the porch open.  Snow is now blowing around the
room.  I had to either stop the workout and get off the bike and close 
the door or continue. . . I continued.  At this point I was only 
wearing bibshorts, HR monitor, and hat and gloves.  I have the Beastie 
Boys blasting on the stereo and my neighbors, seeing the door open, 
came over to see what was going on. . . .I am afraid to think what I 
looked like at that moment. . .

No one said anything to me, they just stared at me as I gritted my 
teeth and headed for L4. . . everytime I looked down, I hoped to look 
up and see no one watching.  Eventually, my landlords came down and 
watched from the warmth of their house. . . . I had quite the 
audience.

I finished EA11 and sat up to spin for a little bit.  I smiled at my
neighbors and they waved and I could see the weird "what the hell is 
wrong with this kid" look on their faces.  My landlords were gone.  I 
put some clothes back on but they were frozen.  I grabbed my water 
bottle but it had frozen as well.  There was a 3 inch snow drift in 
the back corner of my porch.  

I closed the door and wedged it shut with a shovel and went inside to 
take a shower. . . rather pleased with myself.

2 hours later, my landlords came down and said I could bike indoors 
if I liked.