The Huka from Bre and my trip to New Zealand

Hard week

I have planned that this week will be all out pain in anticipation for the family vacation I'm leaving for in the morning. The week ended up with 4 days of interval work and the rest spinning. It was a large load of work. Happy it is over. I have set up workouts while on vacation that will be recovery with likely no interval work and about half the time.

SNSR Crit

St. George weekend

Bre, Kate, and I got out of town Friday 2/8 and drove to St George for the weekend. It was great. Weather was high 50s, sunny and no wind. Friday night Bre and I went and saw the movie Juno (pretty funny) while Kate stayed with Bre's parents. Saturday I rode from Washington up to Veyo by way of Gunlock and then went to the top of Utah Hill before returning to Washington. It was about 87 miles with an average speed of 18.4 mph. That night we went to see Jill, Roger, Nick and Chris. Sunday I rode from Washington, by Quail Creek Res, up the I-15 frontage for 20 miles to highway 17 and then took that through Laverkin. I turned left there and headed to Zion National Park for a good climb before turning around ad taking highway 9 back to Washington. About 55 miles total. We had a great dinner and drove back home getting in about 9:30pm. It was a great weekend of riding and relaxing.

How's this for a line of research using EPO?

Erythropoietin Improves Mood and Modulates the Cognitive and Neural Processing of Emotion 3 Days Post Administration

Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 611–618;

Abstract:

Erythropoietin (Epo) has neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects and is a promising candidate for treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorder. Recently, we demonstrated that Epo modulates memory-relevant hippocampal response and fear processing in human models of antidepressant drug action 1 week post-administration, and improves self-reported mood for 3 days immediately following administration. The present study explored the effects of Epo (40 000 IU) vs saline on self-reported mood and on neural and cognitive function in healthy volunteers 3 days post-administration to test the reliability of the rapid mood improvement and its neuropsychological basis. Neuronal responses during the processing of happy and fearful faces were investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); facial expression recognition performance was assessed after the fMRI scan. Daily ratings of mood were obtained for 3 days after Epo/saline administration. During faces processing Epo enhanced activation in the left amygdala and right precuneus to happy and fearful expressions. This was paired with improved recognition of all facial expressions, in particular of low intensity happiness and fear. This is similar to behavioral effects observed with acute administration of serotonergic antidepressants. Consistent with our previous finding, Epo improved self-reported mood for all 3 days post-administration. Together, these results suggest that characterization of the effects of Epo in a clinically depressed group is warranted.

Pushing to the top of Alp D'Huez

Work out

Since SNSR I have been doing recovery for 1.5 hours a day. Thursday my legs began coming back and friday I felt good enough for work but planned on today (Saturday) for interval work. I road 20 minute warm up, 40 minutes at threashold, 15 minute spin, alternating 30 seconds all out with 1.5 minute recovery for 8 cycles, 15 minute spin and 35 minutes of threshold. Ended with a 20 minute spin. 2.5 hours all in all with 75 minutes of threshold and 4 inutes all out once it was all said and done. Total for the week was 11 hours and 45 minutes.

Alpe D'Huez Throwdown at the 2007 TdF

Road to Mithril Hall animation