New Training Blog

I'm starting to ramp up a new blog geared toward athletes in training for... well anything, biking, snowboarding, ice hockey, hiking, endurance training, ect.. My email is on it and I posted a few sample weekly training schedules. I'm still trying to find a good format. Any questions are good and I can help work with training issues.

The link is, MJ HALL / ADVENTURES / Training on my link list. The site is slightly different, at www.mhall-mtb-snow.blogspot.com

I've got over 35 years experience coaching, personal training, motorpacing bicyclists with a motorcycle, running clinics, consulting and competing in hockey, mountain biking, snowboarding, Ski Patrol, mountain backcountry snowmobiling (powder boonedocking... ever try to wrestle a 500 pound machine in 6-9 feet of powder. Not ditch banging, or trail riding, big difference). Have much experience with altitude and adapting. How about airline flying with 2 bikes and 200+ pounds of gear. Questions? I'll try and help.

Any ideas, comments, link to the new site and comment or drop me an email.

Thanks, Mike

Adversity is Good

This is the difference a year can make. The big challenge of an injury is to maintain some form of fitness and repair. With the roof of my mouth broke and my teeth totally rattled, along with my jaw being broke. The fact is a soft food diet. A person can't take in enough calories. The body has to repair itself, but you are not as active. I lost about 15 pounds. Plus my energy level was down.

One of my intake of calories and nutrients was the protein drink and carbohydrate drink that Jeff and I use. Also the Power Bar gels. We use them for bike racing and I use them for my winter activities, snowboarding and snowmobiling.

The great thing about the energy drinks and Power Bar gels, is that they are full of the nutrients that a body needs for rebuilding and repair. I added some soups, yogurt and peanut butter. Also, beer can be a part of the liquid diet...ummm, beer.

I gained back some weight and have regained some of my fitness. I want to get on the bike here soon and get in better shape than I was.

Life can be like athletics. Adversity is a factor that can help the drive and one can learn from those experiences that are tough. Then keep in mind your larger goals that will help you maintain your cycle back. You just have to react along the way and adjust.

Turkey Day

I did the turkey trot in the morning, about 2 hours. On the mountain bike, at the Lebenon trails. It was great outside, 20 degrees and snowing. Riding with Jeff and trying to keep Jeff in site on the trails. One of the times he waited up for me, he said," you better be riding as fast as you can, I think we could bring granny along next year to ride with ya". What exactly do you think he meant by that?

It used to be the Thanksgiving day pheasant hunt, but we can get out and back earlier on a bike ride. There's alot less shooting on a bike ride. If we see a pheasant on the ride we just scare him, kind'a like when Jeff shoots at him come to think about it. Actually I have seen him hit one before.

Later in the day I got to see new grandson, Max. Chad came into town with his gang, 3 boys at last count.

Lastly, it's snowing out west in Colorado and Montana. Two weeks till I blast out there with the sleds and snowboards. Somehow I've still got 2 week of vacation left before the 1st of the year. Powder, YA!! Been jumping up & down and doing plyometrics. Thats for the big mountain boarding. Also working on lifting 100 lb barbells. To get used to lifting the back-end of the sleds when we get them stuck in all that great POWDER SNOW.