Yesterday, the doctor prescribed big gear, long hill climbs. Today was long climbs as well but super intense hard 20-30 second sprints in sets.
There’s a remarkable feeling that comes with training. It’s this feeling of knowing the pain you’re about to suffer when heading out, mixed in with the pain you are suffering while doing the workout and then the small relief once the workouts have been performed. There’s also a not so remarkable feeling that comes with the workout, and that one is the pukey, dry-heave feeling. No need to explain that one.
There’s the hill in sight, a quick glance at the computer or watch and ATTACK! Away you go, mashing or spinning your heart out until you instinctively know that it’s time. The sand has run out and it’s over. For now.
The one feeling that trumps them all and is its very essence primal and instinctual, an indicator of pure work, is The Burn. It digs in right into the legs and knees. Always in the thighs just above the knees. During this moment, you have tunnel vision, in some cases not even that. You see nothing and you only know, you do not think, about the goal, the end. It is white hot and raging for relief but you give it none.


Glad The Super Tempo is back, I need light reading material when taking short breaks from photo editing and retouching grizzled corporate executives.
As for the layout, it’s certainly cleaner – though I did have an affinity for that fading greyscale background.
— gavin · Aug 26, 05:13 PM · #
I love The Burn. I take pleasure in seeing how long I can sustain the feeling before I’m about to collapse, all before doing it again. In one week’s time, you and I will both be experiencing The Burn on California’s beautiful hills.
— David Bowers · Aug 27, 09:17 AM · #