[undermyownpower]

Hello,

 

I am a fit 60yo with a full time job. I don’t have unlimited time for workout AND recovery, so far the below described plan fits my available time constraints

Ok, I worked with John Frieh For a short season. He helped me get out of my Aerobic deficiency and I have not looked back. I am primarily a backcountry skier, zero resort days. Ski about 50 hours a month in the mountains of Washington from nov to June/July. Then I mountain bike.

I have tried for a few years to incorporate mountain running and hiking ( almost all zone 2). I had some nagging back problems when I run, not ski or bike,  and found out I have Neurogenic claudication,secondary to spinal stenosis. Which explained a lot of running problems I have had. So I switched over to Mtb as my primary source of zone 2, (1/3 ratio output to benefit, I know) its what I have and what I’m committed to, along with the occassional stair master  . Kettlebell work for strength and some ballistic stuff as tolerated, skier hops etc.

The ME component: I started doing tire drags as a part of a knee support program. I found I could load a tire with 80 lbs and drag along the grass and it felt like the ME workout I’ve done on the local mountains, except no downhill walking component that really irritated my back/legs. The effort is moderated by my leg muscles, not my heart rate. I slow because of muscular fatigue.

I am looking for an opinion on the this approach to ME.

 

Thanks

Keith

[Seth Keena]

Hi Keith,

Thanks for writing in.

Sounds like the stimulus is definitely ME (not Maximal/Strength or Capacity). ME should be specific to the event you’re training for. Sounds like the tire drags simulate going uphill with and without boots, weight and snow. So, if you are facing forward for these drags than you’re achieving as much of the specificity as you can without the potentially harmful downhill action that would otherwise happen if you were going uphill.

Forward step-down from a low (6-8inch) box might help the knees and give you controlled stimulus missing from not descending, if you’re looking for that stimulus.

-Seth

[undermyownpower]

That’s great, thanks Seth. Just wanted another pair of eyes on the concept to make sure I was not missing something. I’ll incorporate the step-downs as well.

Keith

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