To beat out the competition at the National Championships this summer, Martin Cox and I are planning to head to Durango, Colorado. Durango is known for its vast array of outdoor activities. It plays host to some of the best mountain bikers in the US including Ned Overand, Todd Wells, and Travis Brown.Martin and I hope to gain an advantage over the competition by living and training at high altitudes for a month. With proper training and nutrition, living and training at levels above 4000 feet has shown to increase an athlete’s VO2 max. More specifically, living at a high altitude for 3-4 weeks results in an increase in red blood cell volume. Red blood cells are responsible for transferring oxygen throughout your body. By increasing your body’s ability to transport oxygen, you are able to put more power to your pedals.
Martin and I will be in Durango for the month of June, where we will live, train, and also compete in the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) race held in Park City, Utah. We will then head to New York for the NMBS #5, followed by the National Championships in Mount Snow, Vermont. After a great summer of training at high altitudes in Durango, Colorado, both of us anticipate great results in these three races. We hope to see many of you at the upcoming races, including the 12 Hours of Santos, SERC #1 in Gainesville, and Bump and Grind in Birmingham.
Drew Edsall
www.endurancefactor.com
