Racing Qatar 2011 - Until exhaustion

Aspetar sport medicine hospital in Doha is a world class medical facility with world class funding and therefore with world class scientists doing world class research related to sports and human performance. Like the one studying effect of altitude on body performance and trying to determine whether it was your head, breath or muscles what stopped you from pedaling further. Why I know all this? Because through Qatar Chain Reaction I volunteered to be a subject in this study J

The initial session was easy and fun. I sitting fixed to a special chair and with around 20 different sensors attached to my body measuring various body function like muscle contraction strength and electrical activity, pulse, brain activity, expired gases analysis, etc. I was looking like a Christmas tree!!

First I had to push with my leg against metering arm to determine the muscle maximum strength. In the mean time I was getting “stimulations” (small electric shocks to my head and groin). “Look at the curves” said scientist Olivier He meant of course the muscle activity curve on the computer screen. “Perfect subject” agreed Sebastien. Then we moved to cycling pressure chamber where I had to pedal at 80 rpm with increasing the machine resistance 25W per minute until exhaustion. “Until exhaustion? How do I do that?” I asked naively. “It’s very simple. You cycle until you cannot keep 80!” replied Olivier. “Hmm..we’ll see” I still couldn’t imagine how I could feel J

And really…around 350W I started to feel that it is getting tough and at 450W I was just done. Breathing like a steam train I couldn’t push my legs forward. “So this is exhaustion!” I though. Definitely not a pleasant thing!! But this was nothing in comparison to the other three sessions.

Starting with quite tough 8 min warm-up we went to the pressure chamber simulating to me unknown altitude 0, 2000 or 4000 meters above sea, I had to do sprints. With resistance around 160W speed up as quickly as possible to 115 revolutions, keep up for 15 seconds, stop and rest for 45 seconds. Until exhaustion of course!! When I was done we moved to the chair for some pushing and stimulations. And guess what next? The same exhaustion sprinting again in 0 altitude outside the chamber with more “stimulation” at the end as a cheery on the cake. All this usually took around 3 hours.

Unfortunately I don’t know the complete results yet, because the whole study and data evaluation from all 15 subjects will take couple of months, but from what Olivier told me you could guess how it was.

My first altitude was 2000 and I did 33 sprints. I really pushed to my limit and when I got off the bike I was barely walking and dizzy from breathing 170 heart rate through oxygen mask. Awful feeling. After that I did around the same at 0 outside. It was a bit better, because of the altitude, but I was dry like a desert, couldn’t stand, but at least not dizzy from lack of oxygen. There I think it was really the muscle what stopped me.

The second session was at 0. In the chamber I felt more comfortable, so I kept pedaling…and pedaling…still going…pretty easy…man it’s boring…I wanna be exhausted already, but I didn’t want to give up so I kept going. But at the end I think it was a bit of my mind that said “Finish of this nonsense”, because I was there way too long and felt desperately bored. I did 91 sprints there!! 1.5 hours on the bike in the small room J But what was the surprise when I did only 14 after!! So I guess I was not cheating after all and I really drained my muscles in the chamber so there was nothing left for later.

The last one was at 4000 meters. To make the story short I did 15 sprints in the room only J But I still felt terrible. Out of breath, dizzy, a bit stomach sick…you don’t get up to exhaustion often in normal life or training and especially not four times in two weeks!! But as a “Perfect subject” I did 61 after. “This is how it should be” said Olivier and explained “Because you didn’t have enough oxygen at 4000 for your brain it stopped you early to protect itself from being damaged, but muscle was still fresh so that’s why when at 0 there was oxygen enough, the muscle gave the rest”

At the end, when everything is behind me I have to say, that I’m happy that I participated. It was excellent training, I learned something about myself that will help me improve more and have some data to compare with statistics…especially those QCR ones ;)

It was kind of painful, but you know...

“NO PAIN, NO GAIN” J

Racing Qatar 2011 - Back to the roots

Right the next day after the MTB time trial there was a 10k road running race in Al Khor compound. This was probably the only running race in Qatar this year so I couldn’t miss it.

Similar to the Dubai Marathon I guessed from the training that I could do 10k at 16km/h which would be 37 minutes per 10k. I actually never achieved this during my night runs, but I felt it was real, because I know that during any competition I can somehow force myself much further…but this is common for everybody right? The goal was set, but still I was not giving me much chances, because rumors were whispering that Al Khor community crazy triathletes are doing it at 33!!

       Anyway I geared up to the front start line in my white ENVAC racing shirt. I would like to know what the others were thinking about an unknown “sponsored” guy J

        3-2-1-GO!! I started with the leading group for the first 300 meters, but then a teenage boy speeded up and started to get away. That was exactly what I didn’t want to happen, but I had to try to keep up. I still wanted to win no matter what rumors said! But soon I realized that he was going too fast. “Wait a minute” I thought, “He has a different running number color!” And then I got it: “He is running 2.5k only!!” and immediately slowed down to keep mu goal speed. But by that time we outrun the main group quite a bit and in front was only one same colored guy giving tempo. That boy was already gone…actually only until the time we saw him running back, because he missed the turn J

       The leader was running exactly my speed so I followed closely and we finished the first 5k lap still with decent lead to the rest. I was waiting for the right moment to attack and get to the lead. This moment came in the middle of the second and last lap, but in different fashion than I wanted. One tall guy from The main group around 200 meters back decided that he saw enough, speeded up and with such an ease overtook both of us in the front. Fortunately for me this completely wrecked the leader and he slowed down terribly and I he finished somewhere in the middle.

So I was still second with a big gap behind me and a comfortably running leader 100 meter in front, which I felt was controlling the race with plenty of reserve, so I didn’t even tried to push it. And like that it stayed until the finish! I came second in 34:24 for 9.6km (the actual course length) which would give 37:03 on full 10k. Exactly the speed and time I was aiming for. Mission accomplished J A trophy and 600QAR vouchers to Lulu hypermarket we just a nice bonus!! Local triathletes didn't have their day I guess ;)

It was a great success to finish second between around 100 runners, which many of them were the ones of the best what Qatar can offer!!

Racing Qatar 2011 - Birth of ENVAC Racing

        For the Dubai Marathon and Abu Dhabi Adventure challenge I was training running much more than bike and the first contest with QCR guys showed it. So as per my new battle plan I switched and was focusing “like a pro” on upcoming challenges which were mostly on bike.

        And “like a pro” I also got a proper racing outfit J As a thanks to my company ENVAC for support for Abu Dhabi Challenge and for their excitement about my adventure activities, my brother Jan designed a team logo and we made a proper “sponsored” racing dress…and ENVAC RACING was born J Definitely good to have some sponsor’s logos on…rivals will get scared!!

        So better trained and dressed I stood on the start of the next challenge – Lusail Intividual MTB Time Trial, 3 laps on 4km long track with first half quite technical and extremely bumpy and with relaxed second half on a dirt track. We were starting in 30 seconds intervals and I was around 10^th to start. I felt strong and confident, because I helped to build the tract and had already a trial lap.

        I started as fast as I could. “I can always slow down” I said and was pedaling quickly over the stones. After 300 meters I saw Davy, the strongest rider in the field walking sadly back with punctured tire!! It was a shame, but deep in my mind I heard “Hmmm…good...now I have a very good chance J” But in got easier only in my head, because I kept pedaling still as fast as I could, which means “Do 3 laps and die!”

At the end I had the fastest time with 31:25, 7 minutes ahead of the second, which earned me a small spot in QCR history, slightly bigger place in subconscious of other MTB riders and big rise in my confidence. Training was paying off. “This might also be only a beginning” I smiled J

Racing Qatar 2011 - Modest beginnings

Right after I came back from Christmas holidays I joined Qatar Chain Reaction (QCR) cycling group, more precisely the mountain bike division. I shortly met few bikers, Davy, Greg and Dave during one Friday ride to the Firing range and jumped straight into one of several races organized by QCR during the year, the 2^nd Duhail MTB race on 4^th of February.

There were 3 laps of 6 kilometers and it seemed to be just over small hills and humps. After some bike training I did for Abu Dhabi Challenge I felt strong and stood in the front line at the start with expectation not smaller than podium J

3-2-1-GO!! I bolted forward and was immediately in the lead rushing through flat sandy road and outrunning the others. But after around 1.5 kilometer I heard “Heeeeyyyy…” from the back. I missed the turn, because I was not familiar with the route, markings and terrain and because I saw wrong flag on the other hill. I got back to the race only thanks to Davy shouting at me J But for the price that about half of the field overtook me again.

I started to make my way back to the front and then it came. The rest of the track was much more difficult and technical than I was expecting. Running steep up and down, turning sharp right and left over small and big stones and sandy patches. That was definitely not my kind of playground and for the rest of the race no matter how much I tried, and I could try much less that I thought I would be able, I was slowly losing on the leading group, unable to catch them.

I was happy that those three rounds were over and that I finished. 3^rd place in Open category and 6^th overall with time 59:29 and 4 minutes after the overall winner was quite a surprise. “Maybe I was not that bad” I thought and together with the schedule for couple of more MTB races in the near future I went home with a battle plan…”3 time a week bike training and maybe I’ll have a chance here” J

Racing Qatar 2011 - Finding myself

I know that I’m very competitive person. I’m not sure if I was born with it or got this attitude “Be better than the others” from my mum telling me that when I was young, but I just am!! And basically in everything, everybody and always. Maybe sometimes I’m not showing it, but trust me…I’m thinking about it J

Especially in physical activities, because it’s the easiest. I was doing sports whole my life, but nothing and never on competitions, although I tried to win whatever small unofficial race or simple strength challenge I got in to. And I used to take all those very seriously, because only then it got that extra twist, those last 10% and the enjoyment was complete!! But somehow I’ve never thought about getting into real racing. I was always up to any competition somebody offered me to join, but I was not pursuing it on my own…until December 2010 when I was offered to participate in Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge.

      Why this sudden change of attitude came now and not before? Because it’s not fun racing when you have no chance to win J Last two years my lifestyle and environment around me changed, I slowly found more and more time to do sports and some focused training and my physical condition improved to a level I’ve never been to. And seeing that I could keep up and measure myself with international competition opened my eyes, showed me the way and filled with motivation…I saw a chance to be better than the others, compete and win…so I grabbed it and went for it!!!

And my first challenge was not far away, Dubai International Marathon on 28^th of January 2011. And let’s face it…this was not a race I could possibly win. This would be just me against JIRI and time!! Last two years I did the 10k version and set a company record with 39:56.  I don’t know if 62^nd place overall is especially impressive, but I felt that longer I go, better I am, so after going 80k in Abu Dhabi Challenge I tried my first 42k MARATHON.

During night training in Qatari wasteland I was able to do twice a week half-marathon at 14km/h so I said myself a goal “Let’s try to do it at 12km/h…should work!”

And it worked J As always I ran late to the start, didn’t have time to “drop off” some extra weight, Ipod battery was flat and I was starting from the end of the field, but somehow it didn’t matter. I watched my speed every kilometer and constantly progressed forward through the field lined up with cheering spectators.

Drinking Gatorade every 10k and eating one energy gel every 45 minutes I was feeling great and enjoying the run. After the half turn I even speeded up a bit, but exactly as Jaro said the crisis start coming around kilometer 30. Somehow I feel weaker, closer I’m to the finish and 10k to go is pretty close…in comparison to the whole thing!! So my legs started to hurt, pace shortened, breath rate increased and felt I’m draining last bits of energy. But the goal was there and was sure that I can make it. I suppressed the pain and pushed my numb legs forward.

3:24:45 means I completed my goal, made a decent result and 124^th place from 1100 I value more that 62^nd from 3150 in 10k last year J I was happy, but not 100%, because I knew I could do better…next time!! That’s the racing spirit J

The Year of the Wolf

Wikipedia says: “Wolf packs are often portrayed as strictly hierarchical social structures with a breeding "alpha" pair which climbs the social ladder through fighting, followed by subordinate "beta" wolves and a low ranking "omega" which bears the brunt of the pack's aggression. But there are also Lone wolves, which were driven from the pack or left it and live independently. Typically these lone wolves are stronger, more aggressive and far more dangerous than the average wolf that is a member of a pack. Occasionally, a lone wolf will encounter another lone wolf of the opposite sex and the two may start a new pack” And the circle closes.

Quick question. When did you realize that another year has passed…again? I found out just after I came from Czech back to Qatar and found an invitation for New Year Eve celebration on an island somewhere on the north of Qatar. I thought to go to UEA for New Year weekend, pick up my last things I left there, visit Rune and other friends and sneak into some party, but because travelling to UEA got more difficult and expensive since I’m Qatari resident and I had no “real” business there, I chose the island expedition.

The island is accessible by 4x4 car only twice a day during low tide and low tide is at 7am or 7pm. One way to early and the other way too late. But no problem for well equipped adventurer with own boat J So after sleeping enough I loaded the kayak with everything required for pleasant camp nigh plus kite gear, because there should have been nice wind on the New Year Day and set off for 5km ride to the island. It was beautiful sunny and warm winter day, with no wind or waves, just perfect for some kayaking.

On Facebook there were only 4 other people signed up, so I was expecting to be there almost alone with the organizer Ovi. But what was my surprise when I saw bunch of local guys around an all inclusive camp hut. They had cars, electricity generator, huge speakers, video projector, jet ski and boat. They had everything J And with such a background you do also everything

Welcome tequila shot from Ovi and right to the water try wakeboarding and riding a supercharged jet ski. When it was too cold we went back to the campfire for some gin and deliciously cooked fresh fish my new Bahraini friends caught in half an hour. Yum yum!! After first dinner we took wetsuits and with head lamps went into the shallow water with harpoons to catch some more fish and crabs. I wouldn’t think it that easy to catch a fresh food!! So for the second dinner from even fresher fish we had also toast crab desert J Well fed we put on the video and had some more drinks. Even the coolbox full of cold beer I brough with me came handy…just completely chilled out New Year night.

The next morning I woke up around midday just when we the wind came so after a quick breakfast I pumped up my kite and went to wake up to the sea for the second time. But it was just too freezing for me and I was thinking more about not falling into the water than about trying out some new tricks, so I quit soon and went instead for fire and more fresh fish.

       Unfortunately in the afternoon I had to leave this paradise island, where he time was passing so gently and you didn’t have to worry about anything…just enjoying. But when I was paddling in the dusk and fog between the waves back to the car, not able to see any shore and seemingly lost, I realized again where I really was.

Think about it like this…Life is like a wolf pack. You try to fight through the life you have up for satisfaction and happiness, but in one moment you are driven out of your track by others, which are stronger than you or you are just not strong enough. So you leave, hide, disappear and became a lone wolf. But lone wolves have more time, space and peace to train, practice and prepare for comeback. And when they come back to the old pack they are stronger, wiser and ready…and they take reigns!!

Enough thinking…let’s start doing and let this year be 

THE YEAR OF THE (lone) WOLF!

And I wish to all of you that this year is also YOUR YEAR J

Czech Republic winter challenge

Same time, different place. Just six hours flight away from one challenge came another. Although in kind of different sense J

Wherever I’m, I always try to get back home to see my parents, brother and old friends at least once a year. I don’t think it’s enough, but all those virtual technologies and them to come and visit me also once a year, I feel that I’m not that far away. And Christmas is the best occasion to plan this voyage. Although this year it was a bit more difficult decision, because I had no more leave days left for 2010.

“Hmm…I need to take one week from 2011 for Abu Dhabi Challenge anyway…so why not to take another right after and go home for some regeneration, feeding and cool down” I said and let my company book a straight Dubai – Prague - Dubai Emirates flight. Everything was set. “I just hope I’ll survive the winter there” I thought when hearing that there is plenty of snow.

After the Desert challenge I was not that wasted as I expected, but that’s another story, so I arrived full of energy to do something different. And Jan knew exactly what I had in mindJ Right after my arrival we went to a beautiful new indoor climbing wall, which was built in the past year and was opened couple of weeks back…Lucky!! I haven’t been climbing for at least half a year, but it wasn’t that tragic. I was still more or less able to maintain my difficulty level around 6b – 6c, which was good and the fact that I got quite far on some crazy 7a overhang felt even nicer. After we finished we sat in the adjacent bar and some beer…OK I had tea, because I was really cold and was driving home…but even with the tea I was quickly absorbing the cool atmosphere in a friendly place with same minded people around. Relaxing…

Next on the program was cross-country skiing. We live in the mountains so it was close to go for our usual 20km loop and it was just nice…and even the cold was not a problem. “You just need to get properly dressed and no weather is a problem” Jan said and when looking at him covered up to his nose with special winter wear, I felt it was warmly true.

Also twice we went snowboarding for half a day. I was afraid that after not standing on the snowboard for two years or so it would be painful and not fun, but it was exactly the opposite. After few first unsure turns all previous skill came quickly back and at the end of the day I was riding steadily “on switch”, doing small shy 180s and enjoying. I felt I wanted to stay more are learn more, but time was short…

I wanted also to see some old friends, so I ventured to Prague for one evening. I stopped by the Old Town Square for Christmas market, had hot mead (liquor with taste of honey), typical sausages, “langos” and one more mead on the way back J Christmas and friendly atmosphere was touchable. Next morning, after a joyful evening with two friends I hadn’t seen for a year, I was standing on the snow covered balcony of my mom’s flat in Prague, looking far over the buildings and still full of this different state of mind I got into when I landed I was thinking “If the cold is not the problem…then what is?” I remembered when I was leaving to Dubai two years ago how happy I was…

And complete “Cherry on the cake” was a reunion with some of my old classmates from high school back in my town. Good Czech food and beer and mostly the perfect company made that evening hard to forget…even when I might have lost some details at the end J

In the evenings in our house we were playing cards, drinking the best beer in the world and chilling out. We had funny company of our dog and cat always provoking each other, like they wanted to show me that they are also part of this family. And was feeling good…I was home J

But one week is just too short and I had to leave right on the Christmas Day. And my mood was gone!! It was it was also because I had a tricky connecting flight in Dubai to Doha from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 and work day just three hours after landing. “Welcome back JIRI!!...Welcome home”

Of course that I missed my connection because of bus driver going 15km/h all the time and I was back in business. “Hello…I missed my plane so I need to buy a new ticket. Can I go out to the booth and buy one?” I asked a guy behind information desk. “No, you need to wait for FlyDubai people to come here”, “Can you call them?” “OK…wait…OK…they are coming” he said after talking with somebody. “Can I please speak to them?” I asked “Actually no, because I don’t have their number…but don’t worry, they have flights here and are coming and going…just wait until 3:30am”. My blood started to boil!!

I had 5 hours before the next flight at 7am so I went behind the corner to have a Big Mac and while eating I was scanning carefully the hall for FlyDubai staff. “So? They have flight in 45 minutes and nobody is here!! When they are coming?” “Oh Sir, we were looking for you. They were here” he was lying into my face again. There was another guy, kind of boss of all the people checking boarding passes. “They are coming in 10 minutes. I called them” he said after I searched for somebody else who could do something. Half an hour nothing happened. Three hours to the flight. I was getting extremely pissed and nervous. FlyDubai was just on the other side of the wall!!

“OK then…nobody is coming…could you just go there? It’s 50 meters?” I begged him. “No..It’s not my duty” “And what the hell is your duty…!!!!” I wanted to scream to his face. I tried to ask three fat Arab ladies doing baggage screening to go back through. “No, you cannot” they didn’t want to bother. “Look…I changed my mind” I desperately chose a different strategy. I don’t want to fly anywhere anymore. I want to get out of here. I can buy visa on arrival. How to get out? “Eeee…” he had no idea.   

Fortunately that other “boss” probably did call to somebody and before I tried to jump through the security gate two FlyDubai guys appeared and what was even more lucky…they KNEW what to do and were not lying or trying to dodge unusual situation. As I’m thinking about it now…I could have solved it easier myself…open laptop, get on internet, call them myself, etc…but I got blinded by the virtual proximity of their office and idealism brought from Europe. Anyway...I mercifully got one hour of sleep on the airport and one in the plane and I was ready to go to work. No really, because in the meantime they shifted arrival terminal to some other place, so when I got out of the terminal in Doha I opened my mouth in disbelief that it was not over “Where the hell I am???”

Same time, different place. Just few hours flight away and you are in a different world, different life. Same person, different troubles. Just couple of thousand kilometers further and you have different options, different view.

And which “different” is the best? Only time will tell. Easy to say after going on holiday for two weeks “I love it here. I want to live here”. But only couple of years show all the hidden treasures and flaws. So even when I felt so good at home, I stay on the ground. I know that place for long after all J

Although…I think I’m starting to hear the time telling me something...