Donald’s Daily Draft

 Earlier this year, I had the chance to experience the Human Performance Lab at Meredith College.  The tests conducted in this lab helps athletes train more efficiently.  The easiest explanation?  You feel like Lance.  It’s all the tests you might have seen the seven time Tour de France winner endure in all those cool Discovery Channel specials.  Sorry, this one doesn’t include the wind tunnel.  Dr. Chris Eschbach, a former competitive cyclist and triathlete runs the lab,  “I started the Lab because I saw a need.  Athletes wanted to get tested and the availability of testing wasn’t there.”

Eschbach not only runs the Human Performance Lab, he’s also an associate professor of health, exercise and sports science at Meredith College.  Eschbach says with the triathlon scene exploding over the last few years, more and more athletes, many of them beginners, are signing up for testing. 

I’ve attached the video link here: Human Performance Lab… check it out!

The endurance test will cost you $175. It can also be conducted on a treadmill.  A less intensive test is $85.

Let’s talk post ride nutrition.  Everyone has a favorite recovery drink to follow up their ride.  So, what’s mine?  Two words: CHOCOLATE MILK!

I’ve read article, after article regarding studies on the benefits of one of our kid’s favorite drinks.  Whether my ride is 32 miles or a hundy, I fill up a pint glass with fat free milk, a couple of tablespoons of Hershey’s chocolate syrup and a scoop of Whey protein (yummy)!  I find it really cuts down on soreness and speeds recovery just as much or more than other recovery drinks I’ve tried.  I’m not saying other choices aren’t good… I just prefer the Choco-concoction and it’s less expensive!

Welcome to Donald’s Daily Draft… not beer… cycling.  It’s how I shift gears from anchoring our morning show.  My Daily Draft is just that: training, nutrition, rides and whatever spins out of my mind. Cycle through anytime and send me your comments or suggestions.  I’ll give a little background on how I became a pedaling fanatic.  I ran track and cross country in high school.  It was a good way for me to burn teenage energy as well as stay in shape. During college, I tried running for exercise but not only found it boring, it was hurting my knees.  That’s when I decided to try cycling.  I bought my first road bike (Specialized) and took off.  I pedaled a lot through college but my riding time slowed during my early years in the news business.  My poor bike, tires flat and computer dead, hung on the garage wall for six years. But then we moved to North Carolina.  I was getting older, my metabolism slowing and a jog to the mailbox left me panting.  Thankfully, I found the great back country roads of Wake, Chatham, Lee and Harnett Counties.  It was time to pull the old machine off the wall.