Data Driven Athlete

Training & Racing Like a Pro: Everything I’ve Learned In The Last Year

November 13, 2024 Jacob Velasco

It’s been about a year since I decided to dedicate myself to becoming a professional cyclist and I wanted to write about my time with this endeavor.

Over the past year, I’ve matured and grown more than I ever have in such a short period of time. It’s hard to recognize myself from a year ago. Pursuing this dream has been my north star; in the pursuit, it feels like everything within me has fallen into place. Here’s the good, bad, and everything else I’ve experienced.

photo of golden cogwheel on black background

Training

Mastering Warm-Ups in Strength Training

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 Nate Dunn MS, CSCS®

** The following is a post from our sister site over at Durable Fitness**

In our last post, we described a progressive overload strategy that combines an expectation of adding weight on future workouts coupled with a sub-maximal RPE prescription.

Sports Nutrition

Is Maurten’s Bicarb System Worth the Cost for Cyclists?

October 7, 2024October 7, 2024 Jacob Velasco

When the intensity of your cycling increases, so does the concentration of lactic acid in your muscles.

The build-up of acidity within the muscles is a significant limiting factor. This primarily affects high-intensity efforts lasting 1-10 minutes (3). To solve the challenge of increased acidity, ingesting an “alkalinizer” like sodium bicarbonate has been suggested (3).

Sports Nutrition

Carbohydrate: How Much is Too Much?

August 28, 2024August 28, 2024 Jacob Velasco

It’s well known to cyclists that carbohydrates are essential for peak performance. For years, 90 grams of carbohydrate per hour has been the highest fueling recommendation (5). Recently, elite-level athletes have been pushing beyond 90g/hr (2).

What I've Learned

Finally Getting To The Front

July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 Jacob Velasco

5th place may not be winning the race, but it sure feels like it to me. I love the analogy of racing commonly being referred to as a puzzle. That is exactly what racing feels like, especially in gravel.

Training/What I've Learned

Balance

June 19, 2024June 21, 2024 Jacob Velasco

Please help me welcome to the blog for the first time, Mr. Jacob Velasco!

Throughout the past few years, I worked towards my Associate’s degree at Sierra College. As I got closer to finishing my degree, I started to see a lot of growth and success in cycling. I knew this time was the best opportunity to give “ going pro “ my best shot.

Introducing A New Coach

June 13, 2024June 13, 2024 Nate Dunn MS, CSCS®

Today, I want to introduce you to a new coach at Data Driven Athlete, Jacob Velasco.

I started working with Jacob a little over a year ago and knew we’d hit it off when I spotted posters on his wall paying homage to iconic alternative rock bands of my youth.

Announcing Durable Fitness

May 16, 2024May 16, 2024 Nate Dunn MS, CSCS®

I’m excited to announce a new general strength and fitness coaching project called Durable Fitness.

Durable Fitness has been on my mind for the past four years as personal health challenges have required me to invest all my training energy into making my body as durable as possible.

Read More “Announcing Durable Fitness”

Coaching Hat/Cycling IQ/Training

How Power Tests Hurt Your Cycling

March 15, 2024July 12, 2024 Nate Dunn MS, CSCS®

Since I began coaching in 2009, the general wisdom regarding “training with a power meter” has been to perform a power test every 4-6 weeks to best monitor changes in fitness.

Cycling IQ/Training

How Podcasts Make You Slower

February 27, 2024July 11, 2024 Nate Dunn MS, CSCS®

One of my favorite exercise science writers is Alex Hutchinson. Hutchinson authored the 2018 book “Endure” and writes a regular column for Outside titled “Sweat Science.”

Recently, Hutchinson brought attention to a 2011 study examining the “licensing” effect observed in participants taking a dietary supplement [1].

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