Can you identify the Hot Pursuit participants?

Training/Nutritional advice

Chris, Jon, John, Craig and Kevin,

It has come to my attention, that there is interest in learning about my training/nutritional plan. I am of course very willing to share my experiences.

It is common knowledge that the activity of cycling burns many calories. Therefore it stands to reason that "ultra"marathon cycling requires "ultra" calorie consumption. To get your nutrition right is of utmost importance. You can never start too early with this plan.

Speaking from personal experience and a "pure" motive to help, here is what I recommend.

Breakfast.

1. Set your wife's alarm for one hour before you intend to get up. She will then go and get 6 biscuits smothered in gravy (leftover from 'biggie-sizing" yesterday's gravy container, compliments of KFC). Stay in bed to enjoy this breakfast appetizer.

It is always best to go back to sleep to get the full benefit of the snack.

2. Quality nutrition is, of course, the key to success in ultra cycling. A 5-egg omelet, loaded with as much cheese as a George Foreman grill can hold, will do just fine for breakfast. Before going on a training ride , inspect your bike thoroughly. Tinker with every adjustment you can find.

Most wives will never know that you are just procrastinating getting on the bike. By this time it will be around 11:00am.

Lunch

3. Just to be sure you have enough calories for your training ride, call, or for you young guys, text your wife to stop by McDonalds to pick up a Big Mac. Make sure to "biggie size"the fries and the Coke. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, my Mama always told me how important milk is for strong bones. Strong bones make for strong legs for ultra-marathon cycling. Get her to add a large vanilla milkshake to get your daily recommended Canada food guide of calcium.

4. You are now set to go on your training ride, unless of course there is a slight wind or a cloud in the sky. In that case, just take a nap.

Supper

5. Even though you are in training for Hot Pursuit, NEVER shirk your household responsibilities. Tell your spouse you will cook supper tonight. KFC is sending out all kinds of great coupons for 5 piece chicken dinners, fries and salads and best of all, a "free" jumbo size of gravy. (Hold off with dessert, you don't want to overdo it)

6. Rest days are key for your muscles to recover, so do not worry if eating interferes with your training on most days. You can always make that up later.

7. Bed time snacks are most important. Here is my actual summer experience last year. During my 23 days of Tour for Life, it became increasingly obvious that I did not eat enough. I kept losing weight. For the first few days, my bed time snack consisted of a regular dessert dish full of vanilla ice cream and strawberries. By week two I switched to a soup bowl. By week 3, I asked Ruth (my wife) to just use a salad bowl. The last few days she just brought a 4 litre pail of ice cream and a 4 litre pail of strawberries with a soup ladle.

On days when it was hard to replenish my salt and fat intake, we added a 2000 gram bag of ripple chips and a salad bowl of dip.

So please take my advice, start the nutritional intake now. It will increase your speed on all the downhills through the Rockies.

Arvid

PS: Please consult your doctor before going on this plan.

Hot Pursuit

Hot Pursuit will take ultra-marathon cyclist Arvid Loewen from White Rock, BC, to Winnipeg, MB, in under 5 days.

Think that's tough?

He'll be chased by relay teams leaving White Rock only 24 hours behind him. Four members of the Winnipeg Police Service and five professors/alumni from Canadian Mennonite University will race after him in the ultimate HOT PURSUIT. 

Along the way, a few others will be competing, including a team of four "grannies" relaying from Calgary to Winnipeg.

Arvid's ride is in support of Mully Children's Family, a dynamic street-rescue orphanage in Kenya, Africa. The Winnipeg Police are raising funds for Children's Wish Foundation. The Canadian Mennonite University team is raising funds to bring international students to their school. 

Together, they make up HOT PURSUIT 2010.

For more information and to follow the ride, visit www.hotpursuit2010.com.