As we are nearing the start of the Tour de France, there is plenty of chatter about Lance, his Tour chances, performance, the video where he says that France is only preparation for the Leadville 100 "no kidding", etc.

In the next few days the Active Network will publish the first of a two-part series on the details of Dave Wiens's training for the eight months leading into Leadville. The moment the column goes live, I'll let you loyal blog followers know. You'll get a bit of a lead on the actual newsletter release.

There is plenty of good information to read in the columns, so I won't get into too much detail here. One thing I will give is my opinion on the two different athletes and their approach to Leadville 100 preparation.

Before heading into giving my opinion, first some ground work information. As the world knows, Lance is about to start the Tour de France which lasts three weeks, 21 stages, 2,200 miles, lots of media, plenty of controversy and a fair amount of stress. The last day of the Tour is July 26th.

Wiens, on the other hand, is planning on racing the TransAlp Mountain bike race, that is eight stages beginning on July 18th to the 25th. The race website estimates the vertical gain at 65,000ft for the entire race.

For a moment, let's assume I have two elite athletes on my hands with matching physiology. One athlete wants to do a three-week road stage race that ends three weeks before the Leadville 100. The second athlete wants to do a one-week mountain bike stage race that ends three weeks before the Leadville 100. The athletes will take about 6:30 to complete the race. Exact time is somewhat unknown due to a new route this year, but the 6:30 mark is close.

Which training plan would I pick and why?

Hands down, I'd select the Wiens training plan and here's why:

1. Volume. Anyone that knows my training strategy knows I'm a big fan of a crash week of high training volume in the three to six weeks prior to a one day, ultra-distance race. While I do like one week, I believe three weeks of the Tour is overdoing it and it will take some of Lance's sustainable and high-end power away. It will take Lance at least three weeks to recover from the Tour and it is very difficult to recover and build the high-end power at the same time. I'm talking about the power to be competitive at short distance - not the ability to simply complete the event. (Ask any: 1) Tour racer that has tried to do an event requiring high-end power within three weeks of finishing the Tour, 2) Ironman racer that has tried to race Olympic or short course triathlon within 2-3 weeks of Ironman. 3) Ultra-marathoner that has tried to do a 10k within 2-3 weeks of an ultra run.)

2. Time away from altitude. No doubt the climbing in both European events is impressive, but the top altitude in both events is not high, compared to Aspen, Gunnison and Leadville standards. The Tour puts Lance away from high altitude for three weeks. Based on personal experience, it will take a full three weeks for him to feel good when he returns to Aspen (7,980ft) and longer to feel good at higher altitudes (Leadville is 10,200-12,600ft). Lance is a relative newbie to living in Aspen, so he doesn't have the time base at altitude that long-time resident Wiens has in Gunnison (7,700ft). Also, you will see in the upcoming columns that Wiens is training and racing at high altitudes year round. Another thing to consider is lifetime spent at altitude. Think the difference between Nepalese Sherpas and people that come to altitude to try to acclimatize. Lance returns to Aspen to try to do three things at the same time: 1) recover, 2) acclimatize, and 3) build the power and speed necessary to ride at Leadville intensity. Yes, I know he's Lance, but...

3. Specificity. Lance is road riding for three weeks. Dave is on his mountain bike for TransAlp as well as the time before and after the event. Ask any roadie that has tried to be competitive on a mountain bike, even a non-technical course, riding the mountain bike takes more muscular balance, skills and core strength than road riding does.

4. Stress. In all my years of coaching athletes, nothing undoes an athlete like emotional stress. Lance is constantly under the microscope, hounded by media and managing all of the drama of the Tour. Compared to Lance, Dave is in a relatively stress-free environment. He can establish a Zen-type approach to his training and racing leading into Leadville. He is surrounded by supportive people and few, if any, people that are trash-talking him. Again, I know Lance is tough in this regard, but it can wear a person down.

What do you think? You have a choice of the two training plans, which one would you choose and why?

Those of you that subscribe to my Twitter feed know I was riding in the mountains last week, with the primary purpose of climbing anything I could find at altitudes above 9,000 ft.

This year there are two events I will attend that require good cycling fitness in order for me to have fun. The first event is a week-long tour in France that includes climbing and Mont Ventoux. This bike tour is not at altitude, but it does require climbing strength.

The second event is the Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race which requires altitude fitness between about 9,200 and 12,600 feet. I've written about using altitude training and acclimatizing to altitude pre-race in past Active newsletters.

While I normally use a week-long bike trip, organized by someone else or me, to boost my fitness; this year the week-long tour is not at altitude. That is both good and not-so-good.

The good news is by climbing the hills in France, I'll be able to build power that is hard to build in Colorado due to the altitude. (See the altitude training link above.) Is it possible for me to keep my altitude fitness AND get more power in my legs with a trip to France?

I think so.

In my past personal training experience, I know that taking a trip to higher altitude only once per week to workout improves my ability to ride and run at higher altitudes. I wanted a block of training at an altitude above 8,000 feet last week so I could use this week as a recovery week at low altitude while I am coaching at the Hy-Vee Des Moines ITU World Cup race.

When I return home to the front range of Colorado (5,000 feet of elevation), I will aim to get to higher altitudes once per week prior to leaving for France in late July, then for a couple of rides after returning home from France and before Leadville.

With that strategy in mind, I decided to base out of Frisco, Colorado. Frisco sits at a crisp 9,000 feet and offers a large variety of choices for both road and mountain bike riding.

Day 1 - With a late start, I tried to climb Mount Evans from Idaho Springs. Due to high winds, I only made it to Summit Lake. Ride time 2:37, 5,300 ft. of climbing. The snow on Evans is more than I've seen in past years. One of the big treats on this trip was seeing a mountain goat.

Day 2 - I met a friend, Dave Newman, in Breckenridge and we climbed Boreas Pass on mountain bikes and descended on really nice single-track from Baker's Tank toward Breckenridge. We also did some of the Breck city single-track. I rode back to Frisco. Ride time 3:16, 2,501 ft. of climbing.

Day 3 - Ride the Ten-Mile Canyon bike trail from Frisco to Vail and back. I always forget that the climb from Vail to the top of Vail Pass is harder than going from Frisco to Vail Pass. This is just a great ride, with a mix of bike trail and old highway. Ride time 3:10 with 3,910 feet of climbing.

Day 4 - Because I wanted to ride towards home and I had not ridden up the back side of Loveland Pass, I decided to ride from Frisco to Keystone (over Swan Mountain), then over Loveland Pass. Ride time was about 2:30 with 3,170 feet of climbing.

The four-day total was 11:33 ride time and 14,890 feet of climbing. Recall from an earlier blog post that for climbing events, I aim to complete a minimum of 50- to 80-percent of the event time (and elevation) in a block of training.

Goal accomplished.

The parting shot is of longboarders getting ready to descent Loveland Pass. Seems that the same hills that attract cyclists, attract longboarders.

We got caught in the rain on Sunday's long bike ride, again. For those of you not familiar with mountain rains, they are cold. It is no fun to be riding in the mountains, particularly descending a big hill, in a summer rain/hail/snow storm. You can get cold, fast.

I don't mind being in the cold, I just hate being cold. A couple of weeks ago we did a big loop from Loveland to Lyons, Allenspark, then Estes Park and ending back in Loveland. For this 90-mile loop, we saw rain for roughly half of it. Some hail, but not too bad.

Sunday, we rode about 75 miles that included 4,500 feet of climbing and two efforts around the 8,000 ft. mark. The people that made it back to Loveland didn't see any hail, but the Ft. Collins people saw hail. Thankfully, everyone made it home safe and sound.

On the equipment side, I had three pieces of gear that made the difference for me. First, is the best waterproof jacket I've had in years. The waterproof jackets I've had in the past have been big and bulky to carry (especially in small or medium jersey pockets) and they make you feel like you're riding in a sauna when going uphill. If they have been extremely light, then they don't keep me warm enough and they don't shed the water as well. I used the Octane jacket I got this year on both rides and I can't be happier. No sauna-effect when riding uphill, it kept me dry and it kept me warm on the descents.

An added feature of this jacket is the removable hood. I hate cold rain running down my neck, making an already miserable day worse. The hood keeps the wind and wet off of your head and no water runs down the back of your neck. Nice.

The second piece of gear I carried was a pair of gloves that I wore this winter, but made a last minute decision to carry them when I walked out the door. If you can't keep your core and your hands warm, you won't be controlling the bike. My hands get cold pretty fast and these glove were great.

The final item that made a huge difference for me was a pair of vented sunglasses. I wear contact lenses, so protecting my sight in wet and muddy conditions is critical. On numerous rides, both on and off-road, I've had to remove glasses because they were too dark or they fogged up. Annoying, really annoying.

Last winter I ordered a new pair of sunglasses from Oakley and hoped they would solve my problems. I didn't wear them for the first rain ride and I had vision problems. There was so much lens fog on the inside of the yellow lenses and rainy road goop on the front that I had to take my sunglasses off and just squint. Not good. I've had these problems before.

I wore them Sunday and I'm happy to report no fog and (though I admit I was really skeptical about the so-called hydrophobic water, oil, etc. shedding lenses) they really did shed the rain splash back from cars and other cyclists. The lens was also good in both sunny and low-light conditions. I went with the RADAR model, PITCH Black Iridium Vented.

It makes me really happy when my investment yields outstanding returns.

I went running with my favorite, and most reliable, running partner this morning - my dog Meeka. (No offense to my human friends.) She is with me for every running session, year round. I wrote a story about running with a dog in winter and running in summer requires as much forethought and caution as winter running. Maybe you, or someone you know, could use a few tips for running with your dog in the summer.

Meeka on her trail run this morning

Avoid the heat: I tend to run as early in the morning as possible to avoid the heat of the day. If I can't avoid a hotter part of the day, I try to run somewhere that has shade or where she can take frequent dips in a lake or stream. I watch her panting to be sure it doesn't turn from normal and rhythmic to extreme and labored with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

Slow the pace: Just like humans, dogs tend to slow down when it gets too hot. This is particularly true for really furry or black dogs.

Watch the paws: A dog can blister their pads if you run them on hot concrete or asphalt. Run when it is cooler or use booties. Also, people that run dogs on sandstone rock (ie Moab-ish rocks) should consider booties.

Carry fluid for Fido: If you can't run where there is an easy source of water for the dog (near a lake or a stream) then carry extra water for the dog. Know that dogs can get Giardia from water sources. There is a vaccination that prevents Giardia, so talk to your veterinarian to see if this is something your dog needs.

Watch for snakes: If you run trails, watch out for snakes. Keep your dog on a short leash and keep an eye out for snakes lying under a bush, getting ready to sunbathe. Carry Benadryl or a similar antihistamine for the unlikely event of a snake bite (for you or the dog). Talk to your vet about the proper dosage for your dog.

Control your dog: The trails are much more crowded in summer months. If you have access to voice control trails (leashes are not required), be sure your dog really does respond to voice commands. With or without a leash, do not allow your dog to approach another dog without asking if the other dog is friendly or not. Keep your dog from charging or jumping on other dogs or humans. On the human side, I know it might be hard to believe if you are a dog-lover, but some people don't like dogs or they are very fearful of dogs. There is no need for confrontation.

Light on the leash: Teach your dog to walk and run on a lead without pulling. Constant pulling can cause arm or neck injuries for you and can damage the esophagus of your dog.

Pick up the poo: Carry poop bags for your dog's waste. No one, including other dog owners, wants to wade through piles of poop on their favorite trail, neighborhood or park. If the smell puts you off, carry a ziplock bag so you can store the poop bag(s) in a relatively smell-proof location until you get to a trash can. When I run in the city, I know where all the dumpsters are located so I can get rid of the bags quickly.

There are probably some tips I'm missing here, but it's a good start. If you need to do a long run in extreme heat, it's probably best to leave your dog at home and plan a swim for the dog, and maybe you too, when you get back from the run.

Last weekend while my buddies and I were ending a mountain bike ride when we noticed two guys with skateboards (officially called longboards) standing around getting ready to hurl themselves down a road descent that locals call "the backside of Rist". The fellow dressed in black was all excited because he reached 72 miles per hour on the last run.

My thoughts began racing...
A crash at 72 mph on a skateboard is going to leave a mark, or two, and most certainly a Band-Aid will be necessary - even though he's dressed in full leathers, helmet and Vans shoes.
I grab brake coming down that descent on a bike.
My max bike speed has never exceeded 60 mph.
I have brakes.
I wonder how many Vans/brakes it takes to make it through a season of racing?

We did watch them come down the hill and it was really amazing. The focus, skill and athletic talent it takes to do this sport is interesting to me, though I am not remotely interested in trying it myself. I snapped a couple of photos the guys on the run-out, which gives no justice to the sport.

I chatted with the guys a bit and found out that they competed in the 2009 Buffalo Bill Downhill the previous weekend. Below is some footage of the racer I spoke to, Josh Weisfeld (in the all-black leathers in my still photos), going downhill fast outside of Golden, CO:

Josh Weisfeld longboard racing from Jason Blevins on Vimeo.

I did a little more research and found out that other longboarders have discovered Rist Canyon as well. Apparently the steep drop, curves (yes, curves in the road) and the run-out make it perfect for longboarding.

I’m happy I have brakes…

If one of your upcoming events is on a "hilly course," it is reasonable to plan to ride some hills in your training. But, "go ride hills" isn't specific enough.

This blog is continuing the series for self-coached athletes. Those of you following along on my training posts know that in the last month I've posted three different hilly rides. Below are the rides and a bit more info:

• 63 miles, 3:35 ride time, 3388 feet of ascent, hill rating 54 ft/mi
• 26.2 miles, 3:34 ride time, 4155 feet of ascent, hill rating 158 ft/mi
• 23.74 miles, 3:13 ride time, 3847 feet of ascent, hill rating 162 ft/mi

The event I'm training for will last some 10-11 hours over 102.3 miles with 12,440 feet of ascent and a hill rating of 121.6 ft/mi.

The rides I plan and the sequence of planning for my event would be much different if I were doing an event such as the Sunshine Hill Climb. This event has a total ascent of 3226 feet in 9 miles. I suspect that event would take me over an hour and less than an hour-an-a-half to do this course with a hill rating of 358.4 ft/mi.

When athletes are building fitness, the first thing I plan for is event endurance. My rule of thumb is to have the athlete complete some 50- to 80-percent of the estimated race completion time in training. (Later, I'll aim for 50- to 80- percent of the elevation gain.) If the event is very short or the athlete is very fit, I may have them doing over 100-percent of the estimated event time. If the event is very long (ultra runs, ultra bike rides, Ironman triathlon) I use one to three days, usually sequential, to complete the 50- to 80-percent rule.

After the athlete has strong aerobic fitness, I begin to look at building event-specific speed. If the event is a "hilly" event, some of the things I want to know include:

• How much overall elevation is gained in the event?
• What is the hill rating?
• What kind of hills? (Few and long? Multiple and short? Steepest hill grade? (Mtb only) - technical single-track or more fire roads?)
• Does the athlete need primarily lactate threshold fitness, muscular-endurance, power, overall aerobic endurance or some combination?

Key points:

Even though I used cycling races as examples, today's key points work just as well for running and triathlon events.
1. When you are planning your training, examine the profile of your key event.
2. Estimate the overall time you think it will take you to complete the event.
3. First plan to have the capability to complete 50- to 80-percent of the estimated event time in your training.
4. After solid fitness is built, then more course-specific speed can be added to the mix.

I have this theory that endurance athletes are wired differently than non-endurance athletes. I think our brains receive sensations of pleasure when enduring lactate threshold efforts, when our muscles are aching from a long workout and when we push ourselves toward the brink in training or in a race. I tend to call the physical sensation “discomfort,” to differentiate from the pain of an injury; but no matter how you slice it, going fast, long or holding lactate threshold effort hurts. Arm-in-arm with the pain is pleasure.

I suspect this pleasure is similar to the pleasure sensation found by the danger-seeking crowd, it's just in a different location in the brain or maybe it’s the same location but stimulated differently.

My question to you is, do you find pleasure in the pain? Can you describe it? Can you describe a situation where you were definitely hurting (in training or in a race – cycling, running or triathlon) and at the same time you were hurting, there was this warm sensation of pleasure?

Andy Potts has a reputation for smashing the competition right out of the gate. If his swim isn't the fastest, it is among the top few. I asked Andy to tell me about his favorite swim workouts for Olympic distance racing and Ironman racing. Here's what he said:

There is really not a lot I do differently to prepare for an Olympic distance swim and an Ironman swim. I am always looking to push hard from the time the gun goes off and use my swimming strength to create early separation from the field. With that said, one main set that gets me ready is:

Decent mixed warm-up

3 x 500 at a steady pace

3 x 400 descending 1-3

He said with the warm-up and some fluff on the end, the workout totals 5000 y/m. I'll find out what his pace is for these sets when he gets back from racing Wildflower this weekend.

The start list for the event currently includes 57 men of high quality Olympic and Ironman pedigrees.

I'm betting Andy is first out of the water. Your bet?