TrainingPeaks member profile: Bruce Humphries, cyclist

After first starting out as a Category 5 road racer in 2000, Bruce Humphries has now reached the elite level of cycling, working not only with a coach on TrainingPeaks but also with nutritionist Rick Kattouf, to see "just how lean" he can get. "I started racing bikes in 2000 for a short stint. I had previously raced ATV's, and used a mountain bike to pre-ride the courses. My wife and I found out we were pregnant with our son, so I stopped racing those, but the competitive fire was still there. My wife was at home with our son, and happened to start watching the Tour, one of Lance's seven, when television really covered a lot of cycling. She fell in love, so I decided that the time was now to start racing again... I started just like everyone else as a Cat 5 road racer. I won every race I entered except for one, where I lead a teammate out for the win. That got my upgrade to Cat 4, and then at the end of the season, I was a Cat 3 going into 2007. I was then automatically upgraded from Cat 3 to Cat 2 at the latter part of the 2007 season, and finished 2007 out as a Cat 2. I raced all of 2008 as a Cat 2 with the Hincapie/Coca-Cola/Barkely elite cycling team, and received my final Cat 1 upgrade at the end of the season."

Bruce enjoys cycling because it is a sport that fits his personality well. "I think I have stayed interested, because cycling fits my personality. I love to stay active, almost to a fault, and cycling has given me the ability to do it outside without the confines of a gym. That and I just love to compete, to try and be the best."

Fitting in his training in between a full time job and a family can be complicated, but Bruce manages it somehow. "During the season, I typically rest on Mondays, train the remainder of the week after work, depending on the time of the season, this could be 12-20 hours a week, on top of a 40 hour a week job. I typically train alone. Or if I go with local guys, I ask them to sit on while I do intervals. That motivates me to push hard, because one will keep up with the speed while I keep up with interval time. If I am alone, I listen to music, but sometimes it is nice to turn that off and just ride. I typically track my workout with a cycling computer with heart rate included. I used a power meter for a short amount of time and I loved it....Still trying to figure out how to get one of those."

Bruce's coach got him interested in using TrainingPeaks as a training log. "I started using TrainingPeaks when I started working with my coach Renee at www.simpletrainingconcepts.com. She would lay out my workouts, and I could see them and update her on what I was feeling, it really helps me keep track of things, especially when I had the power meter, it made life easier for both of us. I would recommend Trainingpeaks no doubt to anyone wanting to keep tabs on what they are doing and have done."

Reflecting back on his season this year, Bruce feels that he has learned a lot. "This year was a learning year for me in many aspects, racing at the elite level, things do not always go so easily, you always have the guys that get paid to do what I pay to do, and who do not have the pressure of a job or family, but that is what makes the better results that much better, knowing that you beat that level of rider."

His goals for next season are high. "Next year I am working with Renee again, but I am also working on my nutrition with Rick Kattouf www.teamkattoudf.com to dial me in and see just how lean I can get. I want to see if I can break the record to Mt. Mitchell, or at least be the first one to the top, I want to win my first Pro 1-2 race. I am going to be scaling back on the number of races I do and focusing on the ones I really think I can do well at. I really would like to win my age group at Master's nationals."

Happy riding, Bruce!

Comments

[Marcia Pacak]

Just want to say excellent choice with Rick Kattouf. I worked with him for 2 yrs. He literally saved my life. I am the female on his site. Good Luck on breaking your record. Rick won't stear you worng I know that for a fact!