How this works

Every test ends on one question. For advice and habits: would I tell a friend my age to do this? For gear: would I race Ogopogo with it? Yes on gear is a race-day lock, no gets demoted, and not yet is probation, which is every test so far. A verdict needs a published post behind it.

Five checkpoints

These grade the whole experiment. A plan that wins Tuesday and loses the household fails.

  • SwimA threshold pace test each phase, same pool, same protocol.
  • BikeA long climbing test, and watts per kilo as the weight falls.
  • RunPace and heart rate late in a long trail run, plus running economy once the strap joins.
  • BodyWeight trend against the 190 line, resting heart rate and sleep. Reviewed weekly, judged monthly.
  • LifeSessions completed as planned, family dinners kept, work delivered.

House rules

These apply to every test, review and note on this site.

  • No made-up numbersSpec is labeled spec. Anything not yet proven says so.
  • Brands never see a verdict before you doEvery review says how the product arrived, bought, loaned or gifted.
  • Rival fuel never gets rankedI own a gel company, and I say so wherever fuel appears.
  • Bots propose, the body disposesSharp pain, illness or a family emergency beats any plan, any day.
  • A personal log, not medical adviceTalk to a doctor before you copy any of it.

The staff

Four bots and a veto. No full-time coach fits this calendar or this budget.

  • Plannerplan-bot builds each week from the phase plan, family calendar and work travel, and moves sessions when a kid gets sick.
  • Morning briefdawn-bot reads sleep, resting heart rate and yesterday's load, then says go, shrink or skip.
  • Fuel clerkfuel-bot does grams per hour, bottles by temperature, and the weekly weight trend against the 190 line.
  • Editorlog-bot turns workout files and voice notes into the weekly draft. I rewrite anything that sounds like a press release.
  • Final sayMe. A veto over every workout, no appeals.

The subject

Haydn, one middle-aged man in Denver. VP of Product, dad of two, 2023 Starvation Extreme Triathlon finisher. Then life did what life does, and the weight crept to 225.

Today: 225 lb, goal 190 by race day, week 1 of 44.

Who owns what

I own Origin Endurance, so gels and sports fuel get lab-note coverage only, never rankings against rivals. The shop is paused, no relaunch date set. Watch, bike, shoe and apparel reviews state how the product arrived, and affiliate links, if added later, will be labeled on the page.

This site is a personal training log, not medical or coaching advice.