In case you missed something, here are lists of my most-read blogs since I started posting in January, 2007 along with my most-read blogs of 2011.
Most Read of All Time
It’s remarkable how little change there is to this list from year to year. #1, #2 and #4 have been on the list every year. And #3 and #4 have made this list each year since they appeared.
1. Road Bike Posture (September, 2007)
This is a post from 4 years ago. I’ve never figured out why it turned out to be so popular. Having been #2 for the last couple of years, it’s now jumped to #1. It discusses hip position in a seated position on a road bike and shows examples of two riders, one with a position I like and another that’s not quite as nice.
2. Cleat position (January, 2007)
This was the first blog post I ever wrote and it continues to be one of the most read of all time but slipped from #1 to #2 in 2011. Here I discuss a midsole alternative to the traditional forefoot cleat position for cycling shoes. There have been numerous comments posted to this blog by readers, many of which describe their experience after moving their cleats. There have also been follow-up posts to this blog which you can find by doing a search on “cleat position” on the home page www.joefrielsblog.com
3. A Quick Guide to Setting Zones (November, 2009)
As suggested in the title, this post takes you through the step-by-step process of setting up your training zones (heart rate, power, pace) for cycling, running and swimming. It’s one I send readers to who have questions along these lines.
4. Foot Strike in Running (March, 2007)
This is another perennially popular post making the top five for the fifth consecutive year. It provides pictures of two runners at Ironman Hawaii in 2006—one with a relatively flat-foot strike and the other with a heel strike. It briefly discusses the advantages of minimizing an initial heel-first foot strike.
5. Simplified Base Bicycle Training (December, 2008)
This is the first time in the top 10 for this post. It's basic advice for the road cyclist in the winter months. Here I discuss Christmas Star riders, training patiently and the 3 abilities I have riders work on at this time in the season.
Most Read of 2011
Here are the posts that were read most often from my 2011 blogs.
1. An Update on Compression Clothing (February)
I've been writing about compression clothing since shortly after it bagen to appear at races. This post examines the latest research on the topic and summarizes what I see happening.
2. Training for Advanced Athletes, Part 5 (June)
This blog post describes a type of periodization I’ve been using with some athletes for just over a year now. It’s relatively new in the world of sport science but has a lot of advantages for the athlete who races at a high level.
3. Determining your LTHR (April)
This is a bit of grumpy description of what seems to me to be a very simple concept which, for some reason that evades me, is complex for many athletes.
4. Indoor vs. Outdoor Bike Performance (January)
This is my answer to a question asked by a coach which is a common one: Why is it that indoor training performance seems to differ from similar workouts and tests done outdoors?
5. Becoming a Better Fat Burner (January)
One marker of an aerobically fit endurance athlete is a propensity to use fat for fuel while sparing glycogen. This post discusses why and describes how this physiological attribute can be improved.
Thanks for following my blog in 2011. It was viewed 870,263 times and grew by 27% over 2010. I look forward to seeing what’s ahead in 2012. I still have a long list of topics that interest me waiting in the wings. What’s holding me back is time. Just as I’m sure you find, there are never enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do. But regardless, if you have a topic you’d like me to write about please feel free to post it as a suggestion in the comments section below. I can’t guarantee I’ll write about it, but I may.
Also, thanks for your comments in 2011. There were some great questions and discussions. One of the reasons I have a blog is to hear what real-world athletes are experiencing and wondering about. It keeps me in touch with sport in a way that writing books and reading research can’t do. I look forward to seeing your reactions to my posts in 2012.
