Thanks to everyone for the words of encouragement while Emily was laid up in the hospital.
She was released Tuesday and they didn't have a real solid diagnosis. They speculate kidney stones and I guess we're going with that. =) Hopefully nothing permanent but probably more pregnancy related. She had them with our first child, so I suppose it's a reoccurring theme.
On another note, keep the contest entries coming, I only have 9 right now so your chances are pretty good if you submit a story by this Sunday!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Trolley Run Race Report - 4/25/10
So this would be where I would write about my best Trolley Run time ever celebrating running this event some 5 to 6 times... however... this weekend multisport and real life were on a collision course.
Instead of a fun filled light hearted run down the trolley path, my wife and I are spending some quality time in Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Multisport and life intersected Friday night when the wife had to make a trip to the ER for possible kidney stones. They sent her home after some IV fluids and with prescriptions for pain meds and antibiotics for a kidney infection.
No big deal you would think... little does the normal person know that if the person with the kidney infection is pregnant, it can be a HUGE deal. Unfortunately Emily didn't improve Saturday which led us to Shawnee Mission Medical Center ER and then being admitted for observation.
It's been a trying 12 hours thus far and feels like 12 days... stuck in a room with little improvement. At least we are at the hospital with medical professionals. Kidney stones are definitely a pain (in the back) and puts the kibosh on minor things like training and triathlons.
Instead of a fun filled light hearted run down the trolley path, my wife and I are spending some quality time in Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
Multisport and life intersected Friday night when the wife had to make a trip to the ER for possible kidney stones. They sent her home after some IV fluids and with prescriptions for pain meds and antibiotics for a kidney infection.
No big deal you would think... little does the normal person know that if the person with the kidney infection is pregnant, it can be a HUGE deal. Unfortunately Emily didn't improve Saturday which led us to Shawnee Mission Medical Center ER and then being admitted for observation.
It's been a trying 12 hours thus far and feels like 12 days... stuck in a room with little improvement. At least we are at the hospital with medical professionals. Kidney stones are definitely a pain (in the back) and puts the kibosh on minor things like training and triathlons.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
BEST STORIES CONTEST!
Ok folks, it's time to wake up and stop being "just a reader!". It's time for participation!
We've all had those issues pre-race... you know, having to go... whether it be throughout pre-race prep, on the beach waiting for your heat to start, in the water waiting for the gun or coming out of the water in to the bike.
My last race (Kansas 1/2 Marathon) provided some interesting logistics of the port-a-potties to race start location. I made the #2 stop at packet pickup and #1 happened at some lucky trees along a little creek area. It worked out great, luckily. For some other people at the race (who will remain nameless), it didn't work out so great. A call from nature resulted in missing the gun which resulted in no recorded time... oops.
I know more multisport athletes have those stories. Now's the time to share! Comment on this post with your favorite nature story (cliff notes version) and I'll post the stories for other readers to vote on! Too embarrassing? Don't want others to know your story? No problem. Note on the post you want it to be anonymous when posted and you're comment will not be published and the post will be anonymous.
Entries will be accepted until 5pm central time on May 2. At that time I will post the stores (G rated) for comment votes. Simply comment on the post and pick your favorite story.
What do I get if I win, you ask? YOU GET... drum roll... any pair of socks from ($12 max) Sockguy.com. If you are the winner, I'll send you a message that you won and ask you to message me with the socks you want and the address to ship them to!
Sockguy.com isn't one of my affiliates, but they have some of the more fun socks out there!
Voting will run from May3rd-ish to 5pm May 14th.
Start sending your entries in now, g-rated and check your modesty at the door!
We've all had those issues pre-race... you know, having to go... whether it be throughout pre-race prep, on the beach waiting for your heat to start, in the water waiting for the gun or coming out of the water in to the bike.
My last race (Kansas 1/2 Marathon) provided some interesting logistics of the port-a-potties to race start location. I made the #2 stop at packet pickup and #1 happened at some lucky trees along a little creek area. It worked out great, luckily. For some other people at the race (who will remain nameless), it didn't work out so great. A call from nature resulted in missing the gun which resulted in no recorded time... oops.
I know more multisport athletes have those stories. Now's the time to share! Comment on this post with your favorite nature story (cliff notes version) and I'll post the stories for other readers to vote on! Too embarrassing? Don't want others to know your story? No problem. Note on the post you want it to be anonymous when posted and you're comment will not be published and the post will be anonymous.
Entries will be accepted until 5pm central time on May 2. At that time I will post the stores (G rated) for comment votes. Simply comment on the post and pick your favorite story.
What do I get if I win, you ask? YOU GET... drum roll... any pair of socks from ($12 max) Sockguy.com. If you are the winner, I'll send you a message that you won and ask you to message me with the socks you want and the address to ship them to!
Sockguy.com isn't one of my affiliates, but they have some of the more fun socks out there!
Voting will run from May3rd-ish to 5pm May 14th.
Start sending your entries in now, g-rated and check your modesty at the door!
When is it time to buy a new bike or invest in the "old" one??
A friend asked me (since I have such superior biking knowledge – sort of) about upgrading her bike in either components or getting a new bike altogether. We have KB (initials to protect the innocent) with a relatively new bike (2 to 3 years old), in good condition (not the best fit) and KB wants to add components for performance (mainly aero-bars). But, she also sees getting a new bike in less than a year. THEN, if you can imagine, the bike store she stopped at for bars recommended either getting a complete bike fit and serious changes to her current rig or getting a new bike altogether now but with less capital you could have next year…
So, the options:
A. Current Ride as is, buy new next year
2. Upgraded Ride with aero-bars, buy new next year
ii. Upgraded Ride with complete bike fit modifications, buy next year, buy much later
z. New Ride, ditch old ride
45. Super New Ride – debt - divorce
What to do… what to do…
Here are a few questions and tips that I sent KB and that you think about yourself:
If you are thinking of the new bike direction now, don't waste money on the fit for the old bike. Make your decision of new bike before pumping any money into the old bike.
What all do you want to do with the bike, what types of rides?
Races?
For fun?
MS 150 and other long tours?
What if you want something for long rides AND racing?
How long do you want to keep the new bike?
5 years?
10?
Do you think you would ever want anything fancier than what you want right now?
Can you live with your bike and add aero bars for this year, save money, and stretch the bike you have out for a little longer?
Here’s some advice I offered from my experiences.
Choose a bike for what you want to use it most if you are going to buy a new bike. However, if you want to buy a tri bike and use it for tours and every day cycling, it won’t work. The setup is such that it would be unsafe to ride around traffic or around other cyclists in tight groups.
If you want comfort on a long tour ride, carbon fiber is the way to go, but you aren't going to get one of those for very cheap. CF is not as rigid and will absorb road imperfections (less shaking on the rump) but you give up some energy into the frame flexure. Carbon fiber also does NOT guarantee the lightest bike. There are some aluminum frames out there that weigh less than CF.
If you are thinking you would get another bike later even after buying a new bike now, keep the one you have and set it up to ride for a couple of seasons until you have saved up enough for your dream rig, unless it’s $10,000. In that case, don’t buy that bike unless you’re a pro or have sponsors! =) Don’t waste your time and money going through multiple bikes (sales tax, resale, etc).
If you have to buy a lesser bike now since you would buy earlier than planned, don’t buy it now. Set up the existing bike minimally to get you to next year and stick with your plan. Buying a $1000 bike instead of that $2000 bike you really wanted since you didn’t have all your chickens hatched will leave you with buyers’ remorse!!
Make sure to shop the right time of year. EVERYONE wants a new bike in spring and demand is high, so bike stores don’t need deep discounts to get buyers in. Also, getting a new bike that’s a year earlier in model can save you BIG BUCKS. That’s how I got my new bikes… without going broke and getting a divorce.
Now if money is now object… I recommend one of each of the following along with the top of the line road and tri bike:
WHEELS
AERO BARS
HELMETS
If you have enough left over, I’d like double your order, please!
KB is still in the midst of deciding what to do, but we shall see if my sage advice makes a difference or if she goes AWAL and does something completely different.
Post brought to you by the following bike friendly affiliates:
So, the options:
A. Current Ride as is, buy new next year
2. Upgraded Ride with aero-bars, buy new next year
ii. Upgraded Ride with complete bike fit modifications, buy next year, buy much later
z. New Ride, ditch old ride
45. Super New Ride – debt - divorce
What to do… what to do…
Here are a few questions and tips that I sent KB and that you think about yourself:
If you are thinking of the new bike direction now, don't waste money on the fit for the old bike. Make your decision of new bike before pumping any money into the old bike.
What all do you want to do with the bike, what types of rides?
Races?
For fun?
MS 150 and other long tours?
What if you want something for long rides AND racing?
How long do you want to keep the new bike?
5 years?
10?
Do you think you would ever want anything fancier than what you want right now?
Can you live with your bike and add aero bars for this year, save money, and stretch the bike you have out for a little longer?
Here’s some advice I offered from my experiences.
Choose a bike for what you want to use it most if you are going to buy a new bike. However, if you want to buy a tri bike and use it for tours and every day cycling, it won’t work. The setup is such that it would be unsafe to ride around traffic or around other cyclists in tight groups.
If you want comfort on a long tour ride, carbon fiber is the way to go, but you aren't going to get one of those for very cheap. CF is not as rigid and will absorb road imperfections (less shaking on the rump) but you give up some energy into the frame flexure. Carbon fiber also does NOT guarantee the lightest bike. There are some aluminum frames out there that weigh less than CF.
If you are thinking you would get another bike later even after buying a new bike now, keep the one you have and set it up to ride for a couple of seasons until you have saved up enough for your dream rig, unless it’s $10,000. In that case, don’t buy that bike unless you’re a pro or have sponsors! =) Don’t waste your time and money going through multiple bikes (sales tax, resale, etc).
If you have to buy a lesser bike now since you would buy earlier than planned, don’t buy it now. Set up the existing bike minimally to get you to next year and stick with your plan. Buying a $1000 bike instead of that $2000 bike you really wanted since you didn’t have all your chickens hatched will leave you with buyers’ remorse!!
Make sure to shop the right time of year. EVERYONE wants a new bike in spring and demand is high, so bike stores don’t need deep discounts to get buyers in. Also, getting a new bike that’s a year earlier in model can save you BIG BUCKS. That’s how I got my new bikes… without going broke and getting a divorce.
Now if money is now object… I recommend one of each of the following along with the top of the line road and tri bike:
WHEELS
AERO BARS
HELMETSIf you have enough left over, I’d like double your order, please!
KB is still in the midst of deciding what to do, but we shall see if my sage advice makes a difference or if she goes AWAL and does something completely different.
Post brought to you by the following bike friendly affiliates:
Monday, April 19, 2010
Kansas 1/2 Marathon Race Report - 4/18/10
This was a race I’ve tried to get to every year for the past 5 to 6 years. It’s in Lawrence, KS, runs through KU campus and sometimes through downtown Lawrence. All sights I enjoy seeing and reliving the good ole days. So, while you’re suffering, why not have some sights to take your mind off of it??
The morning was great! It was a touch chilly which warranted an undershirt with shorts, but once the sun broke and you got moving, it wasn’t a problem. One thing I wasn’t exactly pumped about was that the finish line / packet pickup area / port-a-potties were in different locations. You had to pick up your packet and hit the port-a-potties before you went back to the parking area where the start was. It wasn’t horrible (150 yards apart) but it didn’t offer you the opportunity to hit the potty minutes before start time, as my race ritual requires. Ask my wife about that and the 5k… that’s all I’ll say about that. So… I watered some trees before the start in a creek sort of area. Don’t tell anyone.
We dropped off the squirt the night before at Grandma’s, so no race experience for the little one yet… sort of postponing that. We’re not sure how she would handle the running stroller after 2 miles. We also tempted fate with a Mexican dinner the night before followed by cold stone ice cream… it was good but not exactly a recommended pre-race dinner.
The start was nice. It was downhill for the first mile or so which helped ease into warming up before hitting race pace. I actually had to slow myself down as not to overexert myself. I passed the 1:40 pace group, which I later faded and they caught me.
I was a little disappointed that they didn’t take us through campus as much as past runs. They have changed the course the past three years. Last year we had to catch a ride from the finish back to the start and our cars. That was cause for some MAJOR leg cramps. I guess that was a trade off. Less campus, less cramping since this year was essentially an out and back. We didn’t hit downtown this year, either. Oh well.
The course was pretty friendly. I think I only counted 3 major hills. In my book, that’s a good course. AND, no WIND!!! You can’t ask for better conditions.
I can live with less campus and downtown since I PR’d my half marathon time!!!
1:43:02 – beat my old best by 2 minutes.
Here’s a recreation of my finish line glory… since I don’t have any photos (and usually the pro photos are not something I’d want to share – always have “that” look on my face).
I’d give the race 4.5 stars. The start to port-a-potty proximity could use some improvement.
The morning was great! It was a touch chilly which warranted an undershirt with shorts, but once the sun broke and you got moving, it wasn’t a problem. One thing I wasn’t exactly pumped about was that the finish line / packet pickup area / port-a-potties were in different locations. You had to pick up your packet and hit the port-a-potties before you went back to the parking area where the start was. It wasn’t horrible (150 yards apart) but it didn’t offer you the opportunity to hit the potty minutes before start time, as my race ritual requires. Ask my wife about that and the 5k… that’s all I’ll say about that. So… I watered some trees before the start in a creek sort of area. Don’t tell anyone.
We dropped off the squirt the night before at Grandma’s, so no race experience for the little one yet… sort of postponing that. We’re not sure how she would handle the running stroller after 2 miles. We also tempted fate with a Mexican dinner the night before followed by cold stone ice cream… it was good but not exactly a recommended pre-race dinner.
The start was nice. It was downhill for the first mile or so which helped ease into warming up before hitting race pace. I actually had to slow myself down as not to overexert myself. I passed the 1:40 pace group, which I later faded and they caught me.
I was a little disappointed that they didn’t take us through campus as much as past runs. They have changed the course the past three years. Last year we had to catch a ride from the finish back to the start and our cars. That was cause for some MAJOR leg cramps. I guess that was a trade off. Less campus, less cramping since this year was essentially an out and back. We didn’t hit downtown this year, either. Oh well.
The course was pretty friendly. I think I only counted 3 major hills. In my book, that’s a good course. AND, no WIND!!! You can’t ask for better conditions.
I can live with less campus and downtown since I PR’d my half marathon time!!!
1:43:02 – beat my old best by 2 minutes.
Here’s a recreation of my finish line glory… since I don’t have any photos (and usually the pro photos are not something I’d want to share – always have “that” look on my face).
I’d give the race 4.5 stars. The start to port-a-potty proximity could use some improvement.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Short on Time? Need a Quick and Effective Run Workout?
This running workout post brought to you by the following affiliates:
Are you jam packed for the day but need to get that run workout in? You know that workout, the one that’s not the long run and not the tempo run?? It’s that tweener workout and you’re stressing what to do in a short amount of time to get the most effective results!??
Don't STRESS OUT!
Before I started focusing on specific workouts with a goal in mind, I ran to run, I biked to bike and I swam to swim. I didn’t really have a goal, just wanted to get the miles in. That, my friend, is junk miles.
Recovery run you say? 3 easy miles? You’d be better served taking the day off and hitting a harder specific workout another day. Get your volume days and tempo days in, but be smart with that “other day”.
I give you, the sprint workout! It solves that issue of “I woke up late, only have 30 minutes to run, won’t get me enough miles, I don’t want to be in a hurry, I have to take the kid to daycare, I have a 8am meeting at work so I can’t be late” problem.
I’ve found a lot of sites with similar workouts. Through my own evolution of the sprint workout, this is the usual I end up doing.
All you need is your running gear, garmin or regular watch, open road – track – or treadmill.
Its goes like this:
- 10 minute warmup in zone 1 – breathing a little heavy but you could hold a conversation with no problem.
- 1 minute zone 2 (60-75%) – hard to talk while running.
- 1 minute rest – walk fast or light jog.
- 1 minute zone 3 (75-85%) – can’t really talk much.
- 1 minute rest – walk fast or light jog.
- 6 to 8 sets of the following: Run all out for 30 seconds, rest for 1 and ½ minutes – walk fast or light jog.
- 5 minute cool down jog.
You will get roughly 30 minutes (depending on how many sets you do) of total time. This is speed building which helps your body adapt to higher levels of effort without causing injury or damage.
Most places I have found these types of sprint workouts suggest only doing this 1 to 2 times a week and waiting 2 to 3 days in between to avoid over exertion. I swear by this workout that if done in conjunction with tempo runs and longs runs, will allow you to add some speed at the end of that race run. My past two events (GOD'S COUNTRY DUATHLON AND ROCK THE PARKWAY) have proven to me that I can force that last bit of speed for the last mile. It hurts but I can sustain it to finish strong. This is a significant difference from last year. I had no problem keeping my goal pace early on to 2/3rds through, but I faded at the ends of my races until this season.
TIP O THE END O THE POST
My favorite running shoe is the asics GEL 1100, 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140, 1150…. Which are hard to come by these days. It’s a tweener shoe for stability and neutral position feet for runners. It doesn’t give me blisters from being too rigid and it supports like it should and isn’t too soft. Asics may not be for you but after going through the other typical brands, Asics is my running shoe of choice. Examples below:
ASICS GEL 1130
ASICS Gel 1130 - Mens - Black/Onyx/Kiwi
Are you jam packed for the day but need to get that run workout in? You know that workout, the one that’s not the long run and not the tempo run?? It’s that tweener workout and you’re stressing what to do in a short amount of time to get the most effective results!??
Don't STRESS OUT!Before I started focusing on specific workouts with a goal in mind, I ran to run, I biked to bike and I swam to swim. I didn’t really have a goal, just wanted to get the miles in. That, my friend, is junk miles.
Recovery run you say? 3 easy miles? You’d be better served taking the day off and hitting a harder specific workout another day. Get your volume days and tempo days in, but be smart with that “other day”.
I give you, the sprint workout! It solves that issue of “I woke up late, only have 30 minutes to run, won’t get me enough miles, I don’t want to be in a hurry, I have to take the kid to daycare, I have a 8am meeting at work so I can’t be late” problem.
I’ve found a lot of sites with similar workouts. Through my own evolution of the sprint workout, this is the usual I end up doing.
All you need is your running gear, garmin or regular watch, open road – track – or treadmill.
Its goes like this:
- 10 minute warmup in zone 1 – breathing a little heavy but you could hold a conversation with no problem.
- 1 minute zone 2 (60-75%) – hard to talk while running.
- 1 minute rest – walk fast or light jog.
- 1 minute zone 3 (75-85%) – can’t really talk much.
- 1 minute rest – walk fast or light jog.
- 6 to 8 sets of the following: Run all out for 30 seconds, rest for 1 and ½ minutes – walk fast or light jog.
- 5 minute cool down jog.
You will get roughly 30 minutes (depending on how many sets you do) of total time. This is speed building which helps your body adapt to higher levels of effort without causing injury or damage.
Most places I have found these types of sprint workouts suggest only doing this 1 to 2 times a week and waiting 2 to 3 days in between to avoid over exertion. I swear by this workout that if done in conjunction with tempo runs and longs runs, will allow you to add some speed at the end of that race run. My past two events (GOD'S COUNTRY DUATHLON AND ROCK THE PARKWAY) have proven to me that I can force that last bit of speed for the last mile. It hurts but I can sustain it to finish strong. This is a significant difference from last year. I had no problem keeping my goal pace early on to 2/3rds through, but I faded at the ends of my races until this season.
TIP O THE END O THE POST
My favorite running shoe is the asics GEL 1100, 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140, 1150…. Which are hard to come by these days. It’s a tweener shoe for stability and neutral position feet for runners. It doesn’t give me blisters from being too rigid and it supports like it should and isn’t too soft. Asics may not be for you but after going through the other typical brands, Asics is my running shoe of choice. Examples below:
ASICS GEL 1130
ASICS Gel 1130 - Mens - Black/Onyx/Kiwi
Monday, April 12, 2010
God's Country Off Road Duathlon Race Report
It's a day (sort of) late, but here's the weekly post! I know all my 10's of readers were dieing with anticipation! =)
For those of you not familiar with the event, the God's Country Duathlon is a 2 mile trail run, 12 mile mountain bike on single track, followed by another 2 mile trail run. It's out at the Kansas River Trail area (near the end of the Brew to Brew run) in Lawrence, KS. By far the fastest single track around KC, with some technical stuff mixed in.
Let me just set this up, sunny, mid 70's, hadn't rained in 2 days, dry trails, gear was in good shape, didn't forget anything, got there when I wanted too (thanks to the wife for being a trooper for coming and wrangling the kiddo and the new pup - more on him later).
- Warm Up Photo
You could say it was a great day for a race! Especially one on the trails! No bug problems, no humidity, no killer heat... it was perfect!
We did pack like we were going somewhere for the weekend with all my race gear, kid gear and dog gear... things to bring for the next event - more juice boxes for the kiddo, food for the dog - he may not be coming to many more events until he gets older and is less needy. We were a well oiled machine getting ready in the morning and out the door EARLY by 5 minutes! EARLY!!! Did you hear that!? Early with a 2 year old! Unheard of...
Luckily the race started at 10am so we got good sleep which I think helped the early part. =) I'll take it.
The race was pretty good. It was a B race - meaning I wasn't looking to go all out but I wanted to see where my fitness was at this point. Usually I run 8 to 9 minute miles on trail but I think I managed 7.5 to 8 minutes for the first trail run. That was pretty good and I didn't kill myself. The bike was great! They mixed in some of the technical part at the turnaround that in years past had been too muddy. Threw me off a little bit, but I made it through. The bike was maybe 15 to 16 miles per hour average - as of right now the race results aren't posted and I goofed switching the garmin to bike from run so it recorded the whole thing as a run - 5 minute miles! I ROCK!. The second run went about 8.5 to 9 minute miles. I chased one guy down and finished with stronger form that I've done in the past. The one odd note to mention was the fact my hamstrings were crying by the end. I guess that's what I get for no mountain biking for a year between events...
Overall it was 4.5 out of 5 stars! If this was an A event I think I had some left that I could have pushed through some pain to have a better time. But these types of events are more for fun and a good fun atmosphere. No one's really out there to kill it.
Follow this up by an indoor soccer game, mowing the lawn, playing outside with the kid and dogs, grilling, bills, packing for a work trip... and it was a BUSY but good Sunday!
I'll leave you with some event pictures and the one post race injury I had, a nice blister on my hand.
Super Fan!
Best part - THE FINISH!!
Blister Aftermath
Also, through my trials and tribulations, here's a few tips through the days I have learned:
Tip #01 : If you ride to work like I sometimes do, leave an extra set of work clothes at your desk - in addition to what you would pack to ride to work with. Forgot too many dress shirts and went to Wal Mart too many times.
Tip #02 : When you work out over lunch like I do at times, towels are a must cause you HAVE to shower before work or when you go back to work. I hang my towel in the back of my car to get a few uses out of it (less laundry). Well sometimes I forget to bring that in with me to the gym. So... pack a towel in your bag even if you have one hanging in your car to dry. Be prepared! =)
For those of you not familiar with the event, the God's Country Duathlon is a 2 mile trail run, 12 mile mountain bike on single track, followed by another 2 mile trail run. It's out at the Kansas River Trail area (near the end of the Brew to Brew run) in Lawrence, KS. By far the fastest single track around KC, with some technical stuff mixed in.
Let me just set this up, sunny, mid 70's, hadn't rained in 2 days, dry trails, gear was in good shape, didn't forget anything, got there when I wanted too (thanks to the wife for being a trooper for coming and wrangling the kiddo and the new pup - more on him later).
- Warm Up PhotoYou could say it was a great day for a race! Especially one on the trails! No bug problems, no humidity, no killer heat... it was perfect!
We did pack like we were going somewhere for the weekend with all my race gear, kid gear and dog gear... things to bring for the next event - more juice boxes for the kiddo, food for the dog - he may not be coming to many more events until he gets older and is less needy. We were a well oiled machine getting ready in the morning and out the door EARLY by 5 minutes! EARLY!!! Did you hear that!? Early with a 2 year old! Unheard of...
Luckily the race started at 10am so we got good sleep which I think helped the early part. =) I'll take it.
The race was pretty good. It was a B race - meaning I wasn't looking to go all out but I wanted to see where my fitness was at this point. Usually I run 8 to 9 minute miles on trail but I think I managed 7.5 to 8 minutes for the first trail run. That was pretty good and I didn't kill myself. The bike was great! They mixed in some of the technical part at the turnaround that in years past had been too muddy. Threw me off a little bit, but I made it through. The bike was maybe 15 to 16 miles per hour average - as of right now the race results aren't posted and I goofed switching the garmin to bike from run so it recorded the whole thing as a run - 5 minute miles! I ROCK!. The second run went about 8.5 to 9 minute miles. I chased one guy down and finished with stronger form that I've done in the past. The one odd note to mention was the fact my hamstrings were crying by the end. I guess that's what I get for no mountain biking for a year between events...
Overall it was 4.5 out of 5 stars! If this was an A event I think I had some left that I could have pushed through some pain to have a better time. But these types of events are more for fun and a good fun atmosphere. No one's really out there to kill it.
Follow this up by an indoor soccer game, mowing the lawn, playing outside with the kid and dogs, grilling, bills, packing for a work trip... and it was a BUSY but good Sunday!
I'll leave you with some event pictures and the one post race injury I had, a nice blister on my hand.
Super Fan!
Best part - THE FINISH!!
Blister Aftermath
Also, through my trials and tribulations, here's a few tips through the days I have learned:
Tip #01 : If you ride to work like I sometimes do, leave an extra set of work clothes at your desk - in addition to what you would pack to ride to work with. Forgot too many dress shirts and went to Wal Mart too many times.
Tip #02 : When you work out over lunch like I do at times, towels are a must cause you HAVE to shower before work or when you go back to work. I hang my towel in the back of my car to get a few uses out of it (less laundry). Well sometimes I forget to bring that in with me to the gym. So... pack a towel in your bag even if you have one hanging in your car to dry. Be prepared! =)
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Swim Gear & Longevity Without Exposure...
Recently I was looking around for ideas on the best swim practice attire that would last more than 2 months and not break the bank. You know you've seen the guy at the pool with the swim pants that are little too thin in the rear... heck, my wife said I was that guy a few times. Oops. With the family, money is a big concern when supporting my triathlon habit. Plus, I don't have time to go shopping store to store asking about different brands and what some sales associate from Dick's Sporting Goods thinks (sorry if you are a sporting goods employee, but many sporting goods employees wouldn't know much about swimming gear - and most stores don't have a large selection).
So, I did want any Internet savvy triathlete type person would do... I went on a forum and asked. Here's what I found out.
1. True Swimmers aren't much for jammers at the pool. Example of a jammer.
2. Triathletes usually are not swimmers to start with and have SOME modesty left, therefore jammers are the crowd favorite.
3. Go for polyester or PBT polyester - they last the longest in the pool chemicals and stand up well to the "friction" generated by kicking in the pool. Most people that commented on that type of fabric said they were using the same pair for multiple years and had no problems with them!
See some of my choices for Jammers that fit the bill and don't cost an arm and a leg:
Jammers in General
Jammer 1
Jammer 2
Here's another option. If you like the historical brief speedo, but want some coverage, or you want some resistance at the pool, you can try poly mesh pants:
Poly Mesh Pants
I might try some myself sometime.
Here's a few other random items for some training time at the pool:
Kickboards
Kickboard 1
Pull Buoys
Pull Bouy 1
For any other swim gear you're looking for, check out SwimOutlet.com.
So, I did want any Internet savvy triathlete type person would do... I went on a forum and asked. Here's what I found out.
1. True Swimmers aren't much for jammers at the pool. Example of a jammer.
2. Triathletes usually are not swimmers to start with and have SOME modesty left, therefore jammers are the crowd favorite.
3. Go for polyester or PBT polyester - they last the longest in the pool chemicals and stand up well to the "friction" generated by kicking in the pool. Most people that commented on that type of fabric said they were using the same pair for multiple years and had no problems with them!
See some of my choices for Jammers that fit the bill and don't cost an arm and a leg:
Jammers in General
Jammer 1
Jammer 2
Here's another option. If you like the historical brief speedo, but want some coverage, or you want some resistance at the pool, you can try poly mesh pants:
Poly Mesh Pants
I might try some myself sometime.
Here's a few other random items for some training time at the pool:
Kickboards
Kickboard 1
Pull Buoys
Pull Bouy 1
For any other swim gear you're looking for, check out SwimOutlet.com.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Rock the Parkway 2010 Race Report - 10k
It's a day late, but here's the weekly post. =)
www.rocktheparkway.com
Wet & Cold.
Do you need to know anything else?
It was mid to low 40’s, started raining at 7:15, 15 minutes before the ½ marathon started (staggered start for the ½, 10k and 5k which was nice). It didn’t end until well after the race was over.
I signed up for the 10k as I was eyeing a mountain bike race (cancelled by the way) Sunday. I didn’t feel I was far enough in my training to support a “fun” ½ marathon and I’m trying to PR my 10k time.
This was a VERY cool (neglecting mother nature inflicting cold and rain) race idea and location. I work off Ward Parkway so it was fun to run on the streets I’m usually dodging and weaving on to get to work in my car.
The event was well organized, good location, well supported, adequately supplied with port-a-potties and had good post race activities if people weren’t busy heading for cover from the cold and rain straight from the finish line.
As for the course, I went half way of the ½ marathon – makes sense since the 10k is about ½ of the ½ marathon… =) It included some mild hills, but the nice part was after the first mile, the wide streets allowed for separation from other runners for reduction of dodging, weaving and sometimes colliding.
Results you ask? Well, it wasn’t a PR at 48:50 but I was in the upper ¼ of my age group of 60+ guys. I can’t complain considering the temperature and sock-to-weight saturation level. Shoes, socks, shirts, shorts tend to hold water. Add in some rain and you have a recipe for heavy feet and chafing if you didn’t dress right.
The wife even ran the 5k. She was a trooper trudging through the cold and rain (I was for sure she would bail when it started raining). Did I mention she was smart enough to take my rain cycling jacket and stayed pretty dry? Me, I could have brought one but didn’t… cause I’m a guy, right? And, we all know guys don’t think about stuff like comfort and warmth… We were going to bring the squirt in a jogging stroller but though better of having her in the cold and rain… but that didn’t stop some parents from running with their kids. Sort of surprising since it was COLD.
We didn’t get to incorporate it as a family event due to the weather but luckily we have great support from our mom’s that live around us to watch the squirt for us. Moral of the story is we survived the rain and I’d definitely run the 10k or ½ marathon next year and recommend it to others for a nice early race!
www.rocktheparkway.com
Wet & Cold.
Do you need to know anything else?
It was mid to low 40’s, started raining at 7:15, 15 minutes before the ½ marathon started (staggered start for the ½, 10k and 5k which was nice). It didn’t end until well after the race was over.
I signed up for the 10k as I was eyeing a mountain bike race (cancelled by the way) Sunday. I didn’t feel I was far enough in my training to support a “fun” ½ marathon and I’m trying to PR my 10k time.
This was a VERY cool (neglecting mother nature inflicting cold and rain) race idea and location. I work off Ward Parkway so it was fun to run on the streets I’m usually dodging and weaving on to get to work in my car.
The event was well organized, good location, well supported, adequately supplied with port-a-potties and had good post race activities if people weren’t busy heading for cover from the cold and rain straight from the finish line.
As for the course, I went half way of the ½ marathon – makes sense since the 10k is about ½ of the ½ marathon… =) It included some mild hills, but the nice part was after the first mile, the wide streets allowed for separation from other runners for reduction of dodging, weaving and sometimes colliding.
Results you ask? Well, it wasn’t a PR at 48:50 but I was in the upper ¼ of my age group of 60+ guys. I can’t complain considering the temperature and sock-to-weight saturation level. Shoes, socks, shirts, shorts tend to hold water. Add in some rain and you have a recipe for heavy feet and chafing if you didn’t dress right.
The wife even ran the 5k. She was a trooper trudging through the cold and rain (I was for sure she would bail when it started raining). Did I mention she was smart enough to take my rain cycling jacket and stayed pretty dry? Me, I could have brought one but didn’t… cause I’m a guy, right? And, we all know guys don’t think about stuff like comfort and warmth… We were going to bring the squirt in a jogging stroller but though better of having her in the cold and rain… but that didn’t stop some parents from running with their kids. Sort of surprising since it was COLD.
We didn’t get to incorporate it as a family event due to the weather but luckily we have great support from our mom’s that live around us to watch the squirt for us. Moral of the story is we survived the rain and I’d definitely run the 10k or ½ marathon next year and recommend it to others for a nice early race!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Random Post to Make Order of the Randomness - huh?
So, I've been getting some feedback on the site through various resources.
One comment was about random time postings. It was suggested posting on a specific day of the week so people know when to check in for anything new. I think that's a grand idea!
I'll probably try to get an update/recommendation/advice every Sunday... and so much may happen during the week... maybe multiple posts on a Sunday! TMI? Overkill? Time will tell.
Thanks to David for the recommendation. http://www.daviddaggett.wordpress.com
Now, that being said... let’s see if life will allow that. =)
One comment was about random time postings. It was suggested posting on a specific day of the week so people know when to check in for anything new. I think that's a grand idea!
I'll probably try to get an update/recommendation/advice every Sunday... and so much may happen during the week... maybe multiple posts on a Sunday! TMI? Overkill? Time will tell.
Thanks to David for the recommendation. http://www.daviddaggett.wordpress.com
Now, that being said... let’s see if life will allow that. =)
Thursday, April 1, 2010
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