Saturday, March 10, 2012

New Sponsor...


I have joined team SunRype. Some of my team gear arrived last Saturday. The hubby and I went for a trail run right after we received the shipment.  I was able to try out my new team tech shirt and visor.  Absolutely love them!!

I tried the strawberry, strawberry banana, and the wild berry fruit strips before and after my run. They are absolutely delicious!!! My husband loves them as well!!  ...and I'm not just saying that because they are a sponsor now. They are 100% fruit and you can tell. They don't stick to your teeth like most fruit snacks do. I'm pretty excited about this new sponsorship and I'm looking forward to the year with them!!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Considering doing an Ironman?

I found this article on active.com.  http://www.active.com/triathlon/Articles/Should-You-Do-an-Ironman-Triathlon.htm  I think it's a really good article to read if you are thinking about signing up for an ironman distance race.  I think a lot of people don't ask themselves these questions before pulling the trigger.  They are really good questions to ask yourself.


Should You Do an Ironman Triathlon?

Ironman Triathlete in Water
For many self-proclaimed Ironman-triathlon addicts it isn't the scent of fall in the air that sends a rush of renewed enthusiasm, but rather the sense of urgency to sign up for next year's Ironman race. With many events selling out within 24 hours, there's incredible pressure to sign up 12 months in advance.
Tens of thousands of people drop over $600 in race entry costs every year without knowing certain their financial, health and family situation come the following year. And that doesn't include the hundreds of dollars spent on travel, housing, food, bike transport, child/dog daycare and training (coaching, massage, equipment, maintenance) costs.
So why do they do it? This is precisely the question many addicts or newbies don't even consider before signing up. For all the sacrifices you (and your family) will have to make in order to reach this goal, you should have a clear purpose for doing it.
Whether it's your first or tenth, here are some things you should consider before taking the plunge.

Should You Sign Up?

  • What is your financial status or your predicted status a year from now? Could you be investing in coaching, equipment or education instead that could make you faster or more efficient for an Ironman race two years from now?
  • Do you need a massive new goal to motivate you and your training? This could be just what you need! Or you could be setting yourself up for disaster. Make sure you have a solid base of training before signing up. The "couch to Ironman" program is not recommended.
  • Are you avoiding other projects in your life? Athletes often use training as a distraction. It's a means of feeling accomplished while at the same time procrastinating the projects that have been on the back burner (career; personal relationships; finances).
  • How are your relationships with your family and friends? Can they withstand the heavy time commitment required with Ironman training? Will your bike see more action than your bed? Do you only socialize with triathletes or do you have a healthy balance of different friendships?
  • Would a year of racing focused on shorter faster distances help set you up better for Ironman success? Maybe you need to shake off some of the heavy endurance muscles and tap into speed in your legs that may have been beat down from years of long-distance training.
  • Have you had your blood tested recently to make sure you are not deficient in essential minerals? Women specifically, have you had your feritin tested? Are you in optimal health?
  • Are you trying to qualify for Kona? Make sure you pick a race based on your strengths so that you can optimize your chances of qualifying in your age group.
  • Are you trying to PR on a favorite course? If so, have you adjusted your training plan? You can't expect different results if you are training the same.
  • Have you considered signing up for a race with a group of people? Training buddies are great support on for a journey like this? It could be a great opportunity to meet new people or build bonds with triathletes you already know.
  • Are you turning this trip into a family vacation? If so, does it meet the needs of those in your family or is it purely selfish? Did you do the same "family" trip last year?
Answers to these questions are, of course, subjective. Perhaps you really only need to ask one: Are you ready to do an Ironman triathlon?
Active logoSearch for an Ironman event.
Amanda McCracken has been racing triathlons competitively for 14 years and coaching athletes for 10 years. She resides in the mecca of triathlon, Boulder, Colorado, where the trails are her playground.


This is a good follow-up article. http://www.active.com/triathlon/Articles/A-12-Month-Overview-of-Long-Distance-Training.htm


Sunday, March 4, 2012

910 xt review



I recently purchased the 910 XT with heart rate from Bicycle World of Houston.  So far I really love it!

The first time I swam with it the yardage was under by about 250 yards... but since then it's been pretty on  with the yardage.  It will go over some times depending on the drills I do.  The 910 XT a lot lighter than the 310 XT and doesn't bother me to wear for a long swim like the 310 did.

I also really appreciate how light it is during my runs.  The first few times I ran with it the pace was all over the board, over just a few seconds.  I did a half marathon a week ago and the pace seemed to stay fairly steady.  Maybe the update Garmin sent out fixed that issue.

I love love love all the data it gives me for the swim.  One of my athletes recently bought the 910 also and it will really help me analyze their data.

The heart rate strap is much more comfortable than the 310's was... also it seems to work a lot better.  I don't have the issue of my heart rate reading some ungodly number at the beginning of my runs and jumping all over the place like with the 310.

Happy training!!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

5k 1st place for Johnathan

Congratulations Johnathan on your 1st place finish this morning!!  Way to go!!  He had a headwind for 1 of the 3 miles and still beat second place by 3 minutes!!  Way to crush the competition!!