I received a notice today that the date of the Ann Arbor Triathlon has been changed from June 6 to June 13, 2010. I still plan to participate even though the race is a week later than originally scheduled.
I don't actually mind the change as (hopefully) the lake will be a little warmer, and I will have one extra week for training.
Speaking of training...I'm going to a consultation today with a trainer named Chris whose contact information I found on the Village Bike Shop Tri Team website. We're going to discuss my athletic history and goals for the AA Tri, and then Chris will help me put together a training plan. I'm pretty excited about it!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Seeking Advice: Triathlon Wetsuits
It came to mind today to start looking into renting a wetsuit for the triathlon in June. I talked to my local Gazelle Sports, and they rent for $30 for the weekend, $60 for the week.
They are also selling their old wetsuits right now for $90.
If I end up doing multiple triathlons, buying a used suit makes good financial sense. I also like the idea of having the suit available anytime to practice with and get used to.
But having never done a tri before, I'm leary about buying swimming equipment in case I don't end up doing many tri's in the future. Swimming is not usually my thing outside of the context of triathlon.
What do you think? Is the $90 used suit a good buy?
They are also selling their old wetsuits right now for $90.
If I end up doing multiple triathlons, buying a used suit makes good financial sense. I also like the idea of having the suit available anytime to practice with and get used to.
But having never done a tri before, I'm leary about buying swimming equipment in case I don't end up doing many tri's in the future. Swimming is not usually my thing outside of the context of triathlon.
What do you think? Is the $90 used suit a good buy?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Life is too short for clean shoes
My husband and I have lots of shoes. These are just a few.
These are our new running shoes. So white and shiny.
Let us not shy away from the slush, the mud puddles and the wet grass. Let us not stay cooped up where it's dry and safe. Let us seek the soil and the sunlight that let us grow.
Life is too short for clean shoes.
These are our new running shoes. So white and shiny.
If all goes well, in a year, they will look like this.
Let us not shy away from the slush, the mud puddles and the wet grass. Let us not stay cooped up where it's dry and safe. Let us seek the soil and the sunlight that let us grow.
Life is too short for clean shoes.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Feel the crunch
As I continue to feel the crunch of snow under my feet when I venture outside, I am beginning to feel the crunch of getting started on my triathlon training plan. The Ann Arbor Tri is only three months away! I had hoped to be a couple weeks into my schedule by now. But I worked out three times last week, which is an improvement in my training routine that I hope to keep up.
Even though we just got a fresh pile of snow today, I'm hoping that the trails and roads will thaw out over the next few weeks. I was out riding my bike in March last year. It was cold, but the pavement was clear. Hopefully, this year will be much the same.
I also got a comment this week asking me how I like my Giant Cyclotron Auto II trainer now that I've been using it for a couple months. I'm happy to report that it is still everything I expected, and I'm very content with it. It is stable, relatively quiet, super easy to set up, inexpensive and provides good resistance. I definitely recommend the model to anyone who is looking for a bike trainer and doesn't want to pay an arm and a leg.
Even though we just got a fresh pile of snow today, I'm hoping that the trails and roads will thaw out over the next few weeks. I was out riding my bike in March last year. It was cold, but the pavement was clear. Hopefully, this year will be much the same.
I also got a comment this week asking me how I like my Giant Cyclotron Auto II trainer now that I've been using it for a couple months. I'm happy to report that it is still everything I expected, and I'm very content with it. It is stable, relatively quiet, super easy to set up, inexpensive and provides good resistance. I definitely recommend the model to anyone who is looking for a bike trainer and doesn't want to pay an arm and a leg.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
With a little help from my friends
As I was stressing out about having enough time for friends and tri training, the obvious finally hit me. Of course! Invite my friends to work out with me sometimes! Then we can spend time together, and I get my training time in. I also get to share one of my interests with someone I care about. Nice!
So yesterday, I asked one of my girl friends to go to the gym with me. She's a total eliptical lover, so she hit an eliptical machine while I hopped on a stationary bike. My goal was to do a bike+run brick, but after the bike ride (24 minute program -> 6.25 miles), my friend was just about finished with her workout. So, I hopped on the treadmill to run just one mile at a good pace.
The run felt really good after getting all warmed up on the bike. I ran at a 9:15 mile pace, which is slow compared to what I used to run in high school, but it feels pretty fast at my current fitness level. I'll have to improve it, though, if I want to meet my goal of finishing the 5 mile run portion of the tri in 45 minutes.
During my last quarter mile, my friend got on the treadmill next to me and ran until I was done with my mile. It turns out, she was the number 17 girls runner in high school track for the state of California ten years ago. Unfortunately, a hip injury made her stop running and for fear of reinjury, she hasn't run since high school. Last night was the first time in nearly 10 years. She said it felt really good. Cool, huh?
So yesterday, I asked one of my girl friends to go to the gym with me. She's a total eliptical lover, so she hit an eliptical machine while I hopped on a stationary bike. My goal was to do a bike+run brick, but after the bike ride (24 minute program -> 6.25 miles), my friend was just about finished with her workout. So, I hopped on the treadmill to run just one mile at a good pace.
The run felt really good after getting all warmed up on the bike. I ran at a 9:15 mile pace, which is slow compared to what I used to run in high school, but it feels pretty fast at my current fitness level. I'll have to improve it, though, if I want to meet my goal of finishing the 5 mile run portion of the tri in 45 minutes.
During my last quarter mile, my friend got on the treadmill next to me and ran until I was done with my mile. It turns out, she was the number 17 girls runner in high school track for the state of California ten years ago. Unfortunately, a hip injury made her stop running and for fear of reinjury, she hasn't run since high school. Last night was the first time in nearly 10 years. She said it felt really good. Cool, huh?
Monday, February 15, 2010
I can do that, you know...
The hubby and I were sitting around last night talking about how our time has gotten so busy lately and that it might be a good idea to start scheduling things like time with friends more regularly.
I love the idea, but it also makes me nervous that I won't have enough free time to both spend time with my husband (whom I adore) and to train for the tri the way I want to.
I told the hubby how I was feeling, and the conversation got interesting.
Me: I don't want to just finish this triathlon. I've done lots of races that I just finished. I want to do better than that.
Hubby: I hear that. But I'm afraid if you leave it that vague, you won't be satisfied no matter how well you do.
Me: Good point. I should set some concrete finishing time goals.
Hubby: But anyway, if you want to make your training a chance for us to spend time together, too, I'd be willing to work out with you.
Me: (anxious look)
Hubby: I mean, I'll do triathlon workouts with you. I can do that, you know. It might take me a little time to get into the kind of shape you're in, but...
Me: Oh, honey! I know you can do it! You've done tris before. That's not what I was worried about. I thought you meant that you were willing to do what we normally do when we workout together - weight lifting and a short ride on the stationary bike. I'm going to want to do different workouts for the tri.
Hubby: Like bike-run combo workouts. Right?
Me: Right! Like I said...I know you can do it. I'm just afraid you don't really want to do it.
Hubby: Well, I've asked you before to help me get motivated to work out more. Maybe this is a good way to do that. To get into a routine together.
Me: Maybe it is! I'll think about it. Thanks for offering to work out with me!
It'd be great to have a workout buddy for tri training. And it'd be wonderful to spend that time with my hubby. Maybe I'll even talk him into doing a tri with me! He's done a couple triathlons in the past because his parents did them, but he's never really enjoyed them. It's always more fun to have friends in a race with you, so maybe....
And I like the idea of setting some concrete goals for the race. I was thinking maybe a 25 minute swim (0.5 mile), 45 minute bike (12 miles), 45 minute run (5 miles on trail). I think that would be challenging but realistic. Especially the bike and run, which I've heard are both quite hilly.
I think I'll set that goal for now and perhaps adjust it as I see how my training goes.
Current Goal:
Ann Arbor Triathlon - June 6, 2010 - Ann Arbor, Michigan
0.5 mile swim - 12 mile bike - 5 mile trail run -in-
25 minutes - 45 minutes - 45 minutes
:)
I love the idea, but it also makes me nervous that I won't have enough free time to both spend time with my husband (whom I adore) and to train for the tri the way I want to.
I told the hubby how I was feeling, and the conversation got interesting.
Me: I don't want to just finish this triathlon. I've done lots of races that I just finished. I want to do better than that.
Hubby: I hear that. But I'm afraid if you leave it that vague, you won't be satisfied no matter how well you do.
Me: Good point. I should set some concrete finishing time goals.
Hubby: But anyway, if you want to make your training a chance for us to spend time together, too, I'd be willing to work out with you.
Me: (anxious look)
Hubby: I mean, I'll do triathlon workouts with you. I can do that, you know. It might take me a little time to get into the kind of shape you're in, but...
Me: Oh, honey! I know you can do it! You've done tris before. That's not what I was worried about. I thought you meant that you were willing to do what we normally do when we workout together - weight lifting and a short ride on the stationary bike. I'm going to want to do different workouts for the tri.
Hubby: Like bike-run combo workouts. Right?
Me: Right! Like I said...I know you can do it. I'm just afraid you don't really want to do it.
Hubby: Well, I've asked you before to help me get motivated to work out more. Maybe this is a good way to do that. To get into a routine together.
Me: Maybe it is! I'll think about it. Thanks for offering to work out with me!
It'd be great to have a workout buddy for tri training. And it'd be wonderful to spend that time with my hubby. Maybe I'll even talk him into doing a tri with me! He's done a couple triathlons in the past because his parents did them, but he's never really enjoyed them. It's always more fun to have friends in a race with you, so maybe....
And I like the idea of setting some concrete goals for the race. I was thinking maybe a 25 minute swim (0.5 mile), 45 minute bike (12 miles), 45 minute run (5 miles on trail). I think that would be challenging but realistic. Especially the bike and run, which I've heard are both quite hilly.
I think I'll set that goal for now and perhaps adjust it as I see how my training goes.
Current Goal:
Ann Arbor Triathlon - June 6, 2010 - Ann Arbor, Michigan
0.5 mile swim - 12 mile bike - 5 mile trail run -in-
25 minutes - 45 minutes - 45 minutes
:)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Drop training plan, pick up paint brush
I wish I had an exciting training story to tell after not posting for two weeks. But I don't. I went running one day this week, but mostly I've been painting and doing projects on my house in preparation for a refi. I'm kicking myself that I didn't take any "before" pictures, so I could at least show off what's been keeping me away from the training schedule. The house looks drastically different than it did a couple weeks ago - I think, drastically better! Hopefully the appraiser will agree when he comes over today.
I did get in touch with a local personal trainer last week who offered to help me analyze my triathlon goals and put together a more organized training plan. I wrote something up myself, but I'd feel more confident with a little help from someone who knows what they're doing. If all goes well with the refi, I'm hoping to take the trainer up on his offer.
The only other news I have to report is that my mom got on the news! She and her husband travelled to Florida this week to visit my grandparents and got delayed by the weather trying to fly back to Detroit. Check out the interview video - my mom is Marcy Hare.
I did get in touch with a local personal trainer last week who offered to help me analyze my triathlon goals and put together a more organized training plan. I wrote something up myself, but I'd feel more confident with a little help from someone who knows what they're doing. If all goes well with the refi, I'm hoping to take the trainer up on his offer.
The only other news I have to report is that my mom got on the news! She and her husband travelled to Florida this week to visit my grandparents and got delayed by the weather trying to fly back to Detroit. Check out the interview video - my mom is Marcy Hare.
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