Trail runing or road runing

A few years ago when I started to run and just to be fit in general I started off by running on the track. As my fitness improved and I was able to run more than 8 laps I thought I would venture out and run on the road and sidewalk. My fitness improved and whenever I ran past parks I would always see people running on the trails and I also heard people telling me that running on the trails is better for the body.

One day I decided to go to the local dog park so that my dog could get his exercise will I could get my triathlon training in, this is going to be a great time saver I thought. I put my dog on a leash and headed out the door he is going to love this! I thought to myself. The park is about 4 blocks away so we jogged there that is when I discovered that my dog does NOT like to run on a leash he drags behind me. Now some people may think that its because I am going to fast for him but no, that is not the case because when we turn around to come home he wants to run in front of me and pull on me.

Anyway we made it to the park I let him off the leash all of the sudden he doesn't mind running but what I discovered was that I don't like running on grass on trails, I just feel like I can't get a good pace going. Since then my dog and I have done the same routine I drag him to the park, let him off he runs around like a lunatic while I think about how I don't like running in the park and then we struggle with each other and the leash to come home.

I had decided this is no fun for everyone and tried it again this morning because I just had to jog for 30 minutes, it was fine he actually cooperated on the way to the park, I did not love running on the trail but was fine with it and when we headed home he just ran next to me! Maybe this will workout somehow in the end!?

Back in the saddle!

After one whole week of not being able to do any triathlon training I was finally able to do some cycling today. Last night my coach at Personal Best: Multisport Coaching gave me the all clear to start doing a little bit of exercise. My workout was to spin for 45 minutes, I decided to be extra cautious and do it indoors on my rollers while I listened to the news as told my Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira. I would say this is a good start to the week. I reported back to coach Larissa and told her how the spinning went and how I felt so she is going to design this weeks workout based on this morning's feedback, I'll keep you posted!

I'm going crazy!

sorry to keep posting about my health and how bored it makes me to not be able to do anything but it is driving me crazy. It has now been 6 days since my last workout I feel lazy and like my fitness level is just disappearing. I know that this is not hot it works and that it is all in my mind and that it is better to rest if you are really sick but this is how I feel!!!!!

Today is the first day since I got sick that I feel better so of course I am tempted to go out for a bit of a workout but my coach told me to just sit tight and let the cold or flu go away. So at this point I can't wait until Monday when I can go for a workout again!

On a brighter note my new wool jersey arrived today, fast shipping as always maybe I will get to use it on Monday so it can keep me nice and warm that is only if it is a cycling workout.

Stay healthy!

New Vintage Wool Jersey

I have been sick for the past 2 days which means no work and no triathlon training for me so I have to find something to do to occupy my time. I have mostly been online and napping but being online usually means making a purchase. I liked my wool jersey from Oregon Cyclewear so much that I decided to order another one. The one I have already is green the new one will be yellow! I can't wait for it to arrive because once I am well again I am going to need it! It was 37 degrees this morning! Last time I ordered one shipping took 3 days so it should be here soon!

To all of you who are not sick and are still able to do your triathlon training happy training! Hope to be able to join you soon!

I have a really bad cold!

I woke up this morning not feeling 100%, I hope I don't have a cold I thought to myself that would be really bad, I hate when I get a cold. I geared up with my wool jersey it was about 37 degrees and very foggy today and went for my 1 hour 15 minute ride. When I got back home I was wet from riding in the fog and felt really congested.

I shrugged of the congestion took a shower and went to work. Once at work I realized I had a problem, I had a cold.... For a few hours I was in denial pretending it would just go away until I finally gave in and came home. I feel like I have a bit of a fever, I have a bit of a cough and cannot breath through my nose at all.

I hope my morning ride did not make it worse I am not sure what the exact science behind these things are. I am probably not going to go to work tomorrow and my roomate says I should not go running either, I just feel so guilty when I don't do my workout. I think I will listen to her though and just stay home and stay warm and try to get rid of this cold as soon as possible.

My diet got me in trouble...

I sent my coach the list of everything I eat in one day for 3 days and she was not happy with what she saw and understandably so. My days consisted of eating, burgers, fries, sloppy joes, chips, chocolate, and all sorts of other foods that are not that great for you.

I received an email from my coach this morning wondering how I was still alive and functioning after the list I sent her. She also said that if I want to have better performance in triathlons I need to eat better. I know I know, now I just have to apply what I know. I am going to do my healthier grocery shopping today and we will see where we go from there.

No surprises so far I knew I was not doing a good job with my diet and that it might affect my triathlon performance now I just need to apply what I know.

My coach wants me to track what I eat! Oh no!

A couple days ago my coach, Larissa from Personal Best: Multisport Coaching told me that she was interested in what I was eating and she wanted me to write everything down. Not only did she want me to write everything down but she wanted me to write down the amount I consumed, the time, as well as everything I had to drink. Oh no I thought to myself, that day alone before 10am I had had a cup of tea, a muffin, a danish, and half of a turkey breast! I agreed because I am in the program 100% and want to do all I can to improve in my races.

I tried to explain to her that everyday of my diet is different, the only time I am consistent is the week before a triathlon. Larissa's solution to my inconsistency was to write everything down for 3 days, I am currently beginning day 2. I wonder what she is going to say and what I will have to change, the things one does for triathlon.......

Next post, what coach Larissa said about my diet, I am sure it will not be good!

I Can't Believe the Rain!

Woke up this morning for my run pouring pouring rain! I could not see the rain because it was pitch black but I could hear it! I geared up and stepped outside and started to run. It was cold and windy and had to jump around huge puddles. I'm done with it tough glad I did it now I am freezing. Just another day in the Pacific Northwest!

Triathlon Swim With a Snorkel?

A few days ago I was reading a triathlon forum when I came across a thread that said triathlon swimming with a snorkel is it fair? I was intrigued by the forum post and clicked into it to see what it was about. It turns out that people are doing their swim segment of their triathlon wearing a snorkel!? They guy who posted the link also said that it turns out it is not against the rules.....

I think that this gives one an advantage and should be against the rules. It would seem that if you don't have to keep coming out to breath and are good at swimming with a snorkel then you could in theory be faster. Maybe no the fastest but faster. Apparently people also use this snorkel technique in the pool where you do not even have to poke your head out to see where you are going.

Maybe I'm wrong and just jumping to conclusions, any thoughts? Should it be triathlon race legal to swim with a snorkel?

Morning Bike Ride: Riding on Rollers

As all triathletes know one of the hard but fun things about triathlon is that one must train for three sports, swimming, cycling, and running. Today was a day that required cycling, 1h 15min of cycling as dictated by my coach Larissa at Personal Best: Multisport Coaching. I had to do this ride at 7am which allows me to sleep in but it is still pitch black at that time and I really prefer to not be on the road in he dark with the morning traffic.

Last night I decided that I was going to be brave and extra careful and just ride in the morning but when I woke up and could not see a ting and felt the wind I decided to just do my bike workout on my rollers. I don't know about you guys but I find rollers to be rather boring and to stay on them for 1h 15 minutes is really harder than the workout itself.

I did it anyway, I almost fell off one as I was daydreaming while watching the Today Show. I tried to drink my sodium drink but only had half of what I should because I need to stop to drink. Overall though a decent workout I am happy the time is changing to help with the morning darkness.

Profile Design Cobra Wing Handlebar with Sonic CSX Aerobar

As mentioned in an earlier post for my review of the Felt s32 2010 triathlon bike I am not that happy with the aero bars it came with. I was checking out the internet to try and find a good deal on some carbon aero bars and I came across the Profile Design Cobra Wing with Sonic CSX Aerobar. They look pretty cool and on my previous triathlon bike I had Profile Design bars so I know they are a good. These bars also seem to be on sale, I found them for $349.99 when the MSRP is $449.99 that's $100 off!

I tried doing some research on the internet about these aero bars but I really have not found much on them. I really do not want to throw away $350 on my new triathlon bike but they seem to be a good deal and really good looking and light. What to do what to do?

I-205 Bikepath, Portland, Oregon

My training for today was a 1.5 hour bike ride at an average effort of 3. When I woke up this morning there was impressive fog and frost on the ground but I could see some sun and it was dry so way better conditions than yesterday's pouring rain.

I suited up with my layers, bib tights, and Oregon Cyclewear wool jersey (which I love) and set out. Once on the road I realized that it was so foggy it would be safer if I stayed on a bike path at all times so I headed towards the Marine Drive bike path. This is a bike path I really enjoy its relatively quiet except for the airplanes landing at PDX airport and it runs along the Columbia River. Sometimes you can get a bad head wind at Marine Drive but today the wind was only 4mph.

Eventually marine drive hits I-205 which goes over to Vancouver, Washington. There is a path called the I-205 path and it is basically a path the goes in the middle of the interstate highway which goes over the Columbia, River. I decided to take this route today it had been years since I had been on it so decided to try it out again. It is really weird how you are riding protected by barriers in the middle of the highway. The path is in good condition a couple of bumps here and there and it is really really noisy from all the highway traffic. Once I crossed into Washington I turned around and came back home to Portland to finish my 21 mile ride.

All in all it was a good ride I am not a huge fan of the I-205 bike path although it is good to have something to help one cross the river. It was nice to just ride on marine drive with the cold sun and the landing airplanes.

Swim and Run Complete!

Today's workout called for a swim and a run. I woke up this morning to pounding rain, the type of rain that just makes you want to stay on the couch all day with a blanket a movie and a warm drink. I kept thinking to myself the rain will die down and then I will go do all that I have to do. A couple of hours later it was still pouring rain so I decided I was just going to have to go out in it.

My swim was fine the pool was very crowded with the senior aerobics class they take 5 out of 7 lanes. I am not sure why they need so many lanes and us lab swim people only get 2 but it is what it is. Then I went for my run it was also fine the wind was more of a factor that the rain and the leaves are all over the sidewalk which makes it a little slippery.

Workout done! Now I can shower and just stay cozy and dry.

Day two of new workout

Today was my second day following the workout routine set by Personal Best: Multisport Coaching. This workout called for a 1 hour bike ride with a 15 minute warm up at effort 1, 30 minute at effort 2 to low 3, and then cool down for 15 minutes. The goal was to try and maintain my cadence and not go over the recommended efforts.

Anyone who knows me knows that I really never do anything in life at a 1 or 2 effort so this is proving to be very hard for me. I really focused though and tried to do what I was told and overall it went pretty well. I went about 3 miles slower on average an hour than I usually go but because I was focusing so much on the cadence I feel like I am getting a better pedal stroke.

So its going to be hard to maintain the efforts and paces set by my coach but with focus I am sure I can do it. She says that I need to trust her and follow the plan to see the results so I am going to do what she says. Tomorrow I will try to go swimming again, I hope the pool is open!

My first workout with my new coach....

Today was my first workout with my new coach Larissa Herold with Personal Best: Multisport Coaching so I was very excited. Workout for today, go swimming and then go for a run. I woke up in the pitch black morning with pouring rain got into my car and drove to the pool. Once I got there I could see in the window and there were only two people there. Cool! I thought to myself I can swim laps without having to worry about that many people.

No I was not that lucky, as soon as I stepped inside the building there was a huge whiteboard that said closed with a smiley face. Closed without notice!? Smiley face?! there is nothing to smile about!!!! So my first workout ruined. I have to go to work now but I will go on my run later at least I can do half the workout I guess. Not a good way to start my new training program.