Wow! Life is busy busy busy again. What I really want to be doing is writing about the Marine Corps Planning Process and how to apply it to a triathlon career, season, or race.
Instead, I'm travelling alot and missing my kids, all while getting a bit fatter every day and fighting off a sinus infection.
HOWEVER....there is some excitement. I received the Kurt Kinetic Wireless Power System and the Jaybird Freedom headphones. I haven't got the power system lined up on the bike yet, although I did manage to get my bike ready for a winter on the trainer....I just didn't have the power system at that time when I had the motivation. I'm starting up on the bike again on October 5, so maybe I'll have it ready for that. I most certainly want to get a good Lactate Threshhold test completed fairly early in October, though.
As for the headphones, they are wireless bluetooth headphones that come with a lifetime guarantee against sweat, and they are supposed to stay in the ear fairly well. I wore them a bit while driving this weekend and while on the phone a bit. There is very little bass sound, even when considering they are headphones. At the same time, the higher frequencies are quite clear, leading to me hearing a few "new" notes in some of my music. I would prefer to have the bass, though. The headphones sound ok for the phone, and they paired really easy with my phone. They stay in the ear pretty well during driving, but I haven't tried them running yet.
Detailed reviews coming up!
More travel coming up. Hopefully I'll get going on these planning articles.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
"Glycoscience"
Sometimes you find triathlon-related stuff in the strangest place. I'm a regular reader of the "Five Minute Forecast," which is a daily financial wrap-up.
The other day in the post Social Security's Accelerated Demise, they had this to say about a scientific practice I've never heard of. It's certainly interesting, so I thought I'd share it here.
The other day in the post Social Security's Accelerated Demise, they had this to say about a scientific practice I've never heard of. It's certainly interesting, so I thought I'd share it here.
“The science of carbohydrates as drugs,” says Patrick,” pivoting to another mind-bending concept, “is practically brand-new.”
It goes by the name “glycoscience.” Now a tiny company that essentially “owns the field,” in Patrick’s words, is joining forces with the University of Michigan for a research project that could one day knock out most cancers.
Here’s what scientists understand so far: Complex carbohydrates — think whole grains, fruits and vegetables — contain compounds that that hold the potential to shield your cells from cancer.
What they’re setting out to accomplish now is this: transforming those complex carbohydrates into a drug that can not only protect your cells from cancer, but knock out cells that have already turned cancerous.
“It’s difficult for me to envision a path,” says Patrick, “wherein this technology does not come to play a major role in most cancer treatments. I truly hope that you don’t wait to invest in this technology until after it begins.”
** I don't have any financial interest by posting this here. It's just an interesting twist on the things, specifically carbohydrates, that triathletes think alot about.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wine is good for the heart....
and apparently bad for the waistline. I started drinking a nightly glass of wine. And my weight is increasing directly proportionate, I think!
Come Oct 1, things will change and I'll have cut out the wine simply because it is an extra 350 calories per night.
Come Oct 1, things will change and I'll have cut out the wine simply because it is an extra 350 calories per night.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sweatproof headphones?!?! Jaybirds have a lifetime guarantee!
Bluetooth headphones that say they are sweatproof and then back it up with a lifetime guarantee?!?!
I'm quite tempted to try these out. I've gone through three pairs of Motorola S9's and have simply given up on "sweatproof" headphones because all three of those shorted out within 4-5 months of sweating on the indoor bike trainer. Why not just use the cords? Because they get in the way, and I inevitably sit up to take a break and the cord pulls my phone/MP3 player such that it crashes on the floor.
But these........like I said, it's tempting....
http://www.jaybirdgear.com/jf3/
I'm quite tempted to try these out. I've gone through three pairs of Motorola S9's and have simply given up on "sweatproof" headphones because all three of those shorted out within 4-5 months of sweating on the indoor bike trainer. Why not just use the cords? Because they get in the way, and I inevitably sit up to take a break and the cord pulls my phone/MP3 player such that it crashes on the floor.
But these........like I said, it's tempting....
http://www.jaybirdgear.com/jf3/
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Get Ready...Get Sufferfest
David at the Sufferfest has bundled all of his videos into a single package for $60, for a savings of $12. Also, there is a new Sufferfest Video....coming in October.....standby to visit A VERY DARK PLACE! Why do I love the Sufferfest so much?!?!
From the Sufferfest:
Six times the suffering – 12 bucks off.
There are those of you, when first coming into contact with the ‘fest, can’t wait to put yourself into as much misery as possible. We love you. So, we’re now offering a package just for those who have chucked all those other cycling workout videos and are focused on true suffering. Here it is: All six Sufferfest videos at a discounted price: 59.99. At 12 bucks off the regular price for all the videos, it’s like six for the price of five! Get your ‘fest library off to the right start.
Videos included in the Sufferfest Six-Pack Bundle: Downward Spiral, Revolver, Fight Club, Angels, The Hunted and Local Hero.
| Six videos for individual use - $59.99 (normally USD $72 if bought individually) |
|---|
Saturday, September 10, 2011
LinkedIn group worth mentioning
There are alot of LinkedIn groups out there, some better than others. I recently joined the Triathlon Science group, and it's pretty interesting. Take a look if you are interested in the scientific stuff. Personally, I like to read the abstracts and then see if I fit into the basic findings of a study.
Triathlon Science
Thursday, September 8, 2011
A winter bike trainer workout
I like the triathlete.com website. They always have something of interest.
Here's what looks like a good bike trainer workout I'll keep on hand for this winter. Strength is one my weaknesses on the bike, and this hits that.
Triathlete.com » Tough Big Gear Bike Workout – Triathlete.com
"The next time you do hill repeats, consider this workout from pro Lesley Paterson. At her recent Braveheart Bootcamp, a weeklong triathlon camp in San Diego, Paterson used this big gear session to challenge her age group athletes. “This session is a sure fire way to develop unbelievable strength on the bike that will also transfer to the flats,” Paterson says. “Depending on racing emphasis, you can manipulate duration of interval, steepness of hill and cadence to best suit what you need.”"
Here's what looks like a good bike trainer workout I'll keep on hand for this winter. Strength is one my weaknesses on the bike, and this hits that.
Triathlete.com » Tough Big Gear Bike Workout – Triathlete.com
"The next time you do hill repeats, consider this workout from pro Lesley Paterson. At her recent Braveheart Bootcamp, a weeklong triathlon camp in San Diego, Paterson used this big gear session to challenge her age group athletes. “This session is a sure fire way to develop unbelievable strength on the bike that will also transfer to the flats,” Paterson says. “Depending on racing emphasis, you can manipulate duration of interval, steepness of hill and cadence to best suit what you need.”"
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Shoulder Season = Near Term Plans
Here it is September and post-Labor Day. That means almost all the way back to the grind. I say "almost" because I still have some fishing to do, but otherwise summer is over. My season did not go as planned, ending quite earlier than expected. Even the September Xterra I was hoping to do in Park City at the end of this month got pre-empted (this one by Marine Corps Reserve).
So what am I going to do? I figure for the month of September I'll concentrate on running every day at lunch, starting at three miles per run per day last week and ending at six miles per run for five runs per week at the end of the month. The months of July and August were everything but triathlon it seems, and I gained alot of weight(!).
What to do during the shoulder season?
1. Take a break, number one, but already took a break(!) in July and August because I had other things that HAD to happen.
2. I can start hard into a new training schedule, but I'd peak mentally in February or so, and I'm not quite ready to get into something like that right now, anyway.
3. Take it easy but continue to exercise so that when I start up a new training cycle, I'm not starting from scratch and when it's time to put on skis, I can still get up and down the hill all day without a heart attack.
Option #3 with caveats it is!
During September and October, I will continue the transition to AmphibOps.com, too. That will take some time, and now is the time to do it before I get into a new training schedule. I'm about half way done with a planning book, too, and I hope to finish that by the end of October.
Somewhere in there, I want to review this past year and set up next year. My initial thoughts are the Boise 70.3, but I'm not sure I want to spend money on a big entrance fee for a race that could have any kind of weather. I also hope to get back into the August races because next year I'll be with a different unit and not have to travel all of August (yeah!). Then, I promise myself that I will do that Xterra in Park City in September!
But there's a lot of time between now and then. I always seem to peak in my training in late March, mentally for sure and probably physically, too. I need to figure out a way around that.
At least for September, I'll just be running and trying to get some weight off me. October will be more of the same and include some of the local trail run series. November will be the beginning of biking and swimming again, I think.
So what am I going to do? I figure for the month of September I'll concentrate on running every day at lunch, starting at three miles per run per day last week and ending at six miles per run for five runs per week at the end of the month. The months of July and August were everything but triathlon it seems, and I gained alot of weight(!).
What to do during the shoulder season?
1. Take a break, number one, but already took a break(!) in July and August because I had other things that HAD to happen.
2. I can start hard into a new training schedule, but I'd peak mentally in February or so, and I'm not quite ready to get into something like that right now, anyway.
3. Take it easy but continue to exercise so that when I start up a new training cycle, I'm not starting from scratch and when it's time to put on skis, I can still get up and down the hill all day without a heart attack.
Option #3 with caveats it is!
During September and October, I will continue the transition to AmphibOps.com, too. That will take some time, and now is the time to do it before I get into a new training schedule. I'm about half way done with a planning book, too, and I hope to finish that by the end of October.
Somewhere in there, I want to review this past year and set up next year. My initial thoughts are the Boise 70.3, but I'm not sure I want to spend money on a big entrance fee for a race that could have any kind of weather. I also hope to get back into the August races because next year I'll be with a different unit and not have to travel all of August (yeah!). Then, I promise myself that I will do that Xterra in Park City in September!
But there's a lot of time between now and then. I always seem to peak in my training in late March, mentally for sure and probably physically, too. I need to figure out a way around that.
At least for September, I'll just be running and trying to get some weight off me. October will be more of the same and include some of the local trail run series. November will be the beginning of biking and swimming again, I think.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Transition Time...Starting a new leg of this race
I've been doing the 20-60-40 Triathlon blog for about two years now. It started out as my one real goal in triathlon, to get the 20 minute swim, 60 minute bike, and 40 minute run. I'm faced with the reality that I can't prioritize triathlon high enough on the list to make that goal happen. And, 20-60-60 really pins me into talking about nothing but triathlon when there is so much more out there.
So, I'm branching out to a new brand name and broader topics. On October 1, 2011, I want to completely transition to AmphibOps Triathlon. "AmphibOps" is short for amphibious operations, or the type of maneuver warfare that the Marine Corps is known for during World War II and continues today. When you think of the beach landings throughout World War II, you are thinking about amphibious operations.
The connection is that I think triathlons are an amphibious operation as far as hobbies and races go. You start in the water, hit the beach on a fast transport, and then attack the objective on foot. That describes amphibious operations as much as it does triathlon.
Where do the thoughts about amphibious operations come from? Well, I have a career in the Marine Corps that is a deep-seeded part of me, such that almost everything I do has some sort of Marine Corps angle it, specifically my thought processes and how I relate to everything.
AmphibOps Triathlon will still focus on triathlon, but it will include broader topics about the triathlon lifestyle and a healthy, active lifestyle. I'll add more in about my family and some of my other hobbies, but everything will be tied back to triathlon in some way and might have a Marine Corps spin to it.
I know I'll have alot more to write about it! I already have about 50 topics in my mind ranging from applying Marine Corps planning to life and triathlon planning to how triathlon training impacts every aspect of my life including such things as a garden.
AmphibOps will be more for a beginning or intermediate triathlete who wants to be competitive in age-group events while maintaining a healthy balance between family, work, and triathlon. In the past six months or so, I've had people ask alot of the same questions, and I want to write more about those things that people have approached me about.
So, if (when?) you sense a change in the writing and the topics, you are noticing the shift to the AmpibOps Triathlon brand. The new website should be up and running by October 1. A basic landing page is already at www.amphibops.com.
So, I'm branching out to a new brand name and broader topics. On October 1, 2011, I want to completely transition to AmphibOps Triathlon. "AmphibOps" is short for amphibious operations, or the type of maneuver warfare that the Marine Corps is known for during World War II and continues today. When you think of the beach landings throughout World War II, you are thinking about amphibious operations.
The connection is that I think triathlons are an amphibious operation as far as hobbies and races go. You start in the water, hit the beach on a fast transport, and then attack the objective on foot. That describes amphibious operations as much as it does triathlon.
Where do the thoughts about amphibious operations come from? Well, I have a career in the Marine Corps that is a deep-seeded part of me, such that almost everything I do has some sort of Marine Corps angle it, specifically my thought processes and how I relate to everything.
AmphibOps Triathlon will still focus on triathlon, but it will include broader topics about the triathlon lifestyle and a healthy, active lifestyle. I'll add more in about my family and some of my other hobbies, but everything will be tied back to triathlon in some way and might have a Marine Corps spin to it.
I know I'll have alot more to write about it! I already have about 50 topics in my mind ranging from applying Marine Corps planning to life and triathlon planning to how triathlon training impacts every aspect of my life including such things as a garden.
AmphibOps will be more for a beginning or intermediate triathlete who wants to be competitive in age-group events while maintaining a healthy balance between family, work, and triathlon. In the past six months or so, I've had people ask alot of the same questions, and I want to write more about those things that people have approached me about.
So, if (when?) you sense a change in the writing and the topics, you are noticing the shift to the AmpibOps Triathlon brand. The new website should be up and running by October 1. A basic landing page is already at www.amphibops.com.
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