A month away from race day

Race day is a month away and training is going smooth.  I have started to make some mental notes as to how I will approach the race.  Overall, I am looking to improve my personal best half-iron distance time by 30 minutes.  Since my last race, at this distance, I have become a stronger swimmer, as well as,  I am going into it with more knowledge on my nutrition both pre-race and during. 
Fall is finally here and the sun is rising a little later everyday. This makes for a dark start to an early ride, and starting to get a little cooler here in Arizona. 

Sportique body care

For the past month I have been using and testing Sportique body care products.  I am very impressed with the whole line of skin care products.  I will get into detail about the full line of skin care products later, but right now I wanted to focus on CENTURY RIDING CREAM, an anti-friction cream.  I have been using this on my synthetic chamois and like it very much.  With cooler water in the lake coming soon, I can't wait to use it on my wetsuit. Everything is all natural and the smell is pleasant and not strong or offensive.  

Labor Day Open Water Swim

After swimming 1.34 miles in Canyon Lake on Labor Day.

I was able to beat the crowd of those headed out to the lake for the holiday Monday (Labor Day).  Before heading out to the lake I fueled up with PowerBar Protein Plus Chocolate flavored drink and followed by a pouch of PowerBar Protein Bites, so I was ready to take on the over mile swim for training.  The water temperature was perfect.  Put on my goggles and swim cap, had my brother hang out on his kayak around me, just in case, and headed out.  The entire swim I felt strong. Had no issues with fogging goggles like I normally do, which made the sighting much easier.  The stroke drills I have been working on in the gym pool have been paying off.  I didn't worry about pace or time really, just worked on good form and being comfortable in the water.  I know when race time comes around, it will be wetsuit conditions and I plan on getting a bunch of training swims wearing that.  My brother wore my Mio Watch Quest with GPS to track the distance while trailing me. 

Cutting the nose off.

I have been looking into no-nose saddles for awhile now, almost a year.  Just before the Tour de France began this year The New York Times posted this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/science/28tier.html?_r=1

A few of my triathlete friends have been riding with them and I have heard nothing but positive news, as well as riders and other triathletes I follow on Twitter.

My two longer rides of the week, both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend were my two maiden voyages on the new saddle, and I have to say I am quite impressed. I am still making tweaks and adjustments and have not hit the right set up just yet.

Training is going very well, as I make my plan

Training is going very well as I look forward to a three day weekend (Labor Day) to get some great workouts in.  I am right on schedule with my program and feeling very strong.  It will be great once the high temperatures here in Arizona fall.  I have been primarily in the pool for my swimming and have planned a trip out to Canyon Lake to get some openwater swimming in. 
Last night I took a look at my previous half-iron distance race time and have started to think about how I can take 30 minutes off my total time.  While training this next two months I will be focusing on my plan and hope I can pull it off.