Officially signed up for my next race

I have officially entered the Mesa Sprint Triathlon happening on Oct. 12 of this year.

Training up to this point has been pretty unfocused.  Signing up makes it real.  The race is a sprint distance of a 400 yard swim, 12 mile bike and a 5k run. 

Podium Legs Cold, speed up your recovery

After a leg straining workout on the bike or out running, one of the quickest ways to recover is an ice bath.  However, to take an ice bath you need to transfer a bunch of ice to the bathtub.  Some people have used plastic baggies filled with ice, then placing them on their legs only to result in a mess with the baggies leaking or dripping.  Getting enough ice in the tub to soak in is time consuming. A fast and easy way to perform an "ice bath" is by using Podium Cold for your legs.  Simply strap on the leg sleeves with their eight simple Velcro enclosures and sit back, prop your feet up and relax for the next five to 10 minutes. This is a great time to update your workout log, training app or look over your next workout.  (To tell you the truth, I am updating my blog with this post wearing these after a great run today.)
Now why would you be doing this you might ask?  The goal is to help the muscles, tendons, bones, nerves and all the different tissues used in your workout recover.
Lactic acid builds up in the body during exercise (training and racing) that can cause muscles to function poorly and over a long period of time. You start to feel fatigue, your legs get heavy and overall tiredness sets in.
After wearing the sleeves for five to 10 minutes, the icy cold packs inside start to cause your blood vessels to tighten draining the blood out of your legs. After 10 minutes your legs feel cold and numb. When the time is up your legs will begin to fill up with 'new' blood that invigorates the muscles with oxygen to help the cells function better.
Although I think it is really a first-aid term R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation).  I tend to think when it comes to recovering from a hard workout or competition,  Podium Cold for your legs works.  They speed up your recovery time simple as that.
Before your workout, while your filling your water bottles or prepping your energy supplements, slip the Podium Cold Leg sleeves into the freezer so they will be ready to help your recovery when you return. Or better yet, store them in the freezer to grab anytime after a grueling workout session. 
Get a pair at http://www.podiumcold.com

Checking in....

I feel I am getting stronger in the pool going at least 3 times a week.  I have set aside for a week the paddles and fins, but will get them out next week to work on some drills in the pool.  My rides this weekend, which were a little longer in awhile, were very hot and sticky.  Even though I was drinking a lot of water, I still was feeling a little dehydrated.  I was thinking for the next few weeks of getting out of the house even earlier than I do now to avoid the sun. Training is going great as I look forward to October.

Who left the oven open?

Temperatures outside during the middle of the day are in the one teens (113-119) the last week.  Of course I am not out training during that time of day, but even the lows are staying in the high 80's.  The workouts have been moved to pre daylight hours, even the pool.  These temperatures are normal for this time of year her in Arizona, and with it you just learn to hydrate more (stay away from caffeine), wear protective clothing from the sun and stay in the shade or indoors.  Kind of a reverse of a winter hibernation. Training is going well for my mid October sprint triathlon.

There is a day for everything

There is National Donut Day, Nation Running Day, National Coffee Day, Bike to Work Day you get the picture, there is a day for everything.  So you guessed it there is a National Flip Flop Day, which happens to be Friday, June 21, 2013 this year and I will be rocking my SOLE Sport Flips. (Well,  I always wear them, so the day really won't be that different for me.)

National Flip Flop Day

So while we are on the subject of flip flops and sandals, other sandals or flip flops may be comfortable for the first 20 minutes or so of wearing, but the SOLE Sport Flips are just what your feet and body are craving for.  I have enjoyed these arch supportive flip flops after long training rides or runs and of course wear them to and from the pool.  They mold to your foot, normally after wearing them for a few days. With the arch support and the contoured foot bed, you walk around in comfort.  I really like them after my feet have been cramped up in cycling shoes or just getting more air to my feet after running. Because SOLE Sport Flips are molded then to your feet, don't let others wear them.  The contour of the foot bed can help alleviate pain from plantar fasciitis.

Tropical Smoothie Café' honors those rocking flip flops with a FREE SMOOTHIE on June 21st, from 2pm - 7pm, by wearing your flip flops to one of our locations.  Look them up to see if they have a store near you.  

Feed Zone Portables recipe book

Feed Zone Portables is a new book of recipes out by Chef Biju and Dr. Lim with 75 ideas for cyclists, runners, triathletes, mountain bikers, climbers, hikers, and backpackers. The simple recipes are made with real food. I have tired a few of these easy to make recipes bringing them on my longer rides and lately on the way out the door to the pool to swim laps. On their website they offer free sample of some of the recipes at  www.feedzonecookbook.com 

My favorite recipe that I have made so far are Banana Waffles. I seem to get stuck in ruts of what I eat in the morning and out while on longer rides or runs. This book has helped open my eyes to what can be done.  Sure there are the energy bars and gels I take along but this is real food you prepare in your own kitchen. 

Swimming is taking shape

I am excited to say I ditched the gym pool and scored a great deal on the local aquatics facility.  The facility was used this last spring for Olympic trials.  Anyway, the pool at the gym I belong to is 14 meters long so just as I was getting up speed and getting into the groove the wall was there. The lanes here are set up for 25 yard lengths.  I get there for my early morning workout at 5am and am either the only one there or one of four others swimming at that time.  I plug into my X-1 audio underwater headphones on my workout is done before I know it.  I have been working on my form and arm position for now and will focus on speed in a couple of weeks.  Feels great to be working out in such a great facility.