Know When to Say "When"...

As athletes, particularly triathletes, we are creatures of habit (read "quasi-superstitious").  We have our practice and training routines.  We have pre-race and race rituals.  If you change any one of these elements, it could potentially mean bonking (performing poorly) during a training or a race.

Some of my friends commented yesterday during our long bike ride (which coincidentally changed from the scheduled 46-56 mile ride to a 70 miler!!!) that I was up REALLY early on Saturday morning before my run.  They were referring to my "While You Were Sleeping" post.

I proceeded to explain that my pre-training and pre-race morning ritual (depending on the severity of the training) consists of waking up at least 1 hour BEFORE I have to leave my house.  So yes, this is where my O.C.D. kicks in and I take the time that I want to be at my intended location, subtract the time it takes me to get there and then subtract 1 hour to calculate my wake-up time.  (6am run - 30 minute transit = leave house at 5:30am therefore wake up at 4:30am.)

By doing this (and knowing that I have set out my gear and prepared all of my nutrition the night before), I am able to calmly wake up, check Facebook, email, the weather conditions, have some breakfast, drink coffee, etc... and still have a few moments to spare in case nature calls.  (There is nothing worse than nature calling in the middle of anything - let alone when you don't have instant access to a restroom.)

When I race, I lay out my gear in a particular order making sure that I have everything that I need for every element of the race.  Then I pack my gear in my gear back in the order that I intend to lay it out on my transition mat (a transition mat can be an actual mat or a small towel - the size of a hand towel - that you put your gear on during a race).

When I buy new training/racing clothing there are also rituals that I perform.  I feel that I must share this ritual - as abiding to its logic will save you a huge amount of harASSment on the road.  ALL PUN INTENDED.

1. Go to the fitting room (I don't care if you think they will fit - this is not about fit!)
2. Put on the cycling/tri shorts
3. Turn your back to the mirror in the fitting room
4. Bend over as if you're riding in the drops (on a road bike those are the lower portion of the handle bars that look like ram horns) or as if you're riding in the aero-position (on a triathlon or time trial bike those are the "extra" set of bars sticking out from the main handle bars) and point your butt toward the mirror
5. Turn your head (while still pointing your butt toward the mirror) and LOOK FOR CRACK!
6. Change angles a little bit as sometimes lighting affects the transparency of the fabric - bring a small flashlight.
7. CHECK FOR ALL SIGNS OF TRANSPARENCY AND BUTT CRACK!!!!
8. If you can see crack in brand new shorts - so can every one else and it will just get worse over time.  (Additional comment from Mini-Me... "Underwear under your cycling or tri shorts just means you're an amateur and we can see that you like to wear Scooby Doo underoos or worse that you have an affinity for leopard print and you're a 200lb male.)
9. OH and NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER wear white cycling or tri shorts.  NO ONE WANTS TO SEE YOUR BUTT (OR THE HAIRS ON IT)!  (The only exception to this is my friend Janine S. who is a personal trainer and fitness model.  She can pretty much wear anything in any color and will look good!)

I recommend that you perform this ritual on your current repertoire of training/racing shorts.  This little test will help you determine when it's time to retire your favorite shorts and will give you time to turn a new pair of shorts into your new "lucky" shorts.

A friend, who I have the utmost respect for, and therefore shall not be called out by name (but he knows who he is - as does every person who had the pleasure of riding behind him yesterday) wore some "vintage" cycling shorts - albeit, they were the team shorts.  Everyone got to see more of him than they ever wanted. 

He was lucky that I wasn't able to snap a photo of him.  Otherwise it would have been posted here with a Cosmo-style "oh no you didn't" black bar covering his face - but allowing the world to see his faux-pas.

So my closing message to you my friends... this is a reminder that someone will always be riding behind you and unless you want to be the butt of many jokes and the center of much ridicule, always check the integrity of your cycling/tri shorts. 

And if you're unsure if the fabric is wearing thin - wait until you can get the opinion of someone you trust (someone who will not let you leave the house looking like a fool) and ask them. 

Until next time - run for your lives!
~J

While You Were Sleeping...

I find it curious that non-athletes use the excuse that they don't have time and that's why they don't work out.  Now, before you get all up in arms, I am NOT referring to parents with young children or people caring for the elderly or challenged.  I am talking about the couch-jockeys. 

I am talking about the people who when they find out that I am a Triathlete look at me with an expression of shock and disdain and before they even say a word, their expression is one of, "YOU do triathlons?  You must just do the "mini" ones."  They're referring to the sprint triathlons usually comprising of a .25 mile swim, 12 mile bike and a 5K run.

Imagine the look on their faces when I tell them that I have completed marathons, and two Half-Ironman races and a training for an Ironman.  I think if I had told them that I had three breasts and testicles, they'd be less shocked.

So, while those people were sleeping this morning, or as is the case in Miami - coming home drunk from a night of clubbing, my friends and I were waking up at 4:30am, completing our pre-workout morning rituals, consuming some sustenance and caffeine, lacing up our shoes and heading out.

By 7:50am, I had already completed a 7.5 mile run.  By 9:00am, I had already had breakfast, picked up some items at Whole Foods and was getting some new Tifosi frame-less sunglasses at FootWorks in South Miami to be ready for tomorrow morning's 3h 45m bike and 30m recovery run.

It's now just before 1pm (I've also run a few other mundane errands and watched some TV) and I have the whole day ahead of me to do whatever "normal" people do.  I use the term normal loosely as normal is a relative term...what I consider "normal" sure as hell is not what most people think to be normal.

So, really, it all comes back to the 4-Ds that my high-school dance instructor drilled into my head...Desire, Discipline, Dedication and Dependability.  You have got to want it so bad that nothing will stop you from attaining your goals. 

So the next time someone says they don't have time to work-out, just think back to this post.  There is always time to do what you WANT to do, it just depends on how bad you want it, how dedicated and disciplined you are, and when all else fails, you work out with a buddy and commit to being there to work-out.  The last thing you want is to be known as the person who can never be depended on. 

Finally, I must close with an apology.  My mother said that I may have offended Drag Queens in my previous post ("Sorry for interrupting your stroll in the bike lane") by likening the women who shellac their make-up on before a work-out to them.  In reality - those women WISH they had the skill to apply their make-up so well. 

Until next time - run for your lives!

~J

New milestone achieved this morning while running with my friend Lorena...although we took a second to take this photo, it's the first time since my knee surgery that I've completed interval runs up the William Powell Bridge on Key Biscayne (our only "hill" in South Florida) and ran down them non-stop.  I am happy to report that my knee feels freakin' awesome!  IMAZ here I come!!!



These are a few of my favorite things...

Below is a list of some things that I just can't train or race without. 

Let's first start with something that all triathletes can relate to:

Now, the list...  these are not in any particular order, but I love them all!

For your reading pleasure:  "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN: How Six Weekend Warriors Chased Their Dream of Finishing the World’s Toughest Triathlon,” by Jacques Steinberg

KT Tape - I especially like the KT Tape Pro in Pink... it matches my bike and most of my gear.

TriPainRelief - NEVER Tri without it!

Dry+Goods - spray this on before you put on your socks and your feet will thank you!  Pretty much spray it anywhere you want to avoid chaffing!  I <3 Dry+Goods!

Hoo Ha Ride Glide by Reflect Sports - enough said!

YouBars - custom made bars.  My custom formula and bar name is the best though... 

Zico Chocolate Coconut Water - it tastes just like Yoo-Hoo, but it's good for you!

Injiji toe socks - each little piggy races comfortably in its own compartment!

Tifosi sunglasses - LOVE THEM!

blueseventy Siren goggles - been racing in the same model/brand for 3 years now.  White with smoke lenses for sun/glare protection.

SportCount Finger Lap Counter - because I get major A.D.D. in the pool and forget to count my laps in my head.

Road I.D. - NEVER leave home without one!

Sweaty Bands head bands - I still like to look girlie when I am out there kicking ass and taking names!

~J

Oh yeah, the training stuff...

I rode for 1:15 this morning and got in a 20 min walk to complete my scheduled "brick".  I forgot a running tank and didn't have the proper support for "the girls" to just run in my bike jersey and sports bra.  Lesson learned!  I just have to remind myself that people pay a lot of money for what I have naturally. 

Until tomorrow - run for your lives!

Sorry, am I interrupting your stroll in the bike lane?

As a triathlete, I would venture to say that I have a bit more knowledge about the rules and etiquette of swimming, cycling and running, than people who specialize in a single sport or activity. With that clearly stated, let me step up onto my soapbox for a moment.

Cyclists...

• If you are passing others, be courteous and let people know that you're "on the left".
• Before you launch a snot-rocket, LOOK BEHIND YOU!  (For the non-cyclists/runners... a snot-rocket is exactly what it sounds like.). Blech!!!
• Never ever ever ever pass on the right, unless you want a water bottle tossed at you.

Runners/Walkers (primarily those who use the BIKE LANE as their preferred route)...

• You should travel facing oncoming traffic. This allows you to see what is barreling toward you at speeds over 20mph.  
• I know you choose to go "with traffic" because you want the cyclists to check-out the junk in your trunk, but you're just annoying.
• Regardless of the direction you are traveling in, take the headphones off, or at least only wear one ear bud so you can hear what is going on around you.
• I know you spent 3-hours putting on drag queen make-up before you ventured out to exercise, but honestly, no one is looking at you except to hurl obscenities at you for not moving out of the bike's path.
• So kudos to you and your three friends for traveling facing oncoming traffic...now MOVE out of the way.  The BIKE LANE is not the place for you to gossip three-wide about who knows what.  
• Most normal people would not intentionally stand in front of an oncoming car, so why do you choose to stay in the path of a cyclist speeding toward you?  
• When you get hit by a cyclist, it will be your fault for not getting out of the way. Don't force cyclists to have to quickly leave the BIKE LANE into speeding traffic because you are too stubborn to move 8 inches over and run/walk single file for all of 5 seconds.
• Should you get hit by a cyclist, it will hurt.  But it will not hurt as much as the ass-whooping you will get once the cyclist comes to and realizes that you've caused a completely avoidable accident that has now damaged their baby.  By "their baby", I am referring to the bicycle that probably costs more than your car... And pray you didn't crack the carbon fiber!
• I personally don't like running on sidewalks, but if there is a sidewalk less than 2 feet away from the BIKE LANE, use it!  It will save you and the cyclists a lot of headaches.

Sigh... 

I say many of these things in a jokingly serious manner, but in all honesty, we all need to 

work together to be a more cohesive athletic community.  We all are just trying to be 

healthy and active, everyone has a right to a safe path.

Many of you reading this will understand where I am coming from...especially if you cycle at the Micco course in Kendale Lakes.  

If you don't understand where I am coming from, let me know, I'd be more than happy to 

educate you.  I have spent the past 3 years directing a beginner running/walking program 

and have graduated hundreds of 0-to-5K, 0-to-half marathon and 0-to-full marathon finishers, so I would say that I am, again, rather qualified in this area.

My name is Janette and I am not crazy...but I am Loco.  

I've decided to chronicle the last few months leading up to what will more than likely be the longest and most challenging day of my life - November 18, 2012... the date of Ironman Arizona.

Once upon a time...it all started with a dream.  Not a dream like you would think, but more of a recurring nightmare.  In my dream, I was running... but yet I wasn't running.  I was crawling, struggling to take a step, scurrying on my hands and knees, but never running.  It was so incredibly frustrating.  I can't recall how many times I had this same dream, but I can tell you that after January 2007, I never had that dream again.  

Other than running laps in P.E. as a child, which let me tell you, really put a damper on my desire to run because we only ever ran when the class was being disciplined ("go run laps" the teacher would say), I had only really run while playing softball in middle school.  

So technically, my view on running was that I would run for one of two scenarios... 1) to get to a shoe sale or 2) to avoid bodily harm due to an imposing threat, and even then, if I thought I could take on the threat, I'd be fighting and not running.  

I had never really run a day in my adult life until I woke up one day in January 2007 and decided that I was going to run a marathon.  I signed up with the local Team In Training group and sure enough, by June 2007, I had completed my first full marathon. 

I proceeded to complete the ING 1/2 Marathon in January 2008... and then decided that I needed to "learn" how to run and joined the Footworks Fitness 101 program in March of 2008 as a participant.  

The rest, as they say, is "history".  I have since completed several more half marathons (one in January 2012, just 13 weeks after knee surgery),  another full marathon, several sprint and Olympic distance triathlons and two Half Ironman Triathlons (one in March 2012 just three months after knee surgery).  My goal this year is to complete Ironman Arizona on November 18, 2012.  

An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a full marathon...all in the same day, all to be completed in less than 17 hours.  Suffice it to say, I've come a long way, but I have a long way to go to get to my 140.6 (the total distance completed during the race) and my M-Dot tattoo (a badge of honor for Ironman finishers).

I would love for you to follow along on my crazy journey to IMAZ, the good, the bad, the ugly and yes, the countless hours of training that lay ahead.

Why do I do this?  Because someone once told me I couldn't.

~JT