Time Keeps on Slipping, Slipping, Slipping...

I'm not sure where time is going, but it seems to be flying!  Here we are at the end of February already and I'm not sure how we got here this quickly, but I'm happy about it.  The days are getting longer, and the sun has been out quite a bit lately which just helps to brighten my mood (sorry no pun intended there...just kind of happened). 



I'm pumped that in 3.5 weeks I get to enjoy riding and running outside along the ocean, through hills, and I get to do it all in warm weather.  Not being here is part of the bonus, but not being out in Cali solo this year is definitely an improvement too!  I'm looking forward to a week away, and to be able to meet up with teammates and watch a race should be great too.

My trip should be interesting and will probably hurt quite a bit since I haven't really been training all that much so far this season.  So I think it will be a nice shock to my system to get some decent riding and running in.   

Pay Your Dues

So I haven't had a real rant in a while, at least I don't think so...so why not put a little one up.

Have you ever met "that guy" (or girl) who seems to know everything?  If you say that you haven't met that person maybe you are that person.  I admit that I have no knowledge about most things, and only slightly more knowledge on other topics.  The bottom line is that I believe people need to pay their dues.

Yep, I could probably go on all day, but not worth it.  Done ranting, back to "Paying My Dues"

Giving Up...

Since today is Ash Wednesday and Lent begins I figured that I should give something up.  Last year I gave up sweets for Lent and it was a challenge to start, but it was doable.  So this year I decided that I'm going to give up sweets again, not too difficult right?  I guess this means my long ride pit stops won't include a candy bar...probably just some Watermelon GU Chomps instead now.  In addition to giving up sweets I'm going to try to limit the number of meals I eat "out" to one per week.  I say try because things come up, so if I have the choice to make food at home, or to eat out I'm going to choose to eat at home.  It's going to take some preparation, but I know I'll feel better in the long run.

Last night I slept in my Zoot compression tights...those are magical!  My legs before bed were tired, and sore.  This morning, fresh and ready to roll.  It's amazing what some compression and rest can do.  I'm pumped to knock off some more training.  Hopefully by giving up sweets and eating at home I can drop a few pounds (no I'm not super concerned about it, and I don't have an eating disorder...maybe a bit pyscho, but that's it).

An Awesome Long Run

Since I had a three day weekend, I decided to push my long run back to Monday.  I'm glad that I did because I had the best long run of the year so far.  The entire run was controlled, and my pace was in check (well for the most part as I only averaged 3 seconds per mile faster than I wanted).  My Mom was nice enough to bundle up and ride next to me for my run.  It's awesome to have someone to talk to during these long runs, as it was a lot nicer than having music.  Thanks MOM!!!  I think part of the succes was the fact that it was sunny, and I was able to wear shorts.  It's not too often that you can do that in February in Chicago.

Because of my long run yesterday I wasn't sure how my legs would respond this morning at Computrainer, but surprisingly they were golden.  The Zoot Compression gear is definitely working!!  Can't wait to get out to California in a month to get some outdoor riding in, as well as to see all of the new Zoot gear.  Oh yea, and hopefully my new bike comes in before I leave so that I can get it built up and ready to roll.  I suppose I should try to figure out my race schedule too...

More of the Same...

Sorry I've let this blog kind of slip from updating things too often.  It's just been more of the same really.  Basically just trying to figure out what my plan will  be for the year.  Definitely want to try some different things this year and I'm just trying to figure out the best way to go about them.  Training has been going alright, I've been doing a little here and there, but really trying to keep it in check...I mean it is only mid-February right now, no need to be doing crazy stuff yet.  I've been riding the rollers when I'm at home, and that's been fun.  I think the thing that I really like is that I don't worry about power...I just ride.

I am loving my Zoot Ali'i 3.0's .  It's like putting on a pair of slippers, if you haven't tried running in Zoots yet you really do need to.  Before I started running in them I dealt with plantar fasciitis for a couple of years which was limiting me to running only a couple of times a week...if that.  Since I made the switch I've had Zero issues!!  I can't wait to try out their 2012 line!

I'm working on a few things to get posted up here, so when I have the patience to sit down and finish them I'll get them posted.  Until then here are a couple pics of my best training partners...

Roxy ready to pounce...

Roxy and Gus.  One of the few times she's not being a bi#%h towards him.

This is rare...Winther not going crazy

Maverick on his bed

They look happy, and tired

Where Would You Rather Be?

This is about the time of year when I'm totally done with Chicago weather.  Although we've had a super mild winter, it's only snowed twice...I mean really, that sucks!  And I was able to ride outside on Saturday, which I totally over dressed for.  I'm ready to be riding in shorts once again...and running in shorts, and swimming outside.  The DVD player has been working overtime and I'm ready for the weather to hit 50's and 60's daily...warmer would be better!  I think I'm getting the itch too because I'm headed to California relatively soon (well at the end of March).  So to hold me over here are a few places I'd rather be right now...

Chillin in Cabo

Surfing in San Diego

Swimming in Kona

Running in Encinitas

Riding the Pacific Coast Highway

Not too difficult right?

The First Delivery of 2012

Isn't it exciting to come home to packages waiting at your front door?  Even if you know they're coming it's still kind of gets me pumped.  So here is what I arrived home to on Wednesday...

Watermelon GU Chomps...I'm trying to limit myself to 1 package a day (alright maybe 2)

GU Brew & GU Energy Gel

Don't know why the picture won't rotate

New SRAM Force Shifters...



So it looks like I'm pretty set up with GU for a couple of months, and new shifters can only mean one thing...a new bike.  It's going to be a while before I have it, but I know it will be worth the wait...the problem is I'm not a very patient person when it comes to these things.  I'm told it will be in at the start of March...that's a whole month away.  At least I have all of the parts ready to roll.  Yep and I have some new parts for my tri bike too which will need to get put on...SRAM Red Black Edition.  Pretty pumped about that!

Running Dataless...Well Kinda...Alright Not Really

I was planning on running on the treadmill last night, but made a game time decision to hit the roads.  It's super rare to be able to run in shorts on February 1st so I figured I should take advantage of it.  I ran into a problem before I left, I took my Garmin 310XT out of my bag and tried to turn it on...it was dead.  Alright I just decided to head out and run without it, and I would try to keep things easy and just go for what I thought would be 40 minutes.  Well I did have my watch...but I wasn't going to look at it.  I looked at the clock on my stove when I left and I would try to see how close to 40 minutes I was...that lasted about 5 minutes and change before I had to look down at my watch...another minute later I decided to start the stop watch, and the watch watching began.  Epic fail on just running for what I thought was 40 minutes!  Another epic fail came about 2 miles into my run (yea I ran a route that I know, and yes I've run it so many times I know where the "mile" markers are, and yes I'm guilty of planning this out in my head as I started...so who was I fooling thinking I would actually run without data?) anyway, a little over 2 miles (probably like 2.17) into my run my iPod shuffle decided to run out of batteries.  Great I was only a little ways into my run and now I'd have to listen to my labored breathing and feet smacking the ground.  And to top it off it started to get a little chilly too because the sun went down.  Yep, no Garmin, no music, cold hands, darkness...why do we do this again?  It felt awesome when I was done...I'm not going to say I ran easy, or that it felt good throughout because it sure didn't. But the bottom line is that it's done!

I did get a package from GU and SRAM, I'll snap some pictures and post them later. 

February is here already & a short ski video

It's hard to believe that January is done with already.  The weather has been mild, and I'm guessing that we're going to pay for that all the way through April.  Hopefully I'm wrong, but there is no way we can get out of this winter without some snow, or super cold weather or something.  I mean I've ridden to work in shorts the past two days...that's unheard of!

I think January went pretty well from a training perspective, and I'm looking forward to keeping that rolling through February as well. Trying to stay balanced and to not do too much.  I'm pretty pumped to get home today because I'll have a shipment of GU which should arrive...and some new sweet SRAM Force Shifters to put on my road bike. Hopefully I'll have that road bike up and running in the next month or so.  I definitely want to have it done by the time I head out to California at the end of March for Zoot Team Camp.  My tri bike is going to be decked out in some SRAM Red this year too, can't wait to get those components on there.

Last weekend I went skiing up to Granite Peak in WI.  Here is a short video of some footage from my Go Pro