Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The Test

     Saturday I took my new SLS3 Gear out for a 10 mile test run and let me tell you it passed, and by no small margin. If you follow my blog I often talk about compression (for good reason) I love compression because I hate spending any extra time on recovery then absolutely needed and with the proper compression it cuts recovery time down. As for the full foot and calf compression socks from SLS3.... From now on they are the top end of the curve I will grade all/any compression I try. They fit like a 2nd skin and it feels like an extension of your calf muscle. They didn't slide and have cushion where needed. If you consider yourself any kind of athlete then go out and get some compression, then thank me down in the comment section later.



     As for my training this week. Everything is keeping on schedule to try and PR my 1st race of 2013 a Half Marathon near my office in downtown KC. And depending on my bother (Joshua Ham) I may take a break in training to do a just for fun 5k. It is a Zombie run where you get flags and at certain points they release Zombies (it has yet to be confirmed on the realness of said zombies)  and you run for your life over obstacles etc trying to make it to the safe zone for what is said to be an epic after party






Quick Update on how I'm doing on the Nike FuelBand front


I've had it for 13 days and am on my way to a 13 day goal streak

New for Next week......Swim Training




Please feel free to leave comments, words of advice, concerns about my mental health, etc in section below

Friday, January 25, 2013

New Gear

So I received a few Items from my sponsor and wanted to update the blog world...







Yes That's Me after a 20 mile Bike ride followed by a 10k run workout

Cliff Bar sent me some samples hoping I would pick them over Gu

Other then trying on the hat, I haven't tested any of the gear. I'm waiting til my long run on Saturday then I will let you know what I think.... Check out SLS3 by clicking on any of the SLS3 Banners you see on my blog if you decide to get anything let me know (shoot me an email) and I can get any of my friends a discount....

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

I Could Be A Bum

     Another week of training down and feeling better each week. Since my last blog I have kept my re found running pace back and have made a game of pushing myself harder and harder on the bike and then seeing if I can still run and crazy enough I can. I know it sounds weird but other Triathletes have said its a constant energy balancing act between how much to burn on the bike so they can still get what they need out of the run but for some crazy reason I took the word "Energy" to mean leg fatigue but energy is just energy pedaling a bike and running somehow use different muscles so as long as you have energy left after the bike ride my legs have been good to go. I'm just not sure (I have also only ran 6-8 miles) off the bike I haven't tried any longer distances yet.
     I was also Officially welcomed to the SLS3 family and it feels weird. Actually being part of a team. I waited on this blog to review some of the team gear they have sent me but I found out about an hour ago that the package just hit my Cities Post Office so it will either be waiting when I get home or will arrive tomorrow (Slowed Due to the Holiday) then I'll make a official Box Opening Blog. I just didn't want to go to long without updating the amazing and awesome few followers I have. I did get to meet our team captain "Chris" I know great name. I have now found out Nike recruited about 500+ athletes/workers of all skill levels to compete in a Fuel competition. Which is Nike's way of tracking activity. They have a point system with Nike Plus that allows athletes anywhere to compete against each other no matter their sport or activity level differences. So what Nike did was hand out what they call a fuelband. It looks like a rubber bracelet that everyone already has yet it is packed with Nike tech. It measures Steps, Cals, Distance, and of course Nike Fuel it also tells the time. It syncs with my IPhone Nike app and the computer. So as part of the Tri world I was offered a band with the wink and a nod that I would die before not meeting my daily earn of 3000 points. I quickly took it home unboxed it and checked the website. For a quick understanding of the competition and a look into my very crazy mind. The website lists teams of athletes/Workers

Triathletes
Ballet
Bowling
Bartending
Rowing
Basketball
Police Officers
etc



A video Nike made to compare athletes

     Yes that's right Bartenders have their own category and they are kicking serious fuel. When I logged on Ballet was in a crazy lead but the Tri world was down a few members so I decided I would bump My daily goal to 4000, on a normal day 5000 on a hard work out day and see what happens.

So far I'm on a 3 day streak (I've been wearing it for 4 days) and am pushing for today's points. So yes I feel that my team should be in the lead and if it means doing random jumping jacks and hallway wind sprints then so be it. But I like to win. as for my Blog title it just feels weird getting a sponsor and gear from Nike for testing and competing when I haven't even proved myself in the world of Tri yet. I could be a bum, or I could be great only time will tell....

Thursday, January 17, 2013

It's Back !!

     Before we get into this weeks blog let me finish giving everybody a update. 2 weeks ago I was in contact with a couple of companies that have corporate sponsored triathlete teams. They emailed me and we started the dance of emails with questionnaires they wanted photos, race resumes and it all ended up with SLS3 giving me an opportunity to race for their team so this season I will be supporting their gear and it just so happened to come at the right time.

     If you have been keeping up with my blog (Since your reading it NOW I assume you are) I have been down on myself lately for about the last 3 weeks it seems the bike before run has just been kicking my ass so I tried a few things

1. Less Distance
2. Slower Pace Work Outs
3. More Rest Days Less Workouts
4. Make Excuses

     Then a little over a 2 weeks ago I told myself no more excuses and did a in the freezing Midwest on snow covered sidewalks a 7 mile out door run (It sucked, but was worth it) and I have kept up my routine. I was spending to much time in my head, down on myself about losing my running speed I had built up and using the bike as an excuse. I went back to my notes and realized i got that speed by just running and not stressing so I went back to just doing the workouts and not worrying so much about my pace if it takes longer then it takes longer. Last week workouts went as planned but my focus was on maybe racing in cool new gear from a sponsor and then that became a reality. Then my most dreaded workout a 20-25 mile bike ride followed by a 10k, but ladies and gentlemen It's Back !!  it's like the bike ride didn't happen and the funny part was I pushed for a workout PR on the bike I didn't take it easy. I started running and realized my pace was the exact same as when I was running my Half so I pushed it a little then a little more and found out that the magic number for me is about 18ish real bike to run workouts and finally my legs realized that we are still working out and have showed up to this crazy party. It's nice to break down a wall every now and then especially the ones in my head.

Last time I was in Chicago I saw this on a buss stop and it still remains to be my favorite motivational photo on my phone



and this one I just saw a hour ago

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Quick Update Will Post More Later

It is Official, I am a member of the 2013 SLS3 Tri Race Team

In my last post I put a picture of the prototype team outfit and will post the actual pics as soon as it arrives.





I would also Like to thank Rachel Stanley (@rchlstnly) at 110%  Play Harder for the consideration.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Talk about Lucky

     So less blogging about my week of training and more about whats going on this week.
Not sure who to Thank but a few someones following my blog got a couple (2) companies interested in sending me free swag and asked if I would be interested in wearing their gear for training and racing. Are they kidding me OF COURSE I'M INTERESTED !! I love swag. T-Shirts, Hats, basically anything I can use for training or testing out for training I'm all for. So I'm not sure yet but I'm leaning towards SLS3 Company because it seems they can cover all Tri needs from race and training outfits to compression gear to hats and race belts. If it all works out I may be racing in this (Team SRS3 2013 Outfit)

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

I Hate the Cold Weather

Happy New Year


1st off I will start with My review of my Christmas Gifts

My Scale is a 1-10 Scale. 1 being horrible 10 being so amazing you should stop reading this blog and go buy it, then thank me and then finish reading my blog.


The Nike Miler (5 out of 10) Don't get me wrong it is a great shirt. It fits perfectly and stays reasonably dry but I made the mistake of wearing it with my fuel belt and the Velcro touched this shirt and now the front is destroyed so I own a lot of Nike shirts and I push them to their limit I just wished this one would have lasted. I am going to buy one more and just use it for training and will reevaluate it then.


The Nike Tri Suit (7 out of 10) Only because I haven't got it wet or completed a Tri in it yet. The biking and running in it has been perfect. It fits perfectly true to their chart and feels amazing it breaths well and has plenty of storage for gels. I assume after a tri I will give this suit a 9 or 10.



Nike Free 5.0 (9 out of 10) I retired my old frees (left) and laced up the new ones for a 10k so far and they feel amazing. They feel like part of your foot. They hug your foot like they were custom fit for it and they are willing to push as hard as you want to without any problems. Nike has been perfecting their fit technology and this shoe shows it. After more miles and if this shoe holds up as good as my old pair it will get a 10 out of 10.



No not the bike (bike was a birthday present) The Cycle Ops Mag Trainer and block. (8 out of 10)
it does everything it is supposed to and is easy to set up and can hook and UN hook my bike to it in about a minute. I haven't log enough miles on it yet to give it a higher rating, give me a couple of weeks and we will see.


The FuelBelt (8 out of 10) I wore it for a cold run (7 Miles) and it worked great. It does not have the clips for your race number and can only hold 2 gels 3 if you force them in but then the zipper acts up, but overall is a must for any long training runs.


I also received...
-Nike Goggles
-Nike Swim Cap
Mavic Cycle Helmet
and will review them after I test them.


     Now for my actual training update. I have upped my running pace to my normal training pace even though I am biking before I run, and my body has yet to except this idea and is fighting every step of the way. I almost didn't do my long run on Saturday since we had a family night with my brothers family and knew it would end late and I would be tired but about 2 hours before dinner I took a moment of silence for my pride and put on cold weather gear and did a 7 mile loop in the freezing cold slipping on ice and snow.... Hence I Hate Cold Weather. My workouts our staying hard and I keep pushing myself and have yet to plateau. I hope this month my body will respond and I'll start to get faster. 


 

Saturday before a very Icy run