One foot in front of the other.
Continued from: 2010 Ironman Louisville: Race Report Part 1 – Before the race
On race day, August 29, 2010, I woke up at 3 o’clock AM. The reason I got up so early was too afford myself the time to follow my usual, daily routine. I know it may seem silly to some, but for me having the time to wake up, eat breakfast, shower and basically just give myself the time to get in gear is imperative.Also, since the transition area opened at 5:30 AM, I wanted plenty of time to get there, park and get to my bike.
I arrived at the transition area at about 5:10 AM. Already there was a huge mass of people waiting to be let in to transition in order to make final adjustments and nutritional additions to their bikes and transition bags. In my past experience, people are always early for these types of pre-race tasks, but due to the nature of the swim start, it was especially important in this race. You see, the swim start for Ironman Louisville is a time trial start. The reason for this is that the swim was taking place in the Ohio River, and the first third of the swim led athletes upstream in between Towhead Island and the shore. Therefore, there was not nearly enough room for the traditional Ironman mass start.
As it turned out, we were allowed into transition a few minutes early. I headed straight to my bike to fill my Speedfil (filled with 3 hours worth of my custom blend from Infinit Nutrition) and to top off my tires. I had done pretty much everything I needed to the day before, so I was all prepared and headed with the a boat-load of other people on the 3/4 mile walk to the swim start. As I walked, there were people literally hauling ass by me to get a decent place in the line to start. The reason for this (and a HUGE complaint for me) is that the line for the swim start had ABSOLUTELY NO RHYME OR REASON. It was entirely first come, first serve. I will go into this more in my review of the parts of the race that I experienced later, but as you can guess, I think the way it starts is crap.
I, like many others, had someone holding a place in line for me. While I imagine that had I not been fortunate enough to have this, I would have been furious at those who did. However there was/is no rule against it and that opportunity presented itself, so I took it. I was placed very close to the front of the line and knew I’d be in the water quickly once the cannon sounded.
As time drew nearer, volunteers were gathering morning clothes bags about 45 minutes before the actual start. This was a problem for many (including me) because it left us standing there, with no water, clothes or anything else we may want for 45 minutes (again, I’ll go into this more in my review later). I did run to the bathroom at one point, which meant going quite a way from where I was standing (many thanks to my line buddy for holding my spot). This was sort of easy, though the bathrooms were situated right beside the line for going in the water so it looked like some sort of spandex-clad M.C. Escher drawing.
I picked my way back to my spot in line, past a throng of not-so-pleased athletes, and waited. The professional start was right at 6:50 AM and we were to go off ten minutes later. In that ten minutes, a very talented trumpeter played the Star-Spangled Banner as well as My Old Kentucky Home. Then things began to get energized.
When the cannon went off, the lines we were in moved super fast. I put on my cap and goggles and watched my fellow competitors jumping off two separate docks. Swimmers were going in two at a time off each dock basically one on top of the other. It was actually quite dangerous looking and you really had to be careful not to jump on the swimmer in front of you.
I walked out on the dock and jumped.
To be continued…
My trip to Louisville, Kentucky began at about 6 o’clock AM on August 26, 2010. Since I had so much stuff to bring, including my bike, helmet(s) and all my other race gear, some of which is quite bulky, I had decided to drive down rather than fly. From New York City, where I live, it is about a twelve hour drive. To be completely honest, the drive was rather boring and uneventful.
Upon arriving in Louisville and checking in to my hotel, I immediately headed to a nearby Wal-Mart super center to pick up some groceries. I was trying to keep my meals as on track as possible leading up to the race and, say what you want about Wal-Mart, but they had everything I needed to have the meals and snacks that Coach Jeff prescribed. After eating dinner and taking a bit to digest, I got right into bed and went to sleep.
The next morning, I didn’t have a very strict schedule of anything to do. So, after eating breakfast, showering and such I headed down to check myself in to the race and to visit the expo. Checking in was relatively painless and went by in about 15 or 20 minutes. The check-in process went like so:
After doing the check-in thing, it was on to the expo. A quick side-note on that; I think WTC (Ironman‘s parent company) is making a huge mistake by only having themselves as the sole vendor of general multisport “stuff” at these events. There are of course, other companies at the expo selling their products, but not really any multi-sport retailers other than Ironman. For instance, I needed two extra eight ounce Fuel Belt bottles. The Ironman store in the expo only sold Nathan products (that I could find) which do not fit in my Fuel Belt. So, I had to drive across town to what was actually a really great local multisport store, VO2 Multisport to find the bottles I needed. My point is, unless Ironman/WTC can somehow manage to have fewer exclusive deals and carry a wider range of products in their “store”, I think they’re hurting themselves and the athletes by boxing out stores that might be able to provide some of the things they cannot.
In the expo, I made my way through the companies that were there to visit Pam, Ian and the crew from Newton Running (I’m sure you’re completely shocked that I spent time there!). It was really great to hang out with them for a few and to talk about everything from shoes to the challenges of running (and hiking and biking and…) with babies, toddlers and beyond. I had put out the call for a tweet-up lunch thing meeting at the Newton booth at noon, so in the time I had before then, I ran back out to my car to take care of a couple of errands and to scope out the area. On my way out of the Galt House Hotel, where the expo and such was being held, I got recognized by a racer named Alvaro (I’m pretty sure). I’m constantly shocked when this happens, but he was such a nice guy and I truly hope his race was everything he’d set out to accomplish.
I got back to the Newton booth right at noon and waited around until 12:30 for people to show. The tweet-up ended up being just me, but that’s OK, because I like me (most of the time)! I think that a lot of the time, people are a bit shy about crossing the bridge between the virtual and real worlds and don’t want to speak up. So, if you’re reading this and you DID show up, but you just weren’t sure what to do next, SAY SOMETHING TO ME!! Chances are you know what I look like, but I probably don’t know what you look like!
After I had my lunch, I went back to my hotel to rest a bit and to shower and such as I’d be heading to the athlete’s dinner and meeting that evening. The meeting itself was the usual stuff; the directors of each portion of the course, and the race director went over rules and cautions, helping to give us the safest and best race experience.
Afterward, I headed back to my hotel. My plan was to begin to get my gear together and into it’s assigned bag. Below is the video of those details:
After all that, I headed to bed with my alarm clock set to wake me up and get down to the practice swim the next morning.
The practice swim was pretty uneventful. The race was NOT wetsuit legal as the temperature was about 86° F. I took the swim to feel out how I would react to the fact that we would begin the race by swimming upstream and against the current of the Ohio River. I also wanted to feel the downstream current as I was expecting to feel more pull than I actually did. The swim felt good and the water was MUCH better to swim in than the Hudson River!
After the swim, I took my bike to the Ironman wheel rental counter to get my race wheels put on (special thanks to @Indianabackdoc for helping facilitate this). I then had a short, easy bike ride of about 30 minutes in order to get my legs spinning. This was followed by a short, roughly 15 minute run. Both of these felt great and I was really beginning to get excited for the next day.
I went back to my hotel and got my gear together to check in. In Ironman races, you are required to check in your bike and transition bags the day before the race. Generally, you will have access to them on race day, but it pays to be ready ahead of time. I got my stuff all checked in and that pretty much ends the preparation!
After taking a short nap and lounging around my hotel room for the afternoon, I met up with Trevor and Kristine (Twitter friends and teammates on Team PRS Fit). We went to Lynn’s Paradise Cafe and had an awesome dinner with excellent conversation. It was so amazing to have met these two and to get to spend some really amazing time with them (more on this later). They really and truly made my trip without my wife and daughter that much more bearable and I cannot thank them enough for all they did for me.
I got back to my hotel at about 8:30 and set my alarm for 3 AM. I closed my eyes, and surprisingly, sleep came easily.
To be continued…
My Top Ten Tips for Beginner Cyclists
Baker’s Review of the Catlike Whisper Plus
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In full Ironman events (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) you are given five plastic bags at check in. One bag for transition one (swim to bike), one for transition two (bike to run), one morning clothes bag (for clothes and whatever else you may want to keep around before entering the water) and one bag each for about the halfway point on the bike and the run. Each of the special needs bags will be waiting for you with whatever you want to have in it. Here’s what I’ll have in mine…
Bike Special Needs Bag
Run Special Needs Bag
That’s all I can think of for now, and I’m sure I’ll add a few things along the way, but I’m trying to be a bit minimalist about it. You are told that you likely won’t get your special needs bags back, so it’s best not to put anything in them that will be sorely missed.
Check back soon for more race prep!
Sole Dual Layer Performance Socks
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Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis, 2008
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and place an oven rack in the middle.
Place the eggplant on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cooled eggplant, beans, parsley, lemon juice, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. With the machine running, gradually add 1/3 cup of olive oil until the mixture is creamy. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Place the hummus in a dipping bowl and serve with the cucumber slices. Alternatively, spoon the hummus over the cucumber slices and arrange on a serving platter.
Leading up to Ironman Louisville this year, I have been quite desperate to find something that could keep up with my rate of perspiration. That’s right, I sweat…a TON. I need a pair of glasses that are lightweight, has a great field of vision, minimal or no frames that would allow sweat to pool, lenses that would allow my copious amounts of sweat to run off easily and allows for a boatload of airflow to keep my eyes and brow line cool(ish). The Pivlock V90 Max fits the bill on all accounts.
First, weight; the Pivlock’s are amazingly lightweight. Aside from their weight in hand, the action and fit make them that much more invisible. While the weight of some glasses belies cheap and half-baked manufacturing, the Pivlocks are actually designed with that in mind using what they call the Grilamid TR90 frames, built for flexible, light yet hard core construction.
Next, the lens. Well, as far as traditional frames go, the Pivlocks have none. This means absolutely zero interfering with any part of your periphery. The field of vision goes seamlessly from the through the lens, to over or under the lens (if you can get around the great coverage). The V90 Max’s come with three lenses, bronze mirror, ignitor (rose tinted) and clear. Each of the lenses offers a clear, easy to clean, larger surface and they have a sweat seal hydrocoating that allows sweat to roll off easily. The changing of the lens takes about 10 seconds flat and is super simple yet sturdy.
The shape of the glasses makes them very comfortable an firmly, yet lightly, fitting on your face. They offer a huge amount of coverage that once again, has no frames to distort your field of vision. Even with that much coverage, the airflow is unparalleled in my experience. There is no frame lip to interrupt or stop the airflow over the brow and air flows throughout the entire perimeter of the lens, keeping your face and eye area cooler than any glasses I’ve tried. After a six hour ride I came home and HAD to show my wife the lack of sweat on the lenses!
The one possible detractor for some people may be the size of the V90′s. They probably work best on a medium to large face because of their size. This isn’t to say that they wouldn’t “work” on everyone, that’s a matter of taste and preference.
I highly recommend the Smith Pivlock V90 Max glasses. As long as I can keep these bad boys on my face they’ll be there. On top of that, Smith’s lifetime warranty certainly helps!
OH! I almost forgot!! Take a look at the amazing, removable prescription system that the V90′s offer!
http://cmp.ly/2/w9cl44
After what has seemed like an eternity for many of us die-hard Newton Running fans, the much heralded trail shoe has finally landed in the Newton store for pre-order! I spoke with Sir Isaac a tiny bit today and got some of the skinny on the shoes:
“Closed mesh, PU frame above the EVA for additional support and
protection, gusseted tongue, more supportive strapping, reinforced toe
cap.”
I can’t WAIT to try out these new shoes and get them nice and dirty on any trail I can find! When I do get some on my feet, you can be certain that I will give those of you on the fence about buying some for yourself a detailed rundown. For those of you that can’t wait, click the picture below!
Sole (AMAZING SOCKS, and sandals….)
Smith Pivlock V90 Max Sunglasses
Smith Pivlock V90 Max with Prescription lenses
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Stuffitts Winner @Ironsunflower!!
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After many months of waiting, those awesomely vented, Swiss-cheese looking helmets you’ve seen by Catlike are finally available in the U.S.! According to the Serotta Bikes Facebook page (Serotta is the official U.S. distributor of Catlike), the first helmets just arrived and are making their way to your local Serotta dealer, competitivecyclist.com or the official Serotta website! I haven’t had the opportunity to slap one on my noggin just yet, but you can be sure that when/if I do, I’ll give you the detailed rundown!
Leave a comment on this post and win a pair of Stuffitts for free! (it takes 2 seconds!!)
Infinit Nutrition (Use code “ironbrandon” for FREE shipping!!)
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New York City Triathlon Results (I’m bib number 4788)
Me on the Official Newton Blog!
Infinit Nutrition (Free shipping with code: ironbrandon)
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Jens Voigt descends the Peyresourde Pass on a loaner bike after a crash shattered his own (Robin Wilmott)
You may remember Jens Voigt from his terrible crash [Video Here] in the 2009 Tour de France which forced him out of the race. Well, on yesterday’s stage it almost happened again. However, broken and bleeding, Voigt pulled it together to stay in the race…on a bike 3 sizes too small!!!
Courtesy of Food Network Magazine
Serves: 4
Preheat the broiler. Make shallow cuts in the chicken thighs with a sharp knife. Toss the chicken with the lemon juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl.
Pulse 2 tablespoons yogurt, the vegetable oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tomato paste, coriander, cumin, 11/2 teaspoons paprika and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor to make a paste. Toss the chicken in the mixture and let marinate 15 minutes.
Place the chicken on a foil-lined broiler pan. Broil, turning once, until slightly charred and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees F, 5 to 6 minutes per side.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/4 teaspoon paprika, the cilantro and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Top the chicken with the yogurt sauce and serve with rice, if desired.
Per serving: Calories 237; Fat 9 g (Saturated 2 g); Cholesterol 115 mg; Sodium 1,266 mg; Carbohydrate 8 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 30 g
Photograph by Antonis Achilleos
“Running Dark” mark the first of Jamie Freveletti‘s books that I have had the pleasure of reading. The problem with that is that as soon as I finished it (and even while reading) I found myself desperately wanting to know about the “Columbia incident” from Freveletti’s debut novel, “Running from the Devil” (which I am now reading)!
In Running Dark, we begin by accompanying the heroine of the book, Emma Caldridge, as she runs the legendary Comrades ultramarathon in South Africa. From that point we are taken on an adventure involving Somali pirates (though the author notes that the manuscript for this was written before pirates came to so much international focus), United States Congressmen, warlords, back alley power brokers and a mysterious drug that gives people the ability to push themselves to their physical limit.
The momentum in “Running Dark” never stalled and never felt forced. Freveletti sets a good pace for the story while still taking the time to define the characters. Even though several of the players in this novel are holdovers from Running from the Devil, I felt like, even though I had not read the first novel, they were still explained to me in great detail.
I have to admit that because I knew the author is a runner and because the opening pages put us right in the middle of Comrades, I thought there would be much more actual running in the book. However, what followed was a read that was right up my alley. This is a novel slammed full of adventure and intrigue and left me wanting more. I can say that I think everyone would enjoy this book (unless, of course, the scope of your adventurous reading ends with Jane Austen).
Many thanks to TK for the book(s)!
http://cmp.ly/1/v2j28l
While I am an admitted fan of Google Maps and an avid Apple supporter, I have to admit that Microsoft really stepped up its game when they created Bing Maps. Now, Bill Gates & Co. have given us an application that will give you the dirt on each and every stage of the 2010 Tour de France.
Not only does this app give you the obvious in the form of pretty satellite pictures of the route, but they go several steps further. You can automatically zoom in to both the beginning and end of each stage which will get you a lot closer than sitting in your living room will! You can also see the results of each stage (information for the app data provided by Podium Café)
To see the app in it’s full, yellow jersey wearing glory, click the link here!
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mark Riedy
mark@trueoverdrive.com
415.302.2923
Lance Armstrong Starts 2010 Tour de France In Specially Designed Giro TT Helmet
New ‘LAX’ helmet designed around Armstrong’s unique body, riding position and 2010 Tour courses by Giro’s Advanced Concepts Group
(Scotts Valley, Calif., July 3rd, 2010)–Giro, the worldwide leader in high-performance protective gear and
equipment for action sports and trusted sponsor to Lance Armstrong for all seven of his record Tour de France
victories, has announced that Armstrong rode today’s Tour de France prologue in a new time trial helmet that was
custom designed around Armstrong’s specific morphology, riding position and the 8.9-kilometer course in
Rotterdam. Code named ‘LAX’, the new helmet will not be sold at retail, but elements of the design will certainly
trickle down to future production time trial helmets.
“Lance always puts 100-percent into the Tour and for this, his last go at it, he asked us to create something ultra special,” said Giro’s Senior Sports Marketing Manager, Chuck Platt. “The LAX was the first major project for our new Advanced Concepts Group and the challenge pushed our team to use new technology and methods in the hope that we could help Lance win his 8th Tour de France.”
The LAX helmet was the subject of a story by Wired Magazine writer Mark McCluskey on the magazine’s website
(http://www.wired.com/playbook/2010/07/armstrong-helmet-exclusive/) today.
Giro went to extreme measures to prepare project LAX for this year’s Tour. Considering the six month development time and Lance’s busy schedule, the Advanced Concepts Group made a laser scan of Armstrong’s torso while tucked in his time trial position, and separately, scanned his head. The data acquired was used to make precision headform and torso models that Giro’s Advanced Concepts Group used to aid development in Armstrong’s absence. The torso model was used in a number of sessions to test as many as 100 prototypes in a variety of wind tunnels.
Giro’s Advanced Concepts Group is based not far from Silicon Valley in the company’s Scotts Valley, California headquarters and includes industrial designers, helmet engineers, product development specialists and test lab staff. The Advanced Concept Group is housed in a new, state of the art facility that encourages innovative design practices and allows for rapid prototyping and on-site testing. The LAX is the first product to come out of the group.
Riding in what he has called his final Tour de France, Armstrong is pursuing a record setting 8th victory and rides for a team sponsored by American electronics retailer RadioShack. The 2,234-mile 2010 Tour de France begins on Saturday, July 3rd in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and ends on Sunday, July 25th in Paris, France. In addition to the race’s Prologue in Rotterdam, the custom LAX helmet will benefit Armstrong in the 52-kilometer individual time trial on the race’s penultimate stage in Bordeaux that many Tour watchers feel could decide the winner of the 93rd running of the lap of France.
Contact Mark Riedy at TRUE Communications for additional information and images of the LAX helmets at
415.302.2923; mark@trueoverdrive.com
About Giro Sport Design
Giro®, based in Scotts Valley, CA, is a worldwide leader in the design, development and marketing of premium,
high-performance protective gear and accessories for action sports and active lifestyles. We are an innovative and
consumer-focused brand, with a mission to create products on the leading edge of inspired design that help you to
look and feel your best.
This coming Monday, July 5th, will mark the 100th episode of IronBrandon’s Podcast! to celebrate, I would like to invite any and all those who can make it to join me for a short run in Central Park followed by a drink. It won’t go terribly long due to the fact that I need to get home and actually record the 100th show! Here are the details:
Who: Me and all of you! Bring a friend!
What: Short-ish run in New York’s Central Park
When: Monday, July 5, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST
Where: For the Run: Meeting at the entrance to the parking lot of the (former) Tavern on the Green (where the lot meets West Drive). [MAP] For Drink(s): Dive 75 (75th & Columbus) [MAP]
I certainly hope to see many of you there! Please don’t worry about pace as we will be taking it easy so as to include everyone who comes!
To me, about three years ago, the Tour de France was just this bike race that took place in France. Lance Armstrong was really the only cyclist I could name off hand. Then I started getting increasingly involved in endurance events, along the way falling in love with Le Tour (and other races as well).
This coming Saturday, July 3, 2010 marks the beginning of this year’s Tour which promises to be one of the most intensely contested races in a long time. One of the main reasons for this is the intense rivalry that developed last year as then Astana teammates Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador exchanged words, looks and mental gamesmanship. Since that time, Lance has walked away from Team Astana to form Team Radio Shack, taking along with him eight out of the nine members of the 2009 Team Astana (the same team that won the team title in the 2009 Tour).
Apart from the most watched rivalry is the the vast field of strong riders with widespread talent and teams that hope to guide their leaders to the podium on the Champs-Élysées. Perhaps the most watched among these riders is the second place finisher in the 2009 Tour, Saxo Bank rider, Andy Schleck who, along with his brother Frank, gave an amazing performance in last year’s Tour and promised to be at the front of the cycling world for many years to come.
If you’re not a fan of cycling because you find it boring or tedious, this year promises to be an incredible race to watch. Whether the Armstrong/Contador rivalry truly plays out or if the real challenge come from one of the new teams hitting the road in this year’s Tour, such as Team BMC or Team Sky, you can be sure that cycling’s best will be throwing down the gauntlet every single day between July 3rd and July25.
You can follow Tour coverage online at: http://letour.fr as well as on Versus. Additionally, Versus will be playing each and every stage live on it’s television channels and replaying it throughout each day. The Tour begins with the Prologue in Rotterdam tomorrow.
You may have heard on this week’s podcast that I am starting a new contest! Here’s the info:
Who: This contest is open to anyone and everyone in the U.S. and Canada (also APO)! Tell your friends!
What: Stuffitts! I have spoken about these simple yet awesome shoe savers in the past. Click here to read more about them. I cannot say enough how great they are!
When: Starting NOW! This is an ongoing contest that will be every month, or until every person on the planet has nice, fresh smelling shoes!
Why: Because Stuffitts are awesome! The folks at Stuffitts are being SUPER generous and I also want to give you guys something that I think is a great addition to any athletes arsenal!
How: On the last podcast episode post of each month (example: Episode 99 on June 28 HERE) entrants should leave a comment (however long you’d like). On the following week’s show (the first show of each month) I will draw, by random number generator, one winner! That’s it!
Good luck and spread the word with the links below!
Win a free entry to the Salinas Valley Half Marathon!
Stuffitts (Comment on this post and win a free pair!)
Know your body’s quick-cooling spots
IronBrandon’s Podcast: Episode 99 (player temporarily being stupid. Click here to play)
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Calculating the amount of fluid we need as individuals can often be a tricky proposition. While interviewing the founder and CEO of Infinit Nutrition, Michael Folan, a few weeks ago, he gave a great breakdown of calculating your hydration and nutrition needs. Below is a step-by-step formula for figuring out your own sweat rate and therefore, your hydration needs.
The goal is to see exactly how much dehydration you incur during your workout and in turn,
determine your hourly fluid replacement (how much you need to drink). When you are done
with this homework, you will have a hydration target that you can use in both training and
racing.
1. Empty you bladder and record you weight (nude or swim suit)
2. Pre-exercise weight = ___________ lbs.(A)
3. Do your usual workout, and drink like you normally would.
4. Record the approximate volume of fluid consumed during exercise.
How much you drank = ___________ fluid ounces (E)
5. Towel dry, empty your bladder and then record your weight (nude or swim suit).
Post-exercise weight = ___________ lbs.(B)
6. Subtract your post-exercise weight from your pre-exercise weight to get the number of
pounds you lost during exercise.
Weight lost = _____lbs.(A) – ______lbs(B) = ________lbs.(C)
7. To find out how many fluid ounces of water you have lost,
multiply pounds x 16 _____lbs(C) x 16 = ________ fluid ounces of water you lost during
exercise (D)
8. To determine hourly fluid replacement needs, add number of fluid ounces you lost during
exercise (D) to the number of fluid ounces you consumed during exercise (E) and divide by
total number of hours spent training.
(_____fluid ounces (D) + ___fluid ounces (E)) ÷ ___hours =_____fluid ounces needed each hour
Conditions that will increase sweat rate include heat, humidity, and elevated heart rate (high
intensity training). Athletes should measure sweat rate across several workouts to determine
their fluid replacement needs in various environmental conditions.
On race day, based on the forecast, the athlete than can go back to their log and know
exactly what fluid they need to plan on ingesting to prevent performance declines associated
with dehydration. Deaths have occurred when the air temperature was less than 75 degrees
F (24 degrees C) but the relative humidity was above 95%. Humidity levels over 75% will
contribute to an increased risk of heat injury.
*Note that a factor of 1.2-1.6 can be multiplied to hourly replacement needs when heat &
humidity (>75%) are extreme.
This is a key component to any athletes performance.
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Serves: 6
The much anticipated (though not covered here) Timex Global Trainer GPS is now available for order, exclusively from REI. The people who brought us the Ironman watch have quite a bit of catching up to do in the GPS arena to make any headway in a market dominated by the likes of Garmin, Suunto and Polar.
Win a free entry to the Salinas Valley Half Marathon!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I want to begin by saying that whoever wins this, I AM SO JEALOUS! Now, on to the contest…
The First Annual Salinas Valley Half Marathon is a race that struck me as one that has so much to offer. From taking place in beautiful Northern California along Monterey Bay to finishing by running through the vines at the Pessagno Winery, this race promises to be one that many may have trouble “racing” because they’ll be distracted by their surroundings. The course is USATF Certified (certification # CA10002TK).
So, I have ONE (1) entry into this race that I am giving away to one of you guys! Here’s how the contest works:
Serves: 6
Combine butter, lime, jalapeno, garlic and paprika in food processor and pulse process until smooth. Place on waxed paper or plastic and roll. Place in freezer until ready to serve.
Cook corn by boiling, steaming or grilling. Cut disks of butter and rub onto corn, nesting the butter in a slice of bread to apply it to the hot corn. Season ears with salt (and fight over the hot buttered bread slice!)
The International Cycling Union (UCI) has confirmed today that beginning with the 2010 Tour de France, inspections and scanners will be used to be sure that no “illegal devices” are concealed anywhere on or in the bicycle. This comes on the heels of some rather suspicious video evidence was leveled at Fabian Cancellara. Click here to see the post I did about the topic.
Here is the official press release from the UCI:
| Press release – Second day of the UCI Management Committee meeting | |
| Date: | 18.06.2010 |
| Description: | The Management Committee of the International Cycling Union (UCI) met on 17 and 18 June in Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
On the second day of the meeting, the Management Committee awarded the 2011 UCI Cyclo-Cross Masters World Championships to the town of Mol in Belgium. The 2011 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar was also approved. The members of the Management Committee discussed issues concerning equipment used in road competitions and decided that it was necessary to bolster measures that have already been put in place (in particular the visual inspection of bicycles, a procedure that was recently reinforced). As a result, a scanner will be used from the time of the Tour de France. This instrument, recently tested with a successful outcome, will allow an official to detect any illegal devices that may be concealed, for example, in the bicycle frame. The Management Committee also defined the regulations for participation in the 2011 UCI World Calendar events. This formula represents a compromise with the organisers of Monument events. The UCI sincerely regrets that these organisers ultimately rejected the principle of the automatic participation of UCI ProTeams in their events. However, negotiations with the organisers led to an agreement, reached in particular as a result of an increased consideration of teams’ sporting values, one of the organisers’ main requests. The UCI has nevertheless decided to retain the principle it has adopted for its system of awarding UCI ProTour licences. In terms of scheduling, the UCI announces that the list of Professional Continental Teams that have been registered will be published on 20 November each year. If this list leaves some team places yet to be announced, the names of the final teams registered will be communicated on 10 December. The definitive list of teams registered in the second division will be published on this date. |
I won’t say too much about it, but I read the brief response that Outside Magazine put out. For the whole ten seconds it took to read, I kept looking for a, “Hey, we didn’t mean anything by that. Sorry.” But it isn’t there. Oh well.
What’s wrong with this picture? Well, apparently, the saying on the t-shirt is what’s wrong. Yes Lance is 38 years old, and yes, BFD. However, when this photo was taken, that saying was not on Lance’s shirt. In fact, there was nothing on Lance’s shirt. It was just a plain, blue t-shirt.
Up to now, Lance’s history with Outside Magazine seems to have been a very good one with the seven time Tour de France winner appearing on the cover over ten times. But is this possibly the last time? Yesterday afternoon, Lance addressed the photo on his Twitter with the following:
On top of the falsified photo, perhaps Lance is a little less than thrilled about the blurb on his right: “His Age, New Rival, the Latest Scandal. Is This End For Lance?”
Personally, I think it’s not cool to make it appear as though Lance approved of the saying on the shirt (his historically colorful language notwithstanding). I’m also not a huge fan of Photoshopping in general in publishing, but I understand that it’s a part of the game.
What do you think about all this?
Ok, so let’s face it, almost everybody who sees an aero cycling helmet thinks they look a little silly, but secretly harbors a desire to strap one on and see what it can do. I know I did!
Earlier this year, I got my hands on the Advantage 2 from the Giro company. If you’re a cyclist at all, you know Giro as one of the leading helmet manufacturers around. In fact, if you’ve seen any ad with Lance Armstrong in it riding a bike, then you’ve seen him in a Giro (Ionos). The Advantage 2 was my first opportunity to try out a cycling icon and to get under and aero helmet.
First, you should know the purpose of an aero helmet. As the name suggests, it helps to make you more aerodynamic and thus, more efficient. On top of that, an aero helmet is, dollar-for-dollar, a MASSIVE savings over other aero components such as wheels. Click here for an article that has a very good breakdown of cost per watt saved.
Now, on to my thoughts on the Giro Advantage 2. Like I said, this was the first aero helmet I’ve gotten the chance to try out. At first, like many athletes, I was a bit concerned about the heat factor. The Advantage 2 doesn’t have the huge amount of vents that an every day cycling helmet has, rather, it has only five vents. These vents are right on the peak of the front of the head and do indeed get all the air. So, what I noticed was that, not only was I cooled enough, but the vent channels running along the inside of the top of the helmet allowed for a small vortex Giro Cycling Helmats, Advantage 2, Aero Helmets, Benefits of and Aerodynamic Cycling Helmetof air (like a mini tornado) at the back of my head that felt like a constant air conditioner. I was completely shocked. This is what the Giro website has to say about venting in the Advantage 2:
Internal Air Channels
By definition, a channel is; a route through which anything passes or progresses. In the case of Giro helmets, we utilize channels on the inner portion of the helmet to move air. These internal channels are carefully crafted and are one of the keys to a well ventilated helmet. When combined with our external vents, they help move hot, stale air across the riders head and force it out the back of the helmet. This is a proprietary Giro technology that we call WindTunnel Ventilation.
On top of the amazing heat dispersion, the Giro did indeed seem to allow me to feel more like I was splitting the air, rather than pushing it out of my way.
Another really great feature of the Advantage 2 is the foresight to put channels in the ear flaps to allow sunglasses to be worn. Not once did any of the glasses that I tried with the helmet feel pushed either down on my face or squeezed in from the stems.
About those ear flaps; I was concerned about comfort due to the fact that my ears stick out a bit more than most. This causes them to feel pinched and generally sore after wearing, say, a swim cap for too long. However, the ear flaps on the Advantage 2 gave my ears plenty of room without being uncomfortable. The one slight detractor I found was hearing. Because of the positioning of the ear flaps, it does make hearing everything you’re use to with nothing but straps on either side of your ear tricky. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like you “can’t hear” it’s just a bit muffled relative to unobstructed hearing. That said, I had zero troubles with that both in workouts (on NYC streets where hearing is VERY important) or in the Ironman Mooseman 70.3.
So, if you’re in the market for things to make you more aerodynamic, rather than dropping $2000 on a new pair of wheels, why not just take $160 and get a helmet that will give you more aerodynamic advantage anyway?! I really like the Advantage 2 and I look forward to trying it out when it get’s truly hot this summer, so be on the lookout for updates.
P.S. Look out for some new helmets from Giro very soon!
http://cmp.ly/2/wbi2vv
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Serves: 6
Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until soft, about 10 minutes. Add roasted peppers and saute until heated through. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Place mixture in the bowl of a food processor with stock and all but 2 tablespoons of the feta. Process until combined and smooth, about 30 seconds. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Toss pasta with sauce, adding pasta water by the tablespoon, if needed. Sauce should cling nicely to pasta. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Divide among pasta bowls. Sprinkle with parsley and remaining feta cheese.
Many remember last year’s finish of the mens race at Ironman Boise 70.3. In that race, Chris Lieto came around the final turn down the finish chute in the lead…until Craig Alexander came around the corner a split second later and took the win over Lieto by less than two seconds! This year’s race was almost just as exciting, with Lieto and Alexander coming out of T2 side by side. Shortly thereafter, Lieto pulled out of the race with abductor issues, but Alexander then had to deal with the very hard charging Ben Hoffman. Ultimately, the reigning, two time Ironman World Champion, Alexander, pulled out the win by only ten seconds over Hoffman.
In the womens race, after a very tough outing at Rev3 Quassy last weekend in Connecticut, Julie Dibens got redemption with an impressive wire to wire win.
Click here to see the full report from Ironman.com
Click here for the full results of the 2010 Ironman Boise 70.3
*Side note: Age Grouper Joesph Pellegrino of Missoula, Montana threw down a 59:28 run to finish 8th overall! Holy crap!
For about the past six months or so, I have been using an aluminum water bottle from Klean Kanteen. I started using it because it holds more water than typical plastic bottle, thus fewer trips to the water cooler. It’s also much more sanitary than a plastic bottle (if you’re reusing it). Now for the best part; ounce for ounce, bottled water is more than DOUBLE the cost of gasoline! Lifehacker has a great write up on the cost savings of carrying a water bottle.
Hey there guys! I am so excited to share some news with you all. Much has been made over the past year of what exactly defines ‘good’ running for and/or technique. Many, like myself, believe in allowing your body to do what it is meant to do naturally rather than allowing an overbuilt, over-cushioned shoe get in the way. With all that said, there is an awesome clinic on natural running form coming to New York City on June 15! See you there! Here are the details:
What: Natural Running Form Clinic with Newton Running
When: Tues., June 15 at 6:30 pm
Where: Meet at The Boat House, Central Park NYC (See map below)
Why: Join Newton Running for a free, open to the public event featuring
Newton’s co-founder and running form expert Danny Abshire, as well as
Newton’s R&D/Education Director and adventure racing world champ Ian
Adamson. Danny and Ian will lead a clinic to demonstrate how proper running
form can improve speed and efficiency, and decrease the risk of injury.
*NOTE* Do not feel any pressure to be a Newton wearer in coming to this clinic! This is for ALL runners who want to improve their form and efficiency.
June 12th: Newton Running Form Clinic & Symposium, Newton Running Lab, Boulder, CO 9-10am Running Form Clinic, 5:30-7:30pm Natural Running Symposium
June 16th: Newton Running Symposium, The Track and Field Store (997 Madison Avenue, NYC) 6:30-8:30pm Symposium, Q and A
June 17th: Runner’s Edge, Farmington, NY 6:30-7:30pm Symposium, Q and A 7:30-8:30pm Form Clinic
Since I began this site I have tried out quite a few products. These things range from a cold weather headband with headphones built in to tech clothing and everything in between. You’ve probably actually heard me on my show or in posts on the site mentioning these things and what I think of them. However, every now and then, something has a huge impact on me and then I feel it is incumbent upon me to let you know the circumstances of that impact and how greatly I was affected.
This past Sunday during the Ironman Mooseman 70.3 triathlon in New Hampshire, it rained. In
fact, it started raining just before the start of the race and did not stop until I was driving on my way home about 30 miles away from the race. With the skies falling out the way they were, there was no way to avoid being completely soaked through on every inch of your body (at least not without taking the time to put on rain gear). This meant that my feet, the things which would be receiving the most punishment throughout the event, would be completely soaked for about SIX AND A HALF HOURS (including warm-up swim and standing around after the race).
Now, excuse the details, my feet have come to be able to handle a lot of punishment, but almost all of that comes when they’re dry. Once I hit the bike in this race, I was worried about any callouses becoming soft and the skin on my feet breaking down, which would the destroy my ability to run. This, however, never happened.
In my cycling shoes, which are admittedly not the best you can buy, I have Sole Thin Sport Custom Footbeds. These are custom in that you put them in your oven for a couple of minutes and upon taking them out, place them in the shoes you are using them with. they then conform to YOUR foot. During my race, where any wiggle (by way of looseness or stretching from being wet) of my cycling shoes likely would have resulted in skin being worn off my foot and/or blisters, my feet remained cradled and right where they needed to be.
I don’t wear any footbeds, other than what is already in my shoes, when I run. However, I’ll have these footbed in my cycling shoes for a long time to come.
Not only have I tried and approved of the Sole Thin Sport Custom Footbeds, I heartily recommend them.
I love Thai food. My favorite Thai restaurant that I’ve ever been to is in Osaka, Japan and is called Sweet Basil (in Umeda on the Fukushima stop on the JR). That said, I’m aware that it’s not always the healthiest thing in the world. From the Eat This, Not That folks come this article telling you how to still enjoy Thai restaurants, while keeping it healthy. (Oh, if you go to Sweet Basil, tell the owner, Ray, that Brandon, Danielle and Rob say, “Hi!”.)
Click here to read: 10 Ways to Eat Healthy at the Thai Restaurant
Continued from: 2010 Ironman Mooseman 70.3: Race Report Part 1 – The Day Before…
Four AM on race morning arrived to find me well rested (relatively speaking) and ready to go. I have tried hard to make myself sleep when I need to by telling myself that all the preparation is done, there’s nothing left now but to race. That seems to work, most of the time.
I got myself up and went through my usual morning routine. I took a shower, got dressed and watched the news while I ate three pieces of whole grain toast (OK, so I lacked a toaster and it was just bread) topped with peanut butter and grape jelly. I did a few, last minute checks of everything and then began to pack my car.
I was on the road to the race site at about 5:30 AM, which put me at the race at about 5:55 (give or take). Along with the other racers, I made my way through the now muddier parking lot, for the 3/4 of a mile trek to the race site, bike and gear in tow.
Upon arriving at the race site, everyone was being funneled through a narrow-ish corridor where body marking was taking place. I know that body marking has to get done, and I know that this seems like and efficient way to make sure everyone gets it done, BUT, when you have hundreds of people, packed to the gills with gear and often bikes as well, this is a tricky prospect. Bikes and gear and the clothes that we had to wear in the cool morning air were falling to the ground and tripping their wearers and everyone else.
By the time I got to my transition area, it was about 6:30. The first thing I noticed was that racer number 702 (the numbers went in order but on alternating sides of the transition racks, therefore, on my side of the rack were the odd race numbers and on the other, the evens) had set up hi entire transition in my area on the wrong side of the rack, leaving me absolutely no place to go. I pointed this out to a volunteer in the area, as racer 702 was nowhere to be found, and she moved his belongings to the proper side. I began setting up, putting everything in its designated place to make for a smooth transition.
At 6:45 the transition area was closed as the start of the race was scheduled for 7:00 AM. As I was leaving transition, the rain began. Rather than my usual shoe setup of cycling and running shoes set up in their respective row on my mat, I had placed my cycling shoes inside a plastic grocery bag (along with my other cycling needs) and placed that bag on top of my running shoes. This insured both pairs of shoes stayed mostly dry.
I headed down to the water’s edge, putting on my wetsuit along the way. As I walked toward the start, Maria found me and we both got in for a short warm-up swim. The water temperature, which I had expected to be frigid, was actually really nice and was a great compliment to the wetsuit legal swim. Just before the pros started the announcer informed us that they may be trying to send the waves off with a smaller time gap than the four minutes that were scheduled. (Side note: the National Anthem was actually quite good. I’m not sure who it was, but it was a good baritone.)
I made my way to the start and waited for my wave (powder blue swim caps and all) to be called to the line. This race was a beach start, which meant a great opportunity for some full contact racing. In this environment, kicks to the face and being swum over (by me) is not out of the ordinary by any stretch of the imagination. The starters gave us sectioned countdown. First we got the ninety second call…then sixty seconds…I didn’t hear the thirty second call, and there was no countdown from ten or even five seconds for that matter. I was clearing the fog from my goggles when the horn went off.
It was on.
There is some new, carbon fiber hotness about to drop from a new kid on the block. Scottsdale, Arizona based Mach Bikes is just about to launch their new line of TT bikes. Not only is the design and research a thing of beauty, but these rides can be custom painted by Mach rather than having to go one-off. Here are some “mach-ups” (I couldn’t help myself!)
This past Sunday, June 6, 2010 was the Ironman Mooseman 70.3 triathlon in Newfound Lake, New Hampshire. Beginning from my arrival in New Hampshire on the day before the race, this is my report.
My original plan was to drive directly from my in-laws home in Hingham, MA, straight to my hotel (located a short drive away from the race site in Campton, NH), check in and then head over to the race site to sign in. Just to make sure I would be able to check in, I called ahead to the hotel and was told that check in time was 3 o’clock PM and since I would likely arrive at about noon, that was not going to happen. So, I reset my GPS to take me right to the race site.
The staging area for the race itself was to take place in Wellington State Park, which lies on the Western shore of Newfound Lake. As I got close to the race area, there was a mass of people heading toward what was the parking area for the weekends festivities. These people were the racers and spectators from that day’s Mooseman International Distance Triathlon, and they were wrapping up their day and heading home. As I mentioned, cars were being funneled into a parking area that was essentially a huge field, and I do mean huge. The problem, which became increasingly clear as I drove deeper and deeper into the grassy expanse of this “parking lot” was that the rain which had rolled through the area that morning with such severity that race organizers were forced to cancel the swim portion of that day’s race, was that this field was rapidly turning into a huge mud pit. To be fair, I’m not sure if the park itself had the parking necessary to fit all the cars attending the races but, as I soon found out, this parking area was (depending on how far back you had to park) about 3/4 of a mile away from the race area.
Once I had made the trek from my car to the park entrance and race staging area, I found my way to the “expo” and began the fun of waiting in line. At this event, like other Ironman (WTC) owned events, you have to go through a series of check-in’s. The first of these is to check in with USA Triathlon (USAT), the sport’s governing body in the United States. At this area, you must present your USAT license or, as was the case with my friend Jay at Ironman Wisconsin, you can present a picture I.D. and the USAT representatives there are able to look up the validity of your license. Now, you are not required to have an annual license to compete and you are permitted to buy a one day license for $10 if you so choose. My license, which was set to expire on 5/31/10 but which I had renewed on 5/23/10, had not yet come in the mail when I left town (of course, it was in the mail when I came home). Based on what I had seen in Wisconsin, I thought I would still be fine and my information would be able to be looked up by the USAT at the race since my license number and everything was still the same AND since I had my (expired) license. I was wrong.
The USAT representatives were not working from a computer where they could just look up a racers’ information, rather, they had an old-school list of names printed out, with a column beside each name saying whether they were good to go or whether they needed to buy a one day license. My name, since the physical license I had with me was expired, fell into the latter category. I was pissed. Realizing that I would have to fight this battle later via email with USAT (I emailed them as soon as I got into my hotel room asking for my $10 back), I asked if they took credit or debit cards. Cash only, and I lacked any cash. So, now it seemed my only option was to walk the 34 of a mile back to my car, drive to find an ATM somewhere in rural New Hampshire, or borrow money from a kindhearted stranger. I then remembered that a woman who also coaches with Jeff, whom I was going be meeting up with later that day, might be at the race site. So I called her (Maria) and she and her husband were indeed on their way to the race site at that moment, and she was so kind as to lend me the necessary $10 to get things going.
The next step in the check-in process is signing in with the event itself. So, yet again, I waited in another line, and in pretty short order got into the tent. This part was very quick and well organized. Soon enough, I was done with the sign-in process and made my way to the “expo”.
The reason I keep putting quotes around the word expo is because this was an expo in theory only. The vendors at the expo were: MC Cycle & Sport (a local multisport retailer) and then Ironman itself. That’s it. MC had a small tent where they sold a few race day necessities and, to be fair, they had a small but well thought out selection. They were also providing last minute bike tweaking services (for a fee, of course) for those that wanted a quick tune up or something. The Ironman tent, as at all Ironman events, was selling Ironman branded everything, from wine glasses to onesies. Note: I don’t have a problem with this at all, I just wanted to be clear that this was the extent of the vendors. All that said, this was not an “expo” in term of what I would expect from a WTC event. Oh well.
Maria, John and I planned to head back to our respective lodgings for the next couple of hours and then meet up at 4 PM to ride a short bit of the course and then head to the 4:30 PM athlete meeting. I headed to my hotel, still an hour ahead of normal check in, and the desk clerk was kind enough to let me check in early. I went to a local grocery store to pick up some much needed sustenance, and then went back to my hotel to relax for a minute before heading out once again.
At 4 we all met as planned and began our short ride. I noticed a problem with both of my wheels that has happened before. I was running clincher type tires and the bead of the tire was not seating properly in the channel in the rim itself that it is supposed to. This is not really a make-or-break problem, but it is one that you really want to fix as it would likely result in a very sore ass after a long ride (it feels like there is about a 3 inch flat spot on the wheel that has this issue).
The meeting was short and sweet. The race directors and officials presenting were very well prepared and ran over their points quickly, answering any questions that arose along the way. After the meeting we headed over to check out the transition area. Uh oh.
At Ironman Wisconsin, the transition consisted of a separate bag for each transition and a clean, carpeted of concrete surface and chairs to sit in. This was not the case at Mooseman. The transition was to be like any other triathlon on a local level. Bikes were racked according to number and your transition area was to be set up beside your front wheel. My particular rack was set behind a tree that, when you cam around said tree, you were looking at two rack rather than just one. The largest problem that was already shaping up in the transition area was the ground. After that morning’s rain, the ground had become soft and was already turning to mud in the aisles from the foot traffic. Oy.
Maria, John and I bid each other a good night’s rest and went our separate ways. My evening was spent working on my tires and packing my race bag to be set up quickly in the morning. I got to bed at about 10 o’clock PM with my alarm(s) set for 4 AM and 4:15 AM, just to be safe.
Part 2 (coming soon)
This Sunday, June 6, 2010, I will be racing in Ironman Mooseman 70.3 in New Hampshire. While I have done a full Ironman, this marks the first ever half-iron distance race that I will do. I had hoped to have a weeks worth of daily update videos, but with work, training and life getting in the way sometimes, you have to let it go. So, I’m writing this as a prelude to Sunday’s race. I’m sure I’ll have more to say as I get closer but, four days out, this is what I’m thinking:
Swim: For about the past three weeks, I’ve been having trouble with my neck. It began as a nagging thing on the right side near the rear, base of my skull. I made sure to not stress that part of my neck and then, as soon as it began to feel a bit better, I slept oddly and woke up with significant pain on the left side of my neck, this time radiating down into my trapezius. The real problem with both of these pains is that they have hampered my swimming. That being said (and without any amount of arrogance) what is slow for me, is really fast for most triathletes. That knowledge, however, does not assuage my personal expectations. Also, the water temperature for this weekend’s race is a whopping 69° Fahrenheit, but I’m thinking that may actually hold off some of the neck issues long enough to get it done.
T1: Believe it or not, I’m still undecided on what helmet to wear. The weather on Sunday is calling for 72° Fahrenheit and a chance of a shower. The heat, which would usually be the cause for concern in my helmet choice, isn’t a factor (I’ll explain in a second). It’s the fact that my neck could (it hasn’t in my training) begin to bother me, and if I’m wearing my aero helmet, it could actually impede my position. The helmets I have to choose from are:
Specialized Propero
or:
Giro Advantage 2
Bike: One thing I kind of regret is that I haven’t done much training with other people in a group setting. It isn’t so much that I don’t enjoy training alone, but I just have a hard time gauging my speed. I would go to my Garmin info, but since I have to deal with New York City traffic, this is often not a good measure. Rather, I must rely on my consistency. For instance, I know that my right quadriceps tend to flare a bit if I’m not careful. this is an easy fix, just one that I must keep in 
mind. As for nutrition, I have once again affixed my Speedfil to my bike and will fill it’s forty ounces with my personal formula from Infinit Nutrition which will be all may calories, electrolytes, etc. on the bike and on the run. I do have an additional bottle cage that will be for water which I will rotate out at aid stations. I’ll be running new Continental 4000s tires as well as racing for the first time on my Adamo Racing² from ISM. I need to remain in control of my ego and emotions and race my race on the bike, being sure to NOT get sucked into a drag race.
T2: Not much to say here except that I am going to pick up a new Fuel Belt H2O. Each 8 oz. bottle on my belt will be holding a concentrate of my Infinit blend, which accounts for one hour of activity. As on the bike, I will get my water from the aid stations.
Run: Over the past several months, since I began coaching with Jeff, my running has come 
light-years beyond where I thought it could. In my last long-ish brick workout, I came off of 1.5 hours on the bike and ran for an hour averaging 7:03 per mile on the run. I grant you, the bike on Sunday will be longer, as will the run, and I will NOT make any pace predictions. However, I really feel good about the run, which is something I never thought I’d say. I will be racing in my Newton Gravitas‘ which are the same shoes that got me through Ironman Wisconsin. Hopefully, they will get to run a lot more this time around.
So that’s it! I’m excited and quite antsy. I feel ready to go, and I can’t wait for race day to come!
June 6, 2010
I am bib number 703 in Mooseman on Sunday! Live tracking at http://ironman.com.
I am so excited about my upcoming interview with the one and only Craig Alexander! The reigning King of Kona, defending his 2008 win on the big island in 2009, Crowie has been an inspiration to me and to many. His poise during grueling races, overcoming what he has called a “bad day” to win his second world championship, drives me to become a more complete racer.
My interview with Crowie will take place this coming Monday night at 9:30 PM EST, after I record my regular weekly show. I will do my best to broadcast the interview live HERE, but it will also appear on an upcoming episode of my show.
If you have any questions you would like me to ask Crowie, please send them to me at: info@ironbrandon.com and I will do my best to get them on the air.
Sports Illustrated is reporting that Haile Gebrselassie, the marathon world record holder, will likely be announcing his U.S. Marathon debut this coming November in the New York City Marathon. Celebrating National Running Day with 1,200 school children today at Icahn Stadium, the fastest marathoner ever will be aking an announcement about his plans at about 12:30 PM, EST.
Since the World Triathlon Corporation, the owner of the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 brands, announced their rules limiting prize purses and cranking up license fees, much has been made by many people around the sport. Recently, Chrissie Wellington , who had kept mum until now, weighed in in the U.K.’s 220 Magazine:
As a professional athlete I feel the need to voice my opinion on the new policy changes that have recently been instigated by the company with the monopoly over long-distance triathlon – the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). While the new policies are focused on professional athletes I think it’s important for me, as World Champion, to articulate my views and encourage everyone involved in triathlon to take an interest in how our sport is being run.
The WTC’s new polices and rules can be found at www.ironmanusa.com, but briefly are as follows: pros wishing to do Ironman or 70.3 races must register with the WTC’s Professional Membership Program. The cost is US$750. This provides free entry to all of the WTC’s Ironman and 70.3 races (aside from the Ironman and 70.3 World Champs where athletes still have to pay the entry fee), as well as membership to the new WTC anti-doping programme. In addition, significant changes have been made to prize money payment and the distribution of pro slots for the World Championships.
The new ruling states that athletes must now finish within 8% of the winner’s time to win money (not 10% of second place as before), with any ‘un-won’ prize money being redistributed between the prize-winning men and women. So, for example, say the third to 10th place women don’t win anything then the rest of the women’s money will go to…
Click here to read the full article
Serves: 4
Place garlic, chile, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, and oil in a mini food processor and process until smooth. Place beef in a small baking dish, pour the marinade over, and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Remove the beef from the marinade and season it with salt and pepper. Grill meat until charred and cooked to medium-rare doneness, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from grill and let rest 10 minutes before slicing into 1/4-inch thick slices.
In a small bowl, whisk together the shallot, chiles, mint, vinegar, sugar, and fish sauce. Set aside. In another bowl, toss the lettuce leaves and watercress together and then arrange the mixture on a platter.
Combine the papaya and carrots in a medium bowl. Evenly distribute the papaya mixture over the lettuce. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of the dressing. Arrange the steak on top and drizzle steak with some more dressing. Garnish with chopped peanuts and cilantro.
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05.28.2010 – Catlike, the Spanish manufacturer of cutting edge cycling helmets, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Serotta Sport. Starting this July, two Catlike helmet models, which fully comply with US helmet safety standards, will be available at specialty cycling retailers across the country.
“Catlike helmets are widely recognized as the most technologically advanced in the world and they’re worn by some of the biggest names in cycling,” states Serotta Sport president Stan Mavis. “We created Serotta Sport to be a collection of premium cycling brands, which are run by their original founders with a focus on quality and service—Catlike fits the bill perfectly.”
Catlike helmets will be distributed through the existing Serotta dealer network, and online at CompetitiveCyclist.com. The initial Catlike offering in the US will include the Whisper Plus and the Chrono Aero Plus, which are approved by European safety standards and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Serotta Sport plans to expand its Catlike product distribution to include the brand’s premium eyewear and footwear in the near future.
“Here at Catlike we are aware of the demand of our products in the US. We are now stronger than ever to land in such a demanding market,” states Catlike President, Pepe del Ramo. “The Catlike technology and design will be distributed by Serotta Sport, a company that shares our philosophy and dedication to quality.”
Whisper Plus
The Whisper Plus is Catlike’s top-of-the line helmet featuring the latest innovations in lightweight materials, ventilation and safety. Ventilation is efficiently delivered by 39 strategically positioned holes and Dual Flow technology, which links the frontal air intakes to large rear exit vents to create a constant airflow above the rider’s head. Safety is provided via Catlike’s Crash Energy Splitter technology, which effectively distributes crash energy across the entire helmet and allows for a compact, lightweight design. The distinctive look of the Whisper Plus helmet is easily recognizable atop pro riders on the Cervélo Test Team and Euskaltel-Euskadi. MSRP $275
Chrono Aero
The Chrono Aero features an aerodynamic shape and design perfected in wind tunnel testing and proven on the racecourse. The Chrono offers a minimal weight without sacrificing safety, and a shape that dramatically decreases turbulence behind the head of the rider. The Chrono Aero helped deliver Ignatas Konovalovas (Cervélo Test Team) to victory in the final time trial of the Giro d’Italia in 2009. MSPR $300
About Catlike
Catlike was founded 1998 by Spanish pro cyclist Pepe “El Gato” del Ramo, with a focus on quality, innovation and safety. The development team utilizes the latest design technologies to create visually aggressive and functionally designed, world-class performance helmets. Catlike is the official helmet of Team Euskatel Euskadi and the Cervelo Test Team. For more information, visit www.catlike.es.
Thanks so much for visiting my site! My name is Brandon Wood and I am an opera singer living and trying to make it in New York City. This site and podcast follow my adventures on the way to competing in and training for all kinds of endurance events, especially triathlon and running. Click the "About Me" tab for more info!
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